Doom

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 presents a stark contrast in hardware generations and performance tiers. The data for Doom shows a system where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck, with the CPU’s substantial capabilities left largely untapped. This analysis examines the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to determine the practical experience this combination delivers.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and dramatic drop as resolution increases, which is the hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 92 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that average falls to 60 FPS, a 35% reduction. The climb to 4K (3840x2160) further reduces the average to 32 FPS, another 47% drop from the 1440p figure. This pattern strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 570's rendering throughput is the limiting factor, not the CPU.

The scaling is consistent across all settings. For High settings, the averages are 68 FPS at 1080p, 44 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K. This linear degradation with pixel count is a classic sign that the GPU is working at its maximum capacity. The Ryzen 9 9900X, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is not the constraint here; its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32172, suggest it can handle far more demanding workloads.

What is particularly telling is the performance gap between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 36 FPS (92 vs 56). At 1440p, it is 24 FPS (60 vs 36). At 4K, the gap narrows to 13 FPS (32 vs 19). The shrinking delta at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU is saturated. When the pixel count is immense, the cost of higher visual fidelity becomes relatively smaller compared to the fixed cost of rendering the frame. The data implies that to achieve higher frame rates, the user must aggressively lower settings, especially at 4K, where even Low settings only produce 32 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Doom?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 92, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Doom?

A: The data indicates that 4K gaming is not a smooth experience. The best average FPS at 3840x2160 is 32 with Low settings, and it drops to 19 with Ultra settings dropped. None of the 4K results reach a playable 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X's average benchmark score is 57498, placing it 0.1% below the AMD EPYC 9015 and 1.1% below the Intel Core i9-14900, but 0.2% above the AMD EPYC 7313. Its percentile ranking is 92, meaning it outperforms 92% of all CPUs in the database.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile relative to all other GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570 has a percentile of 74, indicating it performs better than 74% of all GPUs in the database. This is a mid-range standing, which aligns with the observed frame rates.

Q: Which resolution provides the best balance of frame rate and visual quality?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system averages 52 FPS. This is the highest resolution where a settings level other than Low can achieve a frame rate above 50, offering a more balanced experience than 1080p or 4K.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X the bottleneck in this system for Doom?

A: No, the data suggests the opposite. The FPS drops significantly with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high benchmark scores, including a 3DMark max threads score of 13929, suggest it has ample headroom.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, featuring 12 cores and 24 threads. Its base clock is 4.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. These specifications, along with a substantial 64 MB of L3 cache, position it as a powerhouse for multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads alike. Its benchmark scores confirm this, with a Geekbench single-core score of 3010 and a multi-core score of 22174.

However, in the context of Doom at these settings, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. The measured FPS is consistently limited by the GPU. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 92 FPS, but this is likely the maximum the RX 570 can output, not the 9900X. The CPU's 24 threads are far beyond what Doom's engine can effectively utilize, even with its 2016 release date. The processor's single-thread performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4672, is more than sufficient to feed the GPU with draw calls.

The data implies that the Ryzen 9 9900X is not a limiting component in this test. Its performance is so far ahead of the GPU that its impact on the final frame rate is negligible. The system is essentially held back by the Radeon RX 570's ability to process pixels. This is a classic case of pairing a modern, high-core-count CPU with an older, entry-level GPU, where the latter dictates the overall gaming performance. The 9900X's capabilities are effectively in reserve, waiting for a more powerful graphics card to be unleashed.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 3547 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the bottom 5% of all configurations tested in the database. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's performance, as the CPU is a top-tier component. The ranking highlights how a single weak component can drastically alter the overall system capability in a specific game.

The CPU itself is a strong performer, with a percentile of 92, meaning it is better than 92% of all CPUs. However, its partner, the GPU, has a percentile of 74 appreciating its own right, but when paired, the combined result is poor due to the GPU's absolute performance level. The combo's rank of 3547 indicates that the vast majority of other CPU/GPU pairings in the database deliver a better experience in Doom. This suggests that the system is significantly unbalanced for this particular title, with the GPU failing to provide a foundation for the CPU's potential to be realized.

The data from nearestRivals for the GPU shows it is closely matched with other mid-range parts. For instance, it is 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6800M and 0.8% behind the AMD Radeon RX 470. This clustering of scores around the 28000-29000 mark for the GPU's average benchmark score reinforces that the RX 570 is an entry-to-mid-level part. This ranking serves as a warning that this specific combination is not suitable for a high-performance gaming experience in Doom, regardless of the CPU's might.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is a graphics card built on the Polaris architecture, featuring 2048 shading units and 32 ROPs. It has a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1244 MHz. Its memory configuration consists of 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. These specifications are typical of a mid-range card from its generation, and its performance in this game reflects that.

The GPU's role is to render the frames, and its limitations are clearly visible in the measured FPS. The card's FP32 performance is 5.095 TFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards. This explains why the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p, with only the Low preset achieving exactly 60 FPS on average. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is also a potential concern at 4K, though the data does not directly show a VRAM shortage; it simply shows very low frame rates.

The RX 570's percentile of 74 and average benchmark score of 28766 put it in a specific performance tier. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 470, have a nearly identical average score of 28996, showing that the card is a solid performer for its class. However, that class is not sufficient for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming in Doom. The data shows that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, capping the experience at 92 FPS at 1080p Low and delivering averages below 30 FPS at 4K. The card's age is a factor, as its 14 nm process node and 2017 release date limit its efficiency and raw power compared to more modern parts.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across various configurations.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 92 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 80 FPS, with a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 68 FPS, and Ultra settings result in an average of 56 FPS. This is the only resolution where the system can consistently hit frame rates above 60.

At 2560x1440, performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 60 FPS, which is the minimum for a smooth experience. Medium averages 52 FPS (min 44, max 60), while High drops to 44 FPS. Ultra settings yield a 36 FPS average. This resolution requires a compromise on settings to maintain playability.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The Low preset averages 32 FPS. Medium averages 28 FPS (min 24, max 32). High averages 24 FPS, and Ultra drops to a 19 FPS average. None of these results are suitable for smooth, fast-paced gameplay. The data shows a clear and predictable pattern: the RX 570 is overwhelmed at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the High preset provides an average of 68 FPS, which is a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. For players who prefer maximum fluidity, the Low preset at 1080p offers 92 FPS, which is excellent for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 80 FPS is also a strong choice.

If the user prefers a higher resolution, 2560x1440 is possible, but with compromises. The Low preset is the only one that guarantees an average of 60 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 52 FPS, is a playable alternative if slight frame drops are acceptable. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall below 45 FPS, which can feel sluggish in a game like Doom.

3840x2160 is not a viable option for a good experience with this hardware. All presets yield averages below 33 FPS, which is well below the threshold for a competitive or immersive FPS title. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p or 1440p with lower settings to get the best out of this combination. The High preset at 1080p appears to be the "sweet spot" for balancing visual quality and performance.