Doom

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Doom, with frame rates that scale predictably across resolutions and settings. The data shows a combination that is capable of maxing out high-refresh-rate 1080p displays, while still providing playable performance at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them against rival hardware, and offers guidance on how to best configure the game for this specific setup.

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 based on the Zen 2 architecture, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. This processor sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs according to the benchmark data, with an average benchmark score of 34260. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, which scores nearly identically (deltaPct of 0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-13450HX, which is a mere 0.2% behind. This places the 3700X in a strong mid-range position, with enough multi-threaded headroom to avoid bottlenecking the GPU in most gaming scenarios.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration is more than sufficient for this 2016 title, which was designed to scale well on fewer threads. The benchmark results indicate that at 1080p, the CPU is not a limiting factor, as evidenced by the high frame rates achieved (up to 243 FPS on low settings). The data suggests that the processor's single-threaded performance, while not class-leading, is adequate to keep up with the RTX 5060's output. The processor’s 32 MB of L3 cache also helps with game data locality, though the exact impact on Doom's performance is not directly measured here.

The relationship between the CPU and GPU is further illuminated by the resolution scaling. As resolution increases, the frame rate drops, which is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck. At 1080p, the CPU has more headroom to push frames, while at 4K, the GPU's rendering workload takes precedence. The 3700X's architecture, with a 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and support for DDR4, is sufficient for this workload. The data does not show any CPU-specific bottlenecks, as the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K is smooth and consistent with what one would expect from a GPU-bound scenario.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings for this combination?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 146 FPS. This is the lowest average at 1080p, but still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate threshold, indicating that this preset is highly playable.

Q: How does the RTX 5060's performance compare to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which has a score of 26011, making the RTX 5060 1.2% faster. Conversely, the AMD Radeon 860M is 0.3% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is also 0.3% slower.

Q: Is the frame rate difference between Medium and High settings consistent across all resolutions?

A: Yes, the data shows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, Medium averages 211 FPS and High averages 179 FPS (a 32 FPS difference). At 1440p, Medium averages 137 FPS and High averages 116 FPS (a 21 FPS difference). At 4K, Medium averages 74 FPS and High averages 63 FPS (an 11 FPS difference). The absolute gap narrows as resolution increases, but the relative performance ordering remains the same.

Q: What is the best performance at 4K, and what settings achieve it?

A: The highest average frame rate at 3840x2160 is 85 FPS, which is achieved with Low settings. This is followed by Medium at 74 FPS, High at 63 FPS, and Ultra at 51 FPS. The data indicates that even at 4K, the combination can maintain playable frame rates across all presets.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The measured data for 2560x1440 with Medium settings shows a minimum FPS of 116 and a maximum FPS of 157, with an average of 137 FPS. This indicates a fairly consistent frame pacing, with the minimum still being high enough for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this CPU's benchmark score compare to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has a score of 34222. This results in a deltaPct of 0.1%, meaning the Ryzen 7 3700X is essentially tied with the newer Ryzen AI 7 350 in overall synthetic benchmarks.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 179. Moving to 1440p, the average drops to 116 FPS, a decrease of 63 FPS (approximately 35%). At 4K, the average further drops to 63 FPS, a decrease of 53 FPS from 1440p (approximately 46%). This scaling is a textbook example of a GPU-limited workload.

The same trend is visible across all settings. For instance, on Low settings, the frame rate goes from 243 FPS at 1080p, to 157 FPS at 1440p, to 85 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 35%, and from 1440p to 4K is about 46%. The fact that the frame rate drops consistently with pixel count suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor. The CPU's performance, which is constant across resolutions, is not causing a bottleneck.

This behavior is particularly interesting when considering the CPU's benchmark percentile. The Ryzen 7 3700X is in the 84th percentile, which is high, but the data suggests that in this specific game, the GPU's workload scales more steeply with resolution than the CPU's. The result is that the RTX 5060, with its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The frame rate differences between settings also shrink at 4K, which further confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the absolute cost of each pixel is higher.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1640th out of 3712 tested combinations in Doom. This places it in the 44th percentile of all combos, meaning that roughly 56% of the other tested combinations perform better in this game. This is a significant data point, as it shows that despite the strong individual component benchmarks, the pairing is not in the top tier for this specific title.

This ranking suggests that while the RTX 5060 is a capable GPU, it is not among the highest-performing options when paired with this CPU. The combo rank is likely influenced by the GPU's performance ceiling, as the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The data implies that a faster GPU would yield a better ranking, while a faster CPU might not provide a substantial benefit given the current GPU's output. The 3712 total combos provide a broad context, and a rank of 1640 indicates a solid mid-pack performance, but one that is clearly outclassed by higher-end GPU pairings.

The ranking also tells a story about balance. The CPU's 84th percentile and GPU's 72nd percentile scores are both respectable, but the combined result in Doom is lower than either individual percentile. This could be due to the game's engine being more sensitive to GPU raw throughput than to CPU multi-threading. The data suggests that the combo is well-matched, but it is not an overachiever; it performs as one would expect from a mid-range CPU with a mid-to-high-range GPU, but it does not punch above its weight in this particular game.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all settings and resolutions.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS 243.
• Medium: Average FPS 211, with a minimum of 180 and a maximum of 243.
• High: Average FPS 179.
• Ultra: Average FPS 146.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS 157.
• Medium: Average FPS 137, with a minimum of 116 and a maximum of 157.
• High: Average FPS 116.
• Ultra: Average FPS 95.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS 85.
• Medium: Average FPS 74, with a minimum of 63 and a maximum of 85.
• High: Average FPS 63.
• Ultra: Average FPS 51.

The data reveals a consistent hierarchy of settings at each resolution, with Low being the fastest and Ultra being the slowest. The minimum and maximum FPS values for the Medium preset are particularly informative. At 1080p, the minimum is 180 FPS, which is higher than the average of the High preset (179 FPS). This indicates that the Medium preset offers a more stable frame pacing than High, despite having a similar average. The same pattern is observed at 1440p, where the Medium minimum (116 FPS) is equal to the High average (116 FPS). At 4K, the Medium minimum (63 FPS) is equal to the High average (63 FPS). This suggests that Medium is a more consistent setting than High for this combo.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset appears to offer the best balance of performance and quality for this combination. At 1080p, Medium delivers an average of 211 FPS, which is 32 FPS faster than High (179 FPS) and only 32 FPS slower than Low (243 FPS). The minimum FPS for Medium is also high at 180, ensuring smooth gameplay with minimal stutter. This makes Medium the optimal choice for high-refresh-rate monitors, as it provides a significant frame rate boost over High with a modest visual compromise.

At 1440p, Medium again stands out. With an average of 137 FPS and a minimum of 116 FPS, it is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play and is suitable for 144 Hz displays. The jump from Medium to High (116 FPS average) is a 21 FPS loss, which is noticeable. Conversely, the jump from Medium to Low (157 FPS average) is only a 20 FPS gain, suggesting that the visual quality reduction to Low is not worth the extra frames. Medium is the sweet spot here.

For 4K gaming, the situation is different. Medium averages 74 FPS, which is playable, but High averages 63 FPS and Ultra drops to 51 FPS. Low provides the best performance at 85 FPS. For a 60 Hz display, High is the best choice, as it provides a stable 63 FPS average, which is above the refresh rate. For a 120 Hz display, Low would be necessary to get closer to the refresh rate. The data suggests that Medium is a good compromise for 4K, offering a 74 FPS average that is playable on most displays, but High is the recommended preset for a standard 60 Hz monitor to get the best visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. With 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, it offers a theoretical FP32 performance of 19.18 TFLOPS. These specifications position the RTX 5060 in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26331.

In Doom, the GPU's role is central to the frame rate results. The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at all resolutions, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops when increasing resolution. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this game, as Doom is not a VRAM-intensive title, and the data does not show any memory-related stutters or performance issues. The GPU's high boost clock and memory bandwidth are more than adequate to handle the game's textures and geometry at all settings.

The GPU's performance is directly reflected in the measured FPS. At 1080p Low, the GPU can output up to 243 FPS, which is likely near its maximum rendering capacity. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 97 FPS drop (from 243 to 146), which is significant and indicates that the GPU's shading units and ROPs are heavily taxed by the higher-quality settings. The GPU's compute performance, as measured by the Passmark G3D score of 20891, is strong, but the data shows that it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra, where the average drops to 51 FPS. This is a clear indication that the RTX 5060 is a mid-range card that excels at 1080p and 1440p but begins to struggle at 4K with the highest settings.