Doom

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-11400F sits in a well-populated performance tier according to the database's aggregate CPU scores. Its average benchmark score of 17,177 places it within a tight cluster of processors that deliver nearly identical throughput. The nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7H12, scores 17,120, a difference of just 0.3 percent, meaning these two CPUs are effectively interchangeable for most workloads. The Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17,239, which is 0.4 percent higher, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G scores 17,278, 0.6 percent above the i5-11400F. On the lower side, the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U scores 17,074, 0.6 percent below. For gaming purposes, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates when paired with the same graphics card, as the performance deltas are all within a fraction of a percent.

The Intel Arc B390 presents a very different picture. Its average benchmark score of 1,482 places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, indicating that this is a low-end part in the database's rankings. The nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA entries: the GeForce GT 520MX scores 1,463 (1.3 percent lower), the GeForce 800M scores 1,460 (1.5 percent lower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1,446 (2.5 percent lower), and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1,443 (2.7 percent lower). The Arc B390 leads this group, but the margins are small, and all of these GPUs occupy the same performance stratum. Users coming from any of these older cards would see a modest uplift, but the Arc B390 remains firmly in entry-level territory.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU-GPU combination against 3,712 tested combos for Doom, and the result is position 3,300. This places the combo in the bottom 11 percent of all tested configurations, a reflection of the graphics card's limited capabilities rather than the processor. The CPU itself is solidly mid-range, with a percentile rank of 71 among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly seven out of ten processors in the database. However, the GPU's 9th percentile ranking drags the overall system performance down considerably.

The ranking gap is instructive. A system with this processor and a more capable graphics card would rank substantially higher, but with the Arc B390 as the limiting factor, the combo lands near the bottom of the field. In practical terms, this means most other tested combos will deliver higher frame rates in Doom, and users should temper expectations accordingly. The data shows a clear bottleneck: the GPU cannot keep pace with what the CPU can feed it, especially at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings tiers. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 107 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 and maximum of 107, High averages 78 FPS, and Ultra averages 64 FPS. The progression is consistent: each step up in quality costs roughly 14 to 15 FPS on average, with Ultra retaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 69 FPS, which clears the playability threshold. Medium averages exactly 60 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 51 and maximum of 69, making it the most demanding playable preset at this resolution. High averages 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 41 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 28 FPS, indicating that the GPU becomes increasingly strained as pixel count rises.

At 3840x2160, the picture is grim. Low settings average 37 FPS, Medium averages 33 FPS with a minimum of 28 and maximum of 37, High averages 28 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. No preset at this resolution reaches the 60 FPS threshold, and even Low falls 23 FPS short. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep, with the average FPS at Low dropping from 69 to 37, a 46 percent reduction.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Doom depends entirely on the chosen resolution. At 1920x1080, the answer is a clear yes. The database lists High, Low, Medium, and Ultra as playable settings, with Ultra delivering 64 FPS on average. This means users can run the game at maximum quality settings and still stay above the 60 FPS threshold, though the margin is slim.

At 2560x1440, the answer is conditional. Low and Medium are listed as playable, with Medium being the best playable preset at exactly 60 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS of 51 at Medium suggests some scenes will dip below the threshold, but the average holds at the playability line. High and Ultra are not playable at this resolution, as they average 51 and 41 FPS respectively.

At 3840x2160, the answer is no. No settings preset achieves 60 FPS, and the database records no playable settings at this resolution. Even Low averages only 37 FPS, which falls well short of the playability threshold. Users with a 4K display would need to lower the resolution or accept a significantly reduced experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals a clear division of labor between the two components. At 1920x1080, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at all settings, as evidenced by the playable frame rates even at Ultra. The GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase, with the average FPS dropping from 107 at Low to 64 at Ultra. This is a 40 percent reduction in frame rate driven entirely by graphics load.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's limitations become more pronounced. The scaling from Low to Ultra produces a 41 percent drop in average FPS, from 69 to 41. The CPU remains capable at this resolution, but the GPU cannot sustain the higher pixel counts at demanding settings. The fact that Medium averages exactly 60 FPS while High drops to 51 indicates that the GPU is operating near its ceiling.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant constraint. The frame rates are uniformly low across all settings, ranging from 22 to 37 FPS, and the CPU's role becomes minimal. The data shows that resolution scaling has a much larger impact on performance than settings scaling, which confirms that the Arc B390 is the bottleneck. Users upgrading the GPU would see substantial gains, while upgrading the CPU would yield little benefit in this game.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 64 FPS. This is the recommended configuration for full-HD displays, as it delivers the highest visual quality while maintaining a playable frame rate. The margin above the threshold is modest, but the average is solidly above 60.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding playable preset is Medium, averaging exactly 60 FPS. This is the optimal balance of visual quality and performance at this resolution. The recorded minimum of 51 FPS indicates occasional dips below the threshold, but the average holds at the playability line. Users prioritizing smoothness over quality could drop to Low for 69 FPS average, but Medium represents the best quality that still meets the 60 FPS criterion.

At 3840x2160, no settings preset meets the 60 FPS threshold, so there is no recommended configuration at this resolution. The closest option is Low at 37 FPS average, but this falls well short of playable. Users with 4K displays should consider running the game at a lower resolution instead.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 1920x1080 with maximum settings?

A: Yes. Ultra settings at 1920x1080 average 64 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: Medium is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 2560x1440, averaging exactly 60 FPS.

Q: Is 4K resolution playable with this hardware?

A: No. All settings at 3840x2160 fall below 60 FPS, with the highest average being 37 FPS at Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1,482 in the database's benchmark, which is 1.3 percent higher than the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5 percent higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5 percent higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7 percent higher than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1920x1080?

A: Low averages 107 FPS while Ultra averages 64 FPS, a difference of 43 FPS or roughly 40 percent.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU ranks at the 71st percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 9th percentile. The frame rate scaling across resolutions confirms that the Arc B390 cannot keep up with the i5-11400F's capabilities.