Doom

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a robust experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and detail presets. The recorded data shows that this combination is capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p, remains very strong at 1440p, and is only marginally constrained at 4K Ultra settings. The following analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, answers common questions, and provides a clear verdict based solely on the database results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination is overwhelmingly fast. With Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 211.1 FPS, making it far beyond the needs of any 60 Hz display and suitable for high refresh rate monitors. Medium settings still produce an average of 186.3 FPS, while High settings deliver 154.3 FPS. Even at Ultra, which is the most demanding preset, the average remains at a very high 129.6 FPS. No minimum or maximum frame rate values were recorded in the database for any resolution or setting, so all analysis relies on average frame rates. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is about 81.5 FPS, which indicates that the GPU has ample headroom even when the most demanding preset is applied.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows a noticeable step down from 1080p. Low settings produce an average of 135.1 FPS, Medium drops to 120.5 FPS, and High comes in at 103.7 FPS. Ultra settings still clear the 60 FPS threshold comfortably, with an average of 81.3 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at this resolution is roughly 53.8 FPS, a smaller relative drop than at 1080p, which suggests that the GPU is still the dominant factor but the resolution increase is beginning to show its effect. Every preset at 1440p stays well above 60 FPS, so users with 1440p displays can select any quality level without worrying about playability.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. Low settings average 75.6 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS playability threshold. Medium settings average 66.4 FPS, also above the threshold. High settings drop to 58.1 FPS, which falls just short of the 60 FPS target. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with an average of only 42.5 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 33.1 FPS, a substantial margin that shows how much the resolution stresses the GPU. The data clearly indicates that 4K Ultra is not playable at 60 FPS with this combination, and even High settings miss the target by a small margin.

The overall pattern across all three resolutions is consistent: the Intel Core i5-9400 and RTX 2070 SUPER scale smoothly with settings, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The 1080p results are exceptional, the 1440p results are very good, and the 4K results are playable only at Low or Medium settings.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 129.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This is the highest preset available, and it performs excellently at this resolution.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p if I want the highest quality image?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 81.3 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. The database lists Ultra as the best setting for this resolution, so you can use the most demanding preset without sacrificing playability.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combination?

A: It depends on the preset. Low settings at 3840x2160 average 75.6 FPS, and Medium settings average 66.4 FPS, both of which clear the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 58.1 FPS, which falls short of the threshold, and Ultra averages 42.5 FPS, which is not playable at 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to nearby GPUs in the database?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20282. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M with a score of 20480, which is about 1% higher, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile at 20534, about 1.2% higher, the Intel Arc B570 at 20556, about 1.3% higher, and the Intel Arc A750 at 20582, about 1.5% higher. The differences are small, meaning these GPUs would behave similarly in most scenarios.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-9400 compare to nearby CPUs in the database?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 at 2259, which is about 0.2% higher, the Intel Core i3-10305 at 2264, about 0.4% higher, the Intel Core i7-10710U at 2248, about 0.3% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 at 2246, about 0.4% lower. These differences are minimal, so the CPU would perform nearly identically to these alternatives in gaming workloads.

Q: What is the playable threshold used in the database?

A: The database uses a playable threshold of 60 FPS. Any preset with an average frame rate at or above this value is considered playable.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, every preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, so the best setting is Ultra, which delivers an average of 129.6 FPS. This is the most demanding preset available, and it still provides a frame rate that is more than double the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, all four presets also clear the 60 FPS threshold. The best setting is Ultra, with an average of 81.3 FPS. This gives users the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more restrictive. Low settings average 75.6 FPS, and Medium settings average 66.4 FPS, both of which clear the threshold. High settings average 58.1 FPS, which falls short, and Ultra averages 42.5 FPS. The best setting for 4K is Medium, with an average of 66.4 FPS, as it is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination ranks 2138 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the upper portion of the database, though not near the top. The rank reflects a balance between the CPU and GPU, where the GPU is strong enough for high frame rates at lower resolutions but the overall position is pulled down by the CPU's mid-range standing. The CPU itself sits at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 65th percentile among all GPUs. This suggests that the GPU is the stronger component in this pairing, and the combo rank is likely limited more by the CPU than the GPU. The frame rate data supports this interpretation, as the 1080p results show very high averages, but the 4K results show a significant drop, which is typical of a GPU that is capable but not top-tier.

The rank of 2138 out of 3712 means that roughly 42% of tested combos perform better in Doom, while the majority perform worse. This is a solid position for a mainstream setup, and the measured frame rates confirm that it is well suited for high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, the Intel Core i3-10305, the Intel Core i7-10710U, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500. The i7-1068NG7 scores about 0.2% higher, the i3-10305 scores about 0.4% higher, the i7-10710U scores about 0.3% lower, and the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores about 0.4% lower. These differences are negligible, so any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Doom when paired with the same GPU. Users upgrading from one of these CPUs to the i5-9400 would see no meaningful change in gaming performance.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, the Intel Arc B570, and the Intel Arc A750. The Quadro M4000M scores about 1% higher, the RTX 3070 Mobile scores about 1.2% higher, the Arc B570 scores about 1.3% higher, and the Arc A750 scores about 1.5% higher. Again, these differences are small, and the frame rates in Doom would be very similar across these GPUs. The RTX 2070 SUPER is slightly behind these rivals, but the margin is small enough that real-world performance would be nearly indistinguishable. Users considering any of these GPUs should expect comparable results to the RTX 2070 SUPER in this game.

The Verdict

The data shows that the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER can run Doom successfully at all three tested resolutions, but with important caveats at 4K. At 1920x1080, all presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 129.6 FPS. This makes the combination ideal for high refresh rate monitors, even at maximum quality settings. At 2560x1440, all presets also clear the threshold, with Ultra averaging 81.3 FPS. This is a very strong result for 1440p gaming, and users can play with the highest settings without concern.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The database lists Low and Medium as playable settings, with Medium being the best option at 66.4 FPS. High settings fall just short of the threshold at 58.1 FPS, and Ultra is not playable at 42.5 FPS. If the goal is 4K gaming, the user must accept Medium settings to maintain a smooth experience. For anyone prioritizing 1080p or 1440p, this combination is more than sufficient and offers excellent performance across all presets. The RTX 2070 SUPER is the stronger component in this pairing, and the CPU does not appear to bottleneck the GPU at any tested resolution, as evidenced by the consistently high frame rates. Overall, this is a capable setup for Doom, with the only limitation being the inability to run 4K at High or Ultra settings while maintaining 60 FPS.