Doom

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 4 (Raphael) architecture using a 5 nm process. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and it carries a 65 W TDP. The chip features a 32 MB shared L3 cache, with 1 MB L2 per core and 64 KB L1 per core. It supports DDR5 memory via a dual-channel bus, offering 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

In Doom, this CPU's role is best understood through its benchmark profile. In 3DMark, the Ryzen 5 7600 scores 999 in single-thread, 1,938 in 2-threads, 3,686 in 4-threads, 5,508 in 8-threads, and 6,499 in 16-threads. The scaling from 999 (single) to 6,499 (16-threads) shows strong multi-threaded expansion, but the game's measured FPS data across resolutions suggests that the graphics card becomes the primary constraint at higher settings. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 228 FPS average, which is a clear indicator that the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond typical display refresh rates in this title.

The Cinebench R23 results — 1,852 single-core and 12,735 multi-core — place the processor in the 78th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS (0.3% behind), the Intel Core i9-11900KF (0.4% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U (0.5% ahead). These deltas are extremely tight, meaning the Ryzen 5 7600 sits in a performance band where small differences in synthetic benchmarks do not translate into meaningful FPS gaps in Doom. The 6-core/12-thread configuration is sufficient for this game's engine, which was designed to scale well across multiple cores but does not require extreme thread counts to hit high frame rates.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s and DDR5 support help maintain consistent frame delivery, particularly at 1080p where the CPU has more influence on the final average FPS. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system produces 228 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra it drops to 137 FPS — a reduction driven more by GPU load than CPU limits, given the CPU's strong single-thread performance.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD107 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 1830 MHz with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and memory runs at 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective). The GPU features 3,072 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 24 RT cores, and 96 tensor cores. Its rated FP32 performance is 15.11 TFLOPS, with a 115 W TDP.

In Doom, the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are adequate for the game's requirements, as evidenced by the measured FPS data. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages 48 FPS, while at 4K Low it reaches 80 FPS. This 32 FPS swing across settings at 4K shows that the GPU's shading and texture throughput, not VRAM capacity, is the limiting factor at that resolution. The GPU's passmark G3D score of 19,545 and its 61st percentile ranking among all GPUs place it in the mid-range tier. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (0.2% behind), the AMD Radeon 780M (0.3% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (0.7% ahead) — again, a very tight cluster.

The 272.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is a notable point. At 1080p, the GPU delivers 167 FPS on High and 228 FPS on Low, indicating that the memory subsystem is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1440p, the averages range from 89 FPS (Ultra) to 147 FPS (Low). The RTX 4060's boost clock of 2460 MHz helps maintain high frame rates in Doom's fast-paced scenes, which are often draw-call and fill-rate intensive. The GPU's 48 ROPs and 118.1 GPixel/s pixel rate directly influence how quickly the game can resolve pixels, and the data shows that at 4K Medium the system holds 70 FPS average with a minimum of 59 FPS, suggesting the GPU is working near its limits at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear settings hierarchy for this combo. At 1080p, all settings produce playable results: Low averages 228 FPS, Medium averages 198 FPS, High averages 167 FPS, and Ultra averages 137 FPS. The minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium is 168, which means even the most demanding scenes stay well above 144 Hz. For players with high-refresh monitors, Medium at 1080p offers the best balance, as it delivers 198 FPS average while keeping the minimum above 168.

At 1440p, the situation shifts. Low averages 147 FPS, Medium averages 128 FPS (minimum 109), High averages 108 FPS, and Ultra drops to 89 FPS. For 1440p, Medium is the recommended preset because it maintains a 128 FPS average with a 109 FPS minimum, which is smooth on 120 Hz displays. High at 1440p (108 FPS average) is also viable, but the 19 FPS drop from Medium to High is larger than the 20 FPS drop from Low to Medium, suggesting diminishing returns on visual quality gains.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. Low averages 80 FPS, Medium averages 70 FPS (minimum 59), High averages 59 FPS, and Ultra drops to 48 FPS. For 4K gaming, Medium is the realistic ceiling for a consistent 60+ FPS experience, with a 70 FPS average and a 59 FPS minimum. High at 4K averages 59 FPS, which is borderline for 60 Hz displays and may produce noticeable stutter in demanding scenes. Ultra at 4K is not recommended, as the 48 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The data supports Medium as the best all-around preset across all three resolutions, with Low serving as the fallback for 4K if higher frame rates are prioritized over visual fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 2001 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 46th percentile of all tested systems. This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the individual component percentiles: the CPU sits in the 78th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 61st percentile among all GPUs. The combination of a strong CPU with a mid-range GPU results in a system that is GPU-limited in most Doom scenarios, which is typical for a game that is not heavily CPU-bound.

The ranking context is important. Out of 3,712 combos, being at 2001 means the system is slightly below the median. This is not surprising given that the RTX 4060 is positioned as an entry-level 40-series card, while the CPU is a capable mid-range processor. The data shows that the combo's performance in Doom is more closely tied to the GPU's tier than the CPU's, as evidenced by the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p, the system achieves 228 FPS on Low, which is competitive with higher-tier GPUs, but at 4K Ultra, the 48 FPS average reflects the GPU's limitations.

The nearest rival combos in the benchmark database would likely pair the same CPU with a stronger GPU or the same GPU with a weaker CPU, but the measured data for this specific pairing shows a balanced system where the CPU never becomes the bottleneck in Doom. The 46th percentile ranking is a quantitative measure of this balance — the system performs as expected for its component tier, with no significant anomalies in the FPS data.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the strongest resolution, with average FPS ranging from 137 (Ultra) to 228 (Low). At 1440p, averages range from 89 to 147 FPS, while 4K averages range from 48 to 80 FPS. For the most consistent high frame rates, 1080p is recommended.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Doom?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K Low, the combo averages 80 FPS; at 4K Medium, it averages 70 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS. 4K High averages 59 FPS, and 4K Ultra drops to 48 FPS. Medium at 4K is the highest setting that maintains a minimum above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 7600 has an average benchmark score of 26,324. Its closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS (0.3% lower), the Intel Core i9-11900KF (0.4% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U (0.5% higher). These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: Is the GPU the limiting factor in this combo?

A: Yes, the data indicates the RTX 4060 is the primary constraint. At 1080p Low, the CPU can drive 228 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 48. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are sufficient for Doom, but its compute throughput (15.11 TFLOPS) limits higher resolutions and settings.

Q: What is the difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Medium averages 128 FPS with a minimum of 109 FPS, while High averages 108 FPS. The 20 FPS difference between settings is substantial, making Medium the better choice for smoother gameplay unless visual fidelity is prioritized over frame rate.

Q: Does the system maintain consistent frame times?

A: The available data shows minimum FPS values for Medium settings only. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 168 FPS; at 1440p Medium, the minimum is 109 FPS; at 4K Medium, the minimum is 59 FPS. The gaps between average and minimum FPS are 30, 19, and 11 FPS respectively, indicating tighter frame pacing at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). At 1080p, the system produces the following averages: Low 228 FPS, Medium 198 FPS, High 167 FPS, and Ultra 137 FPS. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 168, with a maximum of 228.

At 1440p, the averages are: Low 147 FPS, Medium 128 FPS, High 108 FPS, and Ultra 89 FPS. The 1440p Medium run shows a minimum of 109 FPS and a maximum of 148 FPS. This represents a 19 FPS drop from 1080p Medium's average, which is a 10% reduction.

At 4K, the averages are: Low 80 FPS, Medium 70 FPS, High 59 FPS, and Ultra 48 FPS. The 4K Medium run has a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows consistent scaling: at 1080p, the drop from Low to Ultra is 91 FPS (228 to 137); at 1440p, it is 58 FPS (147 to 89); at 4K, it is 32 FPS (80 to 48). This narrowing delta indicates that the GPU's limits are reached more quickly at higher resolutions, leaving less headroom for settings changes.

The data also reveals that the difference between Medium and High is relatively consistent across resolutions: 31 FPS at 1080p (198 to 167), 20 FPS at 1440p (128 to 108), and 11 FPS at 4K (70 to 59). The diminishing returns on higher settings are clear, with the absolute FPS cost of Ultra being highest at 1080p and lowest at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and reveals the limiting component. At Low settings, the system produces 228 FPS at 1080p, 147 FPS at 1440p, and 80 FPS at 4K. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 65% (228 to 80 FPS).

At Medium settings, the averages are 198 FPS (1080p), 128 FPS (1440p), and 70 FPS (4K). The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35%, and from 1440p to 4K is 45%. At High settings, the averages are 167 FPS (1080p), 108 FPS (1440p), and 59 FPS (4K), with drops of 35% and 45% respectively. At Ultra settings, the averages are 137 FPS (1080p), 89 FPS (1440p), and 48 FPS (4K), with drops of 35% and 46%.

The consistency of these percentage drops — approximately 35% from 1080p to 1440p and 45% from 1440p to 4K across all settings — is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. A CPU-bound system would show smaller percentage drops at lower settings (where the GPU is less loaded) and larger drops at higher settings. The data shows uniform scaling, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where the RTX 4060's pixel throughput (118.1 GPixel/s) and texture rate (236.2 GTexel/s) are the primary constraints.

The pixel count increase from 1080p (2.07 million pixels) to 1440p (3.69 million) is 78%, while the FPS drop at Low settings is 35%. From 1440p to 4K (8.29 million pixels), the pixel count increases by 125%, while the FPS drop is 46%. The non-linear relationship between pixel count and FPS suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth (272.0 GB/s) and ROP throughput are being utilized more efficiently at lower resolutions, with the 128-bit memory bus becoming a more significant bottleneck as resolution increases. The 4K Medium minimum of 59 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, confirms that the system is operating near the GPU's practical ceiling at 4K, even at medium settings.