Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers exceptional performance in Doom, with the data clearly demonstrating a GPU-bound experience at higher resolutions. The measured frame rates indicate that this combination is not only capable of high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming but also maintains competent 4K performance, with the CPU providing a robust foundation for the GPU's output.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and substantial decline as resolution increases, confirming that the Radeon RX 7900 XT is the primary limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 249.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average drops to 162.3 FPS, a decrease of 35.1%. At 4K, the average falls further to 89 FPS, which is 64.4% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU that is progressively more stressed by the increasing pixel count, moving the workload away from the CPU's capable single-thread performance.

The scaling between the Low and Ultra presets also reveals the GPU's sensitivity to graphical load. At 1080p, the difference between Low (336.8 FPS) and Ultra (203.2 FPS) is 133.6 FPS, a 39.7% reduction. However, at 4K, the gap between Low (118.4 FPS) and Ultra (71.4 FPS) is 47 FPS, a 39.7% reduction. The percentage drop is consistent, but the absolute FPS loss is smaller at higher resolutions, which is typical for a scenario where the GPU is already saturated. The fact that the 4K Ultra setting still yields 71.4 FPS indicates that the RX 7900 XT's raw compute power is sufficient to keep the game playable even under maximum load at the highest resolution tested.

The data suggests that the 1440p results are the sweet spot for this combo, as the average of 162.3 FPS at High settings comfortably exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors. While the 4K results are not as high, the 89 FPS average at High is still smooth, and the 118.4 FPS at Low shows that the GPU can push significantly higher if settings are dialed back. The 1080p results, while exceptionally high, are likely to be limited by the CPU in some scenarios, as the 336.8 FPS at Low is a figure that many processors would struggle to feed.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides ample processing power for Doom, which is known for its efficient Vulkan-based rendering engine. The benchmark data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at standard resolutions. The CPU's single-thread performance, as indicated by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 917 and a passmark_single_thread score of 3364, is more than adequate to handle the game's physics and game logic. This is further supported by the 249.9 FPS average at 1080p High, which suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough frames to reach such high numbers.

The CPU's boost clock of 4.60 GHz and its Zen 3 architecture, which is known for its strong IPC, contribute to its ability to maintain high frame rates. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 5582 and the cinebench_r23_multicore score of 18578 show that the CPU also has sufficient multi-threaded headroom, though Doom typically does not scale perfectly with all cores. In this context, the CPU's role is to ensure that frame times are consistent and that there are no stutters, which is a critical factor for a fast-paced FPS. The data indicates that the CPU is well-matched to the GPU, as the frame rate drops at higher resolutions are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload.

The CPU's 32 MB of L3 cache is also a relevant factor, as it can help reduce memory latency and improve performance in scenarios with large data sets. The 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth from the dual-channel DDR4 setup is more than sufficient for a game like Doom, which is not particularly memory-bandwidth sensitive. Overall, the CPU's performance is more than sufficient for this game, and the benchmark results show that it is not a limiting factor in any of the measured configurations.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the dominant component in this configuration, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. The GPU's 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 800.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth are substantial, ensuring that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are not a bottleneck. The boost clock of 2394 MHz, combined with 5376 shading units, provides the raw compute power needed to achieve the high frame rates seen in the data. The GPU's 51.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is a key indicator of its ability to handle the complex shading and lighting calculations in Doom.

The benchmark results show that the GPU is the primary limiter as resolution increases. The passmark_g3d score of 29009 and the 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 5623 place the GPU in the 82nd percentile, which is a high ranking. The GPU's performance is further contextualized by its nearest rivals, where it shows a 0% deltaPct against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile, indicating a near-identical average score. This suggests that the RX 7900 XT is a very strong performer, and its ability to maintain 89 FPS at 4K High reflects its power.

The GPU's 192 ROPs and 336 TMUs are also important for fill-rate and texture-related tasks. The pixel rate of 459.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 804.4 GTexel/s are high, which helps explain why the GPU can maintain high frame rates even at 4K. The 84 RT cores, while not directly relevant to Doom (which does not use ray tracing), are a sign of the GPU's future-proofing. The data shows that the GPU is not just fast at lower resolutions but scales well to higher ones, as the drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent with the increase in pixel count, rather than a sudden collapse in performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The combo achieves an average of 162.3 FPS at 2560x1440 on High settings.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra performance compare to 4K Low performance?

A: At 4K, the Ultra preset delivers 71.4 FPS, while the Low preset delivers 118.4 FPS, a difference of 47 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the primary limiter at 1080p, as the 249.9 FPS at High and 336.8 FPS at Low are very high. The GPU is more likely the limiting factor, though the CPU's single-thread performance is crucial for feeding those frames.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks in the 82nd percentile, based on its average benchmark score.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600X has an average benchmark score of 20680, which is only 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and 0.5% below the Intel Core i5-12490F, showing it is in a very tight performance band.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS recorded in the data?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 336.8, which is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the Ultra preset is best suited for users prioritizing visual fidelity who have a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor. The 132.7 FPS average at 2560x1440 is still very smooth and provides a significant visual upgrade over High settings, while the 71.4 FPS at 4K is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play. For a balanced experience, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers 249.9 FPS at 1080p, 162.3 FPS at 1440p, and 89 FPS at 4K, making it the most versatile option that provides excellent performance across all tested resolutions.

The Medium preset offers a substantial performance boost over High, with a 19.2% higher average FPS at 1440p (191.2 vs 162.3) and a 14.5% higher average at 4K (101.9 vs 89). This is a good option for players who want to maximize frame rates on a 1440p 240Hz monitor, as the 191.2 FPS average is closer to that target. The Low preset, while yielding the highest frame rates (218 FPS at 1440p and 118.4 FPS at 4K), should be avoided unless the player is aiming for the absolute maximum FPS for competitive play, as the visual downgrade is likely significant. For most users, High is the optimal preset, as it provides a strong balance of visual quality and performance. The data indicates that the GPU has enough headroom that users can comfortably choose High settings at 1440p and still achieve frame rates well above 144 FPS, making it the best overall experience for this combination.