Doom

Resolution Scaling

The measured frames per second for this pairing of AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 in Doom show a clear and predictable decline as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination produces an average of 158 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 102 FPS, a reduction of 56 FPS or roughly 35%. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 55 FPS, which is about 46% lower than the 1440p result and 65% lower than the 1080p figure. This steep scaling curve is typical of a system where the GPU becomes the dominant limiting factor at higher pixel counts.

The pattern holds across every settings tier. At Medium, the averages are 137 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 48 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 48 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 41 FPS. At High, the numbers are 116, 75, and 41 FPS respectively, with the largest single-step loss occurring between 1440p and 4K at 34 FPS. Ultra settings show the same shape: 95 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and 33 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the GTX 1070 is the component determining these framerates. The Ryzen 9 5900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, and its benchmark scores place it in the 87th percentile among all CPUs. At 1080p, where CPU overhead is typically more visible, the system still reaches 158 FPS on Low, suggesting the processor is not holding back performance. The consistent proportional decline as resolution increases points directly to the GPU's pixel throughput limits. The GTX 1070 has a 256-bit memory bus and 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth, which becomes increasingly stressed as the number of pixels quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

Notably, the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (158 FPS) and Ultra (95 FPS) is 63 FPS. At 1440p, that gap shrinks to 41 FPS (102 vs 61). At 4K, it is just 22 FPS (55 vs 33). This is a classic sign of GPU-bound rendering: when the GPU is saturated at 4K, the additional work required by higher settings has a smaller absolute impact because the baseline framerate is already low. The limiting component is unmistakably the graphics card.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. This processor supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and it connects via PCIe Gen 4.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU shows strong multi-threaded performance. It scores 10,075 in 3DMark Max Threads, 16,262 in Cinebench R23 Multi Core, and 39,002 in Passmark Multi Thread. Single-thread performance is also solid, with a 3DMark Single Thread score of 941, a Cinebench R23 Single Core score of 1,527, and a Geekbench Single Core score of 2,083. Its average benchmark score is 41,376, which places it within 0.3% of the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H and 0.4% of both the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440. It is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14650HX.

For Doom, a game originally released in 2016, the CPU's role is largely to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS data suggests the Ryzen 9 5900X is more than adequate for this task. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 158 FPS average, which is far above any typical display refresh rate. Even the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium is 117 FPS, well above the 60 FPS target most players aim for. The processor's high single-thread score of 3,469 in Passmark Single Thread is relevant here, as Doom's engine historically benefits from strong per-core performance.

The 12-core configuration is likely overkill for this title, but it does not hurt. The fact that 4K Ultra drops to 33 FPS while 4K Low only reaches 55 FPS reinforces that the GPU, not the CPU, is the bottleneck. If the processor were limiting performance, we would expect to see framerates plateau or even drop at 1080p regardless of settings. Instead, the data shows a smooth scaling curve that tracks GPU load. The Ryzen 9 5900X's 87th percentile ranking among all CPUs further confirms it is a high-performing part, but in this specific game and combination, its headroom is not being fully utilized.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is built on the Pascal architecture using the GP104 chip, manufactured on a 16 nm process at TSMC. It has 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1506 MHz with a boost clock of 1683 MHz. Memory is 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth and running at 2002 MHz (8 Gbps effective). The card supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In synthetic benchmarks, the GTX 1070 scores 13,498 in Passmark G3D and 6,102 in Passmark GPU Compute. Its average benchmark score is 9,780, which places it 0.2% behind the AMD FirePro W5000, 0.5% behind the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M, 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla M10, and 0.7% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla C2070. The GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs is 47, indicating it sits near the middle of the distribution.

The measured FPS data in Doom shows the GTX 1070 struggling at 4K. The highest average at this resolution is 55 FPS on Low, which drops to 48 FPS on Medium, 41 FPS on High, and 33 FPS on Ultra. At 1440p, the card performs much better: 102 FPS on Low, 89 FPS on Medium, 75 FPS on High, and 61 FPS on Ultra. At 1080p, it delivers 158 FPS on Low, 137 FPS on Medium, 116 FPS on High, and 95 FPS on Ultra.

The memory configuration is a key factor. With 8 GB of VRAM and a 256-bit bus, the GTX 1070 has enough capacity for Doom at 1080p and 1440p, but the bandwidth becomes a limiting factor at 4K where the pixel fill rate demand is four times higher. The pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s are simply not sufficient to maintain high framerates at 4K with this game's settings. The card's FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS is modest by modern standards, which explains the significant drop in performance when moving from 1440p to 4K.

The GTX 1070's 47th percentile ranking highlights that it is an older, mid-range part in the current landscape. Its nearest rivals are professional or workstation cards, not gaming GPUs, which underscores its age. For a game like Doom, which is well-optimized and can run on a wide range of hardware, the GTX 1070 delivers playable framerates at 1080p and 1440p but falls short of smooth 4K performance. The data shows that the GPU is the component that dictates the overall experience in this pairing.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average framerate is 158 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Doom?

A: The system can run the game at 4K, but framerates are limited. At 4K with Low settings, it averages 55 FPS, while at Ultra it averages 33 FPS. The minimum recorded at 4K Medium is 41 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 9,780. It is 0.2% behind the AMD FirePro W5000, 0.5% behind the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M, 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla M10, and 0.7% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla C2070.

Q: What is the Ryzen 9 5900X's percentile ranking among CPUs?

A: The Ryzen 9 5900X is in the 87th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41,376.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most balanced experience at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 89 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS. This provides a smoother experience than High (75 FPS average) or Ultra (61 FPS average) while still offering better visual quality than Low (102 FPS average).

Q: What is the largest performance gap between settings at a single resolution?

A: At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (158 FPS) and Ultra (95 FPS) is 63 FPS, which is the largest gap across all resolutions and settings combinations.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3,068 out of 3,712 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the lower portion of the ranking, at roughly the 17th percentile of all system combinations. The rank reflects the overall performance of the pairing, which is heavily weighted by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

The low ranking is primarily attributable to the GTX 1070's age and mid-range position. With a GPU percentile of 47, the graphics card sits near the median of all GPUs, but in a demanding scenario like Doom at high resolutions, it cannot compete with more modern or higher-tier cards. The CPU, by contrast, is a strong performer with an 87th percentile ranking, but it is not the limiting factor in this system.

Compared to other combos that might pair the Ryzen 9 5900X with a faster GPU, this setup would rank significantly lower due to the GPU bottleneck. The data suggests that the CPU has substantial headroom for a more powerful graphics card. If the GPU were upgraded, the system's rank in Doom would likely improve substantially, as the CPU is already capable of delivering high framerates at lower resolutions where GPU load is less intense.

The rank of 3,068 out of 3,712 also indicates that there are 644 tested combos that perform worse than this pairing. This means the system is not at the very bottom, but it is clearly in the lower third of tested configurations. For a game like Doom, which is known for its efficient engine, this ranking reflects the GPU's inability to maintain high framerates at 4K, while still offering decent performance at 1080p and 1440p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired framerate. For a 60 FPS target, the following presets are recommended:

At 1920x1080, all presets exceed 60 FPS average. The Ultra preset averages 95 FPS, which is well above the target and provides the best visual quality. The High preset at 116 FPS and Medium at 137 FPS also offer smooth experiences, but Ultra is viable and recommended for the best visuals without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 61 FPS, which is right at the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset averages 75 FPS and provides a safer margin for framerate dips. The Medium preset averages 89 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS, offering the smoothest experience while still maintaining good visual quality. For players who want a consistent framerate above 60 FPS, Medium is the recommended choice. For those who prioritize visuals and can tolerate occasional dips, Ultra is acceptable.

At 3840x2160, no preset consistently achieves 60 FPS. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, which is close but not quite there. The Medium preset averages 48 FPS with a minimum of 41 FPS, which may cause noticeable stuttering. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only one that approaches playable framerates, but it still falls short of a smooth 60 FPS experience. If 4K is a requirement, the system will need a GPU upgrade. Otherwise, 1440p Medium or High provides the best balance of performance and visual quality.

The data shows that the GTX 1070 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Doom. At 1080p, even Ultra settings deliver high framerates. At 1440p, Medium offers the best combination of smoothness and visual fidelity. At 4K, the system is not capable of delivering a satisfactory experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 in Doom:

1920x1080:

• Low: average 158 FPS
• Medium: average 137 FPS, minimum 117 FPS, maximum 158 FPS
• High: average 116 FPS
• Ultra: average 95 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: average 102 FPS
• Medium: average 89 FPS, minimum 75 FPS, maximum 102 FPS
• High: average 75 FPS
• Ultra: average 61 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: average 55 FPS
• Medium: average 48 FPS, minimum 41 FPS, maximum 55 FPS
• High: average 41 FPS
• Ultra: average 33 FPS

The data reveals a consistent pattern across all resolutions: framerates decrease as settings increase, and the gap between Low and Ultra narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 63 FPS. At 1440p, it is 41 FPS. At 4K, it is 22 FPS. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is already so heavily loaded that the additional work from higher settings has a smaller absolute impact.

The minimum FPS values are only recorded for Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 117 FPS, which is still very playable. At 1440p Medium, the minimum drops to 75 FPS, still acceptable for most players. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 41 FPS, which may cause noticeable frame pacing issues. These minimum values suggest that the Medium preset is the most stable in terms of framerate consistency, likely because it balances GPU load without pushing the card to its absolute limits.

The maximum FPS values mirror the averages closely, with the 1080p Medium maximum reaching 158 FPS, the same as the Low average. This suggests that the system is capable of reaching high framerates at 1080p, but the GPU cannot sustain them at higher settings or resolutions. Overall, the GTX 1070 is the clear limiting factor in this system, and the Ryzen 9 5900X provides ample CPU headroom for the game.