Doom

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination delivers a playable experience in Doom, but the data clearly shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast, yet the frame rate curve suggests that the CPU still has headroom to spare as the resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent drop as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the combo delivers 141.1 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 91.2 FPS at 1440p and then to 52 FPS at 4K. That represents a 35% reduction when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 43% drop from 1440p to 4K. The pattern is uniform across all settings, indicating that the RTX 2060 SUPER's compute and memory resources are being saturated as pixel count increases.

The scaling behavior reveals that the Ryzen 7 9700X is not the limiting factor here. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 190.4 FPS, which is a very high frame rate for this game, yet the GPU still manages to keep up. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rate to plateau or show diminishing returns when lowering resolution, but instead the FPS continues to climb substantially. The data indicates that the CPU is feeding the GPU efficiently at all tested resolutions, and the GPU is the component that determines the final frame rate.

This interpretation is reinforced by the fact that the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is proportionally similar for every settings preset. For example, at Medium settings, the combo goes from 169.8 FPS at 1080p to 109.3 FPS at 1440p, a 36% drop, and then to 58.9 FPS at 4K, another 46% drop. Such consistent scaling points to a fixed hardware limit rather than any software or driver inefficiency. Users targeting 4K will need to accept lower settings or a reduced frame rate, while 1080p and 1440p are clearly the sweet spots for this pairing.

GPU Role

The RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 1650 MHz, and it has 2176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. These specifications directly explain the measured performance in Doom. The 8 GB frame buffer is sufficient for this game at all tested settings, as there is no evidence of a memory capacity spillover that would cause sudden frame rate collapses.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is a critical asset for Doom's fast-paced rendering. At 1440p Ultra, the combo produces 73.6 FPS, which is respectable for a demanding preset, and the bandwidth appears adequate to feed the shading units without stalling. The 175 W TDP and the 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute also align with the observed results; the card is not a top-tier performer, but its architecture handles this game's Vulkan-based engine efficiently.

Comparing to its nearest rivals in the database, the RTX 2060 SUPER sits right at the edge of its performance tier. It is 0.5% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2070 in average benchmark score, and 0.3% ahead of the GTX TITAN. This suggests that the card is performing as expected for its class, and the measured FPS in Doom reflects a genuine hardware capability rather than an anomaly. The 12 nm process node and the 10,800 million transistors are older technology, yet the card still delivers playable frame rates at 1440p, which reflects the game's optimization.

The data indicates that for this game, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor at any resolution. The frame rate drops are driven by compute load and memory bandwidth saturation, not capacity. At 4K Ultra, the combo falls to 43.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but still technically playable. However, the scaling suggests that users should not expect to run maximum settings at 4K with this card; the GPU simply does not have enough raw power for that workload.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a clear hierarchy for settings optimization. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver high frame rates, but the difference between them is significant. Low settings produce 190.4 FPS, Medium produces 169.8 FPS, High produces 141.1 FPS, and Ultra produces 113.2 FPS. For users with a 60 Hz or 144 Hz monitor, the High preset at 1080p offers an excellent balance, delivering 141.1 FPS while maintaining better visual fidelity than Medium or Low. The Ultra preset at 113.2 FPS is also viable for high-refresh displays, but the drop from High is only 28 FPS, which may not justify the visual gains for competitive play.

At 2560x1440, the recommendation shifts. The High preset yields 91.2 FPS, which is smooth for most gaming scenarios, while Medium yields 109.3 FPS and Low yields 126.8 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 73.6 FPS, which is still playable but begins to approach the threshold where frame pacing may become noticeable. For a 1440p monitor with a 144 Hz refresh rate, the Low or Medium presets are better choices, as they keep the frame rate well above 100 FPS. The High preset is the best compromise for visual quality, as it stays above 90 FPS, which is generally sufficient for a responsive experience in a fast-paced FPS.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The Low preset produces 65.9 FPS, which is the only preset to exceed 60 FPS at this resolution. The Medium preset produces 58.9 FPS, High produces 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43.1 FPS. For 4K gaming, the data strongly suggests using the Low preset to maintain a playable frame rate. The Medium preset is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets are not recommended for a smooth experience. Users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate may still choose Medium, but the measured data shows that Low is the only preset that comfortably clears the 60 FPS mark.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 190.4, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produces 65.9 FPS. The Medium preset yields 58.9 FPS, while High and Ultra fall to 52 and 43.1 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 2070?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score that is 0.5% higher than the RTX 2070, indicating they perform nearly identically in synthetic tests.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700X a bottleneck for this GPU in Doom?

A: No, the data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 190.4 FPS, and frame rates scale consistently with resolution, indicating the CPU is not holding back performance.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 1180 out of 1681 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, High settings produce 91.2 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 73.6 FPS, a difference of 17.6 FPS.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It features 32 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU is highly competitive, scoring 31588 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4459 in single-core. Its average benchmark score of 36029 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors in the database.

In the context of Doom, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would face the highest load relative to the GPU, the combo achieves 190.4 FPS. This indicates that the Ryzen 7 9700X has ample headroom for this game. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14500HX, which is 0.2% faster in average score, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, which is 0.4% slower. These small deltas confirm that the 9700X is a top-tier performer for gaming workloads.

The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for Doom, which is a well-threaded engine but does not require extreme core counts. The high boost clock of 5.50 GHz is particularly beneficial for the single-threaded tasks that dominate game logic. The data shows no scenario where the CPU becomes a limiting factor; the frame rate drops are entirely attributable to the GPU's resolution scaling. This is a positive outcome for users, as it means the platform has longevity if the GPU is upgraded in the future.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 190.4 FPS on Low, 169.8 FPS on Medium, 141.1 FPS on High, and 113.2 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show a clear progression, with each settings tier costing roughly 20-30 FPS. At 2560x1440, the results are 126.8 FPS on Low, 109.3 FPS on Medium, 91.2 FPS on High, and 73.6 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 30-35% across all presets.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly. Low settings produce 65.9 FPS, Medium produces 58.9 FPS, High produces 52 FPS, and Ultra produces 43.1 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced, ranging from 41% for Low settings to 48% for Ultra settings. This pattern confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the pixel workload quadruples from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU load remains relatively constant.

The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 77.2 FPS, at 1440p it is 53.2 FPS, and at 4K it is only 22.8 FPS. This is a typical behavior for GPU-bound scenarios, where the absolute frame rate ceiling is lower, making the relative impact of settings smaller. For users, this means that at 4K, the choice of settings has less impact on overall smoothness than at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1180 out of 1681 tested combinations for Doom. This places it in the lower third of the database, which is expected given the GPU's mid-range positioning. The CPU is a high-end part, but the GPU's performance tier drags the overall combo ranking down. In terms of percentile, this combo sits below the median, meaning that most other tested combinations achieve higher frame rates in this game.

The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's capabilities. The RTX 2060 SUPER has a percentile of 63 versus all GPUs, meaning it outperforms 63% of graphics cards, but it is still a last-generation mid-range product. When paired with a top-tier CPU like the 9700X, the combo's performance is capped by the GPU. The data shows that the CPU is not a weak link, but the GPU's 7.181 TFLOPS of compute and 8 GB of VRAM limit the overall experience, particularly at higher resolutions.

For context, the RTX 2060 SUPER's nearest rivals in the GPU database are all within 1.3% of its average score, including the GTX TITAN and RTX 2070. This indicates that the GPU is performing as expected for its class. The combo's rank of 1180 is not a reflection of any inefficiency, but rather a straightforward outcome of the hardware pairing. Users with this combo should focus on 1080p or 1440p gaming, where the frame rates are more than adequate, rather than expecting 4K performance that the GPU cannot deliver.