Doom

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a dominant performance profile in Doom, securing the 942nd rank out of 3,712 tested combos. This places the configuration in the top quartile of all tested systems, with the data showing that the combo clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution and preset combination tested. The benchmark results indicate a system that is not merely playable but overwhelmingly capable, with performance headroom that allows for maximum visual fidelity at high refresh rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 942 out of 3,712 tested combinations places it in the 75th percentile of all systems evaluated for Doom. This is a strong result, reflecting a balanced pairing where neither the CPU nor GPU becomes a bottleneck at the tested settings. The CPU itself holds a 90th percentile ranking against all CPUs in the broader database, while the GPU sits at the 81st percentile against all GPUs. The data suggests that the i5-14600K’s strong single-thread performance—evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,064 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4,270—complements the RTX 4070’s raw rasterization power effectively in this title.

In practical terms, this rank means the combo outperforms roughly 75% of all tested systems in Doom. The nearest CPU rivals, such as the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (0.2% lower average score) and the AMD EPYC 4345P (0.3% higher), show that the i5-14600K is positioned in a tightly contested performance band. The GPU’s nearest rivals—including the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (0.1% higher) and AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% higher)—indicate that the RTX 4070’s average benchmark score of 37,648 is competitive with enterprise and previous-generation parts, though the measured FPS in Doom shows the RTX 4070 pulling far ahead of those rivals in actual gameplay due to architectural advantages.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU in Doom. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 312.1 on Low to 189.8 on Ultra, indicating that the GPU is not saturated at lower settings—the CPU is likely the limiting factor at this resolution, particularly at Low and Medium presets where frame rates exceed 270 FPS. The i5-14600K’s 14 cores and 20 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, provide ample headroom for high refresh rate gaming, but the data shows diminishing returns as resolution increases.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 205.1 on Low and 124.1 on Ultra. This represents a 34% reduction from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, and a 35% reduction from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra. The consistency of this scaling suggests that the GPU becomes progressively more important as pixel count rises, but the CPU still keeps pace without becoming a bottleneck. At 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 110.9 on Low and 64 on Ultra—a 46% drop from 1440p Low and a 48% drop from 1440p Ultra. This steeper decline indicates that at 4K, the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are the primary determinants of performance, with the CPU’s role diminishing significantly.

The data shows that the CPU dominates at 1080p Low, where the GPU is underutilized, while the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor at 4K Ultra. At 1440p, the balance is more even, with both components contributing meaningfully to the final frame rate. This is typical for a well-matched mid-range-to-high-end pairing in a fast-paced FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 64 FPS. This is a narrow margin above the 60 FPS threshold—only 4 FPS of headroom—so while it is technically playable, High at 83.8 FPS provides a more comfortable experience with better frame pacing. The data shows that all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear the 60 FPS bar at 4K, making this resolution viable for the most demanding visual settings.

At 2560x1440, Ultra delivers an average of 124.1 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. This makes 1440p Ultra the optimal choice for high refresh rate monitors, as the frame rate remains well above the 100 FPS mark even at maximum quality. The gap between Ultra and High (146.3 FPS) is 22.2 FPS, indicating that Ultra is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, Ultra achieves 189.8 FPS, which is over three times the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution is clearly CPU-bound at lower presets, with Low hitting 312.1 FPS, but even Ultra maintains a frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most gaming monitors. For esports or competitive play, Low at 312.1 FPS offers the highest possible frame rate, but for general use, Ultra at 189.8 FPS is the recommended setting.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearestRivals data for the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (0.7% higher average score) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 (0.8% lower) would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Doom. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (0.2% lower) and AMD EPYC 4345P (0.3% higher) are also close, though these are server-oriented parts that may not offer the same gaming features. In practice, any of these CPUs would yield within 1% of the i5-14600K’s frame rates at 1080p Low, where the CPU is the primary constraint.

For the GPU, the nearestRivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% higher average score) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (1.3% lower). However, these comparisons are based on synthetic benchmarks, not Doom-specific FPS. The RTX 4070’s measured performance in Doom shows that it is far ahead of these rivals in actual gameplay—the RX Vega 56, for instance, would likely struggle to match the RTX 4070’s 4K Ultra performance due to its older architecture and 8 GB of memory. The Tesla P4 (0.1% higher) is a data-center card with no display outputs, making it irrelevant for gaming.

In terms of similar gaming performance, the data suggests that any GPU with a Passmark G3D score near 26,927 and 12 GB of memory would approximate the RTX 4070’s behavior in Doom. Users with a slightly weaker GPU would see the biggest impact at 4K Ultra, where the margin above 60 FPS is only 4 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average FPS scales from 312.1 on Low to 272.8 on Medium, 228.9 on High, and 189.8 on Ultra. The step from Low to Medium is 39.3 FPS, while the step from Medium to High is 43.9 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 39.1 FPS. This near-linear scaling suggests that each preset tier adds a consistent amount of visual workload, with the GPU handling the increased load without issue.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 205.1 on Low, 174.3 on Medium, 146.3 on High, and 124.1 on Ultra. The delta between Low and Medium is 30.8 FPS, Medium to High is 28 FPS, and High to Ultra is 22.2 FPS. The shrinking deltas at higher presets indicate that the GPU is approaching its limits, but the frame rates remain high enough for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 110.9 on Low, 95.1 on Medium, 83.8 on High, and 64 on Ultra. The delta between Low and Medium is 15.8 FPS, Medium to High is 11.3 FPS, and High to Ultra is 19.8 FPS. The larger drop from High to Ultra at 4K shows that Ultra settings introduce a significant additional load—likely from higher texture quality and shadow resolution—that brings the frame rate close to the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

The verdictByResolution data is unambiguous: this PC can run Doom at every resolution and preset combination tested, with all settings clearing the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, Ultra delivers 64 FPS, which is playable but with minimal headroom. At 2560x1440, Ultra delivers 124.1 FPS, providing a comfortable margin for high refresh rate displays. At 1920x1080, Ultra delivers 189.8 FPS, making this resolution ideal for 144Hz or 165Hz monitors.

The data shows that the combo is not merely playable but exceptionally capable, with the ability to run the game at maximum settings even at 4K. For users seeking the highest possible frame rates, 1080p Low at 312.1 FPS offers competitive-level performance, while 1440p Ultra at 124.1 FPS is the sweet spot for visual quality and speed. The 4K Ultra result of 64 FPS is the only setting that approaches the playable threshold, but it still clears it, confirming that this configuration is a top-tier choice for Doom.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Doom at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 64 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold by 4 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate gaming?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 189.8 FPS, which is suitable for 144Hz or 165Hz monitors. For even higher frame rates, the Low preset at 312.1 FPS is available.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48,618, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and 0.3% higher than the AMD EPYC 4345P.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 better than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37,648, which is 0.4% lower than the RX Vega 56’s 37,507. However, in Doom, the RTX 4070’s measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 64, indicating that synthetic scores do not directly translate to gameplay performance.

Q: What is the playable threshold for this game?

A: The playable threshold is 60 FPS. All tested presets at all three resolutions exceed this threshold.

Q: Are there any settings that fail to hit 60 FPS?

A: No. The lowest average FPS recorded is 64 at 3840x2160 Ultra, which is the only setting that comes close to the threshold but still exceeds it.