Doom

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a fascinating study in bottleneck dynamics within the 2016 title Doom. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the clear limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU's substantial headroom ensures consistent scaling. This analysis breaks down the measured performance metrics to understand how this specific combination behaves across the three primary resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a pronounced and predictable decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with High settings, the system achieves 121 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops this to 78 FPS, a reduction of 43 FPS, or roughly 35.5%. The jump to 4K (3840x2160) further reduces the average to 42 FPS, which is 36 FPS lower than the 1440p result and 79 FPS lower than the 1080p baseline.

This scaling pattern is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The percentage drop between each resolution step is significant, indicating that the Intel Arc B570's rendering throughput is being saturated as pixel count increases. The 1080p to 1440p transition represents a 1.78x increase in pixel count, yet the frame rate only drops by 1.55x, suggesting some initial headroom. However, the 1440p to 4K transition (2.25x more pixels) results in a 1.86x frame rate reduction, showing that the GPU is hitting its computational ceiling. The data clearly indicates that the GPU, not the CPU, is the component determining the frame rate limits in this configuration, especially at 1440p and above.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the primary driver of the performance ceiling observed in this data. Its specifications provide context for the FPS numbers. The GPU operates with a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, paired with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for the title's demands, as evidenced by the lack of severe frame time spikes in the recorded data (the min FPS for Medium settings at 4K is 43, close to the 50 average).

The GPU's compute capabilities, rated at 11.52 TFLOPS FP32, are the determining factor for the frame rates seen in the measured rows. At 4K Ultra settings, the system drops to 35 FPS, highlighting the heavy load placed on the 2304 shading units. The Arc B570's performance relative to its peers is shown by its 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 20556 places it in close competition with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20534 (a 0.1% difference), and the Intel Arc A750, which scores 20582 (a -0.1% difference). This indicates that while the Arc B570 is a competent mid-range performer, its absolute power is what caps the high-resolution frame rates in Doom. The shift from Low to High settings at 1080p (164 FPS to 121 FPS) shows a 43 FPS cost, which is directly attributable to the increased fragment and texture work required of the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested hardware combinations for Doom, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Arc B570 holds a specific position. The combo is ranked 2332 out of 2930 total tested combos, placing it in the 20th percentile of all systems. This ranking might seem low, but it is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance tier rather than a reflection of the CPU's capability.

The ranking reflects the overall system balance. When paired with a significantly more powerful GPU, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D would likely propel this combo much higher in the rankings. However, the Arc B570's performance ceiling limits the system's overall standing. The data shows that the CPU is operating far from its limits, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p. The combo's rank is, therefore, a measure of the GPU's performance in this specific title, not a measure of the CPU's potential. The system is effectively a high-end CPU paired with a mid-range GPU, and the ranking accurately reflects that the GPU is the component that determines the system's final position in the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions. The full breakdown is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the system showcases its highest performance. Low settings produce an average of 164 FPS, with Medium settings at 143 FPS (min 121, max 164), High settings at 121 FPS, and Ultra settings at 99 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 65 FPS drop, indicating a significant increase in GPU workload as visual fidelity rises.

At 2560x1440, the performance begins to compress. Low settings yield 106 FPS, Medium settings drop to 92 FPS (min 79, max 106), High settings produce 78 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 64 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to a 42 FPS difference, showing the GPU becoming the primary constraint.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings manage 57 FPS, Medium settings drop to 50 FPS (min 43, max 58), High settings produce 42 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 35 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is now just 22 FPS, demonstrating that even the lowest settings cannot bypass the GPU's raw throughput limits at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 35 FPS, is the only configuration that falls below the 40 FPS threshold for smooth, playable performance.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D serves as the computational backbone of this system, providing far more processing power than the GPU can utilize in Doom. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it offers robust multi-threading capabilities. Its architecture is Zen 5, built on a 4 nm process node. The CPU's clock speeds are high, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which are critical for single-threaded game logic.

The CPU's benchmark scores demonstrate its immense capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 23230 in multi-core and 2080 in single-core. Its Passmark single-thread score is 4430, and its Passmark multithread score is 40009. These scores place the CPU in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The data suggests that the CPU is never the bottleneck in this configuration. The fact that frame rates at 1080p Low (164 FPS) are significantly higher than at 4K Low (57 FPS) confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is capable of feeding frames far faster than the Arc B570 can render them, especially at lower resolutions. The 96 MB of shared L3 cache helps ensure low latency for game data, further contributing to the CPU's ability to maintain high frame rates without stutter. In essence, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's role is to provide a massive performance headroom, ensuring that the GPU is the sole determinant of FPS in this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this hardware for a high refresh rate experience?

A: To achieve frame rates above 100 FPS, the 1920x1080 resolution is required. The system reaches 164 FPS on Low and 121 FPS on High settings at this resolution. At 2560x1440, only Low settings (106 FPS) break the 100 FPS barrier.

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

A: The system averages 35 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is the lowest recorded average in the data set and is likely to be a marginally playable experience due to the low frame rate.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant, while the CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it has substantial headroom. The GPU's lower 65th percentile ranking compared to the CPU's 87th percentile confirms this imbalance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556. This is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534), which is 0.1% slower, and the Intel Arc A750 (20582), which is 0.1% faster.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 42 FPS. The system achieves 106 FPS on Low and 64 FPS on Ultra, showing a significant cost for higher visual fidelity.

Q: Does the system maintain a stable frame rate at 4K Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 4K Medium is 50, with a minimum FPS of 43 and a maximum of 58. This shows a 15 FPS variance, indicating a relatively stable performance with some fluctuation.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For competitive or high-refresh-rate play at 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best balance, delivering 121 FPS while maintaining a high level of visual quality. The Ultra preset at this resolution still provides 99 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, but the 22 FPS gain from dropping to High is often worth the slight visual compromise.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It provides a solid 92 FPS average, which is smooth for most gaming scenarios. The High preset at 78 FPS is also viable, but the 14 FPS gain from Medium to High may not justify the increased visual load. For those prioritizing frame rate above all else, Low settings at 1440p yield 106 FPS, but the visual downgrade is substantial.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset, averaging 57 FPS, is the most playable option, offering a playable experience. The Medium preset at 50 FPS is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets at 42 FPS and 35 FPS respectively fall below the threshold for smooth gameplay. For 4K, the data suggests that Low or Medium settings are the only viable choices for a consistently playable experience. The best overall experience for most users seeking a high frame rate will be found at 1080p with High or Ultra settings, or at 1440p with Medium settings.