Doom

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread mobile processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boosts up to 5.40 GHz, with 64 MB of L3 cache and a 55 W TDP. This is a high-end mobile part, ranking in the 95th percentile among all CPUs tested in the database, with an average benchmark score of 76,212.

Its nearest rivals in the aggregate CPU benchmark rankings include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which scores an average of 76,155 (a 0.1% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which scores 75,779 (a 0.6% delta). The data shows the 8945HX sits essentially at parity with these top-tier desktop-class parts, with deltas of only -0.4% against both the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX. This indicates that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 8945HX is unlikely to be a limiting factor.

In the context of Doom, a 2016 FPS title, the game's engine is well-known for being highly responsive to single-thread performance, but the 8945HX's multi-threaded capabilities are also relevant. The processor scores 42,713 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,030 in single-core, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 51,405 and a single-thread score of 3,907. These figures suggest that the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU's role becomes more prominent.

Given that Doom was released in 2016, its CPU demands are modest by modern standards. The 8945HX's 16 cores and 32 threads are far beyond what the game's engine can utilize, but the high boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures that the single-threaded workloads the game does generate are handled with minimal latency. The benchmark results confirm this: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 203 FPS average, which is likely near the engine's practical ceiling for this hardware configuration. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking across all CPUs means that for this game, the processor is not the bottleneck; it provides a solid foundation for the GPU to operate at its full potential.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is an Ada Lovelace architecture part with 3,072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It has a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1890 MHz, paired with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The GPU's TDP is 115 W, and it ranks in the 67th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22,729.

The RTX 4060 Mobile's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22,895 (a -0.7% delta), the Intel Arc B580 at 23,021 (a -1.3% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT at 22,549 (a 0.8% delta). This places the mobile 4060 squarely in the mid-range performance tier, roughly equivalent to a previous-generation desktop flagship in raw compute terms. The data shows that the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates in Doom, as the CPU is significantly more powerful relative to its peers.

In terms of game-specific performance, the RTX 4060 Mobile's 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for Doom at all tested settings, even at 4K. The game's textures and geometry are not particularly demanding by modern standards, so the memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The GPU's clock speeds of 1545 MHz base and 1890 MHz boost are relatively modest, but the Ada Lovelace architecture's efficiency ensures consistent performance. The pixel rate of 90.72 GPixel/s and texture rate of 181.4 GTexel/s are the specifications most relevant to Doom's rendering pipeline, which relies heavily on fill-rate and texture throughput.

The benchmark data shows that the GPU scales predictably with settings. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 81 FPS (203 vs 122), which indicates that the GPU is being pushed harder at higher presets. The GPU's 67th percentile ranking means it is a mid-pack performer, and in Doom, this translates to playable frame rates at 4K only on lower presets, while 1080p and 1440p offer high refresh rate experiences. The GPU's performance is consistent with its nearest rivals, with deltas of less than 1.3% against all of them.

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

Examining the measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear scaling pattern that identifies the bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 149 at 1080p to 97 at 1440p, and then to 52 at 4K. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 65%, which is a substantial reduction that points to the GPU as the limiting component.

At Low settings, the trend is similar but more pronounced in absolute terms: 203 FPS at 1080p, 131 FPS at 1440p, and 71 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35%, and from 1440p to 4K it is 46%. The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings indicates that the GPU's rendering load scales uniformly with resolution, which is expected for a game like Doom that is not heavily CPU-bound at higher resolutions.

The data supports the conclusion that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller FPS drops as resolution increases, because the CPU's workload remains constant while the GPU's workload grows. Instead, the FPS drops are substantial at every resolution step, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates, but the RTX 4060 Mobile's fill-rate and bandwidth constraints become apparent as pixel count increases.

The Medium settings data provides additional insight, as it includes both min and max FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the average is 177 FPS with a min of 150 and max of 203. At 1440p Medium, the average is 114 FPS with a min of 97 and max of 132. At 4K Medium, the average is 62 FPS with a min of 53 and max of 71. The min FPS values at 4K (53 FPS) are borderline for a smooth experience, while at 1080p the min FPS of 150 is well above the threshold for high refresh rate displays. This reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the configuration.

# FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 203, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K?

A: At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 62, with a min FPS of 53. This means it averages above 60 FPS but can dip below in demanding scenes. At High settings, the average drops to 52 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 Mobile compare to the RTX 2080 in aggregate benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4060 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 22,729, while the RTX 2080 scores 22,895, a delta of -0.7%. This indicates the 4060 Mobile is essentially at parity with the older desktop card.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all tested CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier processor.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration for Doom?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K (65% at High settings), which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested combinations for Doom?

A: The combo ranks 2,270 out of 3,712 tested combinations, placing it in the upper portion of the database.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, the data shows that even Ultra settings achieve an average of 122 FPS, which is suitable for high refresh rate gaming. However, Medium settings at 1080p provide a better balance with 177 FPS average and a min FPS of 150, ensuring consistent frame times. For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p push the average to 203 FPS, which maximizes responsiveness.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. High settings deliver 97 FPS average, which is solid for most displays, but Medium settings at 114 FPS average with a 97 FPS minimum offer a smoother experience with only a minor visual compromise. Ultra settings at 1440p drop to 79 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high refresh rate panels. The data suggests Medium is the sweet spot at this resolution.

For 4K, the choices are more constrained. Medium settings achieve 62 FPS average with a 53 FPS minimum, which is the only preset that maintains a playable experience near 60 FPS. High settings drop to 52 FPS average, which is borderline, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS, which is not recommended for smooth gameplay. Low settings at 4K reach 71 FPS average, but the visual quality loss is significant. For 4K, Medium settings provide the best measured experience, balancing visual fidelity and playability.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all tested configurations.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: 203 FPS average
• Medium: 177 FPS average, 150 FPS min, 203 FPS max
• High: 149 FPS average
• Ultra: 122 FPS average

At 2560x1440:

• Low: 131 FPS average
• Medium: 114 FPS average, 97 FPS min, 132 FPS max
• High: 97 FPS average
• Ultra: 79 FPS average

At 3840x2160:

• Low: 71 FPS average
• Medium: 62 FPS average, 53 FPS min, 71 FPS max
• High: 52 FPS average
• Ultra: 43 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern across all settings: each step up in resolution reduces average FPS by roughly 35-46%. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded min and max FPS values, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range from min to max is 53 FPS (150 to 203), while at 4K Medium, the range narrows to 18 FPS (53 to 71). This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU can push frame rates higher but with more variance, while at 4K, the GPU's consistent workload results in tighter frame pacing.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile combination ranks 2,270 out of 3,712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 61st percentile of all tested systems. This ranking is notably lower than the individual component rankings would suggest: the CPU ranks in the 95th percentile and the GPU in the 67th percentile. The discrepancy indicates that in Doom, the GPU's mid-range performance is the dominant factor, dragging the overall combo ranking below what the CPU alone would achieve.

This ranking means the combo outperforms roughly 61% of all tested systems in this game, but it lags behind the top tiers. The data shows that combos with higher-performing GPUs, particularly those with more VRAM and higher fill rates, likely achieve significantly better results at 4K. The RTX 4060 Mobile's 8 GB VRAM and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for Doom, but the GPU's overall compute power limits the combo's ability to maintain high frame rates at Ultra settings across all resolutions.

The combo's ranking is consistent with the GPU's position relative to its nearest rivals. The RTX 4060 Mobile's delta of -0.7% versus the RTX 2080 and +0.8% versus the RX 7700 XT suggests that combos using those GPUs would rank similarly. However, the 8945HX's top-tier CPU performance ensures that this combo will not be CPU-limited, which is an advantage in scenarios where other combos with weaker CPUs might see reduced frame rates. Overall, the data indicates this is a well-balanced mid-range combo for Doom, capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, with playable 4K only on reduced settings.