Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 pairs six cores and twelve threads, running at a 3.50 GHz base clock and boosting up to 4.40 GHz, with 32 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a Zen 3 architecture CPU on the AM4 socket, built on a 7 nm process by TSMC. In the context of Doom, a game that scales well with multi-threaded performance, the CPU’s 12 threads provide ample headroom. The benchmark data shows the Ryzen 5 5600 achieving a single-thread score of 882 in 3dmark and a max-thread score of 5659, indicating strong per-core efficiency that keeps frame pacing consistent. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth on a dual-channel DDR4 interface support the GPU without bottlenecking at lower resolutions, where the frame rate is more likely to be limited by the graphics card. The Ryzen 5 5600 sits in the 79th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21765, placing it slightly ahead of the Intel Xeon D-1746TER by 0.6% and marginally behind the AMD EPYC 9554P by 0.6%. This suggests the processor is well-matched for gaming workloads, where its six cores are fully utilized by modern titles like Doom.

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

The Ryzen 5 5600’s six cores and twelve threads are the backbone of its performance in Doom. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 136.6 FPS, but as settings increase, the CPU’s role shifts. The data shows that at 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 82.7, indicating that the CPU still has a hand in performance even when the GPU is stressed. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.40 GHz is critical for maintaining high frame rates in a fast-paced FPS, where per-frame latency matters. The 3dmark scores reflect a balanced design: a single-thread score of 882 and a 4-thread score of 3313, which are modest but sufficient for a game that can utilize multiple cores. The 12 threads from the 6 cores allow for background tasks and game logic to run concurrently without stalling the render pipeline. In multi-core benchmarks like Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 18309, which is a strong result for a desktop part, and passmark multithread shows 21541. These numbers suggest that while the CPU is not the primary limiter at 4K, it does contribute to the overall frame pacing at 1080p where the GPU has more headroom. The 32 MB of L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial in a game with rapid asset streaming.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the more constrained component in this pairing. With a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1740 MHz, the GPU’s performance is directly tied to its 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, which operates at 12 Gbps effective on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s. This limited VRAM is a critical factor in Doom at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS collapses to 28.5, while at 4K Low it climbs to 48.1. The data indicates that the GPU’s 4 GB frame buffer is saturated at 4K, causing a significant performance penalty as textures and effects scale up. The RTX 3050 has a 90 W TDP and features 2048 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, which are modest for a 30-series card. The pixel rate of 55.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 111.4 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits, but the measured FPS shows that memory bandwidth is the bottleneck. The GPU’s percentile rank is 50th among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score is 0, indicating that it is an entry-level part. In Doom, this means the GPU is the primary limiter at 1440p and 4K, where the frame rates drop sharply as settings increase, while at 1080p, the GPU can still deliver playable results.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p Low, the average is 136.6 FPS, but this falls to 90.5 FPS at 1440p Low, and further to 48.1 FPS at 4K Low. This is a drop of 33.7% from 1080p to 1440p and 64.8% from 1080p to 4K, which is consistent with a GPU that is running out of memory bandwidth and fill rate. At 1080p High, the average is 100.7 FPS, dropping to 64.1 FPS at 1440p High and 33.8 FPS at 4K High. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 66.5%, showing that the GPU’s limits are exposed as pixel count increases. The data for Medium settings shows a similar trend: 121 FPS at 1080p, 76.5 FPS at 1440p, and 40.5 FPS at 4K. This scaling indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck, as the Ryzen 5 5600 can keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to push the GPU to its limits, but at 4K, the GPU’s 4 GB VRAM and 192.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient, causing the frame rate to halve or worse. The fact that 4K Ultra drops to 28.5 FPS highlights that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance does not degrade with resolution. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe, with an average drop of about 35%, which is typical for a mid-range GPU, but the jump to 4K is punishing.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB ranks 1503 out of 1681 tested combos in Doom. This places the combo in the bottom 10% of all tested configurations, which is a poor result for a game that is known for its optimized engine. The rank indicates that this pairing is not well-suited for Doom at higher resolutions, as the GPU holds back the CPU’s potential. The CPU alone ranks in the 79th percentile among all CPUs, but the GPU’s 50th percentile rank drags down the overall combo performance. In the context of the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Ryzen 5 5600 is 0.6% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-1746TER and 0.6% behind the AMD EPYC 9554P, but these are server-class parts that would not be paired with an RTX 3050 in a typical gaming build. The combo’s rank of 1503 suggests that most other pairings, even those with older or less powerful CPUs, outperform this setup because they are paired with more capable GPUs. The data shows that the RTX 3050’s 4 GB VRAM is a severe limitation, and this combo is only viable for 1080p gaming at low-to-medium settings. The rank also reflects that the CPU is not the issue, as the combo’s performance is consistent with GPU-bound behavior, but the overall score is dragged down by the GPU’s inability to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is at 1080p with Medium settings, which yields an average of 121 FPS. This is above the 100 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay in a fast-paced FPS, and it is a 20% improvement over High settings, which average 100.7 FPS. At 1080p Low, the average of 136.6 FPS is the highest, but the visual quality is degraded, and the 4 GB VRAM is not the bottleneck at this resolution. For players who prioritize frame rate over visuals, 1080p Low is the optimal preset, as it provides a 34.5% increase over Medium and ensures the GPU is not stressed. At 1440p, the only playable option is Low, with an average of 90.5 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS but requires a compromise on visual fidelity. High settings at 1440p drop to 64.1 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play, and Medium at 76.5 FPS is a better balance. At 4K, the combo is not viable for serious play, as even Low settings average only 48.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The data suggests that the best experience is at 1080p Medium, as it offers a solid frame rate while maintaining acceptable visual quality, but users with high-refresh monitors should opt for 1080p Low to maximize FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it delivers 82.7 FPS at 1080p, 55.9 FPS at 1440p, and 28.5 FPS at 4K, which are all below the ideal frame rates for a shooter. Ultimately, the measured rows indicate that Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot, providing a 120.9 FPS average that balances performance and quality, while staying within the GPU’s memory and bandwidth limits.