Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination that delivers playable frame rates in Doom at 1080p and 1440p, but it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 4K. The data shows a clear performance ceiling imposed by the graphics component, making this a setup best suited for lower resolution gaming.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this combo each have distinct performance neighborhoods according to the database. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 posts an average benchmark score of 48995, placing it in the 90th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are remarkably close in overall capability. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, which is just 0.4% higher, making it a near-identical match for CPU-bound tasks. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, a 0.5% advantage. On the Intel side, the Xeon Gold 5318H scores 48698, lagging by 0.6%, while the Core i5-14600K scores 48618, trailing by 0.8%. These four processors represent the same performance tier, so swapping between them would yield negligible differences in Doom.

The GPU side tells a very different story. The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of just 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1463 (1.3% slower), the GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% slower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5% slower), and the GeForce GT 710 at 1443 (2.7% slower). These are all entry-level or legacy graphics solutions. The Arc B390 is the strongest of this group, but the margins are slim. In practical terms, any of these GPUs would deliver similar frame rates in Doom, meaning the combo's performance is firmly anchored to this low-end GPU tier.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the CPU and GPU in this combo is stark. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a high-end desktop processor with 14 cores and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, clearly capable of handling the game's logic and physics. The Intel Arc B390, however, is a low-power integrated graphics solution with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it in the bottom 9% of all GPUs. The recorded frame rates show the GPU is the limiting factor at every resolution.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are consistently low. The High preset averages 28 FPS, Medium averages 33 FPS, and even the Low preset only reaches 37 FPS. None of these approach the 60 FPS playable threshold. The scaling between presets shows the GPU's raw throughput is the bottleneck, as reducing graphical load from Ultra to Low only yields a 15 FPS improvement (from 22 to 37 FPS). The CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread scores, such as 4648 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 32924 in multi-core, are not being utilized to their full potential because the GPU cannot render frames fast enough.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves but the GPU remains the dominant constraint. The Low preset hits 69 FPS, and the Medium preset exactly meets the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 60 FPS (ranging from 51 to 69 FPS). The High preset drops to 51 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a clear GPU-bound curve: each preset step costs roughly 9 to 10 FPS. This pattern indicates that the CPU has headroom to spare, while the GPU's shading units (1536) and texture units (48) are saturated.

At 1920x1080, the GPU still dictates performance, but the CPU's capability becomes more relevant. The Low preset reaches 107 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS, High averages 78 FPS, and Ultra averages 64 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 43 FPS, which is larger than at 1440p, suggesting that at lower resolutions the CPU can feed the GPU more consistently, allowing the GPU's limitations to show more clearly. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4394 and multi-thread score of 38706 are more than sufficient for Doom's engine, which is an older title from 2016. The bottleneck is unequivocally the Arc B390's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 24 ROPs.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and Intel Arc B390 at position 3300 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the bottom 11% of all system configurations. The ranking reflects the severe GPU bottleneck, as the CPU's high percentile (90th) is dragged down by the GPU's low percentile (9th). Many combos with weaker CPUs but stronger mid-range GPUs would rank higher because Doom is a fast-paced FPS where frame rate is heavily dependent on graphics hardware. The 3300th rank indicates that this pairing is not competitive for high-refresh-rate gaming, but it is still ahead of the lowest 412 combos, which likely feature even older or more integrated graphics solutions.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Doom? Yes, but with strict resolution and preset limitations. According to the recorded data, the system achieves playable frame rates (at or above 60 FPS) only at 2560x1440 and 1920x1080.

At 3840x2160, no preset clears the 60 FPS threshold. The best recorded result is 37 FPS on Low, which is far from playable. The verdict for 4K is a firm no.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable on Low and Medium presets. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, and the Medium preset averages exactly 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall below the threshold at 51 FPS and 41 FPS respectively. The best playable setting is Medium, which hits 60 FPS on average.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable on all four presets. The Low preset averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS, High averages 78 FPS, and Ultra averages 64 FPS. The best playable setting is Ultra, which stays above 60 FPS with an average of 64 FPS.

In summary, this combo can run Doom smoothly at 1080p with maximum settings, and at 1440p with reduced settings. It cannot handle 4K at all. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has ample processing power, but the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting factor that prevents higher resolution or higher preset usage.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest recorded average frame rate is 37 FPS on the Low preset. The Medium preset averages 33 FPS, High averages 28 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. None reach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 2560x1440?

A: The Medium preset is the best option that maintains 60 FPS, averaging exactly 60 FPS (with a range of 51 to 69 FPS). The Low preset is also playable at 69 FPS, but Medium offers higher visual quality while still meeting the threshold.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 CPU a bottleneck for this game?

A: No. The CPU is not the limiting factor. Its average benchmark score of 48995 places it in the 90th percentile, and its nearest rivals (AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, AMD Ryzen 9 7900) are within 0.5% of its performance. The frame rates are constrained by the Intel Arc B390 GPU.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710. All of these are low-tier GPUs.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1920x1080 on High settings?

A: The High preset at 1920x1080 averages 78 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold and provides smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is also playable, averaging 64 FPS.

Q: Does the combo rank well among all tested systems for Doom?

A: No. It ranks 3300 out of 3712 combos, placing it in the bottom 11% of configurations. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's limited performance, despite the CPU being in the top 10% of all processors.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows:

• 3840x2160: No preset achieves 60 FPS. The best recorded average is 37 FPS on Low, which is not playable. The system should be set to a lower resolution for playable frame rates.

• 2560x1440: Medium is the highest playable preset, averaging exactly 60 FPS. The recorded range is 51 to 69 FPS. Low is also playable at 69 FPS, but Medium provides better visual fidelity while maintaining the threshold.

• 1920x1080: Ultra is the highest playable preset, averaging 64 FPS. This is the only resolution where the maximum settings are playable. The Ultra preset delivers a smooth experience, with Low, Medium, and High also clearing 60 FPS (107, 93, and 78 FPS respectively).