Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT delivers a robust 1080p experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably as resolution increases. The data shows a clear progression from high refresh rate territory at 1920x1080 to playable, though less fluid, frame rates at 3840x2160. This analysis breaks down the measured results, examining the roles of the GPU and CPU, and contextualizes the combo’s standing among all tested configurations.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance curve as resolution climbs. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo averages 192 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 124 FPS, a reduction of 68 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 67 FPS. This pattern holds across all settings presets, indicating that the rendering load scales heavily with pixel count.

The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant but not catastrophic, suggesting the system remains capable of high frame rates. However, the jump to 4K is where the limits become apparent. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 141 at 1080p to 91 at 1440p, and then to 49 at 4K. The 42 FPS loss from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced than the 50 FPS loss from 1080p to 1440p, relative to the percentage change. This indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the pixel throughput demand exceeds what the Radeon RX 6600 XT can sustain.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the gap between Low (192 FPS) and Ultra (115 FPS) is 77 FPS. At 4K, the same gap narrows to 27 FPS (67 FPS at Low vs 40 FPS at Ultra). This compression of the settings range at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but at 4K, the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth limits cap the maximum output, making the settings choice less impactful on the final frame rate.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a Navi 23 chip. Its specifications include 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The card’s boost clock is listed at 2589 MHz, with a game clock of 2359 MHz. These figures are crucial for understanding the 4K performance ceiling. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for Doom’s textures at the tested settings, but the 128-bit memory bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are modest for 4K workloads, which require rapid data streaming for high-resolution assets.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 70th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 24442. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, Intel Arc A350M, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER. The deltaPct values are small, ranging from -0.8 to 1.1, indicating that the RX 6600 XT performs similarly to these cards in synthetic tests. This suggests that the GPU is a mid-range performer, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing playable but not exceptional 4K performance.

At 4K, the GPU’s limits are evident. The average FPS at Ultra settings is 40, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at Low settings, the 67 FPS average is barely above this threshold, and the lack of min FPS data for that preset suggests potential inconsistency. The GPU’s pixel rate of 165.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 331.4 GTexel/s are the physical limits that constrain these results. For a fast-paced FPS like Doom, these numbers indicate that the RX 6600 XT is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can leverage its clock speeds to deliver high frame rates.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The CPU has a 32 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. In Doom, which is a game that can be sensitive to single-thread performance, the Ryzen 5 3600’s boost clock is a key factor.

The CPU’s benchmark scores show a strong multi-threaded capability, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15045 and a single-core score of 2124. Its 3DMark single-thread score is 696. These numbers indicate a balanced processor that can handle both the game’s logic and the rendering pipeline. The CPU’s percentile rank is 71, with an average benchmark score of 17035. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1260P, Intel Core i5-11400, AMD EPYC 7573X, and AMD EPYC 7742, with deltaPct values between -0.2 and 0.2, showing near-identical synthetic performance.

In the context of Doom, the CPU’s role becomes more critical at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the high FPS averages (192 at Low, 141 at High) suggest that the CPU is keeping up with the GPU’s output. The 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for the game’s engine, which is optimized for multi-threading. However, at 4K, the CPU is likely not the bottleneck, as the GPU’s workload dominates. The data supports this: the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent with GPU-bound scaling, rather than a CPU limitation. The Ryzen 5 3600’s 4.20 GHz boost clock provides enough single-thread headroom to avoid stalling the GPU, even at high frame rates in 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT combination ranks 2660 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the lower 28.4% of all configurations. This ranking might seem low, but it must be considered in the context of the game’s age and the hardware’s target market. Doom was released in 2016, and the benchmark database includes a wide range of modern and older hardware. A rank of 2660 suggests that many combos with higher-end GPUs or newer CPUs achieve higher frame rates.

The combo’s rank is influenced by both components. The CPU’s 71st percentile and GPU’s 70th percentile are mid-range scores, but the combination does not break into the top tier of performance. The 4K results, where the average FPS falls below 60 at most settings, likely drag down the overall ranking. At 1080p, the combo is competitive, but the ranking is based on all resolutions, and the 4K performance is a weak point.

Comparatively, the GPU’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, has a deltaPct of 1.1, meaning the RX 6600 XT scores slightly higher in synthetic benchmarks. However, in real-world gaming, the RTX 2080 SUPER might have different characteristics. The data shows that this combo is not a top performer, but it is not at the bottom either. Its rank of 2660 out of 3712 indicates a mid-to-lower tier position, which is consistent with its hardware specs.

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

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS 192. No min or max data available.
• Medium: Average FPS 167. Min FPS 142, max FPS 192.
• High: Average FPS 141. No min or max data available.
• Ultra: Average FPS 115. No min or max data available.

At 1080p, the combo delivers excellent performance. The Low preset achieves nearly 200 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate monitors. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 142 ensures smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, while lower at 115 FPS, still provides a fluid experience.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS 124. No min or max data available.
• Medium: Average FPS 108. Min FPS 92, max FPS 124.
• High: Average FPS 91. No min or max data available.
• Ultra: Average FPS 75. No min or max data available.

At 1440p, the performance remains strong. The Low preset’s 124 FPS is still high, and the Medium preset’s min FPS of 92 is respectable. The High preset at 91 FPS and Ultra at 75 FPS are playable, though the Ultra setting is approaching the lower limit for competitive play.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS 67. No min or max data available.
• Medium: Average FPS 59. Min FPS 50, max FPS 67.
• High: Average FPS 49. No min or max data available.
• Ultra: Average FPS 40. No min or max data available.

At 4K, the combo struggles to maintain 60 FPS. The Low preset’s 67 FPS is the only one above 60, but it lacks min data to confirm consistency. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 50 indicates noticeable dips. The High and Ultra presets at 49 and 40 FPS, respectively, are below the smoothness threshold for a fast-paced FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 192, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 67 at Low settings, which is above 60. However, at Medium settings, the average drops to 59 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 49 and 40 FPS, respectively.

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

A: The lowest recorded min FPS is 50, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings. The min FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 92, and at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, it is 142.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT has an average benchmark score of 24442. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, has a deltaPct of 1.1, meaning the RX 6600 XT scores 1.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 is 0.7% lower, and the Intel Arc A350M is 0.8% lower.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2660 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the lower 28.4% of all configurations.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the high FPS averages suggest the CPU has enough headroom. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.20 GHz and 6 cores provide sufficient performance, and the GPU is likely the primary driver of frame rates at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the recommended choice. The data shows an average FPS of 167, with a min FPS of 142 and a max FPS of 192. This provides a high frame rate with a consistent minimum, ensuring smooth gameplay without sacrificing too much visual quality. The Low preset offers a higher average FPS of 192, but the lack of min FPS data makes it less reliable for stutter-free performance.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is also the best option. It delivers an average FPS of 108, with a min FPS of 92 and a max FPS of 124. This is a good balance for 1440p gaming, offering a smooth experience above 90 FPS. The High preset at 91 FPS is acceptable, but the Medium preset provides a higher margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

For 4K, the Low preset is the only one that averages above 60 FPS, at 67 FPS. However, the lack of min FPS data is a concern. The Medium preset has a min FPS of 50, which indicates potential dips. Given the fast-paced nature of Doom, it is advisable to use the Low preset at 4K to maximize frame rate, or to consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

In summary, the data suggests that the sweet spot for this combo is 1080p with Medium settings, offering a high and stable frame rate. At 1440p, Medium is also recommended. The 4K resolution should be avoided for competitive play, as the frame rates are too low at higher settings. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended, as it provides the lowest FPS and sacrifices too much performance for marginal visual gains.