Doom

Doom, the 2016 reboot of the classic FPS franchise, is a fast-paced, demanding title that serves as an excellent benchmark for mid-range hardware. The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 represents a pairing of a six-core CPU from the Coffee Lake era with a Turing-architecture GPU, both now considered end-of-life products but still common in gaming systems. The recorded data in our database offers a comprehensive look at how this duo handles the demonic onslaught across various resolutions and presets, revealing a system that is surprisingly capable and scales in a predictable manner.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combination show a clear hierarchy based on resolution and graphical preset. At 1920x1080, the system is overwhelmingly powerful, delivering frame rates well beyond what is required for smooth gameplay. The average FPS starts at 175 on Low settings, which is an exceptionally high figure that leaves ample headroom for high refresh rate monitors. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 152 FPS, with a minimum of 130 and a maximum of 175, indicating consistent performance with only minor dips. High settings still produce an impressive 129 FPS average, while the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a robust 105 FPS average. This resolution is clearly where this combo thrives, offering a buttery-smooth experience even with all visual features enabled.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong, but the gap between presets widens and the overall numbers become more moderate. The Low preset delivers a 113 FPS average, which is still excellent for competitive play. Medium settings provide a 99 FPS average with a minimum of 84 and a maximum of 113, showing that the system can hold its own with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset results in an 83 FPS average, which is perfectly playable and visually rich. The Ultra preset, while still playable, brings the average down to 68 FPS. This is above the playable threshold, but it indicates that Ultra settings at 1440p are approaching the limits of this hardware combination.

At 3840x2160, or 4K resolution, the nature of the performance changes drastically. The demands of pushing four times the pixels of 1080p become immediately apparent. The Low preset yields a 61 FPS average, which barely clears the 60 FPS playable threshold and marks the upper boundary of what this system can achieve at this resolution. The Medium preset drops to a 53 FPS average, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61, showing that while playable, the experience will not be consistently smooth. High settings average 45 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 37 FPS, both of which are below the acceptable threshold for a fast-paced action game. The data shows a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a clear shift in workload balance between the CPU and GPU as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the high frame rates suggest that the system is operating in a CPU-bound scenario in some instances, particularly at lower presets where the GPU has less work to do. The difference between the Low preset's 175 FPS and the Ultra preset's 105 FPS is substantial, but even the lower figure is high enough to suggest the GPU is still the main driver. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra (a 70 FPS difference) shows the GPU is being increasingly taxed. The Intel Core i5-9400, with its six cores and six threads, has sufficient processing power to feed the RTX 2060 at these frame rates, allowing the GPU to be the primary performance limiter.

When moving to 2560x1440, the GPU's role becomes more dominant. The frame rates at all presets are lower than at 1080p, and the scaling between presets is more pronounced, indicating that the GPU is handling a significantly heavier load. The CPU is less likely to be a limiting factor here, as the increased resolution reduces the number of frames the CPU needs to prepare per second. The data suggests a balanced system at this resolution, where the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, but the CPU is still capable enough to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The difference between the High and Ultra presets (83 vs 68 FPS) highlights the GPU's struggle with the most demanding settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the limiting factor. The frame rates are drastically lower across all presets compared to the lower resolutions, and the data shows a clear linear progression from Low to Ultra (61, 53, 45, and 37 FPS). The CPU's role is minimized here, as the GPU is so heavily loaded with pixel rendering that the processor has ample time to prepare frames. The i5-9400 is not the bottleneck; the RTX 2060 is simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of pixels at 4K. The scaling between resolutions further confirms this, with the average FPS at 1080p Ultra being nearly three times higher than at 4K Ultra, evidence of the GPU's dominant role at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 60 FPS on a 1080p monitor?

A: Yes, unequivocally. The data shows that at 1920x1080, all presets, from Low to Ultra, average well above 60 FPS, with the lowest average being 105 FPS for the Ultra preset.

Q: What is the highest quality setting that maintains a 60 FPS average at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset is the most demanding option tested, and it still manages a 68 FPS average at 2560x1440. This makes it the best visual setting that remains above the 60 FPS playable threshold at this resolution.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this configuration?

A: It is marginal. The only preset that achieves a playable average FPS is Low, which hits 61 FPS. Any higher settings, such as Medium (53 FPS), High (45 FPS), or Ultra (37 FPS), fall below the 60 FPS threshold and would not provide a consistently smooth experience.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1080p and 1440p?

A: The impact is significant. For example, on the Ultra preset, the average FPS drops from 105 at 1920x1080 to 68 at 2560x1440, a decrease of 37 FPS. This shows the added pixel load on the GPU.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more at 4K?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 3840x2160. The frame rates are uniformly low across all presets, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, as the resolution increase places the entire burden on the graphics card.

Q: Are the minimum FPS figures for Medium settings consistent with the averages?

A: The data shows that the minimum FPS for Medium presets is consistently lower than the average, but the gap is smaller at lower resolutions. For instance, at 1080p, the minimum is 130 against an average of 152, while at 4K, the minimum is 45 against an average of 53, indicating more stability at lower resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

In the database, the Intel Core i5-9400 has a set of nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is a close match, with a score 0.4% higher, and the Intel Core i7-10710U is 0.3% higher. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is slightly slower at -0.2%, and the Intel Core i3-10305 is also slightly slower at -0.4%. These processors would offer a similar level of CPU performance in Doom, meaning that if the game is GPU-bound, swapping to one of these would likely result in comparable frame rates. The choice between them would come down to platform and other system-level features rather than a significant difference in gaming performance for this title.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060's closest rivals are remarkably close in average performance. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 matches the RTX 2060 with a 0% delta, which is an intriguing data point given the generational gap. The AMD Radeon 680M is just 0.1% higher, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is 0.6% higher and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is 0.8% higher. In practical terms for Doom, these cards would produce nearly identical frame rates to the RTX 2060 at the same settings and resolutions. A user with any of these GPUs paired with a similar-class CPU can expect a very similar performance profile, with the same limitations at 4K and the same high levels of performance at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database's extensive collection of tested processor and graphics card combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 holds a rank of 2934 out of 3712 total combinations for Doom. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems. This ranking might seem low given the strong performance at 1080p, but it is important to consider the context. The database likely includes many high-end and enthusiast-level combinations with much more powerful CPUs and GPUs, which would naturally score higher. The rank reflects this combo's position relative to the full spectrum of tested hardware, not its absolute capability. The data suggests that while this system is more than capable of running Doom well at common resolutions, it is not a top-tier performer when compared to the most powerful rigs in the database.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data and the 60 FPS playable threshold, this PC can absolutely run Doom. The verdict is clear for 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 resolutions. At 1080p, the system is overpowered, with every preset, including Ultra, providing an average frame rate well above 60 FPS, ensuring a flawless and highly responsive experience. At 1440p, it remains fully playable, with the Ultra preset being the only one that dips near the threshold but still averages a healthy 68 FPS. The story changes at 4K, where the system is just barely able to play the game. Only the Low preset clears the 60 FPS mark, making 4K gaming a compromise that is not recommended for a game that demands quick reactions. The overall conclusion is that this is a solid 1080p and 1440p gaming machine for Doom, but it is not suited for 4K gaming at higher quality settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

For players aiming to maximize visual quality while maintaining a smooth 60 FPS average, the data provides a clear guide. At 3840x2160, the only viable option is the Low preset, which yields an average of 61 FPS. This is a significant visual compromise, but it is the only way to achieve playable performance at this resolution. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while still averaging 68 FPS, comfortably above the threshold. This allows for the full visual experience of Doom without sacrificing smoothness. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is also the recommended setting, delivering an impressive 105 FPS average. This provides the best possible image quality and more than enough performance for even the fastest-paced combat, making it the definitive way to experience the game with this hardware.