Doom

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p gaming experience in 2016's Doom. The data indicates that this system ranks in the 61st percentile of all tested configurations for this specific title, sitting at rank 2281 out of 3712. The CPU is a top-tier performer, ranking in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU, ranking in the 66th percentile, is the primary factor that will dictate the graphical ceilings at higher resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the system is capable of running the most demanding preset, Ultra, comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The measured average frame rate at Ultra is 122 FPS, providing a substantial performance buffer for high-refresh-rate displays.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the Ultra preset remains the best playable option. The average frame rate here is 79 FPS, which still clears the 60 FPS threshold with a healthy margin, ensuring a smooth experience even in intense combat scenarios.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the highest preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is Medium. The system achieves an average of 62 FPS at this resolution and settings combination. While the High preset is playable, it dips to an average of 52 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold. The Ultra preset at this resolution is not recommended, as the average frame rate drops to 43 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions clearly indicates that the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the CPU can feed frames quickly, enabling the GPU to reach an average of 202 FPS at Low settings. This high frame rate suggests the CPU has ample headroom to support the RTX 5050's output. The i5-14600KF's strong multi-core and single-core scores—including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544 and a single-core score of 4594—are more than sufficient for a fast-paced FPS like Doom.

The shift in balance becomes apparent when comparing scaling factors. From 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average frame rate at the Ultra preset drops from 122 FPS to 79 FPS, a reduction of roughly 35%. This indicates that the GPU is starting to feel the load of the increased pixel count. The scaling continues when moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160, where the Ultra preset average plunges from 79 FPS to 43 FPS, a further 45% decrease. This sharper drop at 4K confirms that the RTX 5050's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth are being saturated by the resolution, making the GPU the sole limiting factor at 4K.

The CPU's role, by contrast, remains relatively constant. The performance delta between the Low and Ultra presets at 1920x1080 is significant—202 FPS vs. 122 FPS—but this gap is primarily due to GPU workload. The i5-14600KF's massive compute headroom, evidenced by its 14 cores and 20 threads, means it is unlikely to cause frame hitches in this engine. At 2560x1440, the Low preset still achieves 131 FPS, while the Ultra preset gets 79 FPS. The data suggests that for this title, the RTX 5050 is the component that determines the playable resolution and preset, while the i5-14600KF ensures the system never becomes CPU-bound, even at lower resolutions where frame rates exceed 200 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on average benchmark scores, the Intel Core i5-14600KF sits very close to a cluster of high-end CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is a near-identical performer, with a score 0.3% higher. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is just 0.4% faster in aggregate benchmarks. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is also within a 0.8% margin of the i5-14600KF's performance. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has a score that is 0.8% lower. For Doom, any of these processors would deliver nearly indistinguishable frame rates, as the game is likely to be GPU-bound in most scenarios for this class of hardware.

On the graphics card side, the RTX 5050's benchmark scores are closely matched by a few interesting alternatives. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 0.6% higher, while the AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 1% higher. These are older mobile and integrated parts, which reflects the RTX 5050's position in the market. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is a more relevant desktop comparison, scoring 1.6% lower than the RTX 5050. The NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is also in the same ballpark, with a score 1.6% higher. In practical terms for Doom, these GPUs would likely achieve very similar frame rates to the RTX 5050, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where the game is less strenuous on memory bandwidth.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Doom, and it does so with significant authority at most resolutions. The measured data confirms that the system clears the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution tested, though the settings headroom varies.

At 1920x1080, the verdict is clear: all presets, including Ultra, are fully playable. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 122 FPS, making it the best choice for a high-refresh-rate monitor.

At 2560x1440, the system is also fully playable at every preset. The Ultra preset, with an average of 79 FPS, is the recommended setting for the best visual quality while maintaining smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system can run the game, but with limitations. The Medium preset is the highest that remains above 60 FPS, averaging 62 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for a 60 FPS target, as they fall to 52 FPS and 43 FPS respectively. For a 4K experience, players would need to dial back to Medium settings to ensure a solid frame rate, or accept lower frame rates for higher fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160

• Ultra: Average 43 FPS
• High: Average 52 FPS
• Medium: Average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS
• Low: Average 71 FPS

2560x1440

• Ultra: Average 79 FPS
• High: Average 96 FPS
• Medium: Average 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS
• Low: Average 131 FPS

1920x1080

• Ultra: Average 122 FPS
• High: Average 149 FPS
• Medium: Average 176 FPS, with a minimum of 150 FPS and a maximum of 203 FPS
• Low: Average 202 FPS

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. The system achieves an average of 62 FPS at the Medium preset in 3840x2160. The High preset falls to 52 FPS, and Ultra drops to 43 FPS, which are below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset is fully playable at 2560x1440, with an average frame rate of 79 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available and it still clears the 60 FPS target.

Q: How much faster is the system at 1080p compared to 1440p on the Ultra preset?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 122 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same preset averages 79 FPS. This represents a performance drop of roughly 35% when moving to the higher resolution.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF a bottleneck for the RTX 5050 in this game?

A: The data suggests no. The CPU is in the 90th percentile for all CPUs and has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544. At 1080p Low settings, the system reaches 202 FPS, indicating the CPU can feed the GPU effectively without being a limiting factor.

Q: Are there other GPUs that perform similarly to the RTX 5050?

A: Yes. Based on aggregate benchmark scores, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is 0.6% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% slower. These cards would deliver a very similar experience in Doom.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 4K Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum frame rate recorded is 52 FPS, while the average is 62 FPS. This indicates that while the average is playable, there can be brief dips below the 60 FPS threshold.