Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is a mid-range combination that delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in Doom. The benchmark data places this specific pairing at rank 2758 out of 3712 tested combos, putting it in the 26th percentile of all configurations. This is a respectable standing, indicating that while the combo is not at the bleeding edge of performance, it outpaces roughly three-quarters of the other tested systems. The ranking suggests a balanced pairing where neither component is dramatically bottlenecking the other, but there is also headroom for improvement if either were upgraded in isolation.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's position at 2758 out of 3712 tested combinations is a direct reflection of the hardware's age and tier. The Ryzen 5 2600, a 2018 release, and the RX 5700 XT, a 2019 release, are both firmly in the previous generation of hardware. Their combined performance in Doom, which is known for its excellent optimization and Vulkan API support, shows that they still have plenty of life left for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data indicates that this pairing is more than capable of delivering high frame rates in this title, and the rank reflects a system that would have been considered high-end at the time of its components' launch but is now solidly mid-range.

The percentile ranking also tells a story of balance. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus is 75, meaning it outperforms 75% of all CPUs in the database. The GPU's percentileVsAllGpus is 59, which is lower but still above average. This combination of a stronger CPU relative to its peers and a slightly weaker GPU relative to its peers helps explain the overall combo rank. The system is not being held back by a severely underpowered component, but rather represents a well-matched duo where the GPU is the more likely limiting factor in graphically intensive scenarios, as will be seen in the resolution scaling data.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture with the Navi 10 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's clocks are set to a base of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. This configuration allows for a pixel rate of 121.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 304.8 GTexel/s, with an FP32 performance of 9.754 TFLOPS. These specifications are directly relevant to how the GPU handles Doom's intense, fast-paced environments. The high texture rate is particularly important for a game that throws many detailed surfaces at the renderer, and the memory bandwidth ensures that the 8 GB VRAM can be fed quickly enough to prevent stuttering at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores are comprehensive, with a Passmark G3D score of 16277 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2134. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (0.1% ahead), the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (0.3% behind), and the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 (0.3% behind). The data shows the RX 5700 XT is essentially performance-neutral with these cards, which is interesting as the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is a far more modern and expensive part, yet in synthetic benchmarks, the RX 5700 XT holds its own. This suggests that the older architecture is still competitive in raw compute tasks, though it may lack newer features like hardware ray tracing. In Doom, which does not rely on ray tracing, the RX 5700 XT can flex its full rasterization muscle.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern in how the system scales from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080, the combo is delivering exceptionally high frame rates across all settings, indicating that the CPU is doing the heavy lifting to keep the GPU fed. At 1080p Low, the system hits 188 FPS, and at High, it still achieves 138 FPS. This suggests that the CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is sufficient to push high frame rates in this older title. The GPU is not yet the bottleneck at this resolution, as the frame rates are well above the refresh rates of most monitors.

As we move to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop, but remain very playable. At 1440p High, the average FPS drops to 89, and at Low, it's 121. This scaling indicates that the GPU is starting to become more of a limiting factor, but the drop is not drastic. The jump from 1080p High (138 FPS) to 1440p High (89 FPS) is a 35% reduction, which is a typical cost for the increased pixel count. The game remains fluid, and the system is still capable of driving high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

The most significant scaling occurs when moving to 3840x2160. At 4K High, the average FPS is 48, and at Ultra, it drops to 40. The drop from 1440p High (89 FPS) to 4K High (48 FPS) is a 46% reduction. This is where the GPU's limitations are fully exposed. The RX 5700 XT, with its 8 GB of VRAM and RDNA 1.0 architecture, struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K in Doom. The data suggests that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings (66 FPS), which is not an ideal experience for a game like Doom where visual clarity can be important. The overall scaling pattern indicates a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, while the CPU holds up well even at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The data is measured, not estimated, which adds to its reliability.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers outstanding performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 188, which is an exceptionally high frame rate that will easily saturate a 144Hz monitor. The Medium preset averages 164 FPS, with minimums of 139 and maximums of 188. High settings yield an average of 138 FPS, still excellent for competitive play. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, produces an average of 113 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the combo shines, with every setting level providing a smooth and responsive experience.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 121 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings drop slightly to an average of 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 and a maximum of 122. The High preset averages 89 FPS, which is ideal for a 1440p monitor with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. The Ultra preset brings the average down to 73 FPS, which is still playable but may feel less smooth to those accustomed to higher frame rates. The data shows that 1440p is a sweet spot for this pairing, offering a good balance between visual fidelity and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, which is playable but not optimal. Medium settings average 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 and a maximum of 66. The High preset drops to an average of 48 FPS, which is on the edge of playability for a single-player title. The Ultra preset brings the average down to 40 FPS, which is a choppy experience for a fast-paced FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K gaming is not this combo's forte, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for the best experience.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo good for 1080p gaming in Doom?

A: Yes. The measured data shows the system achieves an average of 138 FPS at 1080p High settings and 113 FPS at Ultra settings, making it more than capable of driving a 144Hz monitor at this resolution.

Q: Can this system handle 4K in Doom?

A: It can run, but with compromises. At 4K High settings, the average FPS is 48, and at Ultra it drops to 40. The only playable 4K experience is at Low settings, which averages 66 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At 1440p High settings, the system averages 89 FPS, offering a great balance between visual quality and smooth performance. Ultra settings at 1440p still yield a respectable 73 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 2600 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 2600 has an average benchmark score of 21484. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V, scores 21440, which is 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i9-11900H scores 21367, which is 0.5% higher. The AMD EPYC 9454 scores 21223, which is 1.2% lower. The data shows the 2600 is performance-neutral with these parts.

Q: How does the RX 5700 XT compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 16361. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, scores 16351, which is 0.1% lower. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell scores 16408, which is 0.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 scores 16415, which is also 0.3% higher. The data shows the RX 5700 XT is essentially tied with these rivals in average score.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The Radeon RX 5700 XT comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The memory clock is 1750 MHz, which is 14 Gbps effective.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen+ architecture, manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. The CPU features a total of 16 MB of shared L3 cache, with 512 KB of L2 cache per core. This configuration provides strong multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R15 multicore score of 1248 and Geekbench multicore score of 5648. Its Passmark multithread score is 13160, which is a solid result for a six-core part.

In the context of Doom, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. The data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p, as the system achieves very high frame rates. At 1080p Low settings, the system hits 188 FPS, which is close to the limits of what the GPU can output. The CPU's single-thread performance, measured at 2239 in Passmark, is also sufficient for this game, as Doom is well-optimized and does not require exceptionally fast single-core speeds. The CPU's 12 threads also help with background tasks and any game logic that can be parallelized.

The Ryzen 5 2600's performance relative to its rivals is noteworthy. It sits at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V (0.2% higher score), the Intel Core i9-11900H (0.5% higher score), and the AMD EPYC 9454 (1.2% lower score). This indicates that despite being an older chip, it still holds its own against much newer and more expensive processors in synthetic benchmarks. In a game like Doom, which is not heavily CPU-bound at higher resolutions, the 2600 provides a stable platform that allows the GPU to perform to its potential. The CPU's 65 W TDP also makes it an efficient choice, and its AM4 socket offers a clear upgrade path for users who want more performance later.