Doom

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a strong performance profile in Doom, with the data showing that the combination is capable of maintaining 60 FPS or higher across most resolution and settings combinations. The measured frame rates indicate that this pairing is well-balanced for the 2016 FPS title, though it begins to strain at the highest settings in 4K. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark data, component roles, and optimal configurations based strictly on the provided measurements.

FAQ

Q: What is the best playable setting at 3840x2160 for this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The highest quality preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 4K is High, which produces an average of 62.1 FPS. Ultra drops below the playable threshold at 48.8 FPS, while Low and Medium reach 80.2 and 71.3 FPS respectively.

*Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations for Doom?*

A: This specific pairing ranks 1997 out of 3712 tested combos in the game's database, placing it in the middle of the field. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU's strong position and the GPU's mid-tier standing.

Q: Which component has a higher benchmark percentile relative to all other hardware?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K sits in the 95th percentile for all CPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is in the 61st percentile for all GPUs. This indicates the processor is a top-tier performer, whereas the graphics card is more mid-range.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4060 and its closest rival, the Radeon HD 7790?

A: The Radeon HD 7790 has an average benchmark score of 17666, which is 0.2% lower than the RTX 4060's score of 17639. The delta is negligible, suggesting near-identical synthetic performance between the two cards.

*Q: Is the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory capacity sufficient for Doom at all tested resolutions?*

A: The measured FPS data shows playable frame rates at every resolution and preset except 4K Ultra, indicating that the 8 GB VRAM does not bottleneck performance in this title. The only failure point is the Ultra preset at 3840x2160, which averages 48.8 FPS.

*Q: Does the CPU's 24-core configuration provide any advantage in Doom?*

A: The data shows that the i9-14900K's high multi-threaded performance (e.g., 39399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) does not translate into a bottleneck for the GPU. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 228.2 FPS, suggesting the processor easily feeds the graphics card.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i9-14900K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, with the GPU becoming the limiting factor as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial: the frame rate drops from 228.2 FPS on Low to 135.8 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of 92.4 FPS. This scaling shows that the GPU is already under significant load even at 1080p, while the CPU's 95th percentile ranking ensures it never becomes the bottleneck.

Moving to 2560x1440, the trend continues but the margins tighten relative to 1080p. The Ultra preset yields 90.1 FPS, while Low reaches 147.2 FPS, a spread of 57.1 FPS. The CPU's role diminishes further at this resolution, as the RTX 4060's workload increases with pixel count. The fact that Ultra remains above 60 FPS at 1440p indicates the GPU still has headroom, but the gap between presets narrows compared to 1080p, confirming that graphical load is shifting more heavily onto the graphics card.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. The Ultra preset falls to 48.8 FPS, below the 60 FPS playable threshold, while High manages 62.1 FPS. The scaling from Medium (71.3 FPS) to High (62.1 FPS) to Ultra (48.8 FPS) shows a steep performance cliff, highlighting that the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus are insufficient for the most demanding 4K settings. The CPU's contribution is negligible at this resolution, as the frame rate is entirely constrained by the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth.

Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: the i9-14900K provides ample headroom, and the RTX 4060 dictates performance. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo achieves over 135 FPS even on Ultra, indicating the CPU is not limiting. At 1440p, the GPU handles all presets above 60 FPS, but the gap between Low and Ultra (57.1 FPS) is smaller than at 1080p (92.4 FPS). At 4K, the GPU's limitations become apparent, with only High and below maintaining playability. This progression confirms that the graphics card is the primary determinant of frame rates in Doom, especially at higher resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i9-14900KF has an average benchmark score of 79371, which is 0.3% lower than the i9-14900K's 79097. This negligible delta means the KF variant (which lacks integrated graphics) would perform virtually identically in Doom, with the same 24-core, 32-thread configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is also close, with a score of 79574 (0.6% higher), suggesting comparable gaming performance despite its different architecture. For users considering alternatives, the AMD EPYC 7413 sits 1.2% higher at 80041, but its server-oriented design would likely not change Doom frame rates given the GPU bottleneck. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 trails by 1.7% at 77740, still within a margin that would not produce noticeable differences in this game.

On the GPU side, the closest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666 (0.2% higher than the RTX 4060's 17639). Despite being an older architecture, the benchmark data suggests it would deliver nearly identical FPS in Doom, though the RTX 4060 offers newer features like DLSS and ray tracing that are not relevant to this 2016 title. The AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics scores 17588 (0.3% lower), making it a surprisingly close competitor in synthetic tests, but its integrated nature means it would be paired with different CPUs in practice. The Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 are 0.5% and 0.7% lower respectively, indicating they would also produce similar frame rates, but their professional-grade drivers might affect real-world gaming performance.

These rival comparisons show that the RTX 4060 sits in a narrow performance band where several older or integrated GPUs are within 1% of its benchmark score. For Doom specifically, this means users with any of these alternatives could expect roughly the same FPS at each resolution and preset, assuming the CPU is not a bottleneck. The CPU alternatives are similarly clustered, with all four rivals within 1.7% of the i9-14900K's score, reinforcing that this combo's performance is representative of a broader class of hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this Intel Core i9-14900K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination at rank 1997 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This position in the 54th percentile of all tested systems indicates a middle-of-the-pack standing, which is consistent with the GPU's 61st percentile ranking dragging down the CPU's 95th percentile. The combo outperforms the bottom half of tested configurations but is clearly not at the top tier, where faster GPUs would be paired with similar CPUs.

The rank reflects the RTX 4060's limitations at higher resolutions. While the CPU provides top-tier performance, the GPU's mid-range standing means the combo cannot compete with systems using higher-end graphics cards. However, the rank also shows that this pairing is not a poor match; it exceeds the performance of 1715 other combos, suggesting it is a viable mid-range option. The data shows that the rank is primarily determined by the GPU, as the CPU's exceptional benchmark scores do not boost the combo above similar GPU pairings.

In practical terms, this rank means the combo sits comfortably in the middle of the distribution for Doom performance. The 3712 total combos include a wide variety of CPUs and GPUs, so being at 1997 indicates that this specific pairing is typical for its class. Users with this setup should expect performance that is average among all tested systems, though the exact frame rates measured here provide a concrete reference point for what to expect in-game.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly shows that this PC can run Doom effectively at most resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with Ultra averaging 135.8 FPS and Low reaching 228.2 FPS. This resolution offers the most headroom, with even the most demanding settings delivering more than double the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, all presets also remain above 60 FPS, with Ultra at 90.1 FPS and High at 106.2 FPS, making 1440p a fully viable resolution for this combo.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The High preset achieves 62.1 FPS, just barely clearing the 60 FPS threshold, while Low (80.2 FPS) and Medium (71.3 FPS) are also playable. However, Ultra falls to 48.8 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The verdict data confirms that High is the best playable setting at 4K, with an average of 62.1 FPS. Users who prioritize 4K gaming must accept the High preset or lower, as Ultra is not viable.

Overall, the combo is fully capable of running Doom at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, and at 4K with High settings. The only configuration that fails to meet the 60 FPS target is 4K Ultra, which is a demanding combination for the RTX 4060. For most players, this PC will provide a smooth experience, especially at mainstream resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 135.8 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and the data shows there is no need to compromise on visuals at this resolution. The frame rate is well above the playable threshold, leaving substantial headroom for any potential framerate drops in demanding scenes.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best playable setting, producing an average of 90.1 FPS. This is comfortably above 60 FPS, though the margin is smaller than at 1080p. The data indicates that 1440p Ultra is a stable choice, with the frame rate still 30.1 FPS above the threshold. Users seeking a higher refresh rate could drop to High (106.2 FPS) or Medium (125.9 FPS), but Ultra remains fully playable.

At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is High, which averages 62.1 FPS. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving minimal headroom. Medium (71.3 FPS) and Low (80.2 FPS) are also viable, but High offers the best visual quality while maintaining playability. Ultra is not an option at 4K, as it drops to 48.8 FPS. The data suggests that 4K users should stick with High to stay above 60 FPS, with the understanding that frame rates may dip slightly below the average in heavier scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160: The data shows a clear hierarchy across settings. Low produces the highest frame rate at 80.2 FPS, followed by Medium at 71.3 FPS and High at 62.1 FPS. Ultra is the lowest at 48.8 FPS, which is the only sub-60 result in the entire dataset. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 31.4 FPS drop, with the largest single step occurring between High and Ultra (13.3 FPS).

2560x1440: At this resolution, Low achieves 147.2 FPS, Medium reaches 125.9 FPS, and High delivers 106.2 FPS. Ultra is the slowest at 90.1 FPS, but all presets remain well above the playable threshold. The spread from Low to Ultra is 57.1 FPS, indicating that the GPU workload increases significantly with each preset step, but the RTX 4060 handles all of them without issue.

1920x1080: This resolution shows the highest frame rates in the dataset. Low peaks at 228.2 FPS, Medium at 196.7 FPS, and High at 168.9 FPS. Ultra still manages 135.8 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 92.4 FPS, the largest absolute drop across all resolutions, demonstrating that the GPU is heavily loaded even at 1080p when settings are maxed out.

Across all resolutions, the data shows a consistent pattern: frame rates decrease as settings increase, and the penalty for moving from High to Ultra is more severe than from Medium to High. The lack of min and max FPS values in the dataset means only averages are available, but these provide a reliable basis for comparing performance across configurations.