Doom

The data shows that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a robust performance profile for Doom, with playable frame rates at every tested resolution. The combination of a modern 20-core CPU and a capable 8 GB Ampere GPU yields high average FPS, though the most demanding settings at 4K can stress the system. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the balance between CPU and GPU load, and the optimal settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results for this combo are recorded across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data is consistent, with average FPS ranging from a low of 54 at 4K Ultra to a high of 258 at 1080p Low.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates are as follows:

• High: 67 FPS average.
• Low: 90 FPS average.
• Medium: 79 FPS average, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS.
• Ultra: 54 FPS average, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Moving down to 2560x1440 (1440p), the average FPS increases significantly:

• High: 123 FPS average.
• Low: 167 FPS average.
• Medium: 145 FPS average, with a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 167 FPS.
• Ultra: 100 FPS average, providing a substantial performance cushion.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the frame rates are exceptionally high:

• High: 190 FPS average.
• Low: 258 FPS average.
• Medium: 225 FPS average, with a minimum of 191 FPS and a maximum of 258 FPS.
• Ultra: 155 FPS average, which is more than double the playable threshold.

The frame time data shows a clear pattern: the gap between the Low and Ultra presets is notable but not extreme. For instance, at 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 155 FPS, which is 40% lower than the Low preset's 258 FPS. The minimum FPS figures recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution (67 at 4K, 124 at 1440p, and 191 at 1080p) suggest that the system maintains consistent frame pacing, avoiding severe dips that could affect gameplay.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets reveals the respective roles of the CPU and GPU in this pairing. Doom is a fast-paced FPS that benefits from high single-thread performance, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has a strong single-core benchmark score of 5960 in Cinebench R23, which ensures that the CPU is unlikely to be a limiting factor at lower resolutions. This is evident in the 1080p results, where the average FPS reaches 258 on Low. The CPU's ability to feed the GPU with draw calls is sufficient to maintain these high frame rates.

However, the GPU's role becomes dominant as resolution increases. The RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the pixel fill rate and shading power are taxed. The scaling from 1080p Low (258 FPS) to 4K Low (90 FPS) represents a 65% drop in performance, which is primarily attributable to the GPU's rendering workload. Similarly, the transition from 1440p Ultra (100 FPS) to 4K Ultra (54 FPS) shows a 46% reduction, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor at the highest resolution.

The data suggests that the CPU's performance headroom is significant. At 1080p Ultra, the system produces 155 FPS, a figure that would be difficult to achieve if the CPU were the bottleneck. The CPU's 20 cores and 20 threads are not fully utilized by Doom, which is a game that typically scales well with clock speed rather than core count. The 5.30 GHz boost clock of the Core Ultra 7 265 provides the necessary single-thread performance to keep pace with the GPU at all settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

The objective is to identify the most demanding preset that maintains an average FPS at or above 60. The data shows that this combo can achieve this goal at all resolutions, but the maximum quality setting varies.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are High, which produces an average of 67 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, failing to meet the playable threshold. The Medium preset offers a higher average FPS of 79, but High is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 100 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, and the system can handle the maximum quality preset without issue.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 155 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with plenty of headroom for high refresh rate monitors.

The verdict data confirms these findings: 4K has playable settings of High, Low, and Medium; 1440p has playable settings of High, Low, Medium, and Ultra; and 1080p has playable settings across all four presets.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of tested combinations, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 rank at 1596 out of 3712 combos for this game. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it performs better than a majority of combinations but is not near the top of the leaderboard.

The ranking reflects the balance of the hardware. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, with a percentile rank of 93 among all CPUs, but the GPU is a mid-range Ampere card, with a percentile rank of 61 among all GPUs. The combination yields a solid overall score, but systems with more powerful GPUs will naturally rank higher in a GPU-bound title like Doom.

The performance is still well above average, and the measured FPS data shows that this combo can handle the game smoothly at high settings. The rank indicates that while there are faster systems, this pairing is far from a budget or low-end option.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Doom at 4K with maximum settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average FPS is 54, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset is the most demanding option that clears 60 FPS, averaging 67 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 1440p, with an average FPS of 100. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a smooth experience at maximum quality.

Q: How does the frame rate scale from 1080p to 4K on the Low preset?

A: At 1920x1080 on Low, the average FPS is 258. At 3840x2160 on Low, the average FPS drops to 90. This represents a 65% reduction in frame rate, highlighting the GPU load increase at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only minimum FPS values in the data are for the Medium preset. The lowest recorded minimum is 67 FPS at 3840x2160. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 124 FPS, and at 1920x1080, it is 191 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for Doom?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. The CPU's strong single-thread performance is sufficient to avoid limiting frame rates, but the GPU's workload scales heavily with resolution and preset, as evidenced by the 65% drop in FPS from 1080p Low to 4K Low.

Q: What is the average FPS for the Ultra preset at each resolution?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 155 FPS. At 2560x1440, it averages 100 FPS. At 3840x2160, it averages 54 FPS.

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 can definitively run Doom, and the data shows it clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution tested. The specific outcomes are as follows:

• 3840x2160: Playable at High, Low, and Medium settings. The best preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 67 FPS. The Ultra preset is not playable, as it averages 54 FPS.
• 2560x1440: Playable at all settings, including Ultra. The best preset is Ultra, with an average of 100 FPS, offering a strong experience for high-refresh-rate displays.
• 1920x1080: Playable at all settings, including Ultra. The best preset is Ultra, with an average of 155 FPS, making this resolution the sweet spot for maximum quality and performance.

This is a capable configuration for Doom. Users with a 4K display should stick to High settings to maintain smooth gameplay, while those on 1440p or 1080p can enable Ultra without hesitation. The system's performance profile is well-suited for this title, delivering high frame rates with minimal compromise.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide context for what other hardware might behave similarly in this game.

For the Intel Core Ultra 7 265, the closest matches based on average benchmark scores are:

• AMD EPYC 4464P: This CPU has an average score of 64823, which is 0.3% lower than the Core Ultra 7 265's 64640. Its performance is nearly identical.
• Intel Core Ultra 7 265F: With an average score of 64438, this is 0.3% higher than the 265, making it a direct equivalent.
• AMD EPYC 7343: This chip scores 64202, which is 0.7% higher, indicating slightly better average performance.
• AMD EPYC 9124: The EPYC 9124 scores 65104, which is 0.7% lower, placing it just below the Core Ultra 7 265.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, the nearest rivals are:

• AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT: This GPU has an average score of 17083, which is 0.7% higher than the RTX 3070's 17208. Its performance is essentially equivalent.
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690: Scoring 17037, this older card is 1% lower, indicating a slight performance deficit.
• AMD Radeon HD 7970M: With a score of 17019, this mobile GPU is 1.1% lower, showing a marginal difference.
• NVIDIA Tesla K40c: This compute card scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher, suggesting slightly better raw performance.

In practical terms, a system with an AMD EPYC 4464P or an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F would produce nearly identical frame rates in Doom, as the CPU is not the limiting factor. Similarly, swapping the RTX 3070 for an AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT would yield comparable results, with the delta in performance being negligible. These alternatives represent viable options for users seeking similar gameplay experiences.