Doom

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a playable experience in Doom at 1080p and 1440p, but falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 4K across all settings. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset averaging 64 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium settings remain playable, with Medium averaging exactly 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the highest recorded average is 37 FPS on Low, which is well below the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck, while at 1080p the CPU has enough headroom to allow even the most demanding preset to run smoothly.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in Doom covers three resolutions and four settings presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. The database records average FPS for all combinations, with min and max FPS only available for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset averages 37 FPS, the Medium preset averages 33 FPS with a minimum of 28 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS, the High preset averages 28 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 22 FPS. No setting at this resolution reaches even 40 FPS, making 4K unplayable for this combo in Doom. The gap between Low and Ultra is 15 FPS, which indicates that even dropping to the lowest settings cannot compensate for the resolution demand.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves significantly. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by a comfortable margin. The Medium preset averages 60 FPS exactly, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. The High preset drops to 51 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 41 FPS. This means that while Low and Medium are playable, High and Ultra are not. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 28 FPS, showing that the preset choice has a substantial impact on performance at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, all four presets exceed the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset averages 107 FPS, the Medium preset averages 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS, the High preset averages 78 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 43 FPS, which is the largest across all resolutions. Even the most demanding preset, Ultra, maintains an average above 60 FPS, though the margin is only 4 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 79 FPS, which means even the worst frame dips stay well above the playability threshold.

Comparing the same preset across resolutions reveals the scaling cost. For Low settings, performance drops from 107 FPS at 1080p to 69 FPS at 1440p, a 38 FPS reduction, and then to 37 FPS at 4K, another 32 FPS reduction. For Medium settings, the values are 93 FPS at 1080p, 60 FPS at 1440p, and 33 FPS at 4K. For High settings, the values are 78 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p, and 28 FPS at 4K. For Ultra settings, the values are 64 FPS at 1080p, 41 FPS at 1440p, and 22 FPS at 4K. The pattern is consistent: each step up in resolution roughly halves the frame rate, which points to the GPU being the limiting factor.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data shows that the Intel Core i5-14400F is not the primary constraint in Doom for this combo. The CPU scores in the database show a strong processor: the Cinebench R23 multicore score is 21645, the single-core score is 3055, and the Geekbench multicore score is 11268. The CPU ranks in the 83rd percentile against all CPUs, indicating it is well above average. The nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U with an average score of 32233 and a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Core i9-11900 with an average score of 32226 and a delta of 0.2%. These tiny deltas mean the i5-14400F is effectively on par with those processors in synthetic benchmarks, so CPU performance is not a weak link.

The GPU, however, tells a different story. The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, and it ranks in the 9th percentile against all GPUs. That is a very low ranking, placing it near the bottom of the database. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463 and a delta of 1.3%, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M with a score of 1460 and a delta of 1.5%, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM with a score of 1446 and a delta of 2.5%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 with a score of 1443 and a delta of 2.7%. These are all legacy or entry-level GPUs, which clarifies that the Arc B390 is a low-end part in terms of raw graphics performance.

The resolution scaling in the measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the dominant factor. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by roughly 30 to 40 percent depending on the preset. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is another 40 to 50 percent. This steep scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario: the CPU is capable of feeding frames quickly, but the GPU cannot keep up as pixel count rises. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to push the Ultra preset to 64 FPS, which shows that the processor is not the bottleneck even in the most demanding setting at the lowest resolution. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would stay flat across resolutions, but the data shows they fall sharply, which is a hallmark of GPU limitation.

The fact that the Ultra preset at 1080p still averages 64 FPS, while the Low preset at 4K averages only 37 FPS, further illustrates this point. The difference between those two scenarios is entirely resolution-driven, not preset-driven. The GPU is simply not powerful enough to handle 4K in Doom, regardless of how low the settings go. The CPU, by contrast, has no trouble maintaining playable frame rates at 1080p across all presets, so its role is supportive rather than limiting.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 64 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold. The database lists Ultra as one of the playable settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: The best settings at 2560x1440 are Medium, which averages 60 FPS. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, but Medium offers higher visual quality while still hitting the exact 60 FPS threshold. High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS, so they are not playable.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combo?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 37 FPS on Low settings. Medium averages 33 FPS, High averages 28 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. None of these reach the 60 FPS threshold, and the verdictByResolution data lists no playable settings for 4K.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, 1.5% lower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, 2.5% lower. The Arc B390 is slightly ahead of these parts, but all of them are near the bottom of the GPU percentile rankings.

Q: What is the frame rate range for Medium settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 93, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. This means the frame rate never drops below 79 FPS, providing a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the CPU hold back performance in Doom?

A: The data does not indicate CPU limitation. The i5-14400F ranks in the 83rd percentile against all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in the database have deltas of 0.1% to 0.5%, meaning performance is nearly identical. The frame rate drops sharply with resolution, which points to the GPU as the limiting factor. At 1080p, even Ultra settings clear 60 FPS, showing the CPU has ample headroom.

The Verdict

This PC can run Doom, but only at specific resolutions and settings. The verdictByResolution data is clear: at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, meaning every preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the playable settings are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best option at exactly 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, including Ultra at 64 FPS.

For a 1080p monitor, this combo is fully capable. The user can select Ultra settings and still average 64 FPS, with no need to compromise on visual quality. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 79 FPS, so even the worst case is well above the threshold. For a 1440p monitor, the user must choose Medium or Low to stay at or above 60 FPS. Medium at 60 FPS is a reasonable balance, though the minimum of 51 FPS means there will be occasional dips below the threshold. For a 4K monitor, this combo is not viable for Doom, as the highest average is 37 FPS on Low, which would feel sluggish and stuttery.

The verdict is straightforward: this PC is a 1080p machine for Doom, with a secondary capable mode at 1440p on medium settings. It is not a 4K machine for this game. The 60 FPS threshold is the defining line, and the data shows exactly where it can and cannot be crossed.

Best Settings per Resolution

The best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS average at each resolution, based on the measured data.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra. The average FPS is 64, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the highest quality preset available, and it still maintains a playable frame rate. The High preset averages 78 FPS and Medium averages 93 FPS, but Ultra provides the best visual quality while staying above the line. The margin is only 4 FPS, so there is some risk of dips below 60, but the average is compliant.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Medium. The average FPS is exactly 60, which meets the threshold. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, but Medium offers better visuals at the same playable average. The High preset drops to 51 FPS, so it is not an option. Medium is the optimal choice for 1440p, though the minimum FPS of 51 indicates that some scenes will fall below 60.

At 3840x2160, there are no best settings because no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The highest average is 37 FPS on Low, which is far below playable. The verdictByResolution data explicitly lists no playable settings for 4K, so there is no recommendation to make. The user should avoid 4K with this combo for Doom.

For a quick reference: 1080p Ultra at 64 FPS, 1440p Medium at 60 FPS, 4K not playable.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 3300 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom, according to the database. That places it in the lower 11th percentile of all tested systems, which aligns with the GPU's low percentile ranking of 9th against all GPUs. The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 83rd percentile against all CPUs, so the combo's poor ranking is entirely attributable to the graphics card.

The rank of 3300 out of 3712 means the vast majority of tested combos perform better in Doom. This is expected given that the Arc B390 sits near the bottom of the GPU hierarchy, competing with parts like the GeForce GT 710 and GT 520MX. The combo does manage to deliver playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, which is a positive outcome, but the overall ranking reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

The data shows that the CPU is not the reason for this low rank. The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279, and its nearest rivals all score within 0.5% of that figure. In synthetic tests, the CPU is competitive with mid-range and upper-mid-range processors. The bottleneck is the GPU, which has an average benchmark score of 1482 and no other recorded benchmarks in the database beyond the single 3DMark test. This single score is all that defines its performance profile, and it is not enough to push the combo higher in the rankings.

In practical terms, this rank means that users should not expect high-end performance from this combo. It is adequate for 1080p gaming in Doom, and it can handle 1440p with settings lowered, but it will struggle at 4K. The combo rank of 3300 out of 3712 gives a clear picture: this is a low-tier system for Doom, suitable for mainstream 1080p play but not for demanding resolutions. The 60 FPS threshold is achievable only at 1080p across all presets and at 1440p with Low or Medium settings. For anyone considering this combo, the data suggests pairing it with a 1080p monitor for the best experience.