Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the Intel Arc B580 delivers a highly playable experience in Doom, with the data showing a clear progression of performance as resolution drops. At 4K, the combination is demanding on the graphics card, while at 1080p, the system shows it can push well past the 100 FPS mark with ease. This analysis breaks down how this specific pairing scales across resolutions, where it ranks against other tested combinations, and what settings you should use for the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable yet significant drop in performance as resolution increases, indicating that the Intel Arc B580 is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At the native 1080p resolution, the system is clearly capable of high refresh rate gaming, with the average frame rate exceeding 180 FPS on Low settings. However, moving to 1440p sees a substantial reduction in frame rates, and 4K pushes the GPU to its limits, resulting in average FPS that dip below the 60 FPS threshold on the highest settings.

Specifically, looking at the High preset, the average FPS drops from 137 at 1920x1080 to 88 at 2560x1440, and finally to 48 at 3840x2160. This represents a 35.8% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 45.5% decrease when moving from 1440p to 4K. This steep curve from 1440p to 4K highlights that the Arc B580's 12 GB of memory and 192-bit bus, while capable, are stressed by the pixel count of 4K. The trend is consistent across all settings; the Ultra preset, for instance, falls from 112 FPS at 1080p to 72 FPS at 1440p, and then to just 39 FPS at 4K.

This data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1440p is the practical ceiling for this combo with most settings. At 4K, only the Low preset manages to stay above 60 FPS, averaging 65. The scaling pattern indicates that the CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the bottleneck at these resolutions. The consistent performance drop from 1080p to 4K is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario, where the Arc B580's rendering throughput is the deciding factor. For users with a 4K display, this pairing will require compromises on visual quality to achieve playable frame rates, while 1080p and 1440p users can enjoy high refresh rates and high detail settings without issue.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Doom, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B580 holds a specific position. The data places this combo at rank 2786 out of 3712 tested combinations. This puts it in the lower half of all systems tested, which is a useful perspective for builders. While it is not a top-tier performer, this rank does not tell the whole story, as it includes many combinations with significantly more powerful and expensive components.

The CPU itself, the Ryzen 5 8400F, sits at the 77th percentile when compared to all other CPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score of 25005 places it in a tight cluster with other mid-range processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and Intel Core i7-13620H, show a negligible performance delta of just 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively. This indicates that the 8400F is a solid, mainstream performer that won't hold back the system in most gaming scenarios, including this one.

The graphics card, the Intel Arc B580, ranks at the 68th percentile among all GPUs. Its performance is closely matched by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which it leads by a slight 0.6%. However, it also trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 by 0.7% in average benchmark scores. This places the B580 in a competitive position, offering performance that rivals older high-end cards. The sub-1% deltas between these rivals demonstrate that the B580 is a strong performer within its class, and its overall system rank is a reflection of the GPU's capability combined with the 8400F's solid mid-range processing power.

FAQ

Q: Can this system handle Doom at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with significant caveats. The data shows the average FPS at 4K ranges from 39 on Ultra settings to 65 on Low settings. For a playable experience, you would need to use the Low preset to stay above 60 FPS, or the Medium preset for a playable 57 FPS average.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate gaming with this combo?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution is the clear winner for high refresh rates. The measured data shows an average of 186 FPS on Low, 162 FPS on Medium, and 137 FPS on High settings, making it well-suited for 144Hz displays. Even the Ultra preset manages an average of 112 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to other GPUs?

A: The B580's average benchmark score is within 1% of several other notable GPUs. It is 0.6% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 0.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, placing its performance in a competitive mid-to-high range bracket.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B580 in Doom?

A: Based on the resolution scaling data, the CPU does not appear to be a limiting factor. Performance drops consistently as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. The 6-core, 12-thread processor provides ample performance for this FPS title.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average frame rate drops from 120 FPS on Low to 72 FPS on Ultra. This is a 40% decrease in performance, but both settings deliver playable frame rates, with the Ultra preset still providing a smooth experience.

Q: What is the average FPS on the Medium preset at 1080p?

A: The measured data shows that the system achieves an average of 162 FPS with the Medium preset at 1920x1080. The minimum FPS recorded was 137, and the maximum was 186, indicating consistent performance.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the data suggests that the High preset at 1440p is the optimal point for this hardware combination. At this setting, the system averages 88 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it provides a significant visual upgrade over the Low or Medium presets. Pushing to the Ultra preset at this resolution drops the average to 72 FPS, which is still playable, but the performance cost of roughly 18% may not be worth the marginal visual gains for all users.

For those prioritizing a high refresh rate experience, the 1080p resolution is the best choice. The High preset at 1080p yields an average of 137 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz monitors. If you have a 144Hz or higher refresh rate display, this is the setting that allows you to fully utilize it while maintaining excellent visual quality. Dropping to the Medium preset would push the average FPS to 162, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often more noticeable than the frame rate gain.

At 4K, the recommendation is to use the Low preset to ensure a playable frame rate, averaging 65 FPS. The Medium preset is the highest you can go while remaining technically playable, with an average of 57 FPS, but it comes with a risk of dropping below 60 in more intense scenes. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as their average frame rates of 48 and 39 respectively fall below the standard for comfortable play. Ultimately, the ideal settings depend on your display and preference for frame rate over visual detail, but the data clearly shows the 1440p High preset as the most balanced choice.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data provides a detailed look at the measured average FPS for every combination of resolution and settings tested with this hardware.

At 1920x1080, the system performs exceptionally well across all presets. The Low preset delivers the highest average at 186 FPS. The Medium preset follows with an average of 162 FPS, with a minimum of 137 and a maximum of 186. The High preset achieves an average of 137 FPS, and the Ultra preset is still very fast, with an average of 112 FPS. All settings at this resolution provide a high-refresh-rate experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 120 FPS. The Medium preset averages 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 120. The High preset is a solid choice, averaging 88 FPS. The Ultra preset, while still playable, drops to an average of 72 FPS, showing the increased load on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is under significant strain. The Low preset is the only one to break the 60 FPS barrier, averaging 65 FPS. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65, placing it on the edge of playability. The High preset drops to an average of 48 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of just 39 FPS. These numbers clearly show the graphical demands of 4K resolution on this system.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, and its specifications in the data suggest it is more than capable of keeping up with the Intel Arc B580 in Doom. With a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, it provides strong single-threaded performance, which is often crucial for FPS games. Its benchmark scores in single-threaded tests, such as 2943 in Cinebench R23, reinforce this capability.

The processor's multi-threaded performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851. This ensures the system is not a bottleneck in any scenario, even when other applications are running in the background. The fact that the measured FPS scales down consistently with resolution indicates that the workload is being handled by the GPU, confirming that the CPU is providing frames fast enough to avoid limiting the system's overall performance.

The 8400F's 16 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory also contribute to its solid gaming performance. Its percentile rank of 77 among all CPUs shows it is a better-than-average performer, and its average benchmark score is virtually identical to its nearest rivals, differing by less than 1%. This data points to a processor that provides a stable and powerful foundation for this gaming system, ensuring that the Arc B580's performance is the primary variable in the final frame rates. The 65W TDP also indicates an efficient chip that won't require an excessive cooling solution.