Doom

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen+ architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its 16 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support at 46.9 GB/s bandwidth are typical for the 2000 series generation. In the context of Doom, which is a fast-paced FPS built on a highly optimized engine, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and maintain frame pacing. The single-thread score of 1,579 in Cinebench R23 and a PassMark single-thread score of 2,239 indicate that this processor, while not a modern flagship, has sufficient per-core strength to handle the game's physics and AI logic without becoming a severe bottleneck at most settings.

Benchmark data places this CPU in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,616. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11600KF (score 19,740, deltaPct -0.6), the Intel Core i5-1345U (score 19,691, deltaPct -0.4), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (score 19,508, deltaPct 0.6). These comparisons show the Ryzen 5 2600 is effectively within a 1% performance band of these processors in general compute workloads. For Doom specifically, the measured FPS data reveals that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 236.1 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors and suggests that the CPU is not limiting the experience at lower settings. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 57, a value that is much more likely tied to GPU load than CPU capability. The processor's 12 threads are more than adequate for Doom's engine, which scales well but does not require extreme core counts; the data shows that even at 1080p Ultra, the system can push 158 FPS, indicating the CPU handles the game's demands comfortably.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the clear performance driver in this pairing. Built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 32 chip on a 5 nm process, it features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock reaches 2544 MHz, with a game clock of 2171 MHz. The GPU's 3,456 shading units and 96 ROPs provide substantial fill rates, and the FP32 performance of 35.17 TFLOPS is a strong indicator of raw compute power. In Doom, which is known for its scalability across hardware, the RX 7700 XT's capabilities are directly reflected in the measured FPS. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 22,547 places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 30,097. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (score 30,109, deltaPct 0) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile (score 29,928, deltaPct 0.6), showing it sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier.

The GPU's 12 GB VRAM is a key asset for Doom, especially at higher resolutions where texture memory demand scales. At 4K High, the combo achieves 69.9 FPS, and at 4K Medium it hits 79.4 FPS, which indicates the GPU is the primary component determining performance at this resolution. The 432.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient to feed the shader units without causing memory bottlenecks, as evidenced by the smooth scaling from 1080p to 1440p. At 1440p High, the average FPS is 122.6, which is a substantial drop from the 193.2 FPS at 1080p High, but still well within playable ranges for a competitive title. The GPU's clock speeds and memory configuration make it well-suited for the game's Vulkan API path, though the data does not specify which API was used. Overall, the RX 7700 XT is a robust match for the Ryzen 5 2600, providing headroom that allows the CPU to remain relevant even in demanding scenes.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling that identifies the GPU as the limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p High, the system averages 193.2 FPS; moving to 1440p High, this drops to 122.6 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36.5%. At 4K High, the average falls to 69.9 FPS, which is another 43% reduction from the 1440p result. This steep decline is typical of GPU-bound scenarios, where the rendering workload per frame increases quadratically with resolution. In contrast, the CPU's contribution to frame time remains largely constant across resolutions, so the FPS drop is almost entirely attributable to the RX 7700 XT's fill rate and memory bandwidth limits.

The Low settings provide a clearer view of the CPU's ceiling. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 236.1 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. At 1440p Low, it drops to 169.8 FPS, and at 4K Low, it still manages 94.5 FPS. The fact that 1080p Low yields over 230 FPS suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU at very high frame rates, but even here, the drop to 4K Low (94.5 FPS) shows that the GPU is still the binding constraint. The Ultra preset tells a similar story: 158 FPS at 1080p, 101.2 FPS at 1440p, and 57 FPS at 4K. This consistent pattern across all settings confirms that the Ryzen 5 2600 is not the primary bottleneck in this combo; the RX 7700 XT's performance envelope defines the playable resolution range. For 4K gaming, the data suggests that High or Medium settings are the maximum viable options, while 1440p and 1080p allow for higher presets without sacrificing frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ranks 797th out of 1,681 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the upper half of all configurations tested in this database. This rank of 797 out of 1,681 corresponds to roughly the 47th percentile of all tested combos, which is a respectable position given that the CPU is several generations old. The rank reflects the balance between the older CPU and the newer GPU; while the RX 7700 XT is a strong performer, the Ryzen 5 2600's single-thread performance and memory bandwidth are not top-tier by modern standards, which likely prevents the combo from reaching the top quartile. However, the measured FPS data shows that this pairing is more than sufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, making the rank a conservative estimate of its real-world capability.

The rank's position is influenced by the fact that Doom is a well-optimized title that can run on a wide range of hardware. Combos with newer CPUs and similar GPUs would likely rank higher due to improved IPC and faster memory support, but the Ryzen 5 2600's 6-core/12-thread configuration holds up well. The data indicates that the combo's performance is not drastically limited by the CPU, as evidenced by the high FPS at 1080p Low, but the rank suggests that there are many other pairings that achieve higher average FPS. For users of this specific combo, the takeaway is that it sits in a solid mid-tier position, capable of delivering smooth gameplay in Doom across most settings, with the primary caveat being 4K Ultra, where the GPU's limits become apparent.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo in Doom?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 236.1 at 1080p with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the dataset that exceeds 230 FPS.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Doom?*

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K High, the average FPS is 69.9, and at 4K Medium it is 79.4. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 57, which is below the 60 FPS threshold often targeted for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 2600 has a PassMark single-thread score of 2,239. Its average benchmark score of 19,616 is within 0.7% of the Intel Core i7-10700F (score 19,485, deltaPct 0.7) and 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (score 19,508, deltaPct 0.6).

Q: What is the best resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors?

A: At 1440p High, the combo achieves 122.6 FPS, which is suitable for 120 Hz monitors. At 1080p High, it reaches 193.2 FPS, making it ideal for 144 Hz or 165 Hz displays.

Q: Is the GPU's VRAM sufficient for this game at higher settings?

A: The RX 7700 XT has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. The measured data shows playable FPS at 4K High (69.9 FPS) and 4K Medium (79.4 FPS), indicating that VRAM is not a limiting factor for Doom's texture requirements.

Q: How does this combo rank against all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 797th out of 1,681 tested combos, placing it in the upper half of all results. This rank is driven by the balance between the older CPU and the newer GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and frame rate. For 1080p, the High preset delivers 193.2 FPS, which is more than enough for any high-refresh-rate display, and the Ultra preset still provides 158 FPS, making it the best choice for visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. At 1440p, the High preset achieves 122.6 FPS, which is ideal for 120 Hz monitors, while the Ultra preset at 101.2 FPS remains viable for 100 Hz displays. The Medium preset at 146.7 FPS offers a middle ground for those prioritizing frame rate over visual detail. For 4K, the High preset at 69.9 FPS is the recommended option, as it stays above the 60 FPS threshold, while the Medium preset at 79.4 FPS provides a slight frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset at 4K should be avoided, as the 57 FPS average drops below the standard 60 FPS target. The Low preset is only recommended for competitive play at 1080p, where the 236.1 FPS maximum is achieved, but it sacrifices significant visual quality for diminishing returns at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average FPS across presets: Low at 236.1, Medium at 224.2, High at 193.2, and Ultra at 158. This progression shows a 33% drop from Low to Ultra, which is a moderate penalty for the highest visual settings. At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 169.8, Medium at 146.7, High at 122.6, and Ultra at 101.2. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, with the High preset falling by 36.5%, but the frame rates remain highly playable across all presets. At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 94.5, Medium at 79.4, High at 69.9, and Ultra at 57. The 4K results show a clear boundary: Low and Medium presets stay above 75 FPS, High just clears 60 FPS, and Ultra falls below the 60 FPS line. Across all resolutions, the data indicates that the RX 7700 XT is the dominant factor, with the CPU providing a stable foundation that does not introduce noticeable frame drops. The scaling from Low to Ultra varies from 33% at 1080p to 40% at 4K, highlighting that the GPU's workload increases more steeply at higher resolutions, while the CPU's contribution remains constant.