Doom

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3300 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places the combination in the lower 11% of the database, a position driven almost entirely by the graphics side of the equation. The CPU is exceptional, sitting at the 96th percentile among all processors tested, but the GPU is the limiting factor here. The Arc B390 ranks at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, which is a stark contrast to the processor's standing.

This ranking means the combo is not competitive for high-refresh or high-resolution play in Doom. The data shows a system that can handle the game at 1080p with room to spare, but the GPU's modest compute capabilities cap the experience well below what the CPU could otherwise support. In practical terms, the 290K Plus is overkill for this graphics solution, but the measured results are what they are. The combo's position in the database reflects a fundamental imbalance: a top-tier CPU paired with an entry-level graphics processor.

CPU and GPU Roles

In Doom, the division of labor between the CPU and GPU changes dramatically as resolution scales. At 1920x1080, the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, but the CPU's strength shows in the high frame rates achieved. Moving from Low to Ultra at 1080p drops the average from 107 FPS to 64 FPS, a 40% reduction that is purely graphics-driven. The CPU has no trouble feeding the GPU at this resolution, as even the most demanding preset stays well above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's limitations become more pronounced. The gap between Low (69 FPS) and Ultra (41 FPS) widens to 41%, and the Medium preset sits exactly at 60 FPS. This resolution exposes the Arc B390's bandwidth constraints, as the system-shared memory architecture begins to struggle with the increased pixel count. The CPU's role here is minimal; the data indicates that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is completely overwhelmed. The best result is 37 FPS on Low settings, and Ultra drops to 22 FPS. No settings combination reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold. The CPU's 24 cores and 24 threads are irrelevant at this point, as the Arc B390's 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs simply cannot push enough pixels. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a 65% performance drop, confirming that the GPU is the limiting component across all tested configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings levels. All figures below are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 37 FPS
• Medium: 33 FPS (min 28, max 37)
• High: 28 FPS
• Ultra: 22 FPS

At 4K, no preset achieves playable performance. The spread from Low to Ultra is 15 FPS, and even the lowest settings fall 23 FPS short of the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset shows a min/max range of 28 to 37 FPS, indicating consistent, if low, frame pacing.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 69 FPS
• Medium: 60 FPS (min 51, max 69)
• High: 51 FPS
• Ultra: 41 FPS

The 1440p results show a clear cliff. Low and Medium both clear the 60 FPS mark, with Medium landing exactly on the playable threshold. High drops to 51 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41 FPS. The Medium preset's min of 51 FPS suggests occasional dips below the average, but the overall experience remains acceptable.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 107 FPS
• Medium: 93 FPS (min 79, max 107)
• High: 78 FPS
• Ultra: 64 FPS

At 1080p, all four presets exceed 60 FPS. Ultra averages 64 FPS, which is the best playable quality setting across any resolution. Low reaches 107 FPS, and Medium stays at 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS, showing smooth performance throughout. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 40% reduction, but every configuration remains fluid.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has nearest rivals that bracket its performance closely. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 0.2% higher in average benchmark score, making it a near-identical match for CPU-bound scenarios. The AMD EPYC 4584PX sits 1.1% lower, and the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% lower. On the other side, the AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 1.3% higher. All four alternatives are within a 2.5% band, meaning any of them would produce essentially identical frame rates in Doom when paired with the same GPU.

For the Intel Arc B390, the nearest rivals are all NVIDIA parts from the entry-level segment. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1.3% higher, the GeForce 800M is 1.5% higher, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% higher, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% higher. These deltas are small enough that swapping the Arc B390 for any of these would yield nearly the same Doom performance. The practical takeaway is that the GPU sits in a performance class where all nearby options deliver comparable results, and none would meaningfully change the playability verdicts.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database's playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the verdict by resolution is clear.

3840x2160: No settings are playable. The highest average FPS across all presets is 37 FPS on Low, which falls 23 FPS short of the threshold. There is no best setting because no setting achieves 60 FPS.

2560x1440: The best playable setting is Medium, with an average of exactly 60 FPS. Low also achieves playable performance at 69 FPS, but Medium offers higher visual quality while still meeting the threshold. High (51 FPS) and Ultra (41 FPS) are not playable.

1920x1080: The best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 64 FPS. All four presets meet the 60 FPS requirement, but Ultra provides the maximum visual fidelity while staying 4 FPS above the threshold. This is the only resolution where the full settings range is usable.

For users prioritizing smoothness over visuals, 1080p Low delivers 107 FPS, and 1440p Low delivers 69 FPS. The data suggests that 1080p Ultra is the sweet spot for this combo, balancing quality and performance.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K?

A: No. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 37 FPS on Low settings, which is 23 FPS below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra average 33, 28, and 22 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p?

A: Ultra is the best playable setting at 1920x1080, averaging 64 FPS. All four presets (Low 107 FPS, Medium 93 FPS, High 78 FPS, Ultra 64 FPS) exceed the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in Doom?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions. The Arc B390 ranks at the 9th percentile among GPUs, while the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus ranks at the 96th percentile among CPUs. The measured FPS drops consistently as resolution increases, which is graphics-bound behavior.

Q: Which GPU alternatives perform similarly to the Arc B390?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% faster, the GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% faster in average benchmark score. All would produce nearly identical Doom frame rates.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus have close CPU alternatives?

A: Yes. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is 0.2% faster, the AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% slower, the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% faster in average benchmark score. These would all perform the same in CPU-bound scenarios.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combo achieves in Doom?

A: The highest recorded average is 107 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The highest minimum FPS recorded is 79 FPS at 1080p Medium, and the highest maximum is 107 FPS at 1080p Low and Medium.