Doom

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti combination ranks 1333rd out of 3712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the database. This pairing delivers strong 1440p performance and remains highly playable at 4K, though the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and the game’s older engine mean settings scaling is more about resolution than hardware headroom. The data shows a system that excels at high refresh rates on 1080p and 1440p displays, with 4K Ultra being the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS on average.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1333 out of 3712 tested combinations puts it in the 64th percentile of all CPU-GPU pairings tested for Doom. This is a respectable position, reflecting that while the RTX 3070 Ti is not a top-tier card by 2024 standards, the Ryzen 7 9700X’s strong single-thread performance helps extract near-maximum frame rates from the GPU in this title. The ranking indicates that roughly 64% of tested combos are slower, while 36% are faster, which aligns with the RTX 3070 Ti’s overall GPU percentile of 75 — the CPU is not the limiting factor here.

Looking at the CPU’s nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 9700X posts an average benchmark score of 37943, which is only 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14901E (37911) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37904). The gap to the Intel Core 5 211E (37829) is 0.3%, and to the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (37804) is 0.4%. These minuscule deltas mean that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 9700X is effectively tied with several competitors, but Doom’s engine is heavily GPU-bound at most settings, so the practical differences are minimal. The CPU’s 86th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms it is a high-end processor, but the GPU’s 75th percentile is the more relevant metric for this game.

The GPU’s nearest rivals show a similar clustering. The RTX 3070 Ti’s average benchmark score is 29945, which is 0.1% ahead of the RTX 5070 Mobile (29928) and 0.5% ahead of the RTX 2080 Ti (29783). It trails the Radeon RX 6800 (30095) by 0.5% and the Radeon RX 6700 (30433) by 1.6%. These differences are within noise for gaming, but they indicate that the 3070 Ti sits in a competitive band where small architectural advantages in specific titles can flip the order. In Doom, which favors NVIDIA’s driver optimization, the 3070 Ti performs as expected from its benchmark position.

The rank of 1333 also reflects the fact that Doom is a 2016 title optimized for a wide range of hardware. Many modern high-end combos will push well beyond 200 FPS at 1080p, so the 3070 Ti’s 271 FPS at Low settings is solid but not exceptional. The combination’s strength lies in its consistency: it never drops below 57 FPS average across all tested configurations, and at 1440p it exceeds 106 FPS even at Ultra settings. This makes it a reliable choice for high-refresh 1440p gaming, which is where the rank suggests it is most competitive.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA104 chip, fabricated on Samsung’s 8 nm process. It features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, along with 48 RT cores and 192 Tensor cores. The GPU’s base clock is 1575 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and the memory runs at 1188 MHz effective 19 Gbps. The 8 GB of GDDR6X memory operates over a 256-bit bus, delivering 608.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for Doom’s texture requirements, but the game’s 2016 engine does not aggressively use VRAM beyond 1080p and 1440p resolutions.

The GPU’s raw compute capabilities are substantial: 21.75 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, with a pixel rate of 169.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 339.8 GTexel/s. The 48 RT cores are irrelevant for Doom, as the game does not support ray tracing, but the Tensor cores provide no benefit either since DLSS is not implemented in this title. The GPU’s 75th percentile ranking versus all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 29945 place it slightly above the midpoint of modern graphics cards, and the measured FPS data confirms it handles Doom comfortably.

The memory bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s is critical for Doom’s high-resolution rendering. At 4K, the GPU must stream large textures and geometry, and the 256-bit bus with GDDR6X provides enough throughput to maintain 83 FPS at Medium settings. The 8 GB capacity is not a bottleneck in this game, as even the Ultra preset at 4K only reduces average FPS to 57, which is more likely a compute limitation than a VRAM one. The GPU’s 290 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a power-hungry card, but for Doom’s workload, the power draw is justified by the frame rates achieved.

The RTX 3070 Ti’s performance in Doom is defined by its rasterization strength rather than its RT or Tensor capabilities. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility mean it can use the game’s Vulkan renderer, which is known to improve CPU overhead and frame pacing. The measured FPS at 1440p High (129 FPS) and 4K High (70 FPS) show a linear scaling with resolution, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher settings. The GPU’s predecessor, the GeForce 20 series, would struggle more at 4K, but the 3070 Ti’s Ampere architecture provides enough headroom for smooth 4K gaming on Medium settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Doom?

A: The data shows 1440p is the sweet spot. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 129, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 4K, the average FPS drops to 70 on High and 57 on Ultra, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh displays.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the RX 6800?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 29945, which is 0.5% lower than the RX 6800’s 30095. In Doom specifically, the NVIDIA card benefits from better driver optimization, but the benchmark delta suggests performance is nearly identical.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700X a bottleneck for the RTX 3070 Ti in Doom?

A: No. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 37943 places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14901E, is only 0.1% slower. Doom is GPU-bound at most settings, so the 9700X’s 8 cores and 16 threads with a 5.50 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows a minimum FPS of 130 at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with an average of 153 FPS. This indicates consistent frame delivery without major drops, which is important for competitive play.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but just barely. The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 57, which is below the 60 FPS standard. For a smoother experience, dropping to High settings yields 70 FPS on average.

Q: How does the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM affect performance in Doom?

A: The 8 GB of GDDR6X memory is sufficient for Doom’s textures. The game’s 2016 engine does not require more than 8 GB even at 4K Ultra, as evidenced by the 57 FPS average at that setting. The bottleneck is compute, not memory capacity.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, the 1440p High preset is the clear recommendation. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo produces an average of 129 FPS, which is more than sufficient for a 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor. This preset delivers the game’s intended visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. The Medium preset at 1440p pushes the average to 153 FPS with a minimum of 130 FPS, making it the best choice for competitive play where frame rate consistency matters more than shadows or texture filtering.

At 4K, the data suggests using Medium settings for a playable experience. The 3840x2160 Medium preset yields an average of 83 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings at 4K reduce the average to 70 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra at 4K drops to 57 FPS on average, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay, so it should be avoided unless the user prioritizes image quality over frame rate.

For 1080p, the High preset at 200 FPS is the recommended starting point, as it provides excellent visual quality with frame rates suitable for 240 Hz monitors. The Medium preset at 236 FPS (minimum 201 FPS) is preferable for esports-style play, while Low at 271 FPS offers the absolute maximum frame rate but with reduced visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 163 FPS still exceeds most monitor refresh rates, so it is a viable option for users who want maximum quality without dropping below 144 FPS.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: Medium settings offer the best frame rate-per-visual-cost ratio, while High provides the best visual quality above 60 FPS at 4K. For users with high-refresh displays, 1440p Medium or 1080p High are the optimal choices. The measured data shows that the combo never dips below 57 FPS average at any tested setting, so there is no configuration that is unplayable, but the recommended presets ensure the best experience per the measured rows.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional performance across all settings. The Low preset produces an average of 271 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 236 FPS on average with a minimum of 201 FPS and a maximum of 272 FPS, showing tight frame pacing. High settings reduce the average to 200 FPS, while Ultra settings still manage 163 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the GPU is never the limiting factor, and even the most demanding preset exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a predictable scaling. Low settings average 176 FPS, Medium settings average 153 FPS with a minimum of 130 FPS and a maximum of 176 FPS, High settings average 129 FPS, and Ultra settings average 106 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is approximately 35% across all settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel count. The minimum FPS of 130 at Medium settings indicates that even in intense combat scenes, the frame rate stays well above 100 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings average 95 FPS, which is still smooth for 4K gaming. Medium settings average 83 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 95 FPS, providing a playable experience. High settings drop to 70 FPS on average, which is acceptable for slower-paced single-player sections. Ultra settings average 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS standard and may feel less responsive during fast action. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is approximately 45-50% reduction in frame rate, reflecting the fourfold increase in pixel count.

The measured data reveals a clear pattern: the combo is capable of 4K gaming, but only at Medium or High settings. The difference between Medium and Ultra at 4K is 26 FPS (83 vs 57), which is significant and highlights the GPU’s compute limitations at higher resolutions. At 1440p, the difference between Medium and Ultra is 47 FPS (153 vs 106), showing that the GPU has more headroom at lower resolutions. The minimum FPS values, available only for Medium settings, show that frame pacing is consistent: 201 FPS at 1080p, 130 FPS at 1440p, and 70 FPS at 4K. This consistency indicates the GPU handles the game’s workload without sudden spikes or drops.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a Zen 5 architecture processor built on TSMC’s 4 nm process, with a codename of Granite Ridge. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration provides the low-latency access needed for Doom’s single-threaded engine, which relies heavily on the primary core for game logic and draw call submission.

The CPU’s benchmark results show strong multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 20485 in multi-core and 2211 in single-core. Geekbench scores are 17906 multi-core and 3023 single-core. PassMark scores include 37161 for multi-thread and 4654 for single-thread. These scores place the CPU in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37943. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14901E, scores 37911, a delta of only 0.1%, indicating that the 9700X is effectively tied with high-end Intel parts in synthetic tests.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is secondary to the GPU at most settings. The game’s Vulkan renderer reduces CPU overhead compared to OpenGL, and the 9700X’s high single-core boost clock of 5.50 GHz ensures that the main thread never becomes a bottleneck. The 3DMark scores reinforce this: 1280 in single-thread, 2525 in 2-thread, 4869 in 4-thread, 8184 in 8-thread, and 9824 in 16-thread. The scaling from 8 to 16 threads is modest (8184 to 9824), indicating that Doom does not utilize more than 8 threads effectively, but the 9700X’s 8 cores are sufficient.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP and 4 nm process node make it efficient, but more importantly for gaming, it sustains high boost clocks without thermal throttling. The 32 MB of L3 cache is particularly beneficial for Doom, as the game’s level geometry and texture lookup tables fit within this cache size, reducing memory latency. The dual-channel DDR5 memory interface with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provides ample data throughput for the CPU’s cache miss handling, though Doom is not memory-bandwidth sensitive.

The measured FPS data shows no CPU-bound scenarios in Doom. Even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU has the least amount of work, the average FPS is 271, which is below the CPU’s maximum frame generation capability. The 9700X’s PassMark single-thread score of 4654 indicates it can generate well over 300 FPS in older titles, so the 3070 Ti is the limiting factor in all tested configurations. The CPU’s proximity to rivals — within 0.4% of the nearest four — confirms that no CPU in this performance class would change the outcome in Doom; the GPU determines the frame rate.

The 9700X’s 16 threads and 8 cores are more than adequate for Doom’s multithreaded audio and physics systems, which are not demanding by modern standards. The CPU’s 3DMark max-thread score of 9771 is nearly identical to its 16-thread score, indicating that all cores are fully utilized in synthetic workloads, but Doom’s real-world usage is lighter. The CPU’s boost clock of 5.50 GHz is the key specification for this game, as Doom’s main thread benefits directly from higher clock speeds. The measured results show that this CPU provides stable frame delivery, as evidenced by the minimum FPS values at Medium settings being only 15-20% below the average, which indicates consistent per-frame performance without stutters.