Doom

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 built on the Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Matisse) using TSMC's 7 nm process node. With a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, this CPU sits in the 71st percentile among all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 17,035. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB L2 cache per core provide solid memory hierarchy for gaming workloads. The processor supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, which is adequate for feeding a mid-range GPU in a fast-paced FPS like Doom.

Benchmark results show this CPU's scaling characteristics. In the 3DMark suite, the single-thread score is 696, while the 2-thread score reaches 1,361, the 4-thread score hits 2,579, and the 8-thread score climbs to 3,844. The max-thread score of 4,603 is nearly identical to the 16-thread score of 4,605, indicating that the 12 threads are fully utilized and the CPU is not a bottleneck at higher thread counts. Cinebench R23 results reinforce this picture: a multicore score of 15,045 versus a single-core score of 2,124. The gap between single and multi-core performance suggests that Doom, which is generally well-optimized for multi-threading, can leverage the full 12-thread capability.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 3600 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-1260P (avg score 17,007, deltaPct 0.2) and the AMD EPYC 7742 (avg score 16,998, deltaPct 0.2). It sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-11400 (avg score 17,067, deltaPct -0.2) and the AMD EPYC 7573X (avg score 17,070, deltaPct -0.2). This means the CPU's compute capability is squarely in the middle of a tightly clustered group — no single rival holds a meaningful advantage in synthetic CPU performance. In Doom, the measured FPS data shows the CPU's 12 threads are sufficient to keep frame rates high at lower resolutions, where the GPU is less stressed. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 164 FPS average, indicating the CPU can sustain very high frame delivery without becoming the limiting factor.

The CPU's 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest it runs cool and can be overclocked, but the stock clocks are what drive the measured results. The PCIe Gen 4 support (16 lanes from the CPU) ensures the GPU has a high-bandwidth link, which is particularly relevant for the Intel Arc B570's PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die are modest by modern standards, yet the architectural efficiency of Zen 2 delivers competitive gaming performance. For Doom — a game from 2016 with a well-optimized id Tech engine — the CPU's single-thread performance (Geekbench single-core score of 1,536) is more than adequate, and the multi-thread scores (Geekbench multicore 7,372) ensure smooth frame pacing even in chaotic combat scenes.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation) using TSMC's 5 nm process node, with a transistor count of 19,600 million on a 272 mm² die. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base and boost clocks are both 2500 MHz, with memory clocked at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The GPU has 2,304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, along with 18 ray tracing cores. This configuration yields a pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s, a texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s, and 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. The GPU sits in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20,556.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the Arc B570 scores 2,649, which reflects its DirectX 12 Ultimate capability (version 12_2). PassMark scores show DirectX 11 performance at 118, DirectX 12 at 72, and DirectX 9 at 164. The higher DirectX 11 score relative to DirectX 12 is notable for Doom, which runs on OpenGL or Vulkan — the GPU supports Vulkan 1.4 and OpenGL 4.6. The Geekbench Vulkan score of 96,844 is significantly higher than the OpenCL score of 83,514, indicating that the GPU's Vulkan path is well-optimized. This is directly relevant to Doom, as the game's Vulkan mode can leverage the Arc B570's strengths.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the Arc B570 is effectively neck-and-neck with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (avg score 20,534, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Arc A750 (avg score 20,582, deltaPct -0.1). It holds a minimal edge over the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (avg score 20,480, deltaPct 0.4) and trails the AMD Radeon R9 M390X by 0.5% (avg score 20,662). This clustering suggests the Arc B570 delivers desktop-class performance despite its mid-range positioning. The 10 GB VRAM is ample for Doom at all tested settings, even at 3840x2160 Ultra, where the game's texture requirements are modest by modern standards.

The measured FPS data shows the GPU's performance scaling across resolutions. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo hits 164 FPS average, which drops to 99 FPS at Ultra settings. At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 106 (Low) down to 64 (Ultra). At 3840x2160, the range tightens: 57 FPS at Low, 42 FPS at High, and 35 FPS at Ultra. The GPU's 380.0 GB/s bandwidth and 10 GB VRAM ensure that texture streaming is never a bottleneck, even at 4K with High or Ultra presets. The 2500 MHz boost clock is consistent across all loads, providing predictable performance. The 150 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU indicate this GPU is efficient enough for most desktop systems.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Doom?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the sweet spot, with average FPS ranging from 164 at Low settings to 99 at Ultra. At 2560x1440, the range is 106 to 64 FPS, while 3840x2160 drops to 57 FPS at Low and 35 FPS at Ultra. For consistently smooth gameplay above 60 FPS, 1920x1080 with Medium or High settings delivers 143 or 121 FPS average respectively.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to the Arc A750 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20,556, while the Arc A750 scores 20,582. The deltaPct is -0.1, meaning the A750 is marginally faster by 0.1%. This is a negligible difference in practical terms, and both GPUs should perform nearly identically in Doom.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3600 bottleneck the Arc B570 in Doom?

A: The benchmark data suggests no significant bottleneck. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 164 FPS average, which is a high frame rate that would strain a CPU bottleneck. The CPU's 12 threads and 4.20 GHz boost clock are sufficient to feed the GPU. At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as FPS drops to 42-57 depending on settings.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings yield 106 FPS average, while Ultra settings drop to 64 FPS average. This is a 42 FPS difference (approximately 66% reduction in frame rate). Medium settings provide 92 FPS, and High settings give 78 FPS, showing a predictable scaling curve.

Q: Is the Arc B570's 10 GB VRAM sufficient for Doom at 4K?

A: Yes. The measured data shows the GPU handles 3840x2160 at all settings without VRAM-related issues. At Ultra settings, the average FPS is 35, which is playable but not ideal. The 380.0 GB/s bandwidth and 10 GB GDDR6 memory are more than enough for Doom's texture and geometry requirements.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2,332 out of 2,930 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 20% of all combos. However, this ranking reflects the CPU's mid-range standing (71st percentile) and GPU's mid-range standing (65th percentile) rather than a specific weakness in Doom. Within the context of similarly priced components, the performance is competitive.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the data clearly shows that Ultra settings (99 FPS average) still deliver above 60 FPS, making it a viable choice for players who prioritize visual fidelity. However, High settings (121 FPS) provide a substantial improvement in smoothness with only a modest visual downgrade. For competitive play where high refresh rates matter, Low settings (164 FPS) are the best choice, as the frame rate is maximized with minimal visual compromise in a fast-paced FPS.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings (92 FPS average) offer the best balance between visual quality and performance. High settings (78 FPS) remain above 60 FPS and are acceptable, while Ultra (64 FPS) sits right at the threshold for smooth gameplay. Low settings (106 FPS) are recommended for players with 144 Hz monitors who want to fully utilize their display's refresh rate. The data shows that the jump from Medium to Ultra costs 28 FPS at this resolution, which is a significant trade-off.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. Low settings (57 FPS) are the only preset that approaches 60 FPS, while Medium (50 FPS) and High (42 FPS) are playable but not optimal for fast-paced action. Ultra settings (35 FPS) are not recommended for serious gameplay, as the frame rate drops below the threshold for comfortable FPS play. For 4K, Low settings are the clear recommendation, as they provide the highest frame rate while still maintaining playable visual quality.

The best overall experience is arguably at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, delivering 92 FPS average with a minimum of 79 FPS and maximum of 106 FPS. This combination provides a sharp image, smooth frame pacing, and enough visual detail to appreciate the game's atmospheric design. For players with 144 Hz monitors, 1920x1080 with Low or High settings (164 or 121 FPS) is the ideal choice, as the frame rates fully utilize the display's refresh rate. The medium settings at 1080p (143 FPS) also offer an excellent compromise.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2,332 out of 2,930 tested combos, placing it in the 20th percentile overall. This ranking is influenced by both components' mid-range positions: the CPU is in the 71st percentile among all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 65th percentile among all GPUs. The rank reflects that there are 598 tested combos that perform better, which is expected given the hardware's market positioning.

The rank is not a reflection of poor performance in Doom specifically — it's a cumulative ranking across all games tested. In Doom, the combo delivers playable frame rates at all resolutions, with 1920x1080 performance ranging from 99 to 164 FPS depending on settings. The 2,932 total combos include higher-end CPUs like the AMD EPYC 7573X and EPYC 7742, which rank near the Ryzen 5 3600 in synthetic benchmarks, as well as GPUs like the RTX 3070 Mobile that are directly comparable to the Arc B570.

The data shows that combos with stronger GPUs (such as those in the 90th percentile) would rank higher, but the Arc B570's performance in Doom is respectable for its class. The 42 FPS at 4K Ultra is a solid result for a GPU with 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. Compared to the nearest rival combos, the Ryzen 5 3600's CPU performance is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-1260P and AMD EPYC 7742, meaning any ranking difference between systems with these CPUs would come from the GPU. The Arc B570's 0.1% edge over the RTX 3070 Mobile in synthetic scores suggests that combos with these GPUs would be nearly indistinguishable in real-world gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 164 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate across all resolutions and settings. Medium settings yield 143 FPS average, with a minimum of 121 FPS and maximum of 164 FPS. High settings drop to 121 FPS average, while Ultra settings settle at 99 FPS average. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 65 FPS reduction, indicating that the GPU's 2,304 shading units and 80 ROPs are progressively more stressed as visual complexity increases.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong. Low settings average 106 FPS, Medium settings average 92 FPS (with a minimum of 79 and maximum of 106), High settings average 78 FPS, and Ultra settings average 64 FPS. The 42 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is proportionally similar to the 1080p results, but the absolute frame rates are lower due to the increased pixel count. The 2560x1440 Medium setting shows a 13 FPS minimum-to-average delta, suggesting some frame pacing variance during intense scenes.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily stressed. Low settings average 57 FPS, Medium settings average 50 FPS (with a minimum of 43 and maximum of 58), High settings average 42 FPS, and Ultra settings average 35 FPS. The 4K results show a 22 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, which is a smaller absolute gap than at lower resolutions but represents a 63% reduction in frame rate from Low to Ultra. The Medium setting at 4K exhibits a 7 FPS minimum-to-average delta, indicating more stable frame delivery than the 1440p Medium result relative to its average.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: the combo maintains 60+ FPS at 1080p and 1440p across all settings, but at 4K, only Low settings exceed 60 FPS. The 57 FPS at 4K Low is borderline, and players seeking a locked 60 FPS experience should stick to 1440p or lower. The 35 FPS at 4K Ultra is technically playable but not recommended for a fast-paced FPS where quick reactions are essential. The measured FPS values are based on actual testing and represent the expected performance for this specific CPU-GPU pairing in Doom.