Doom

The data presented here is measured performance for the Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 running Doom. The dataset covers three resolutions (3840x2160, 2560x1440, 1920x1080) and four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), with average FPS recorded for each combination. The playable threshold for this analysis is 60 FPS. The results show a clear progression of performance scaling, with the system demonstrating capability across all tested configurations, though the highest preset at 4K falls below the playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the system delivers an average of 90.5 FPS on Low settings, which is the highest performance at this resolution. Moving to Medium settings reduces the average to 80.9 FPS, a drop of 9.6 FPS from Low. High settings yield 65.8 FPS, which remains comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Ultra preset, however, produces only 53.3 FPS, which falls below the threshold and represents a significant 12.5 FPS decline from High settings. This pattern indicates that the 4K resolution is demanding enough that the highest quality settings overwhelm the GPU.

At 2560x1440, the performance envelope expands considerably. Low settings produce an average of 166.9 FPS, while Medium settings achieve 144.6 FPS. High settings deliver 124.4 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a strong 98.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a total reduction of 68.5 FPS, but every setting remains well above the 60 FPS threshold. The gap between High and Ultra is 26 FPS, which is the largest single-step decline at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the system reaches its highest frame rates. Low settings average 258.3 FPS, Medium settings average 223.4 FPS, and High settings produce 190.5 FPS. The Ultra preset still manages an impressive 159.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 99.2 FPS, demonstrating that even the most demanding settings leave substantial headroom above the playable threshold. The progression from Low to Medium to High to Ultra shows a consistent reduction of roughly 35 FPS per step, indicating balanced scaling.

Across all resolutions, the data shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution decreases. At 4K, the difference is 37.2 FPS, at 1440p it is 68.5 FPS, and at 1080p it is 99.2 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU becomes more capable of feeding frames to the GPU, allowing the full range of graphics settings to manifest in larger performance deltas.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 258.3, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 53.3, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 98.4 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the most demanding playable preset at this resolution.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from Low to Ultra at 1080p?

A: The difference is 99.2 FPS, with Low averaging 258.3 FPS and Ultra averaging 159.1 FPS at 1920x1080.

Q: Which resolution shows the smallest performance gap between Low and High settings?

A: At 3840x2160, the gap between Low (90.5 FPS) and High (65.8 FPS) is 24.7 FPS, which is the smallest difference among the three resolutions for these two presets.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in the measured data?

A: Yes, only once: at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, where the average drops to 53.3 FPS. All other tested configurations stay above the 60 FPS threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals how the CPU and GPU interact in Doom. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are significantly lower than at 2560x1440, with the gap between Low settings at 4K (90.5 FPS) and Low settings at 1440p (166.9 FPS) being 76.4 FPS. This large difference indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K, as the increased pixel count demands more from the RTX 3070 while the CPU has ample headroom.

Moving from 2560x1440 to 1920x1080, the frame rates increase dramatically. For example, High settings jump from 124.4 FPS at 1440p to 190.5 FPS at 1080p, a gain of 66.1 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU workload decreases enough that the CPU becomes more influential in determining final frame rates. The i9-14900K, with its high single-thread performance, is well-suited to handle the game's engine demands at these lower resolutions.

The settings presets also illuminate the CPU/GPU balance. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is 37.2 FPS, which is relatively modest compared to the 99.2 FPS difference at 1080p. This pattern indicates that at 4K, the GPU is saturated and settings changes have less impact on overall performance, while at 1080p, the GPU is less constrained, allowing settings to have a larger effect on the final frame rate. The data therefore shows a system where the GPU dominates at high resolutions, while the CPU's capabilities are more fully utilized at lower resolutions.

The Verdict

This PC can run Doom effectively at most tested configurations. At 1920x1080, all four settings presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra achieving 159.1 FPS and Low reaching 258.3 FPS. At 2560x1440, every preset also stays above 60 FPS, with Ultra delivering 98.4 FPS. At 3840x2160, three of the four presets are playable: High at 65.8 FPS, Medium at 80.9 FPS, and Low at 90.5 FPS. The only configuration that fails the 60 FPS test is 4K Ultra, which averages 53.3 FPS.

The verdict by resolution is clear. For 1080p and 1440p gaming, the system provides excellent performance with substantial headroom above the playable threshold. For 4K gaming, the system is capable but requires settings to be capped at High or lower to maintain 60 FPS. Users prioritizing visual quality at 4K would need to accept a lower frame rate or reduce settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination ranks 1593 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places the system in the upper-middle portion of the database, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer, it offers solid capability relative to other tested hardware configurations. The rank of 1593 out of 3712 means the combo outperforms roughly 57% of tested systems, making it a competitive option for this game.

This ranking reflects the balance between the powerful CPU and the mid-range GPU. The i9-14900K is a high-end processor, but the RTX 3070, while capable, is not the fastest GPU available. The combination produces strong results, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU's strengths are more evident, but it does not reach the heights of systems with more powerful GPUs.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains 60 FPS or higher is High, which averages 65.8 FPS. This is the recommended setting for 4K play, as it provides a comfortable margin above the threshold while offering better visual quality than Medium or Low.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings are fully playable with an average of 98.4 FPS. This is the best possible setting at this resolution, and the performance margin is substantial enough that no compromise is needed.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 159.1 FPS, making it the clear choice for maximum quality. The system has more than enough performance to handle the highest preset at this resolution, with a margin of 99.1 FPS above the playable threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for both components provides context for similar hardware behavior. For the CPU, the Intel Core i9-14900KF is the closest match, with an average benchmark score that is only 0.3% lower than the i9-14900K. This means users with the KF variant would see nearly identical performance in Doom. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 0.6% lower in score, while the AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% lower. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% higher in score, indicating it would perform slightly better in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT has an average score that is 0.7% higher than the RTX 3070, suggesting near-parity in gaming performance. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 is 1% higher, and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M is 1.1% higher. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c is 1.5% lower, indicating it would produce slightly lower frame rates. These alternatives show that the RTX 3070 sits in a tight performance band where small differences in benchmark scores translate to minimal real-world FPS changes in Doom.

The data suggests that swapping the i9-14900K for the i9-14900KF would result in virtually identical frame rates, while the RTX 3070's closest rivals would also yield comparable results. The overall system behavior would remain consistent across these alternatives, with the same resolution and settings recommendations applying.