Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a combination that targets 1080p gaming, and the measured results for Doom confirm this is where it belongs. The 4 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface of the GTX 1650 are the primary constraints at higher resolutions, while the six-core Zen 3 processor provides ample headroom. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data to explain exactly what this combo can deliver, where its limits are, and which settings to use for the best experience.

FAQ

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

A: The data clearly shows 1920x1080 as the target resolution. Average frame rates range from 55 FPS at Ultra to 92 FPS at Low, with all settings presets above 55 FPS. At 2560x1440, performance drops to a range of 36-59 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 19-32 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where all presets are playable.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings in Doom?

A: At 1920x1080, Ultra settings produce an average of 55 FPS, which is technically playable but leaves little margin for demanding scenes. For a smoother experience, the Medium preset at 1080p delivers 80 FPS average, which is a significant 45% performance increase over Ultra with presumably minor visual differences.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals in raw GPU score?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 7472, placing it in the 40th percentile of all GPUs. It is nearly identical in performance to the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (deltaPct 0.3%), Intel UHD Graphics 750 (deltaPct 0.4%), and AMD Radeon R7 350 (deltaPct 0.6%). It is only 1% behind the Intel Arc A310 in average score.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p Medium and 1440p Medium?

A: The average frame rate drops from 80 FPS at 1920x1080 Medium to 52 FPS at 2560x1440 Medium, a 35% reduction. This significant drop indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and processing power are being heavily taxed as pixel count increases.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600F a strong processor for gaming?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600F sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36945. It is essentially tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (deltaPct 0%), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (deltaPct -0.2%), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (deltaPct -0.4%), proving it is a high-performing, modern desktop processor.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded across all tested settings?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 19 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This performance level is not suitable for a fast-paced FPS like Doom. The 4K Medium preset fares slightly better with an average of 28 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the defining component in this configuration for Doom. Its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth, and the GPU operates at a base clock of 1485 MHz with a boost clock of 1665 MHz. The data shows that these specifications are sufficient for smooth gameplay at 1080p but become a bottleneck as resolution increases.

The GPU's raw compute power is modest, with 896 shading units delivering 2.984 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. This is reflected in its average benchmark score of 7472, placing it in the 40th percentile of all GPUs. The benchmark results for Doom demonstrate this clearly: at 1920x1080, the GPU can push frame rates from 55 FPS at Ultra to 92 FPS at Low. However, the 4 GB VRAM capacity is likely a limiting factor at higher resolutions, where the demand for texture memory and framebuffer space increases substantially.

The GTX 1650's performance relative to its nearest rivals shows how tightly clustered this segment is. With a deltaPct of just 0.3% against the AMD Radeon HD 8850M and 0.4% against the Intel UHD Graphics 750, the GTX 1650 is effectively at parity with those older or integrated solutions. Its 1% deficit to the Intel Arc A310 is minimal. This suggests that in Doom, the GTX 1650's performance is predictable and consistent with its class, and the frame rate differences across settings are primarily due to the game's own scaling rather than any architectural advantage.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Doom reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average frame rate is 80 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 on the same preset drops the average to 52 FPS, a 35% reduction. Pushing to 3840x2160 on Medium yields an average of only 28 FPS, a further 46% drop from 1440p.

This scaling pattern indicates that the GTX 1650's 128.1 GB/s memory bandwidth and 4 GB frame buffer are the primary limiting components. The pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, and the GPU's fill rate and memory subsystem cannot keep up. For example, at 1080p Ultra, the average is 55 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it collapses to 19 FPS. This is not a CPU limitation; the Ryzen 5 5600F is more than capable of handling the game's logic at these frame rates.

The data suggests that 1080p is the only viable resolution for this combo in Doom. Even at 1440p Low, the average of 59 FPS is borderline for a fast-paced shooter, and High settings at 1440p drop to 44 FPS. The GTX 1650 simply does not have the bandwidth to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions, making 1080p the clear choice for a consistent and responsive experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured results provides a detailed picture of performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are as follows: Low averages 92 FPS, Medium averages 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 and maximum of 92, High averages 68 FPS, and Ultra averages 55 FPS. This shows a smooth progression of performance degradation as visual fidelity increases.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low averages 59 FPS, Medium averages 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 and maximum of 60, High averages 44 FPS, and Ultra averages 36 FPS. The minimum frame rate at Medium (44 FPS) is particularly telling, as it shows the GPU struggling to maintain consistent frame pacing at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable for a competitive FPS. Low averages 32 FPS, Medium averages 28 FPS with a minimum of 24 and maximum of 32, High averages 24 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. These numbers confirm that 4K is not a realistic option for this hardware in Doom. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is only 13 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is so saturated that setting changes have diminishing returns.

The data also shows that the difference between Low and Ultra is consistent across resolutions but with a shrinking absolute gap: 37 FPS at 1080p, 23 FPS at 1440p, and 13 FPS at 4K. This indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU's limits are so severe that even reducing settings cannot compensate for the increased pixel workload.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. It is built on TSMC's 7 nm process and features 32 MB of shared L3 cache. In terms of raw CPU performance, it scores 19236 in the PassMark multithread test and 2872 in the single-thread test, with an average benchmark score of 36945 that places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

For Doom, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The data indicates that the Ryzen 5 5600F is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with GPU-bound behavior, not CPU limitations. At 1080p Low, the CPU is capable of pushing 92 FPS, which is likely near the upper limit of what the GTX 1650 can render. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, which is not the case.

The processor's performance relative to its nearest rivals is notable. With a deltaPct of 0% against the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and -0.2% against the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, the 5600F is effectively in the same performance tier. This means that in a GPU-limited scenario like this one, swapping the CPU for a rival would yield negligible FPS differences. The 5600F's 12 threads and large cache ensure that Doom's engine has plenty of headroom, and the measured FPS numbers are almost entirely dictated by the graphics card's capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this CPU/GPU combo in Doom depend on the user's priority for frame rate versus visual quality. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers the best balance, delivering an average of 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS. This is a 45% improvement over Ultra (55 FPS) and only 13% lower than Low (92 FPS), while providing a significant visual upgrade over the lowest settings.

For players who prioritize maximum smoothness, the Low preset at 1080p yields 92 FPS, which is excellent for a fast-paced shooter. However, the jump to Medium adds only 12 FPS of performance cost (from 92 to 80) and is likely worth the visual fidelity for most users. The High preset at 68 FPS is also playable, but the Medium preset's higher average and minimum frame rates make it the safer choice to avoid dips during intense combat.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only setting that approaches playability, with an average of 59 FPS. Medium drops to 52 FPS, and High falls to 44 FPS. Given the 4 GB VRAM limitation, players at 1440p should stick to Low or Medium, but the minimum frame rate of 44 FPS at Medium may cause noticeable stuttering. The 3840x2160 results are not recommended for gameplay, as even the Low preset at 32 FPS is below the threshold for a responsive FPS experience. The optimal configuration is 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which provides a consistent 80 FPS average and a minimum of 68 FPS, ensuring that the GTX 1650's capabilities are used effectively without overburdening the system.