Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and settings. The data shows a strong pairing where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s large cache keeps frame rates exceptionally high at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: Can this system handle Doom at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with caveats. The measured data shows an average of 59 FPS at 4K High, which is just below the 60 FPS mark. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, you would need to use Low settings, which achieve an average of 81 FPS.

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

A: At 1440p, the system provides excellent performance. The High preset averages 110 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 149 FPS. This makes 1440p the sweet spot for 120Hz or 144Hz displays.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance?

A: The Ultra preset demands a significant performance penalty. Across all resolutions, Ultra averages are roughly 18-20% lower than High settings. At 4K, this drops the average to 49 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for smooth action.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data shows a clear drop in FPS from 1080p to 4K, indicating the RX 6700 XT is being pushed to its limits. The CPU’s high performance, evidenced by its 3D V-Cache, is sufficient to keep pace even at 1080p where frame rates are very high.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Medium settings?

A: The jump from Low to Medium is relatively small. At 1080p, Low averages 230 FPS while Medium averages 200 FPS. At 1440p, the gap is similar, with Low at 149 FPS and Medium at 130 FPS. At 4K, the difference is 81 FPS for Low versus 70 FPS for Medium.

Q: How does this system rank for Doom specifically?

A: The combination ranks 1506 out of 2930 tested configurations for this game. This places it in the upper half of all tested combos, indicating solid performance for its class.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the workhorse of this configuration, and its specifications directly explain the measured results. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s. This is a substantial amount of bandwidth, which is critical for the high-resolution textures and rapid scene changes in Doom. The GPU’s boost clock is listed at 2581 MHz, with a game clock of 2424 MHz, and these high frequencies are key to sustaining the frame rates seen in the data.

The GPU’s performance profile is clear in the benchmark scores. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 19786 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 93500, showing strong compute capabilities. Its percentile rank is 72, meaning it outperforms 72% of all GPUs in the database. The nearest rivals provide context: the RX 6700 XT is nearly identical in average score to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile (0% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (-0.5% delta). However, it holds a slight edge over the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell (1.1% delta) and is notably faster than the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (-1.5% delta). This places the 6700 XT in a competitive position, roughly equivalent to a mobile RTX 4070 or a desktop RTX 3090 in this title.

In Doom, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises. At 4K, the data shows the GPU is fully saturated, with frame rates dropping to an average of 59 FPS on High settings. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a steep performance cliff, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The 12 GB VRAM buffer is also a relevant factor; while Doom is not a VRAM-heavy title, the ample memory ensures no texture swapping issues even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS still drops to 49, confirming the compute limits of the GPU rather than memory capacity.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, featuring a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The defining feature of this CPU is its large 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is crucial for gaming performance. This cache allows the CPU to store more game data on-die, reducing latency and improving frame pacing.

The CPU’s benchmark results are strong, with a Passmark multithread score of 20363 and a single-thread score of 2941. Its average benchmark score is 37018, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. This is a high standing, and the nearest rivals confirm its capability. It is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (0.2% delta), while slightly trailing the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (-0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i9-12900T (-0.3% delta). For a mid-range 5000-series chip, this level of performance is exceptional, largely thanks to the 3D V-Cache.

In the context of Doom, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. The data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck even at 1080p, where frame rates are extremely high. At 1080p Low, the system averages 230 FPS, which is a very heavy load on the CPU. The fact that the system can maintain this level of performance indicates that the 5500X3D’s 6 cores and large cache are more than sufficient for this game’s engine. The high single-thread score is particularly relevant here, as Doom is known to scale well with strong single-core performance. The CPU’s 105W TDP and support for DDR4 memory are standard for the AM4 platform, and its 7nm process node ensures it can sustain these clocks without excessive power draw.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The dataset includes average FPS for all presets, with minimum and maximum FPS recorded only for the Medium preset at each resolution.

1080p Performance:

• Low: 230 FPS average.
• Medium: 200 FPS average, with a minimum of 170 FPS and a maximum of 230 FPS.
• High: 169 FPS average.
• Ultra: 138 FPS average.

At 1080p, the system delivers excellent performance, with all presets exceeding 138 FPS. The Low preset’s 230 FPS average is ideal for 240Hz monitors, while the High preset’s 169 FPS is still sufficient for 144Hz displays. The Medium preset’s minimum of 170 FPS ensures no drops below the refresh rate of a 165Hz monitor.

1440p Performance:

• Low: 149 FPS average.
• Medium: 130 FPS average, with a minimum of 110 FPS and a maximum of 149 FPS.
• High: 110 FPS average.
• Ultra: 90 FPS average.

1440p is where the system hits its stride. The High preset’s 110 FPS average is perfectly suited for 120Hz displays, and the Low preset’s 149 FPS is nearly ideal for 144Hz panels. The Ultra preset’s 90 FPS is still smooth, but the jump to High provides a substantial 20 FPS improvement.

4K Performance:

• Low: 81 FPS average.
• Medium: 70 FPS average, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS.
• High: 59 FPS average.
• Ultra: 49 FPS average.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The Low preset’s 81 FPS is playable, but the High preset’s 59 FPS falls below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset’s minimum of 60 FPS shows that it can hold the line, but the average of 70 FPS suggests occasional dips. The Ultra preset’s 49 FPS is not recommended for a fluid experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. Looking at the High preset, the system averages 169 FPS at 1080p, 110 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. This represents a drop of 35% from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. This is a steep decline, indicating that the RX 6700 XT is being increasingly saturated as pixel count rises.

The data for the Low preset shows a similar trend but with a slightly less severe drop. The system achieves 230 FPS at 1080p, 149 FPS at 1440p, and 81 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 35% and 46%, respectively, which are nearly identical to the High preset. This consistency suggests that the GPU is the primary limiter across all settings, not the CPU.

This scaling pattern is a strong indicator that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at lower resolutions, with the gap between 1080p and 1440p being smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K. Instead, the FPS drops consistently with resolution, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound system. The 5500X3D’s 96 MB cache and high single-thread performance are clearly sufficient to keep the GPU fed, even at 1080p where frame rates exceed 200 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate.

For 1080p, the High preset is the recommended choice for most users. It delivers 169 FPS, which is well above the 144Hz threshold and offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium. For users with 240Hz monitors, the Low preset’s 230 FPS is the only way to fully utilize the display, but the visual trade-off is substantial. The Ultra preset’s 138 FPS is still playable, but the 31 FPS drop from High is not worth the marginal visual gains.

For 1440p, the High preset is the clear winner. It provides 110 FPS, which is ideal for 120Hz displays, and the visual quality is excellent. The Medium preset’s 130 FPS is a good alternative for those who prefer a higher frame rate, but the 20 FPS gain is modest. The Ultra preset’s 90 FPS is playable, but the drop to High is recommended for a smoother experience. The Low preset is not recommended at this resolution, as the visual degradation is too severe for the 149 FPS average.

For 4K, the data suggests that compromises must be made. The Medium preset is the best option, as its 70 FPS average and 60 FPS minimum ensure a playable experience. The Low preset’s 81 FPS is also viable, but the visual detail loss is noticeable. The High preset’s 59 FPS is just below the 60 FPS target, and the Ultra preset’s 49 FPS is not ideal for a fast-paced FPS. For a locked 60 FPS experience, the Low preset is the safest choice, but Medium offers a better balance of visual quality and performance.