Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 presents a fascinating study in generational contrast. The 2018-era six-core processor meets a 2023 Ada Lovelace graphics card, and the benchmark results in Doom reveal a system where the balance of power shifts dramatically depending on the resolution and settings demanded. The data shows a configuration that is consistently capable of delivering high frame rates, yet the underlying bottlenecks and scaling patterns tell a nuanced story about how these two very different components interact.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1080p to 4K in Doom clearly illustrates the classic shift in system limitation from the CPU to the GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 234 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in the dataset. This high figure, coupled with the fact that the CPU is a 2018 part with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost of 3.90 GHz, suggests that the processor is working near its limits to feed the RTX 4070. The frame rate only climbs to 189 FPS at 1080p Ultra, a drop of 45 FPS, indicating that even at lower resolutions, the game's settings are starting to tax the GPU more heavily.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS for High settings is 150, which is a significant 60 FPS drop from the 1080p High result of 210 FPS. This is a steep decline, confirming that the GPU is becoming the primary constraint as the pixel count increases. At 1440p Low, the system still manages a very high 203 FPS, showing that the RTX 4070 has plenty of headroom when the graphical load is light. The jump from 1440p Low to 1440p Ultra (203 FPS to 122 FPS) is a reduction of 81 FPS, which is a larger absolute drop than the 45 FPS drop seen at 1080p between the same settings. This suggests that the GPU's workload is scaling super-linearly with settings at this resolution, a sign that its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth are being utilized more intensely.

The 4K results are where the RTX 4070's capabilities are truly defined. At 3840x2160, the average FPS for High settings is 81, which is still a very playable figure for a demanding title. However, the scaling from 1440p High (150 FPS) to 4K High (81 FPS) represents a 46% reduction in performance. This is a substantial penalty that reflects the sheer number of pixels being pushed. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 66 FPS, and at 4K Low, it is 110 FPS. The difference between 4K Low and 4K Ultra is 44 FPS, which is proportionally similar to the difference seen at other resolutions, but the absolute numbers are much lower.

The data implies that at 1080p, the Ryzen 5 2600's six cores and 12 threads are the limiting factor, as the frame rates are high but the GPU is likely not being fully saturated with lighter settings. The story changes at 1440p, where the balance is more even, and by 4K, the RTX 4070 is unequivocally the bottleneck, with the CPU's role becoming less significant. The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is not linear; it is a steep curve that flattens out at the highest resolution, which is a classic indicator of a GPU that is finally being pushed to its limits.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen+ architecture, built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. Its modest base and boost clocks of 3.40 GHz and 3.90 GHz, respectively, are reflected in its benchmark scores. The data shows a Geekbench single-core score of 1154 and a multi-core score of 5648. In the context of Doom, this processor appears to be a capable but not overwhelming partner for the RTX 4070.

The CPU's influence is most apparent in the 1080p results. The fact that the average FPS at 1080p Low (234 FPS) is only marginally higher than at 1080p High (210 FPS) suggests that the graphics card is not the only thing determining the frame rate. The processor's ability to issue draw calls and manage game logic becomes a factor at these high frame rates. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1248 and single-core score of 157.3 provide a baseline for its processing power. In a game like Doom, which is known for its fast-paced action, the single-thread performance is often critical, and this CPU's score suggests it can hold its own, but it is not a top-tier performer.

The Passmark scores are also telling. The Passmark single-thread score of 2239 and the Passmark physics score of 673 indicate that the CPU is competent but not exceptional. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 2600's average benchmark score of 21484 is nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V (21440, deltaPct 0.2) and the Intel Core i9-11900H (21367, deltaPct 0.5). This places it in a performance tier with those mobile and lower-power desktop parts. The data suggests that the CPU is not the star of the show, but it is also not a severe weak link. Its 16 MB of shared L3 cache is a decent amount for a 2018 part, but it is not a massive pool of memory for the game to draw from.

The fact that the CPU has a 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs further emphasizes that it is a mid-range to upper-mid-range processor. In this pairing, its role is to keep up with the RTX 4070, and the benchmark results indicate that it succeeds in maintaining high frame rates, but the scaling data shows that it is often the component that prevents the system from reaching even higher frame rates at lower resolutions. The system's performance at 1080p is likely a reflection of the CPU's limits, as the GPU is capable of much more.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the clear performance driver in this configuration. Built on the 5 nm Ada Lovelace architecture with 35,800 million transistors, this GPU is a modern powerhouse. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, running on a 192-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, which is a substantial amount of memory throughput for a game like Doom. The GPU's base clock of 1920 MHz and boost clock of 2475 MHz are high, and its FP32 performance of 29.15 TFLOPS is indicative of its raw compute power.

The GPU's role is most evident in the 4K benchmarks. The fact that it can maintain an average of 81 FPS at 4K High and 66 FPS at 4K Ultra demonstrates that it has the resources to handle high-resolution textures and effects. The 12 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for Doom, which was released in 2016 and, while demanding, is not as VRAM-hungry as modern titles. The Passmark G3D score of 26927 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3854 are high, showing its dominance over the CPU in terms of raw performance.

However, the GPU's performance is not without limits. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep, which is expected, but the data also shows that the GPU's performance is not as high as it could be in a system with a more powerful processor. The average benchmark score for the GPU is 37648, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (37628, deltaPct 0.1) and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507, deltaPct 0.4). This shows that the RTX 4070 is in a specific performance bracket, and its percentile ranking of 81 among all GPUs confirms it is a high-end part.

The GPU's role in this combo is to provide the raw graphical horsepower, and it does so admirably. The data shows that the RTX 4070 is the component that dictates the upper limits of performance at higher resolutions. The fact that the frame rate at 4K Ultra is 66 FPS, which is still fluid, indicates that this GPU is well-suited for 4K gaming in Doom. The GPU's performance is also consistent, with the min and max FPS values at 4K Medium being 81 and 110, respectively, showing that it can maintain a stable frame rate. The GPU is the workhorse, and its capabilities are the primary reason this system can achieve such high numbers.

How This Combo Ranks

When looking at the entire database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 achieves a rank of 1209 out of 3712 combos in Doom. This places it in the top third of all tested systems, which is a respectable position given the age of the processor. The combo's rank is a result of the GPU's strength being somewhat tempered by the CPU's older architecture and lower clock speeds.

The fact that this combo is ranked 1209th, despite having a GPU that is in the 81st percentile, suggests that the CPU is holding back the system's overall potential. If the CPU were more modern, the combo would likely rank much higher, as the GPU's performance would be less constrained. The data implies that the system is balanced for high-resolution gaming, where the GPU is the bottleneck, but it is unbalanced for lower resolutions, where the CPU becomes the limiting factor.

This ranking is a useful metric for understanding the system's overall stature. It indicates that while this is not a top-tier enthusiast build, it is also not a mid-range or budget system. The combination of a 75th-percentile CPU and an 81st-percentile GPU yields a system that is greater than the sum of its parts in some scenarios but less in others. The rank of 1209 out of 3712 means that there are many combos that perform better, but also a significant number that perform worse. The system is a solid performer, with the GPU being the primary driver of its in-game success.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across all settings and resolutions. The data is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the results are:

• Low: 234 FPS average
• Medium: 223 FPS average (min 190, max 257)
• High: 210 FPS average
• Ultra: 189 FPS average

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 203 FPS average
• Medium: 177 FPS average (min 150, max 204)
• High: 150 FPS average
• Ultra: 122 FPS average

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 110 FPS average
• Medium: 96 FPS average (min 81, max 110)
• High: 81 FPS average
• Ultra: 66 FPS average

The 1080p data shows a clear pattern of diminishing returns as settings increase. The drop from Low to Ultra is 45 FPS, which is significant but not as steep as the drop from 1440p Low to Ultra (81 FPS). This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter, as the GPU can handle the increased graphical load without a massive impact on frame rate. The 1440p data shows a more balanced scaling, with the GPU starting to become more of a factor. The 4K data shows the GPU is the clear bottleneck, with all settings producing relatively low frame rates compared to the lower resolutions.

The min and max FPS values for Medium settings provide insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range is 190 to 257 FPS, which is a wide spread but still results in a high average. At 1440p Medium, the range is 150 to 204 FPS, which is similar in relative terms. At 4K Medium, the range is 81 to 110 FPS, which is the tightest spread of the three. This implies that at lower resolutions, the CPU is causing more frame time variance, while at 4K, the GPU's consistent workload leads to a more stable experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the best recommendation. The average FPS of 81 is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it represents the best balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset drops to 66 FPS, which is still playable, but the 15 FPS difference may not be worth the minimal visual improvement. The Medium preset at 96 FPS is also a strong option for those who prioritize higher frame rates, but High offers a better visual experience without a major performance hit.

For 1440p gaming, the High preset is the clear winner. The 150 FPS average is exceptionally smooth and will take full advantage of high refresh rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 122 FPS is also excellent, but the 28 FPS drop from High is noticeable. The Medium preset at 177 FPS is overkill for most displays, and the Low preset at 203 FPS is unnecessary. Therefore, High at 1440p is the sweet spot.

For 1080p gaming, the data suggests that the CPU is the limiting factor, so the settings have a smaller impact on performance. The High preset at 210 FPS is a great choice, as it provides a high level of visual quality with a frame rate that is still far above what most monitors can display. The Ultra preset at 189 FPS is also acceptable, but the 21 FPS drop is not ideal. The Medium preset at 223 FPS is a good option for those who want maximum frame rates, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often worth the 13 FPS trade-off. In this case, High is the recommended setting, as it provides the best overall experience without pushing the CPU too hard.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 a bottleneck for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in Doom?

A: The data indicates that the CPU is a limiting factor at 1080p, where the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings is only 45 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, as the frame rates drop significantly across all settings, suggesting the CPU is less of a constraint at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this hardware combination?

A: The best resolution depends on the display. For a 4K display, the High preset at 81 FPS is viable. For a 1440p display, the High preset at 150 FPS is ideal, offering a perfect balance of high frame rates and visual quality. At 1080p, the system is CPU-limited, but the High preset at 210 FPS is still excellent.

Q: How does the RTX 4070's memory configuration affect its performance in this game?

A: The RTX 4070 has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The data shows that this is sufficient for Doom, as the GPU is able to maintain high frame rates at 4K, indicating that memory capacity and bandwidth are not limiting factors in this title.

Q: Given the CPU's age, is this a good combo for high-refresh-rate gaming?

A: Yes, but only at higher resolutions. At 1440p and 4K, the system can achieve frame rates well above 120 FPS at High settings, which is ideal for high refresh rate monitors. However, at 1080p, the CPU's limitations prevent the system from reaching the very high frame rates that the GPU is capable of, capping the experience.

Q: How does the system's performance at 4K Ultra compare to 4K Low?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 66, while at 4K Low, it is 110. This represents a 44 FPS difference, or a 40% reduction in performance from Low to Ultra. The data shows that the Ultra preset is still playable, but the Low preset offers a significantly higher frame rate for competitive play.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 1209 out of 3712 tell us about its overall standing?

A: The rank places this combo in the top third of all tested systems for Doom. This indicates that it is a strong performer, but not a top-tier build. The rank is likely held back by the CPU's older architecture, as the GPU is a high-end part that would perform better with a more modern processor.