Doom

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination delivers playable performance in Doom, but the experience hinges heavily on resolution. At 1080p and 1440p, the system provides smooth frame rates even at maximum settings, while 4K requires a significant reduction in visual fidelity to stay above the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded data shows a clear pattern: this pairing is best suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at standard resolutions, with 4K being a compromise scenario.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the database's nearest rival comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X sits in a tight cluster of high-end processors. Its average benchmark score of 57498 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 9015, which scores 57555, a difference of only 0.1%. The AMD EPYC 7313 is equally close at 57399, just 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i9-14900 leads this group with a score of 58115, placing it 1.1% ahead, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M scores 58323, a 1.4% advantage. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver essentially indistinguishable performance in a game like Doom, where the graphics card is typically the limiting factor.

For the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290, placing it at the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are remarkably close: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 matches it exactly with a 0% delta, the AMD Radeon 680M trails by just 0.1%, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is 0.6% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 sits 0.8% ahead. This grouping suggests that users with any of these graphics cards would see very similar frame rates in Doom, assuming the CPU is not a bottleneck. The RTX 2060's Turing architecture and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory position it as a mid-range card that handles older titles like Doom comfortably at conventional resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data indicates that Doom is primarily GPU-bound for this combination, especially at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rate drops from 173.7 FPS on Low settings to 103.9 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of roughly 40% as the graphics load increases. The Ryzen 9 9900X, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is far more capable than this game requires. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32172 and single-core score of 2253 place it well above the demands of a 2016 title. The CPU's percentile ranking of 92 among all processors further confirms that it is not the constraining component.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern emerges: Low settings produce 112.6 FPS, while Ultra drops to 67.8 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra settings shows a decrease from 103.9 FPS to 67.8 FPS, a 35% reduction. This is a classic sign of GPU limitation, as the pixel count increases by roughly 78% but the frame rate does not drop proportionally, indicating that other factors such as memory bandwidth and fill rate also play a role. At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor. Even on Low settings, the system only manages 61.8 FPS, and Ultra falls to 35.9 FPS. The RTX 2060's 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 6 GB of VRAM are stretched thin at 4K, while the CPU has ample headroom. The Ryzen 9 9900X's Passmark multithread score of 54643 and single-thread score of 4672 show no signs of struggling in this workload.

Best Settings per Resolution

The recorded data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 103.9 FPS on average, well above the playable threshold. This is the recommended setting, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The High preset also performs well at 126.5 FPS, but Ultra is the clear choice for maximum fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again achieves the best balance, with an average of 67.8 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, though the margin is smaller than at 1080p. The Medium preset offers 97.8 FPS for users who prefer extra headroom, but Ultra remains playable and is the recommended setting. At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. Only the Low preset stays above 60 FPS, with an average of 61.8 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 54.8 FPS, and High drops to 44.8 FPS. Users at 4K must accept Low settings to maintain smooth gameplay, which significantly reduces the visual experience compared to lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination run Doom at 4K with maximum settings?

A: No. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages only 35.9 FPS, which is far below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Even High settings reach just 44.8 FPS. Only Low settings at 61.8 FPS are playable at this resolution.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 2560x2160, with an average of 67.8 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while staying above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much performance does the Ultra preset cost compared to Low at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 173.7 FPS, while Ultra drops to 103.9 FPS. This is a reduction of approximately 40% in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The recorded data shows the GPU is the limiting factor. At each resolution, frame rates scale strongly with graphics settings, while the Ryzen 9 9900X's benchmark scores (92nd percentile among CPUs) indicate it is not a bottleneck.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 averages 154.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score of 15290 is within 0.8% of the AMD Radeon RX 7600, 0.6% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, and 0.1% of the AMD Radeon 680M. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 matches it exactly.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. The Low preset averages 173.7 FPS, Medium reaches 154.2 FPS, High hits 126.5 FPS, and Ultra manages 103.9 FPS. All settings are far above the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution the sweet spot for the combination.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low averages 112.6 FPS, Medium drops to 97.8 FPS, High falls to 86.1 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 67.8 FPS. The Ultra preset still clears the playable threshold, but users who prefer consistent high frame rates may opt for High settings instead.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles to keep up. Low averages 61.8 FPS, which just passes the playable threshold. Medium falls to 54.8 FPS, High drops to 44.8 FPS, and Ultra manages only 35.9 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is only viable with the lowest settings, and even then, the frame rate is barely above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2960 out of 3712 tested combinations in Doom. This places it in the lower third of the database, which reflects the GPU's age and mid-range positioning rather than any deficiency in the CPU. The Ryzen 9 9900X is a top-tier processor, but pairing it with an RTX 2060 creates a significant bottleneck at higher resolutions. The ranking indicates that many other GPU configurations, including those with more modern or higher-tier cards, achieve better frame rates in Doom.

The rank also highlights the importance of balance in a gaming system. A CPU at the 92nd percentile paired with a GPU at the 58th percentile results in a system that is often held back by the graphics card. For users considering this combination, the data suggests that the CPU provides substantial headroom for future GPU upgrades. At 1080p and 1440p, the system performs well and ranks respectably, but at 4K it falls behind many other combinations in the database. The overall ranking of 2960 out of 3712 reflects this mixed performance profile, with strong results at lower resolutions tempered by weak 4K performance.