Doom

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Doom, but the data shows that the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions and settings. The combination ranks in the 29th percentile of tested combos for this game, indicating that while it is not a top-tier pairing, it remains highly capable for the game’s fast-paced action.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The processor features a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a defining characteristic of the X3D lineup and beneficial for gaming workloads that rely on data locality. Its 7 nm process node from TSMC and 8,850 million transistors contribute to its efficiency. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 14,317 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,452 in single-core, placing it in the 80th percentile of all CPUs tested.

In the context of Doom, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration ensures that even the most demanding scenes do not become CPU-bound at lower resolutions. The benchmark results confirm this: at 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 192 FPS average, which is well above the refresh rates of most monitors. The large L3 cache helps maintain consistent frame pacing, as evidenced by the fact that the 1080p Medium preset produces an average of 167 FPS with a minimum of 142 FPS. The CPU’s single-thread performance, scoring 884 in 3DMark single-thread and 2,017 in Geekbench single-core, is sufficient to keep up with the game's engine requirements. However, the data suggests that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as the CPU’s headroom is not fully utilized at 4K. The processor’s 105 W TDP and support for DDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for this workload. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D scores 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i9-10900K in average benchmark score, but 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340. These marginal differences in CPU synthetic scores do not translate into meaningful FPS deltas in Doom, as the game is not heavily CPU-threaded. Instead, the CPU’s job is to avoid bottlenecking the GPU, which it does effectively at 1080p and 1440p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The data shows that 1440p High settings provide an average of 91 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. At 1080p High, the average is 141 FPS, but the jump to 1440p only drops the frame rate by 35%, making it the sweet spot for higher fidelity. At 4K, the average at High settings falls to 50 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in terms of GPU compute?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18,093, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18,159, which is 0.4% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18,189, 0.5% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18,373, 1.5% higher. This indicates the RTX 2060 SUPER is positioned closely with these parts in raw compute, though its performance in Doom is what matters here.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D a bottleneck at any resolution in Doom?

A: Based on the measured FPS, the CPU does not appear to be a bottleneck at any resolution tested. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 192 FPS, and at 1440p Low it achieves 124 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a 35% drop in FPS at Low settings, which is expected as the GPU workload increases. At 4K Low, the average is 67 FPS, showing a further 46% drop from 1440p. This pattern indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the impact of the CPU's large L3 cache on gaming performance?

A: The 96 MB shared L3 cache is a notable feature of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. In Doom, this cache helps maintain high minimum frame rates, particularly at 1080p. For instance, the 1080p Medium preset shows a minimum of 142 FPS, which is only 15% below the average of 167 FPS. This consistency suggests the cache effectively reduces memory latency spikes that could otherwise cause frame drops.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combos for Doom?

A: The combo ranks 2,617 out of 3,712 tested combinations, placing it in the 29th percentile. This means it outperforms about 29% of other CPU-GPU pairs tested in this game. While not a top-tier setup, the rank reflects that it offers adequate performance for most players, especially when compared to combos that might be less balanced.

Q: What is the significance of the 4K Ultra preset performance?

A: At 4K Ultra, the combo produces an average of 40 FPS. This is the lowest measured result and indicates that the game’s Ultra settings at 4K exceed the capabilities of the RTX 2060 SUPER. The drop from High (50 FPS) to Ultra (40 FPS) is a 20% reduction, showing that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU, likely due to increased texture and shadow complexity.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy for settings optimization. For the best experience, the 1440p High preset stands out as the optimal choice, delivering an average of 91 FPS. This frame rate is smooth for a fast-paced FPS like Doom, and the High settings offer a substantial visual upgrade over Low or Medium. In contrast, 1440p Medium produces 108 FPS, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often noticeable in terms of texture filtering and shadow quality. At 1080p, the High preset achieves 141 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, but the jump to 1440p only costs 50 FPS while providing a significantly sharper image. For players with 4K displays, the Low preset at 67 FPS is the only viable option for playable frame rates, but the visual compromise is severe. The Medium preset at 4K yields 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced sections but risky during intense combat. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended due to the steep performance penalty; at 1080p Ultra, the average is 115 FPS, which is still playable, but the 26% drop from High (141 FPS) is not justified by the marginal visual gains. The data suggests that High settings offer the best balance of image quality and performance across all resolutions, with 1440p High being the standout choice for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2,617 out of 3,712 tested combos for Doom, placing it in the 29th percentile. This rank is a reflection of the GPU’s mid-range positioning rather than the CPU’s capabilities. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D itself sits in the 80th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a high-end processor. However, the RTX 2060 SUPER, which falls in the 62nd percentile of GPUs, holds the combo back. When compared to the nearest rivals of the CPU, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K, the performance delta is negligible (0.1%), meaning the choice of CPU is not the differentiator. Similarly, the GPU’s nearest rivals, like the RTX 3060 Mobile, show a 0.4% difference in score, which would not produce a meaningful FPS change in Doom. The combo’s rank suggests that it is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming where the CPU’s strengths can be utilized, but it falls behind in 4K scenarios where the GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates. The rank also indicates that many other combos with more powerful GPUs will outperform this setup, but for the price point, the balance of CPU and GPU is reasonable for Doom’s engine, which is well-optimized.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 192 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low reduces this to 124 FPS, a drop of 35%. Further scaling to 4K Low yields 67 FPS, a 46% drop from 1440p. This pattern is consistent across all settings. For High settings, the progression is 141 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p (a 35% drop), and 50 FPS at 4K (a 45% drop from 1440p). The similar percentage drops at each resolution step indicate that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance is not affected by resolution changes. The RTX 2060 SUPER’s 8 GB memory buffer and 256-bit bus width are taxed more heavily at higher resolutions, leading to the observed frame rate reductions. The fact that the CPU’s scores, such as 14,317 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, remain constant regardless of resolution further confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more forgiving, with a 35% drop, while the jump to 4K incurs a steeper 45-46% drop, reflecting the exponential increase in pixel count. This analysis indicates that players should target 1440p as the maximum resolution for a smooth experience, while 4K is only viable at Low settings with a 67 FPS average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination:

• 1920x1080
• Low: 192 FPS average
• Medium: 167 FPS average (min 142, max 192)
• High: 141 FPS average
• Ultra: 115 FPS average

• 2560x1440
• Low: 124 FPS average
• Medium: 108 FPS average (min 92, max 125)
• High: 91 FPS average
• Ultra: 75 FPS average

• 3840x2160
• Low: 67 FPS average
• Medium: 59 FPS average (min 50, max 67)
• High: 50 FPS average
• Ultra: 40 FPS average

The data shows that the Medium preset consistently provides a frame rate that is roughly 13-15% higher than High at each resolution. For example, at 1440p, Medium averages 108 FPS versus High’s 91 FPS, while at 1080p the gap is 26 FPS (167 vs 141). The Ultra preset incurs a significant penalty, with a 22% drop from High at 1080p (115 vs 141) and a 20% drop at 4K (40 vs 50). The minimum FPS values recorded for Medium settings indicate that frame pacing is stable, with the 1080p minimum of 142 FPS being only 15% below the average. At 1440p, the minimum of 92 FPS is 15% below the average of 108 FPS, and at 4K, the minimum of 50 FPS is 15% below the average of 59 FPS. This consistency across resolutions suggests that the game engine and hardware combination handle the Medium preset well, providing a reliable experience without major stutters. The Low preset offers the highest frame rates, but the visual quality is noticeably reduced. For players prioritizing performance, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it offers a good balance of visual fidelity and high, stable frame rates.