Doom

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Doom with the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 shows a clear and predictable pattern as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces 149 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same High preset, the average drops to 96 FPS, a reduction of roughly 35.6%. The step to 3840x2160 at High settings yields 52 FPS, which represents a further drop of about 45.8% from the 1440p result. The total scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings is a reduction from 149 FPS to 52 FPS, a decline of approximately 65.1%.

This scaling pattern is significant. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is steep, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is even steeper. This indicates that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, which points to the GPU as the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The RTX 5050 has an 8 GB VRAM capacity and a 128-bit memory bus with 320.0 GB/s bandwidth. At 4K, the pixel throughput demand exceeds what this GPU can comfortably deliver, especially on the High preset where the average FPS falls below 60.

The data also shows how settings interact with resolution. At 4K, the spread from Low to Ultra is substantial: Low delivers 71 FPS, Medium delivers 62 FPS, High delivers 52 FPS, and Ultra delivers 43 FPS. This is a range of 28 FPS between the lowest and highest quality presets at 4K. At 1440p, the same spread is from 131 FPS on Low to 79 FPS on Ultra, a difference of 52 FPS. At 1080p, the spread is from 202 FPS on Low to 122 FPS on Ultra, a difference of 80 FPS. The fact that the settings spread widens as resolution decreases confirms that at lower resolutions, the CPU has more headroom to push higher frame rates, while at 4K, the GPU is so saturated that even dropping to Low only recovers a limited amount of performance.

The limiting component shifts as resolution changes. At 1080p, the high frame rates — 202 FPS on Low and 176 FPS on Medium — suggest that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, can keep up with the RTX 5050's output. The CPU's boost clock of 5.60 GHz and base clock of 4.70 GHz provide strong single-thread performance, which is critical for maintaining high frame rates in a fast-paced FPS like Doom. At 4K, however, the GPU's raw pixel-pushing capability becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's performance advantage is less visible in the average FPS numbers.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB207 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It has 2560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The base clock is 2317 MHz, and the boost clock is 2572 MHz. The memory configuration is 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The GPU's pixel rate is 82.30 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 205.8 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 13.17 TFLOPS.

In Doom, the GPU's role is clearly defined by the measured FPS at various settings. The 4K Ultra preset yields only 43 FPS average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay on many displays. The 4K High preset yields 52 FPS, and the 4K Medium preset yields 62 FPS. The 4K Low preset yields 71 FPS. The fact that even the Low preset at 4K cannot reach 144 FPS indicates that the GPU is the dominant constraint at this resolution.

The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is another factor. Doom at 4K with higher settings will consume a significant amount of VRAM, and the 128-bit memory bus may limit the effective bandwidth utilization. The benchmark data shows that the RTX 5050's performance in Doom correlates with its general benchmark scores. The GPU has a Passmark G3D score of 17326 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502. Its percentile rank against all GPUs is 66, placing it in the upper-middle tier.

Comparing the RTX 5050 to its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL has an average benchmark score of 21153, which is 0.6% higher than the RTX 5050's average of 21035. The AMD Radeon HD 8970M is 1% higher at 21237, and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% lower at 20713. The NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% higher at 21379. These small percentage differences suggest that the RTX 5050 sits in a competitive performance band, and its Doom results reflect that positioning.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 202, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 176 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, and 149 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

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

A: At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 43 on Ultra to 71 on Low. The Medium preset yields 62 FPS, which is above 60 FPS, but the High preset yields 52 FPS, which may not be smooth on a 60 Hz display. The data indicates that 4K gaming is possible but requires lower settings for higher frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU's core count and clock speed affect Doom performance?

A: The Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This configuration supports high frame rates at lower resolutions, as seen by the 202 FPS at 1080p Low. At 4K, the CPU is less of a factor, and the GPU becomes the bottleneck.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Medium and High settings across resolutions?

A: At 1080p, Medium yields 176 FPS while High yields 149 FPS, a difference of 27 FPS. At 1440p, Medium yields 114 FPS while High yields 96 FPS, a difference of 18 FPS. At 4K, Medium yields 62 FPS while High yields 52 FPS, a difference of 10 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Doom?

A: The combo ranks 1766 out of 2930 tested combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking, reflecting the GPU's moderate performance tier.

Q: Is the RTX 5050's VRAM sufficient for Doom at high settings?

A: The RTX 5050 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The benchmark data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 43, and at 4K High it is 52. The combination of VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth (320.0 GB/s) appears to be a limiting factor at 4K, but at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU delivers playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combo ranks 1766 out of 2930 tested combinations in Doom. This rank places it in the 60th percentile of all tested combos, meaning that roughly 40% of combos perform worse and 60% perform better. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's performance tier, as the RTX 5050's percentile rank against all GPUs is 66.

The CPU in this combo is a strong performer. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an average benchmark score of 58386 and a percentile rank of 92 against all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (avg score 58323, 0.1% lower), the Intel Xeon w5-2545 (avg score 58504, 0.2% higher), the Intel Core i9-14900 (avg score 58115, 0.5% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (avg score 58826, 0.7% higher). These are all very close scores, indicating that the CPU is competitive with high-end desktop and workstation parts.

However, the GPU holds the combo back in the overall ranking. The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035, and its percentile rank is 66. The measured FPS in Doom confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K, the combo cannot reach 60 FPS on High or Ultra settings, which limits its overall ranking. The rank of 1766 out of 2930 suggests that there are many combos with faster GPUs that achieve higher frame rates in Doom, especially at 1440p and 4K.

The data shows that this combo is balanced in the sense that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution tested. The CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2228, allows it to drive the GPU to its limits at 1080p. The GPU, however, reaches its limits at 1440p and 4K, which is where the combo's ranking suffers.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a comprehensive view of performance.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 202 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 176 FPS, with a minimum of 150 FPS and a maximum of 203 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 149 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 122 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 80 FPS, which shows that settings have a significant impact at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers an average of 131 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 96 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 79 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 52 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p but still substantial.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers an average of 71 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 52 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 43 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 28 FPS, which is the narrowest of the three resolutions.

The Medium preset is the only one with full min/max data across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 150 FPS and the maximum is 203 FPS, a range of 53 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 97 FPS and the maximum is 131 FPS, a range of 34 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 52 FPS and the maximum is 71 FPS, a range of 19 FPS. This narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates that frame times become more consistent as the GPU becomes the bottleneck, but the average FPS drops.

The data also shows the relationship between settings and resolution. For example, the 1080p Low preset (202 FPS) is significantly faster than the 1440p Low preset (131 FPS), which is faster than the 4K Low preset (71 FPS). This is expected, as pixel count scales with resolution. The key insight is that the RTX 5050 can handle 1080p and 1440p with high frame rates, but 4K requires compromise on settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 149 FPS is a strong choice. It provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, and the frame rate is high enough for smooth gameplay on most monitors. The Ultra preset at 122 FPS is also viable if the user prioritizes maximum visual fidelity, as it still delivers a frame rate above 120 FPS. The Medium preset at 176 FPS is the best option for users with high-refresh-rate displays, as it approaches 180 FPS.

For 1440p gaming, the Medium preset at 114 FPS is the recommended choice. It provides a smooth experience on 120 Hz displays and offers better visual quality than the Low preset. The High preset at 96 FPS is also acceptable, especially for users who prefer quality over frame rate. The Ultra preset at 79 FPS is borderline, as it may not be smooth on 144 Hz displays, but it is playable on 60 Hz or 75 Hz monitors.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset at 62 FPS is the only preset that consistently exceeds 60 FPS. The Low preset at 71 FPS is even better for frame rate but sacrifices visual quality. The High preset at 52 FPS and Ultra preset at 43 FPS are not recommended for smooth gameplay, as they fall below 60 FPS and may be noticeable on modern displays. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo is best done on Medium or Low settings.

The Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 176; at 1440p Medium, it is 114; and at 4K Medium, it is 62. This preset consistently delivers a playable experience, and the min FPS values (150 at 1080p, 97 at 1440p, 52 at 4K) indicate that frame drops are manageable. For users who want a single setting that works across all resolutions, Medium is the safest choice.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D plays a supporting role in Doom, as the game is primarily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. The CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is a hallmark of the X3D series and helps with gaming performance.

The CPU's benchmark scores indicate strong multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 22807 in multi-core and 2228 in single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 3551 in multi-core and 343 in single-core. Passmark scores include 41318 in multithread, 4704 in single-thread, 123140 in integer math, and 81998 in floating point math. The Passmark physics score is 4171, and the data compression score is 474501.

The CPU's percentile rank of 92 against all CPUs places it in the top 8% of all processors. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (0.1% lower), Intel Xeon w5-2545 (0.2% higher), Intel Core i9-14900 (0.5% lower), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (0.7% higher). These small deltas show that the 9850X3D is competitive with the best desktop and workstation CPUs.

In Doom, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the combo achieves 202 FPS on Low and 176 FPS on Medium, which indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU with enough frames to reach these high numbers. The boost clock of 5.60 GHz is particularly important for single-threaded game logic, and the 96 MB L3 cache helps with data locality. At 1440p and 4K, the CPU is less stressed, as the GPU takes over as the bottleneck. The fact that the CPU does not limit performance at any resolution confirms its strength, but it also means that the combo's overall performance is capped by the RTX 5050.

The memory support for the CPU is DDR5 with a dual-channel interface and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. This is ample for gaming, and the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 support with 24 lanes ensures that the GPU has a high-bandwidth connection. The CPU's launch MSRP is $499, and it is an unlocked multiplier part, which allows for overclocking. However, the measured FPS data was likely captured at stock settings, so the results reflect the default configuration.