Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER pairing in Doom presents a fascinating study in system balance. The CPU, a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 part based on the Vermeer architecture, brings substantial processing power to the table, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This processor sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21765, placing it in a tight cluster with rivals like the Intel Core i7-11700F, which scores 21957 (a mere 0.9% difference). The data suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck here; its performance headroom is significant, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 18309 and single-core score of 2584. In a fast-paced FPS like Doom, this level of processing capability ensures the game logic, physics, and AI can be handled without introducing frame pacing issues, leaving the rendering workload to the graphics card.

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

The Ryzen 5 5600’s architecture is built for responsiveness, a key trait for a game like Doom that demands quick reactions. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it provides ample parallelism for modern game engines. The high boost clock of 4.40 GHz is critical for single-threaded performance, which often dictates the maximum frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios. However, the benchmark data reveals that this particular combo is not CPU-limited at most settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves an average of 150.7 FPS, which is a high number, but it is the GPU that will struggle to push beyond this at higher settings. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache is another asset, helping to keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency and improving overall game performance.

The processor’s benchmark scores, relative to its nearest rivals, show a balanced profile. Its 3dmark single-thread score of 882 and 3dmark max-threads score of 5659 indicate strong per-core and multi-threaded capability. When compared to the AMD EPYC 9554P, which has an average score of 21899 and a deltaPct of -0.6%, the Ryzen 5 5600 is effectively on par, despite the EPYC being a server-class chip. This suggests that for gaming workloads, the Ryzen 5 5600 is not a limiting factor. The data implies the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GTX 1660 SUPER enough frames, and the performance ceiling in this pairing is determined almost entirely by the graphics card.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the other half of this duo, and it is clearly the performance limiter in this combination. Based on the Turing architecture and manufactured on a 12 nm process, this GPU features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock of 1530 MHz and boost clock of 1785 MHz allow for a peak FP32 performance of 5.027 TFLOPS. This GPU sits in the 55th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 14286, placing it very close to rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, which scores 14389 (a deltaPct of -0.7%). The data indicates this is a mid-range card that will require careful settings management to achieve high frame rates in demanding titles.

The 6 GB VRAM capacity is a crucial factor. At 4K resolution with high-detail textures, the memory could become a limiting factor. The benchmark results support this: at 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS drops to 29.3, while at 1920x1080 Low, it jumps to 150.7. This massive gap is not just about pixel count; it also reflects the increased memory pressure and shader complexity at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 12699 and DirectX 12 score of 50 highlight its capability but also its place in the hierarchy. The data shows that this card can handle 1080p gaming with ease, but 4K is beyond its comfort zone, especially with higher graphical presets.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions is a textbook example of a GPU-bound system. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160, we see a significant drop in performance. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 108.5 at 1080p to 69.8 at 1440p, and then plummets to 39.1 at 4K. This is a clear indicator that the workload is scaling with pixel count, which is the primary duty of the GPU. The CPU’s job becomes less demanding as resolution increases, because the focus shifts from preparing frames to rendering them.

The data reveals that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the bottleneck, as the frame rate decline is consistent with its rendering capabilities. At 4K Ultra, the system achieves only 29.3 FPS, which is not a playable experience for a fast-paced FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra settings shows a drop from 88.9 FPS to 60.8 FPS, a 31.6% decrease. This steep drop-off suggests that the GPU’s shading units and memory bandwidth are being pushed to their limits. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p (96.7 FPS to 60.8 FPS) further illustrates that the GPU is the primary constraint, as the CPU is likely capable of maintaining a high frame rate regardless of these settings.

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

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with High settings, delivering an average of 108.5 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience that is well-suited for the fast action of Doom. While Low settings push the frame rate to 150.7 FPS, the visual fidelity is likely compromised. High settings strike the best balance between performance and image quality, as the frame rate remains well above 100 FPS. At 2560x1440, High settings also provide a playable experience at 69.8 FPS, but this is a more demanding resolution, and the frame rate is lower.

For users with a 1440p monitor, Medium settings at 82.6 FPS might be a better choice, offering a higher frame rate for a slight visual downgrade. The data shows that Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution for this card, as the frame rates drop to 88.9 FPS at 1080p, 60.8 FPS at 1440p, and 29.3 FPS at 4K, which are either below ideal smoothness or unplayable. At 4K, even Low settings only achieve 51.4 FPS, which is borderline, but the visual quality would be very poor. Therefore, the sweet spot is clearly 1080p High, with 1440p Medium as a viable alternative for those with higher-resolution displays.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes, the data shows an average FPS of 108.5 at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 150.7, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: No, the data indicates it is not. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 51.4 on Low settings, and on Ultra, it drops to 29.3 FPS, making it unplayable for a fast-paced title like Doom.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rival, the RX 5500 XT?

A: The data shows the GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 14286, which is 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT's score of 14389, indicating they are essentially equivalent in performance.

Q: Which resolution offers the best balance of performance and visual quality?

A: Based on the measured rows, 1920x1080 with High settings offers the best balance, providing an average FPS of 108.5, which is both smooth and visually detailed.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The benchmark results strongly indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS scales heavily with resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, while the CPU is in the 79th percentile, indicating it has ample headroom.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high, ranging from 88.9 FPS on Ultra to 150.7 FPS on Low. Medium settings yield 130.7 FPS, and High settings yield 108.5 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Ultra settings produce an average of 60.8 FPS, High settings 69.8 FPS, Medium settings 82.6 FPS, and Low settings 96.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system struggles, with Ultra averaging just 29.3 FPS, High averaging 39.1 FPS, Medium averaging 42.4 FPS, and Low averaging 51.4 FPS. These numbers show a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution and settings increase.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific configuration, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, ranks 1483 out of 1681 tested combos in Doom. This placement indicates that while it is not a top-tier setup, it is not at the very bottom either. The rank of 1483 places it in the lower 12th percentile of all tested systems. This is a significant finding, as it suggests that while the CPU is a strong performer (79th percentile), the GPU’s performance (55th percentile) drags the overall combo down. The data implies that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates, but it will not be competitive with higher-end configurations at higher resolutions. The rank reflects the GPU bottleneck, which is the primary factor limiting the combo’s overall standing in this specific game.