Doom

Doom is a fast-paced FPS that scales dramatically across resolutions and settings. With the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, the data shows a system capable of high refresh rates at all common resolutions, though the balance between CPU and GPU load shifts significantly as you move from 1080p to 4K. The measured FPS ranges from a blistering 284 frames per second at 1080p Low to a still-playable 60 frames per second at 4K Ultra, making this combination a versatile choice for both competitive and visually demanding play.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, revealing a clear transition from a CPU-bound scenario to a GPU-bound one. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 284. When moving to 1440p at the same Low preset, the average drops to 184 FPS, a reduction of 100 FPS. Pushing further to 4K Low yields an average of 99 FPS, which is less than half of the 1080p result. This scaling pattern indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU is doing most of the heavy lifting, while the GPU has ample headroom.

The trend continues across all settings, but the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced than from 1080p to 1440p. For High settings, the averages are 209 FPS at 1080p, 135 FPS at 1440p, and 73 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 62 FPS, which is a larger absolute loss than the 74 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p. This suggests that the GPU's rendering load becomes the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases, while the CPU's role diminishes.

At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 60, which is exactly the threshold for smooth console-like performance. The data shows that this pairing is not designed for maxing out 4K, but it handles 1440p with ease. The scaling from Medium to Ultra at 1440p shows a 50 FPS difference (160 FPS to 110 FPS), indicating that the GPU is still the bottleneck at this resolution, but the CPU is keeping up well enough to allow for high frame rates. The overall pattern is clear: for competitive play, 1080p is the sweet spot, while 1440p offers an excellent balance of visual fidelity and speed.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is the primary driver of frame rates at higher resolutions, and its memory configuration plays a critical role in its performance. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This large memory pool is more than sufficient for Doom's textures at 4K, preventing any potential stuttering from memory swapping. The core clocks are set with a base of 1295 MHz and a boost of 2430 MHz, with a game clock of 2124 MHz, which allows it to sustain high throughput in sustained gaming loads.

The GPU's compute power is substantial, with 3840 shading units and a pixel rate of 233.3 GPixel/s. This translates to a raw fill rate that can handle the high polygon counts and particle effects in Doom's fast-paced action. The FP32 performance is 37.32 TFLOPS, which is a strong indicator of its ability to process complex shaders and lighting effects, particularly at 1440p where the measured results are exceptionally strong. The GPU's percentile ranking is 51, placing it in the middle of the pack, but its average benchmark score of 11627 is competitive.

The nearest rivals to this GPU, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, have an average score of 11680, which is 0.5% higher, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M lags by 0.9%. This indicates that the RX 7800 XT is a solid mid-range performer, but its real-world FPS in Doom is exceptionally high due to the game's optimization. The 16 GB of VRAM is a forward-looking feature, ensuring that this card will remain relevant for future titles that demand more memory. In Doom, the GPU does not appear to be bottlenecked by memory bandwidth, as evidenced by the high FPS at 1440p.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F provides the foundational processing power that allows the GPU to stretch its legs at lower resolutions. With 6 cores and 12 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture, it has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. This configuration is well-suited for Doom, which is not heavily multi-threaded but benefits from strong single-core performance. The CPU's single-thread Passmark score of 2872 is a key metric, as it directly influences how fast the game can process game logic and issue draw calls.

The CPU's L3 cache is 32 MB shared, which is ample for holding game assets that are frequently accessed. Its Passmark multithread score of 19236 shows that it can handle background tasks without impacting gaming performance. The CPU's percentile ranking is 85, indicating it is better than most CPUs on the market. Its average benchmark score is 36945, which is almost identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, which scores 36938, a delta of 0%. This means the 5600F is perfectly positioned in terms of raw compute.

However, the data shows that the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p. The jump from 1080p Low (284 FPS) to 1440p Low (184 FPS) suggests that the CPU is maxing out its ability to feed the GPU with frames. At 1080p, the GPU is often idle waiting for the CPU, while at 1440p and 4K, the GPU takes over as the primary bottleneck. The CPU's TDP is 65 W, which is efficient, and its PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes ensures it can communicate with the GPU without data transfer bottlenecks. For Doom, the 5600F is more than adequate, providing a solid foundation for high-refresh-rate gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a range of performance that can cater to any playstyle. With Low settings, the average FPS is 284, which is exceptionally high and ideal for competitive play where every millisecond counts. Medium settings yield an average of 247 FPS, with a minimum of 210 FPS and a maximum of 284 FPS, showing that frame times are consistent. High settings drop the average to 209 FPS, which is still far above the refresh rate of most monitors. Ultra settings, the most demanding preset, still manage an average of 171 FPS, proving that this pairing can handle maxed-out settings at 1080p with ease.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU starting to work harder. Low settings produce an average of 184 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. Medium settings average 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 184 FPS, indicating a small frame time variance. High settings average 135 FPS, which is smooth and playable on a 144Hz monitor. Ultra settings average 110 FPS, which is a very comfortable experience for a visually demanding game, and it is the highest preset that maintains a triple-digit average.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is fully saturated, and the frame rates reflect that. Low settings average 99 FPS, which is a playable experience, but not ideal for competitive play. Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS, showing some variance but maintaining a playable experience. High settings average 73 FPS, which is acceptable for a single-player experience. Ultra settings average 60 FPS, which is the minimum standard for smooth gameplay, but it is the only preset that dips to this level. The data shows a clear gradient, with 1440p being the optimal balance for this configuration.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 87, and with High settings, it is 73. Even at Ultra, the average is 60 FPS, which is considered the baseline for playable performance.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: At 1080p, all settings presets exceed 170 FPS, with Low settings reaching 284 FPS. At 1440p, all presets except Ultra stay above 135 FPS, making 1440p a strong choice for 144Hz monitors.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance compared to the GPU?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the 284 FPS at Low settings, which is likely near the CPU's maximum output. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as the frame rates drop significantly despite the CPU's capacity.

Q: Is the 16 GB of VRAM necessary for Doom?

A: The 16 GB of VRAM on the RX 7800 XT is more than sufficient for Doom, preventing any memory-related stutters. The data shows consistent minimum FPS values in the 74-210 range across resolutions, indicating no VRAM bottlenecks.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600F has an average benchmark score of 36945. Its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, scores 36938, a delta of 0%. Another rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, scores 37018, which is 0.2% higher.

Q: What is the most consistent performance preset in terms of frame pacing?

A: At 1080p Medium, the minimum FPS is 210 and the maximum is 284, showing a narrow range. At 1440p Medium, the range is 136 to 184 FPS, which is also relatively tight, indicating stable frame pacing.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the recommended starting point. The data shows an average of 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS, which provides a smooth and responsive experience on a 144Hz monitor. This preset offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance, ensuring that the game looks good while maintaining high frame rates. The jump to High settings at 1440p reduces the average to 135 FPS, which is still good, but the extra visual detail may not be worth the 25 FPS loss for competitive players.

If you are playing on a 1080p monitor, the High preset is a solid choice, delivering an average of 209 FPS. This is well above the refresh rate of most monitors, providing a headroom for any potential frame drops. For players who prioritize maximum visual quality on a 4K display, the Medium preset at 3840x2160 is the most viable option, with an average of 87 FPS. Using the Ultra preset at 4K is possible, but the 60 FPS average is near the edge of playability, and the Medium preset offers a more comfortable margin.

For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p is the clear winner, with an average of 284 FPS. This is ideal for esports or competitive play, where every frame counts. The data suggests that the Ultra preset is best reserved for 1080p or 1440p, where the average FPS remains above 110. Ultimately, the choice of settings depends on your monitor's refresh rate and your preference for visual fidelity versus raw speed. The measured data indicates that this system is versatile, but it truly shines at 1440p with Medium or High settings.