Doom

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a dominant performance in Doom, clearing the 60 FPS threshold at every resolution tested, including 4K. The data shows this combination is not merely playable but exceptionally fast, with the GPU emerging as the primary bottleneck only at the highest settings and resolutions, where the CPU's substantial headroom becomes less relevant. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second, the roles of each component, and the optimal settings for a smooth experience.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this CPU/GPU combination in Doom?*

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 261.6, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K with Ultra settings?*

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 55.5, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The playable settings at this resolution are High, Medium, and Low.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 2560x1440 is Ultra, which achieves an average of 102.3 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 7600 XT's average score of 17083. The performance difference is negligible.

Q: Is the CPU a limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 261.6 FPS, and the frame rate scales down as resolution and settings increase, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

*Q: What is the rank of this specific hardware combo among all tested combinations for Doom?*

A: This combo ranks 1580 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top percentile for performance in this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data for Doom clearly delineates the roles of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, provides a massive performance ceiling that the game rarely, if ever, approaches. This is evident from the scaling pattern: at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system hits 261.6 FPS. As the resolution increases to 2560x1440 and then 3840x2160 with the same Low settings, the average FPS drops to 169.2 and 89.1, respectively. This steep decline in performance with increasing pixel count is the hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario.

The GPU's role intensifies as settings are raised. At 1920x1080, moving from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average FPS from 261.6 to 154.7, a substantial drop of over 100 FPS. This trend continues at higher resolutions. At 2560x1440, the drop from Low to Ultra is from 169.2 to 102.3 FPS. The most telling data point is at 3840x2160, where Ultra settings push the average down to 55.5 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold. This demonstrates that the RTX 3070's compute and memory bandwidth are the decisive factors at the highest graphical loads. The CPU's 3DMark scores, particularly the 7956 for 16 threads and 7952 for max threads, confirm it has ample multithreaded capacity to feed the GPU without introducing a bottleneck, even in the most demanding scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast, with all presets far exceeding the 60 FPS threshold. The average FPS ranges from 261.6 at Low settings to 154.7 at Ultra, with Medium at 224.2 and High at 190.4. This resolution is clearly CPU-light and heavily GPU-bound, as even the most demanding preset delivers a frame rate that is more than double the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent. The average FPS at Low settings is 169.2, which scales down to 143.9 at Medium, 121.4 at High, and 102.3 at Ultra. All presets remain well above 60 FPS, making this resolution a sweet spot for high refresh-rate gaming with maximum visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits become apparent. Low settings deliver an average of 89.1 FPS, Medium 80.5 FPS, and High 69 FPS, all of which are playable. However, Ultra settings bring the average down to 55.5 FPS, falling short of the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the only resolution and preset combination that fails to meet the benchmark's playability standard. The data shows a clear progression: the system is overkill for 1080p, excellent for 1440p, and capable but constrained at 4K, where the RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are tested by the highest settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data provides context for this system's performance by listing its nearest rivals. For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799. The closest alternatives are the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D with a score of 27896 (0.3% higher), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U with a score of 27887 (0.3% higher), and the Intel Core i9-10900K with a score of 27872 (0.3% higher). The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE is also a near match with a score of 27712, which is 0.3% lower. In practice, a system built with any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Doom, as the performance delta is negligible and well within the margin of error. The choice between them would come down to platform features and price, not gaming performance in this title.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which scores 17083, a difference of 0.7%. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M are also listed as near matches, with scores of 17037 (1% lower) and 17019 (1.1% lower) respectively. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher. When playing Doom, a system with an RX 7600 XT would produce frame rates that are virtually indistinguishable from the RTX 3070, within a single percentage point. The data suggests that users with any of these GPUs would have a similar experience regarding raw FPS, though the RTX 3070's architecture supports features like DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, which may be relevant for other titles.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the optimal settings for each resolution are as follows. At 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, delivering an average of 154.7 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate that is more than sufficient for competitive play and high refresh rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is also Ultra, with an average of 102.3 FPS. This is an ideal balance, offering the full visual experience of the game at a resolution that is significantly sharper than 1080p, while still leaving headroom above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the best setting is High, with an average of 69 FPS. While Ultra is not playable at this resolution, High settings provide a substantial visual upgrade over Medium (80.5 FPS) and Low (89.1 FPS) while still clearing the 60 FPS mark. This configuration allows for a 4K experience without sacrificing the fluidity required for a fast-paced FPS title.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally confirms that the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 can run Doom exceptionally well. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with the best being Ultra at 154.7 FPS. At 2560x1440, all settings are playable, with Ultra again being the best at 102.3 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system is still very capable, with High, Medium, and Low settings all clearing the 60 FPS threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages 69 FPS.

The only configuration that fails to meet the 60 FPS standard is 4K with Ultra settings, which averages 55.5 FPS. However, this is a minor limitation given the system's overall performance. The combination of the CPU's high single-thread and multithread scores (3302 and 23391 in Cinebench R23, respectively) and the GPU's robust 20.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance ensures that Doom runs at exceptionally high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, and remains perfectly playable at 4K with adjusted settings. This system is overqualified for 1080p, excellent for 1440p high-refresh-rate displays, and a strong 4K performer when settings are tuned.