Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is a potent combination for Doom, delivering frame rates that span from high-refresh 1080p gaming to smooth 4K experiences. The data shows this pairing sits in the 72nd percentile of tested combos for this title, ranking 475th out of 1681 configurations. The measured results are remarkably consistent across resolutions, indicating a well-balanced system where neither component becomes a drastic bottleneck until you push to the highest settings at 4K.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Zen 3 architecture, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and its 32 MB of L3 cache is a key asset for gaming workloads. In the benchmark data, the CPU posts a strong single-thread score of 2622 in Cinebench R23 and 3364 in Passmark's single-thread test, which is critical for a fast-paced FPS like Doom that relies heavily on responsive frame rendering.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are also solid, scoring 18578 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 21858 in Passmark's multithread test. However, for Doom specifically, the single-core performance is the primary driver, as the game's engine is well-optimized but not heavily threaded. The 5600X's percentile ranking of 78 among all CPUs shows it is a capable processor, and its nearest rivals are closely matched; it trails the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT by a negligible 0.3% and the Intel Core i7-10700 by the same margin, while it leads the Intel Xeon 6325P by 0.7%. This tight grouping means that for Doom, the CPU's core architecture and clock speed are sufficient to feed the GPU data at 1080p and 1440p, which is evidenced by the high frame rates achieved at those resolutions. The CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing until the resolution drops and frame rates climb past 300 FPS, where its 4.60 GHz boost clock helps maintain that high throughput.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD104 chip, is the primary driver of visual output in this configuration. It comes equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1920 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, and the memory runs at 1313 MHz, translating to 21 Gbps effective. These specifications are more than sufficient for Doom, which is a title that scales well with GPU power but does not demand excessive memory capacity.

The RTX 4070's benchmark performance shows it is a high-tier card, ranking in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. It scores 26927 in Passmark's G3D test and 14720 in the GPU compute test. While its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (which scores 0.6% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (2.2% higher), these deltas are small and do not reflect real-world differences in this game. The GPU's 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is the engine behind the high frame rates. In Doom, the GPU becomes the dominant factor at 4K resolution, where the pixel count puts significant stress on the rendering pipeline. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 64.1, indicating that the GPU is working at its limit, whereas at 1080p Low, the 314.3 FPS average suggests the GPU is not fully taxed, and the CPU's single-thread performance is more relevant.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions, highlighting the shift in system bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 314.3 FPS, which is an enormous frame rate that suggests the CPU is the primary constraint, as the GPU has ample headroom. Moving to 1440p Low, the average FPS drops to 204.9, a decrease of about 35%, which is a substantial hit but still extremely high. When resolution climbs to 4K Low, the frame rate falls to 107.6 FPS, a further reduction of about 47% from the 1440p figure. This pattern demonstrates that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and it becomes the limiting component.

The gap between settings at each resolution is telling. At 1080p, the difference between Low (314.3 FPS) and Ultra (190.6 FPS) is 123.7 FPS, a 39% drop. At 1440p, the difference between Low (204.9 FPS) and Ultra (119.7 FPS) is 85.2 FPS, a 42% drop. At 4K, the difference between Low (107.6 FPS) and Ultra (64.1 FPS) is 43.5 FPS, a 40% drop. The consistent percentage drop across resolutions indicates that the GPU is being scaled uniformly, but the absolute frame rates at 4K Ultra (64.1 FPS) show that this is the only configuration where the system struggles to maintain high refresh rates. The data suggests that for 1080p and 1440p, the system is well-balanced, but at 4K Ultra, the RTX 4070 is the clear bottleneck, as the CPU has more than enough power to handle the lower frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Doom?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 314.3, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600X compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600X has an average benchmark score of 20680, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT (20740) and 0.5% lower than the Intel Core i5-12490F (20794).

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

A: Yes, at 4K with High settings, the system averages 79.2 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 64.1 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS but not ideal for high-refresh displays.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how does it affect performance?

A: The RTX 4070 has a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, which is sufficient for Doom's textures. The data shows that even at 4K High, the system maintains 79.2 FPS, indicating the bandwidth is not a limiting factor.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread score relate to Doom's performance?

A: The CPU scores 2622 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is critical for Doom's gameplay. At 1080p Low, the system hits 314.3 FPS, suggesting the CPU's strong single-thread performance allows the GPU to run at full capacity.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 a better performer than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56?

A: No, the RTX 4070 scores 37283 on average, which is 0.6% lower than the RX Vega 56's 37507. However, in Doom specifically, the RTX 4070's architecture provides excellent frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on your display's refresh rate and resolution preference. For 1080p gamers with a 240 Hz monitor, the High preset averaging 231.6 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a great balance between visual fidelity and frame rate. Pushing to Ultra drops the average to 190.6 FPS, which is still excellent but sacrifices some performance for marginal visual gains. For 1440p displays with a 165 Hz refresh rate, the High preset at 147.6 FPS is the recommended choice, as it stays above the refresh rate threshold. The Medium preset at 175 FPS is also viable if you prefer higher frame rates, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often worth the slight FPS loss.

For 4K gaming, the situation changes. The High preset at 79.2 FPS is the most balanced option, providing a smooth experience on a 60 Hz display. The Medium preset at 96 FPS offers even more headroom for a 75 Hz monitor, but the quality drop from High to Medium is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 64.1 FPS is only advisable if you have a 60 Hz screen and prioritize maximum visual detail, as the frame rate is just above the minimum threshold for playability. The Low preset is not recommended for 4K, as the visual degradation is severe for only a modest FPS gain over Medium. In summary, High settings across all resolutions provide the best balance of visual quality and performance, with Medium serving as a viable alternative for higher refresh rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080:

• Low: 314.3 FPS average
• Medium: 273.7 FPS average
• High: 231.6 FPS average
• Ultra: 190.6 FPS average

At 1080p, the system is clearly CPU-limited at the Low and Medium presets, as the frame rates exceed what most high-refresh monitors can display. The step from Low to Ultra represents a 39% reduction in FPS, but even the lowest figure of 190.6 FPS is far above the needs of competitive play.

2560x1440:

• Low: 204.9 FPS average
• Medium: 175 FPS average
• High: 147.6 FPS average
• Ultra: 119.7 FPS average

The 1440p results show a more balanced system, with the GPU starting to take on more load. The High preset at 147.6 FPS is ideal for 144 Hz monitors, while the Ultra preset at 119.7 FPS still provides a smooth experience for 120 Hz displays. The scaling from Low to Ultra is consistent, with each preset step reducing FPS by about 15%.

3840x2160:

• Low: 107.6 FPS average
• Medium: 96 FPS average
• High: 79.2 FPS average
• Ultra: 64.1 FPS average

At 4K, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The Low preset is the only one that breaks 100 FPS, but the visual quality is compromised. The High preset at 79.2 FPS is the recommended setting for 60 Hz displays, offering a good balance of detail and smoothness. The Ultra preset dips to 64.1 FPS, which is still playable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. The data indicates that this combo is capable of 4K gaming, but the best experience is found at 1440p with High settings, where the system delivers 147.6 FPS.