Doom

The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers exceptional performance in Doom, clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested resolution and preset. The data shows this is a high-end pairing that handles the classic FPS with massive headroom, even at 4K Ultra settings where it maintains 64 FPS. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, compares the combo against other tested configurations, and provides specific settings guidance for each resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Doom at 4K with maxed-out settings?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 64 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the most demanding configuration tested, and it remains playable.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware in Doom?

A: At 2560x1440, the combo delivers 120.3 FPS on Ultra settings, while 1920x1080 Ultra reaches 191 FPS. Both provide a high-refresh-rate experience, but 1440p offers the best balance of visual fidelity and speed.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for Doom's performance?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. Moving from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings drops average FPS from 191 to 64, a 66% reduction. The Intel Core i7-12700K's single-thread score of 1043 in 3dmark and 1850.5 in Cinebench R23 provides ample processing power for the game's engine.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems for Doom?

A: The combo ranks 890 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 24% of all configurations. This percentile position confirms it is a strong performer for this specific title.

Q: What is the lowest FPS recorded for this combo in Doom?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 64 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. Even at this most demanding setting, the frame rate stays above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What settings should I use for a 60 FPS target at 4K?

A: All four tested settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) at 3840x2160 exceed 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, making it the recommended choice for maximum visual quality while maintaining playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination sits at rank 890 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This places the pairing in the 76th percentile of all configurations, meaning roughly three-quarters of tested systems perform worse in this game. The ranking reflects the synergy between the CPU's strong multi-threaded capabilities and the GPU's raw rasterization power.

The CPU itself holds an 84th percentile ranking among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 35287. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-13600T, scores 35305, a negligible 0.1% difference. The i7-12700K also sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core 5 213PE (35428), showing that the processor's performance tier is tightly clustered with several contemporary chips.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070 ranks in the 81st percentile of all graphics cards with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its closest competitor is the NVIDIA Tesla P4 at 37628, just 0.1% behind. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 trails by 0.4% with a score of 37507, while the RTX 4080 Mobile leads by 1.3% at 38135. These small deltas indicate that the RTX 4070's performance class is well established.

The measured FPS data confirms the combo's rank is justified. At 1920x1080, even the demanding Ultra preset produces 191 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 315.5 FPS. This level of performance at 1080p suggests the game is largely GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the CPU keeps pace effectively throughout all tested scenarios.

CPU and GPU Roles

Analyzing the FPS scaling across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the Intel Core i7-12700K and the RTX 4070. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 191 FPS, while the Low preset hits 315.5 FPS. This 124.5 FPS gap indicates that even at 1080p, GPU load varies significantly with visual quality settings. The CPU's 12 cores and 20 threads provide enough headroom to feed the GPU at these high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to 120.3 FPS, a 37% reduction from 1080p Ultra. The Low preset at 1440p delivers 202.5 FPS, down from 315.5 FPS at 1080p. This scaling suggests the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases, while the CPU maintains adequate throughput. The i7-12700K's 3dmark 16-thread score of 9276 and max-thread score of 9979 demonstrate its multi-core strength for handling game logic and draw calls.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset falls to 64 FPS, and the Low preset still manages 112.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 48.5 FPS, smaller than at 1080p (124.5 FPS), confirming that the GPU is saturated at this resolution regardless of settings. The RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 4K textures, but the shader workload limits performance. The GPU's 29.15 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 455.4 GTexel/s texture rate become the defining factors at 2160p.

The CPU's role remains consistent across resolutions. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and single-core score of 1850.5 indicate balanced performance that avoids bottlenecking the GPU. The data shows that at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU has headroom to scale with settings, while at 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor.

The Verdict

This PC can run Doom at every tested resolution and preset combination, with all configurations clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra with an average of 64 FPS, meaning even the most demanding scenario remains playable. The High preset at 4K averages 79.1 FPS, providing additional headroom for smoother gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 120.3 FPS, which is more than double the playable threshold. This resolution offers the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors, as the High preset reaches 149.9 FPS and Medium hits 177.7 FPS. Even the Low preset at 1440p produces 202.5 FPS, making this resolution ideal for competitive play.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional performance across all settings. The Ultra preset averages 191 FPS, while Medium reaches 273 FPS and Low hits 315.5 FPS. For esports or high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p, this hardware provides massive overhead. The verdict is clear: this system runs Doom exceptionally well at any resolution, with Ultra settings viable everywhere.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest CPU rivals to the Intel Core i7-12700K include the Intel Core i5-13600T, which scores 35305 in average benchmark performance, just 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i7-12700KF matches closely at 35365, a 0.2% difference, and represents the same architecture without integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, 0.3% higher, while the Intel Core 5 213PE leads the group at 35428, a 0.4% advantage. Any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Doom, as the differences are within measurement noise.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA Tesla P4 is the closest rival to the RTX 4070, scoring 37628 versus 37648, a 0.1% gap. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 trails by 0.4% at 37507, offering similar rasterization performance in this title. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile leads by 1.3% at 38135, while the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 sits 1.3% behind at 37157. Systems with these GPUs paired with comparable CPUs would produce very similar results in Doom.

For users considering alternatives, the data suggests that swapping the i7-12700K for any of its nearest rivals would change FPS by less than 0.5%. Similarly, replacing the RTX 4070 with the listed GPU alternatives would shift performance by roughly 1% or less. The combo's rank of 890 out of 3712 reflects this tight clustering, where small benchmark differences translate to minimal real-world FPS variation in Doom.

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 the maximum visual quality available while maintaining playability. The High preset provides a more comfortable margin at 79.1 FPS, and Medium reaches 96 FPS. For players prioritizing frame rate over visuals, the Low preset delivers 112.5 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 120.3 FPS. This resolution offers the best combination of image quality and performance, with the High preset at 149.9 FPS for even smoother motion. The Medium preset reaches 177.7 FPS, and Low tops out at 202.5 FPS. All settings at 1440p provide well above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings produce 191 FPS, which is the recommended configuration. The Medium preset reaches 273 FPS, and Low hits 315.5 FPS for maximum refresh rates. Since even the most demanding preset at 1080p nearly triples the playable threshold, there is no reason to reduce quality unless targeting a 240 Hz or higher display. The data confirms that this combo can run Doom at maximum settings with substantial headroom at every resolution.