Doom

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1596 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. That places this configuration in the upper-middle tier of all possible pairings, meaning it outperforms roughly 57% of tested systems while trailing the top 43%. The ranking is driven by a strong CPU that sits at the 94th percentile among all processors, while the GPU is more modest at the 61st percentile among all graphics cards. This asymmetry suggests the processor is not the limiting factor here; the RTX 3070 defines the ceiling. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 69355 puts it within 0.1% of the AMD EPYC 9115 (69288) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515) — essentially identical performance among these top-tier chips. The GPU’s average score of 17208 is 0.7% above the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083) and 1% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17037), showing it clusters with mid-range cards rather than flagship models. For Doom specifically, the data indicates this combo delivers playable frame rates across most settings, with the bottleneck appearing only at the most demanding preset in 4K, where average FPS drops to 54.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 and 2560x1440, yes — average FPS is 155 and 100 respectively. At 3840x2160, no — average FPS is 54, which falls below the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for 4K gaming with this combo?

A: High settings at 3840x2160 produce an average of 67 FPS, which is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS at that resolution. Ultra drops to 54 FPS, making it unplayable by the 60 FPS standard.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-14700K scores 69355 on average, which is 0.1% above the AMD EPYC 9115 (69288), 0.2% below the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515), 0.7% below the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (69875), and 0.9% below the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (69996). These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

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

A: The RTX 3070 scores 17208 on average, which is 0.7% above the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083), 1% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17037), 1.1% above the AMD Radeon HD 7970M (17019), and 1.5% below the NVIDIA Tesla K40c (17468). The performance spread is tight, indicating these cards deliver similar frame rates.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160, the min FPS is 67. At 2560x1440, the min FPS is 124. At 1920x1080, the min FPS is 191. These minimums all exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 still a relevant card for this game?

A: Yes, for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data shows it handles Ultra at 1440p with 100 FPS average and Ultra at 1080p with 155 FPS average. Only 4K Ultra is beyond its reach.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Core i7-14700K and the RTX 3070 becomes clear when examining FPS scaling across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the CPU’s strength is evident: Low settings yield 258 FPS, Medium 225 FPS, High 190 FPS, and Ultra 155 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 103 FPS, indicating that even at lower graphical loads, the GPU still has headroom — the CPU is feeding frames fast enough. Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern shifts: Low produces 167 FPS, Medium 145 FPS, High 123 FPS, and Ultra 100 FPS. The spread narrows to 67 FPS, showing the GPU starting to take on more responsibility as pixel count increases. At 3840x2160, the GPU dominates: Low yields 90 FPS, Medium 79 FPS, High 67 FPS, and Ultra 54 FPS. Here, the spread is just 36 FPS, and the CPU’s advantage is largely irrelevant — the RTX 3070’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and 8 GB GDDR6 capacity become the binding constraints. The scaling between resolutions is telling: dropping from 1080p to 1440p reduces Ultra FPS from 155 to 100 (a 35% decrease), while dropping from 1440p to 4K reduces it from 100 to 54 (a 46% decrease). This nonlinear drop confirms that the GPU is the primary driver at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample headroom at 1080p. For a game like Doom, which is fast-paced and benefits from high frame rates, the RTX 3070’s role becomes more critical as resolution rises, with the i7-14700K ensuring the GPU never starves for data.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide a map of hardware that would behave similarly in Doom. On the CPU side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, just 0.2% higher than the i7-14700K’s 69355. The AMD EPYC 9115 (69288) is 0.1% lower, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (69875) is 0.7% higher and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (69996) is 0.9% higher. For gaming, these differences are within noise — a user swapping the i7-14700K for any of these chips would see virtually identical frame rates in Doom, with the CPU rarely being the bottleneck. On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083) is 0.7% below the RTX 3070, making it a near-perfect substitute for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17037) and AMD Radeon HD 7970M (17019) are 1% and 1.1% lower respectively, though these older cards may lack modern feature support. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c (17468) is 1.5% higher, but as a compute-oriented card, its gaming performance may not translate directly. For Doom specifically, the RTX 3070’s 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are the key specs, and the RX 7600 XT offers the closest match in benchmark scores. A system with the i7-14700K and any of these rival GPUs would land in the same performance tier, with the 4K Ultra preset remaining the sole obstacle.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo spans three resolutions and four quality settings. At 3840x2160, Low settings produce an average of 90 FPS, Medium 79 FPS (with min 67 and max 91), High 67 FPS, and Ultra 54 FPS. The Medium preset shows the only complete min/max data at this resolution, indicating a range of 24 FPS between minimum and maximum. At 2560x1440, Low averages 167 FPS, Medium 145 FPS (min 124, max 167), High 123 FPS, and Ultra 100 FPS. The spread between min and max at Medium is 43 FPS, reflecting more variable frame times as the GPU works harder. At 1920x1080, Low averages 258 FPS, Medium 225 FPS (min 191, max 258), High 190 FPS, and Ultra 155 FPS. The Medium preset here shows a 67 FPS range between min and max, the largest variance in the dataset, likely due to CPU-driven frame pacing at very high frame rates. All presets at 1080p and 1440p exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold, as do all 4K presets except Ultra. The data reveals a consistent pattern: each step up in settings costs roughly 20-35 FPS at 1080p, 20-25 FPS at 1440p, and 10-13 FPS at 4K. This compression at higher resolutions underscores the GPU’s increasing dominance.

The Verdict

This PC can run Doom, and it does so comfortably for most scenarios. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 155 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same is true: Low (167 FPS), Medium (145 FPS), High (123 FPS), and Ultra (100 FPS) all remain well above 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the situation changes: High (67 FPS), Medium (79 FPS), and Low (90 FPS) are playable, but Ultra dips to 54 FPS, failing the 60 FPS requirement. The system is therefore fully capable for 1080p and 1440p gaming at maximum settings, and for 4K gaming at High settings or lower. The 4K Ultra limitation is not a hardware failure but a realistic boundary for a mid-range GPU in a demanding preset. For competitive play, the 155 FPS at 1080p Ultra and 100 FPS at 1440p Ultra provide smooth, responsive gameplay. The verdict is positive: this combo is a strong choice for Doom, with only the most extreme settings at 4K falling short.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 67 FPS. Medium (79 FPS) and Low (90 FPS) also qualify, but High offers the best visual quality while maintaining playability. At 2560x1440, the most demanding playable preset is Ultra, averaging 100 FPS — well above the threshold. This leaves substantial headroom for frame rate dips during intense scenes. At 1920x1080, Ultra is again the best choice, averaging 155 FPS. This is more than double the 60 FPS target, ensuring buttery-smooth performance even in chaotic firefights. For users prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, 1440p Ultra is the sweet spot, balancing image quality with a high frame rate. For those with 4K displays, High settings deliver a playable experience without sacrificing too much detail. The recommendation is straightforward: use Ultra at 1080p and 1440p, and High at 4K. This configuration maximizes the hardware’s potential while respecting the GPU’s limits.