Doom

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 delivers a performance profile in Doom that is heavily dependent on resolution, with the data revealing a clear transition from GPU-bound to CPU-bound behavior as pixel count decreases. At 4K, the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates on the most demanding preset, while at 1080p it achieves over triple the performance of that same 4K Ultra setting. The measured data, derived from actual benchmark runs, shows a system that is far more comfortable at 1440p and below, where it can exploit the game's higher refresh rate potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates across the four settings tiers show a steep performance cliff. The Low preset averages 71 FPS, which drops to 62 FPS on Medium, 52 FPS on High, and 43 FPS on Ultra. The only complete min/max data at this resolution comes from the Medium preset, which records a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS, indicating that even at this middle setting, there is significant frame time variance. The spread between Low and Ultra is 28 FPS, a substantial gap that underscores how sensitive the RTX 5050 is to the increased shading and texture work at 4K.

Stepping down to 2560x1440, the performance picture improves dramatically. The Low preset averages 131 FPS, Medium averages 114 FPS, High averages 96 FPS, and Ultra still manages a respectable 79 FPS. The Medium preset again provides the only min/max data, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. Notably, the delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 52 FPS, which is a larger absolute difference than at 4K, but the average frame rates are all well above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot where the GPU still has room to breathe, and the CPU's high single-thread performance can push frame rates higher.

At 1920x1080, the combo reaches its peak performance. The Low preset averages 202 FPS, Medium averages 176 FPS, High averages 149 FPS, and Ultra averages 122 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 150 FPS and a maximum of 203 FPS, suggesting that even the worst-case frame times at 1080p are higher than the average frame rates at 4K Ultra. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 80 FPS, indicating that the game's settings have a massive impact on the GPU workload at this resolution, but the absolute performance is so high that even the heaviest preset remains fluid.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals a classic division of labor. At 3840x2160, the RTX 5050 is clearly the limiting factor. The frame rate drops significantly as settings increase, from 71 FPS at Low to 43 FPS at Ultra, which is a 39% reduction in average FPS. This pattern is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated by the pixel and shading workload at 4K. The CPU, an Intel Core i7-14700K with 20 cores and 28 threads, is unlikely to be the bottleneck at this resolution, as the required draw calls and game logic are far less demanding than the raw pixel throughput.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The frame rates are higher across all settings, but the relative drop from Low to Ultra is still substantial, going from 131 FPS to 79 FPS. This suggests the GPU is still the primary constraint, but the CPU is now able to feed it more efficiently, resulting in higher absolute frame rates. The i7-14700K's boost clock of 5.60 GHz and its strong single-core performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2569, likely contribute to the ability to maintain high frame rates at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the role of the CPU becomes more prominent. The average frame rates on Low and Medium are 202 FPS and 176 FPS, respectively, which are high enough that the CPU's ability to process game logic and issue draw calls becomes a more significant factor. The i7-14700K's multi-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5, helps ensure that the game engine has enough thread headroom to keep up with the GPU. The data suggests that at 1080p, the system is more balanced, but the GPU still has the final say on the Ultra preset, which drops to 122 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which achieves an average of 62 FPS. The data shows that High and Ultra fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 52 FPS and 43 FPS, respectively. Low is also playable at 71 FPS, but Medium is the highest quality option that maintains a playable frame rate. This means a 4K display can be used, but the visual fidelity must be capped to the middle settings.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, and the best settings are Ultra, which averages 79 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving headroom for demanding scenes. The data indicates that 1440p is the resolution where the combo can truly stretch its legs, offering a full range of settings without compromising playability. Low averages 131 FPS, Medium 114 FPS, and High 96 FPS, but Ultra provides the best visual experience while still delivering fluid motion.

For 1920x1080, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 122 FPS. This is the only resolution where the Ultra preset not only clears the 60 FPS threshold but does so by a wide margin. The other presets are all above 149 FPS, making 1080p the resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors. The data shows that the combo can handle the game's maximum settings at 1080p without breaking a sweat, and the average frame rate of 122 FPS is more than sufficient for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank in this game is 2281 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the 61st percentile of all systems tested for Doom. This is a mid-pack ranking, which is somewhat surprising given the high-end nature of the CPU. The RTX 5050, which has a percentile rank of 66 among all GPUs, is likely the primary factor holding the combo back in the overall rankings. The CPU, on the other hand, has a percentile rank of 94 among all CPUs, indicating that it is a top-tier processor, but the GPU's mid-range performance drags the combined score down.

The ranking suggests that while this combo is capable of running Doom well at most resolutions, it is not a top performer relative to other systems that have been benchmarked. Many of the 1431 combos ranked above it likely feature more powerful GPUs, which would dominate in a game that scales well with graphics hardware. The data implies that the i7-14700K is not the bottleneck, and that upgrading the GPU would yield a significant improvement in the combo's rank.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is a very close match, with an average benchmark score of 69515 compared to the i7-14700K's 69355, a delta of -0.2%. This means that in synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 9 7950X performs nearly identically, and in a game like Doom, the performance difference would be negligible. The AMD EPYC 9115 is also within 0.1%, suggesting that the CPU's performance is not unique, and that several other high-core-count processors would deliver similar frame rates.

For the GPU, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, which has an average score of 21153, a delta of -0.6% compared to the RTX 5050's 21035. This is a very close match, indicating that in Doom, the RTX 5050 and the RX Vega M GL would produce nearly identical frame rates. The AMD Radeon HD 8970M is also within 1% of the RTX 5050's score, which is surprising given its age, but the benchmark data suggests it is a comparable performer. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% slower, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% faster, all of which would be indistinguishable in real-world gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Doom at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only on Low or Medium settings. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold, while High averages 52 FPS and Ultra averages 43 FPS, both of which are not playable.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is the best option, as it averages 79 FPS. All four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at this resolution, with Low averaging 131 FPS, Medium 114 FPS, and High 96 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5050's performance compare to the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT in this game?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, which is 1.6% higher than the RX 5600 XT's score of 20713. In practice, this would result in a very similar frame rate in Doom.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The data indicates that at 1080p, the GPU is still the primary constraint, as frame rates drop significantly from Low (202 FPS) to Ultra (122 FPS). However, the CPU's high single-thread performance allows it to feed the GPU effectively, resulting in high absolute frame rates.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2281 out of 3712 total combinations, which places it in the lower half of the top 62% of tested systems for Doom.

Q: Does the RTX 5050 have enough VRAM for Doom at high settings?

A: The RTX 5050 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The benchmark data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 43, which indicates that the GPU is struggling with the workload, but the data does not isolate VRAM capacity as the specific cause.

The Verdict

The data shows that this PC can run Doom, but the experience is heavily dependent on resolution. At 3840x2160, the verdict is that only Low and Medium settings are playable, with Medium being the best at 62 FPS. High and Ultra are not recommended, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the verdict is that all four presets are playable, with Ultra being the best at 79 FPS, offering a high-quality experience. At 1920x1080, the verdict is that all presets are playable, with Ultra being the best at 122 FPS, providing an excellent experience for high-refresh-rate displays.

The data suggests that the i7-14700K is more than capable of handling the game's CPU demands, and the RTX 5050 is the component that determines the playability ceiling. For 4K gaming, users would need to compromise on settings, but for 1440p and 1080p, the combo offers a smooth and highly responsive experience. The performance gap between 4K and 1080p is stark, with the average FPS on Ultra more than doubling from 43 to 122, highlighting the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. This is a system that is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it can balance visual quality and performance without hitting the GPU's ceiling.