Doom

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Matisse) using TSMC's 7 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a 32 MB L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and the processor connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes.

In Doom, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The 8-core/16-thread configuration provides ample headroom for this 2016 title, which was released on 2016-05-12. The game's Vulkan API support (the GPU lists Vulkan 1.4) allows for efficient multi-threading, meaning the 3700X's 16 threads can be utilized for parallel rendering tasks. Benchmark results show the CPU sits at the 85th percentile versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28631.

The processor's nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks include the Intel Core i5-12600 (avg score 28654, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-12600H (avg score 28666, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (avg score 28591, delta 0.1%), and the AMD EPYC 7203P (avg score 28583, delta 0.2%). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating the 3700X is effectively tied with these competing parts in general compute. In single-threaded workloads, the CPU scores 2656 in Passmark single-thread, while multi-threaded Passmark score is 22458. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19087 and single-core score of 2694 further characterize its compute capability.

For Doom specifically, the high frame rates observed (up to 279.6 FPS at 1080p Low) suggest that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, the fact that frame rates drop significantly at higher resolutions (down to 77.1 FPS at 4K Ultra) indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor as pixel count increases. The CPU's 8 cores are more than sufficient for this game's engine, which was designed to scale well across multiple threads.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 391 out of 1681 tested combos in Doom. This places the combo in the top 23.3% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing for a mid-generation CPU paired with a current-generation GPU.

The rank reflects the synergy between the 8-core processor and the RTX 4070 SUPER. The GPU itself sits at the 84th percentile versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 42576. Its nearest rivals in aggregate GPU benchmarks are the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (avg score 42653, delta -0.2%), the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (avg score 42723, delta -0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro 580X (avg score 41991, delta 1.4%), and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 (avg score 41897, delta 1.6%). The GPU is essentially tied with the RTX A6000 and RX 7650 GRE, while being about 1.4-1.6% ahead of the Radeon Pro 580X and Tesla M40.

Given that the CPU and GPU both rank in the mid-80s percentiles individually, the combo's 391st place out of 1681 is consistent with expectations. The 3700X's aggregate benchmark score of 28631 places it very close to its nearest rivals, all within a 0.1-0.2% delta. This means the CPU is not dragging the combo down relative to other processors in its class.

The data shows that while the combo is not among the top-tier configurations (which would require both components to be in the 90th+ percentile), it is well above the median. The rank of 391 out of 1681 represents a comfortable position for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and playable 4K performance.

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

Examining the measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 279.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 227.5 FPS (an 18.6% decrease), and further to 4K Low yields 120.5 FPS (a 56.9% decrease from 1080p). This steep decline with increasing resolution is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, where the RTX 4070 SUPER's rendering throughput becomes the constraint.

The pattern holds across all settings. At High settings, 1080p produces 248.7 FPS, 1440p drops to 165.9 FPS (33.3% lower), and 4K falls to 89.5 FPS (64.0% lower than 1080p). At Ultra settings, the values are 211.3 FPS at 1080p, 137.5 FPS at 1440p (34.9% lower), and 77.1 FPS at 4K (63.5% lower). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings indicates that resolution is the dominant factor, not the graphics preset.

The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads are capable of sustaining high frame rates even at 1080p, where the CPU would typically be more stressed. The fact that 1080p Low achieves nearly 280 FPS suggests the 3700X has sufficient headroom. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the frame rate to plateau or show smaller differences between resolutions. Instead, the data shows a smooth scaling curve that tracks GPU workload.

The RTX 4070 SUPER's memory configuration (12 GB GDDR6X on a 192-bit bus with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth) provides adequate bandwidth for 4K textures. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1980 MHz, combined with 7168 shading units, 224 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, determine its fill rate and compute throughput. The pixel rate of 198.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s directly impact how quickly the card can process 4K frames.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce 279.6 FPS, Medium drops to 263.5 FPS, High yields 248.7 FPS, and Ultra reduces performance to 211.3 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 68.3 FPS, representing a 24.4% performance penalty for the highest quality settings.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain highly playable. Low settings achieve 227.5 FPS, Medium reaches 198.1 FPS, High delivers 165.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 137.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 90.0 FPS, a 39.6% reduction. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot for this combo, as even Ultra settings exceed 137 FPS, which is well above the 120 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more demanding. Low settings produce 120.5 FPS, Medium yields 109.1 FPS, High drops to 89.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 77.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 43.4 FPS, a 36.0% reduction. While 4K Ultra is playable at 77.1 FPS, the frame rate is noticeably lower than the 1440p results.

The data reveals an interesting pattern: the percentage drop from Low to Ultra is largest at 1440p (39.6%) and smallest at 1080p (24.4%). This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU may be partially limiting the Ultra settings performance, preventing the GPU from fully flexing its muscles. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU is more consistently the bottleneck, allowing the settings to have a more uniform impact.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The core operates at a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz.

The GPU's compute resources include 7168 shading units, 224 TMUs, 80 ROPs, 56 RT cores, and 224 tensor cores. Its FP32 performance is 35.48 TFLOPS, with FP16 also at 35.48 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio). The pixel rate is 198.0 GPixel/s and texture rate is 554.4 GTexel/s. The card has a 220 W TDP and is dual-slot, requiring a 550 W suggested PSU and a single 16-pin power connector.

In Doom, the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM is more than sufficient, as the game was released in 2016 and has modest texture requirements by modern standards. The 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming is not a bottleneck even at 4K. The GPU's benchmark scores reflect its strong compute capability: Passmark G3D scores 29995, DirectX 12 scores 110, DirectX 11 scores 273, and Vulkan scores 179271 in Geekbench.

The GPU's performance in Doom is consistent with its hardware specifications. At 1080p, the card is likely CPU-limited in some scenarios, as evidenced by the relatively small frame rate differences between Low (279.6 FPS) and Ultra (211.3 FPS). At 4K, the GPU's raw throughput becomes the determining factor, with Ultra settings producing 77.1 FPS. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 80 ROPs and 224 TMUs provide sufficient fill rate for this game's geometry and texturing demands.

The card's position relative to its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks (RTX A6000, RX 7650 GRE, Radeon Pro 580X, Tesla M40) shows it is competitive with professional and workstation-class GPUs, which is notable for a consumer-oriented card. The 84th percentile ranking versus all GPUs means it outperforms the vast majority of installed graphics cards.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 279.6, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 77.1 FPS, which is playable but notably lower than the 137.5 FPS at 1440p Ultra.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Doom?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rate differences between settings are smaller, suggesting potential CPU involvement, but at 1440p and 4K, the GPU's rendering throughput is the primary constraint.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 391 out of 1681 tested combinations in Doom, placing it in the top 23.3% of all configurations.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER's average benchmark score of 42576 is within 0.3% of the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (42653) and AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (42723), while being 1.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 580X and 1.6% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla M40.

Q: Does the CPU's 8-core configuration benefit Doom's performance?

A: The 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides ample parallel processing headroom for Doom's multi-threaded engine, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p (up to 279.6 FPS), but the CPU's aggregate benchmark scores (28631 average) place it in the 85th percentile, indicating it is not a weak link in this combo.