Doom

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a robust experience in Doom (2016), with performance scaling strongly favoring high refresh rate 1080p play. The data shows this combination sits at rank 960 out of 1681 tested combos for this title, indicating it is a solid mid-to-upper tier setup. The strengths of this pairing are clear: the 12-core CPU provides immense headroom, while the GPU becomes the primary performance limiter as resolution climbs.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. It operates at a base clock of 4.70 GHz and boosts up to 5.60 GHz. This is a high-end desktop part, and its processing power is far beyond what a 2016 title like Doom requires. The CPU’s benchmark scores reflect its capability: it achieves a single-thread score of 6168 in Cinebench R23 and a multi-core score of 43695 in the same test, placing it in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs.

In the context of this game, the CPU is almost never a bottleneck. The Ryzen 9 7900X’s performance in the 3DMark CPU tests shows a scalable architecture—scoring 2137 with 2 threads, 7798 with 8 threads, and 12536 with max threads. This scaling indicates that even if Doom were to utilize more than a few cores, the processor has ample resources. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (avg score 50598, deltaPct -0.1) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT (avg score 50738, deltaPct -0.4), are effectively matched in average benchmark score, meaning the 7900X provides no significant advantage or disadvantage over these alternatives for this workload.

The raw speed of the 7900X is evident in its Passmark single-thread score of 4238 and Geekbench single-core score of 2952. These results translate to high minimum frame rates and consistent frame pacing in a fast-paced shooter. The CPU’s 64 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth) ensure that data feeding the GPU is processed with minimal latency. In practical terms, the 7900X ensures that the frame rates measured in this benchmark are dictated by the graphics card, not the processor.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the other half of this pairing. It is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, featuring 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. The card has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for Doom at the tested settings, though the 8 GB capacity and 128-bit bus width are modest by modern standards.

The GPU’s benchmark results place it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23181. In the Passmark G3D test, it scores 19545, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2302. The RTX 4060’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (avg score 23321, deltaPct -0.6) and the Intel Arc B580 (avg score 23021, deltaPct 0.7), showing it is closely matched with these parts. However, its performance in this game is heavily dependent on resolution and settings, as the measured FPS shows a clear pattern of the GPU being the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The RTX 4060’s 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is ample for a well-optimized engine like id Tech 6. The data indicates that the GPU’s pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s are the primary drivers of frame rate changes. At 1080p, the GPU is fast enough to push very high frame rates, but at 4K, the demands on the pixel and texture pipelines increase, causing frame rates to drop significantly.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear story about which component limits performance. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 170.1. Moving to 2560x1440 drops that to 107.5, a reduction of 62.6 FPS. At 3840x2160, the High setting yields 59.1 FPS, which is less than half the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is powerful enough to maintain high frame rates, so the drop-off is entirely due to the RTX 4060’s inability to fill pixels fast enough at higher resolutions.

The data across all settings confirms this. At Low settings, the 1080p result is 228.8 FPS, which drops to 148.4 at 1440p and 78.2 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent—around 66% across all settings, indicating that the GPU’s workload scales linearly with resolution. This is a classic sign that the CPU is not a bottleneck; if the CPU were limiting, the frame rate would plateau at lower resolutions before dropping.

The Ultra preset shows the most pronounced drop, from 137.1 FPS at 1080p to 91.1 at 1440p and 47.1 at 4K. This demonstrates that the RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are not sufficient for the highest settings at 4K, where the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling suggests that for smooth 4K gameplay, users would need to accept lower settings or rely on the CPU’s power to drive higher frames at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4060 delivers excellent performance across all presets. Low settings yield an average of 228.8 FPS, Medium averages 200.2 FPS, High averages 170.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 137.1 FPS. All of these results are well above the 60 FPS threshold, and even the Ultra preset provides a smooth experience for high refresh rate monitors. The gap between Low and Ultra is 91.7 FPS, showing that the GPU has enough headroom to handle significant visual upgrades without dropping below playable levels.

At 2560x1440, the results remain strong. Low settings average 148.4 FPS, Medium averages 126.8 FPS, High averages 107.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 91.1 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for this pairing, as every preset maintains an average above 90 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is only 16.4 FPS, suggesting that the visual gains from Ultra are relatively cheap at this resolution, though the GPU is starting to show its limits.

At 3840x2160, performance becomes more constrained. Low settings average 78.2 FPS, Medium averages 68.2 FPS, High averages 59.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 47.1 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only one that dips below 60 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are insufficient for the highest settings at this resolution. High settings just barely miss the 60 FPS mark, while Low and Medium remain playable. This data suggests that 4K gaming is possible but requires a compromise on visual fidelity.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X overkill for playing Doom?

A: Yes, the data suggests it is. The CPU’s 12 cores and 24 threads provide far more processing power than Doom needs, as evidenced by its 93rd percentile ranking among CPUs and its high single-thread score of 6168 in Cinebench R23. The frame rates are limited by the GPU at all resolutions, not the CPU.

Q: Can the RTX 4060 handle 4K gaming in Doom?

A: It can, but with caveats. The measured data shows 4K performance ranges from 78.2 FPS on Low settings to 47.1 FPS on Ultra. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, users should stick to Medium or Low settings at 4K, as High settings average 59.1 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 2560x1440 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, all settings average above 90 FPS, with High settings at 107.5 FPS and Ultra at 91.1 FPS, providing a good balance between visual quality and performance.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 4060’s average benchmark score of 23181 is closely matched with the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23321, deltaPct -0.6) and the Intel Arc B580 (23021, deltaPct 0.7). In Doom, the performance will be similar, though the specific FPS will vary based on drivers and optimization.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM on the RTX 4060 cause issues in Doom?

A: The data suggests it does at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 47.1. At lower resolutions, the 8 GB capacity is sufficient, as frame rates remain high. The 128-bit memory bus (272.0 GB/s bandwidth) is more likely the limiting factor at 4K than the capacity itself.

Q: Is this a good setup for high refresh rate 1080p gaming?

A: Absolutely. The data shows 1080p performance ranges from 137.1 FPS on Ultra to 228.8 FPS on Low. This is more than enough to take advantage of 144Hz or even 240Hz monitors, with the CPU ensuring no bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for the best experience. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset is the obvious choice, as it delivers 137.1 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual quality. For those with a 144Hz monitor, High settings at 170.1 FPS is a better option if they prefer higher frame rates over maximum detail.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice. It averages 107.5 FPS, which is smooth for most monitors, and the visual difference between High and Ultra (91.1 FPS) is less impactful than the 16.4 FPS drop. For users with a 144Hz monitor, Medium settings at 126.8 FPS will provide a more responsive experience without a significant visual penalty.

At 4K, the situation is different. The Medium preset at 68.2 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a playable frame rate that is above 60 FPS. High settings at 59.1 FPS are borderline, and Ultra at 47.1 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. For the best 4K experience, Medium settings balance visual quality and performance, while Low settings at 78.2 FPS are the choice for users who prioritize frame rate above all else.