Doom

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-14600KF sits in a tightly contested segment of the CPU benchmark hierarchy. Its average benchmark score of 49394 places it just 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which records 49228. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G trails by a similar margin at 0.4% with a score of 49196, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% behind at 48995. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 posts a score of 49796, which is 0.8% higher than the i5-14600KF. In practical terms, these four processors should deliver nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Doom, since the differences are all within a single percentage point. The i5-14600KF ranks in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly nine out of every ten desktop processors in the database.

The Intel Arc B390 tells a different story. This integrated GPU scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which places it in the 9th percentile among all GPUs. The nearest rivals are all legacy NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX at 1463 (1.3% slower), the GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% slower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5% slower), and the GeForce GT 710 at 1443 (2.7% slower). The Arc B390 is the fastest of this group, but the margin is thin. Users coming from any of these older NVIDIA chips would see a modest uplift, not a generational leap. The data indicates that the Arc B390 behaves like an entry-level graphics solution from several generations ago, despite its modern architecture and feature set.

How This Combo Ranks

Among the 3712 CPU and GPU combinations tested in Doom, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3300th. That places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations. The rank reflects the GPU's severe limitation: the CPU is capable of far higher frame rates, but the Arc B390 cannot keep pace. The percentile data reinforces this, as the GPU's 9th percentile standing drags the overall combo down despite the CPU's 90th percentile performance. In the database's hierarchy, this combo sits just above the slowest tier of systems, alongside other configurations that pair strong processors with weak graphics solutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data covers three resolutions and four quality presets. At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below playable thresholds. The Low preset averages 37 FPS, Medium averages 33 FPS with a minimum of 28 and a maximum of 37, High averages 28 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. None of these numbers approach the 60 FPS playability threshold. The spread from Low to Ultra is 15 FPS, which is a narrow range and indicates that the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K.

At 2560x1440, performance improves but remains mixed. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, Medium averages exactly 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 and a maximum of 69, High averages 51 FPS, and Ultra averages 41 FPS. The jump from High to Low is 18 FPS, showing that preset selection has a meaningful impact at this resolution. Medium hits the playable threshold precisely, while Low exceeds it by 9 FPS.

At 1920x1080, all four presets clear the 60 FPS bar. Low averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 107, High averages 78 FPS, and Ultra averages 64 FPS. The minimum recorded at Medium is 79 FPS, which is still well above the playable threshold. The drop from Low to Ultra is 43 FPS, a substantial gap that highlights how much headroom the GPU has at this resolution. The 1080p results are the only ones where every preset is playable, and even the most demanding setting leaves a small margin above 60 FPS.

The Verdict

This system can run Doom, but only at specific resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the verdict is unequivocal: every preset from Low to Ultra maintains at least 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, which clears the threshold by 4 FPS and provides a playable experience with maximum visual quality. At 2560x1440, the playable settings are Low and Medium. Medium averages exactly 60 FPS, making it the highest quality preset that remains playable at this resolution. High and Ultra fall short, with averages of 51 and 41 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, no preset is playable. The best result is 37 FPS on Low, which is 23 FPS below the threshold. The data clearly shows that 4K is not viable for this combo in Doom, regardless of quality settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a pronounced GPU bottleneck at every resolution. At 3840x2160, the frame rate barely responds to preset changes: moving from Low to Ultra costs only 15 FPS (from 37 to 22). This narrow range indicates that the GPU is saturated even at the lowest settings, and the CPU's performance headroom is irrelevant. The i5-14600KF, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is not the limiting factor at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the preset sensitivity increases. The difference between Low and Ultra is 28 FPS (from 69 to 41), showing that the GPU has more room to breathe as resolution drops. Still, the CPU contribution remains secondary. The Medium preset hits 60 FPS, and the fact that High drops to 51 FPS points to GPU limitations rather than CPU constraints.

At 1920x1080, the pattern shifts. The 43 FPS spread between Low (107 FPS) and Ultra (64 FPS) demonstrates that the GPU is still the dominant factor, but the CPU begins to matter more at the highest frame rates. A weaker processor might struggle to feed the GPU at 107 FPS on Low, but the i5-14600KF's single-core performance, reflected in its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4594, is more than sufficient. The data shows that across all resolutions, the Arc B390 is the binding constraint. The CPU's 90th percentile ranking never becomes a meaningful factor in Doom's frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 64 FPS, exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: Medium is the highest preset that maintains playability, averaging exactly 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 FPS.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best average is 37 FPS on Low, and the highest preset (Ultra) drops to 22 FPS. No 4K configuration reaches 60 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M, 2.5% ahead of the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% ahead of the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Where does this CPU and GPU combo rank among tested systems?

A: It ranks 3300th out of 3712 combinations tested in Doom, placing it in the lower 11% of the database.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this game?

A: The GPU is the primary constraint at all resolutions. The Arc B390's 9th percentile ranking versus the i5-14600KF's 90th percentile ranking shows a severe imbalance, and the frame rate data confirms the GPU is the bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that remains playable, averaging 64 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still clearing the 60 FPS threshold by 4 FPS. At 2560x1440, Medium is the best choice, averaging exactly 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that maintains the playable threshold, though the minimum dips below 60. At 3840x2160, no preset is playable. The Low preset offers the best frame rate at 37 FPS, but it falls 23 FPS short of the playable threshold, so no recommendation can be made for 4K.