Doom

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination delivers a solid, playable experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p, the system is firmly in high-refresh territory, while 4K demands compromises in visual fidelity to maintain smooth frame rates. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, but the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance ensures it never holds the frame rate back.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and clearly illustrates where the performance limit lies. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 149 FPS at 1920x1080 to 96 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 53 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 52 FPS, which is a 97 FPS decrease from the 1080p result. This steep decline indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050’s rendering capabilities are being increasingly taxed as pixel count grows.

This scaling pattern is typical for a system where the GPU is the limiting factor. The RTX 5050 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 128-bit memory bus, which provides a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s, but the sheer number of pixels at 4K overwhelms its 13.17 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power. The data confirms this, as the 4K Ultra preset yields an average of only 43 FPS, while the same preset at 1440p produces 79 FPS and at 1080p jumps to 122 FPS. The resolution scaling is not linear, with the most substantial percentage loss occurring between 1440p and 4K, highlighting the GPU's struggle to maintain performance at the highest resolution.

The difference between Low and Ultra settings also widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the gap between Low (202 FPS) and Ultra (122 FPS) is 80 FPS. At 1440p, the gap narrows to 52 FPS (131 FPS Low vs. 79 FPS Ultra), and at 4K it further narrows to 28 FPS (71 FPS Low vs. 43 FPS Ultra). This suggests that at lower resolutions, where the GPU has more headroom, the impact of settings is more pronounced. At 4K, the GPU is so saturated that even dropping to Low settings cannot fully compensate for the pixel count, keeping the average below 72 FPS.

The Ryzen 9 9900X, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is not the limiting factor in this scaling. Its high boost clock of 5.60 GHz and strong single-thread benchmark scores (e.g., 1286 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2253 in cinebench_r23_singlecore) ensure that it can feed the GPU with frames even at high frame rates. The data shows that the CPU’s performance is more than adequate to handle the game's demands, as the frame rate consistently drops with resolution in a way that points directly to GPU-bound performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 176 FPS, with a minimum of 150 FPS and a maximum of 203 FPS. Even at High settings, it maintains an average of 149 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution capable of consistently exceeding 144 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the highest playable average is 71 FPS on Low settings. The Medium preset yields 62 FPS, while High and Ultra produce 52 FPS and 43 FPS respectively. The data indicates 4K is playable but not at high refresh rates or maximum visual quality.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its direct rivals?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, has an average score of 21153, which is -0.6% different. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% faster, while the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% slower.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X a bottleneck for the RTX 5050?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 9900X has a high average benchmark score of 57498 and is in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. Its performance is comparable to the Intel Core i9-14900, which is only 1.1% faster. The CPU’s capabilities far exceed the demands of the GPU, ensuring it is not a limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets?

A: The average frame rate difference between Low and Ultra presets is significant but varies by resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 80 FPS; at 1440p, it is 52 FPS; and at 4K, it is 28 FPS. This shows that the impact of settings decreases as the GPU becomes more stressed.

Q: Does the game favor the CPU or GPU in this configuration?

A: The benchmark results indicate a GPU-bound scenario. The frame rate scales inversely with resolution and settings adjustments are more impactful at lower resolutions. The CPU has substantial headroom, evidenced by its high benchmark scores, while the GPU’s performance drops consistently with increased load.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This configuration provides substantial multi-threaded capability for modern games, but Doom’s performance is more dependent on the processor's ability to handle game logic and draw calls efficiently.

Benchmark results show the Ryzen 9 9900X excels in both single and multi-threaded tasks. It scores 1286 in the 3dmark_single_thread test and 13929 in the 3dmark_max_threads test. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 2253 points single-core and 32172 points multi-core. The Geekbench scores are equally strong, with 3010 single-core and 22174 multi-core. These numbers indicate that the CPU is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 5050 in a game like Doom, which is not known for being heavily CPU-dependent.

The CPU’s 64 MB of L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core are ample for game data, and its support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s ensures fast data transfer to the GPU. The processor’s average benchmark score is 57498, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 9015, has an average score of 57555, a negligible -0.1% difference, while the Intel Core i9-14900 is 1.1% faster. This level of performance means the CPU is not the source of any frame rate limitations observed in the measured FPS data.

The measured frame rates support this analysis. At 1080p Low, the system hits 202 FPS, which is a high load for any CPU to maintain. The fact that the system can achieve this on a 12-core processor shows that the Ryzen 9 9900X’s single-thread performance is sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The core count and high boost clock provide a robust foundation, but it is the strong single-threaded performance that is crucial for this game’s high frame rates, and the data confirms the CPU delivers.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers high performance across all settings. On Low, the average frame rate is 202 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 176 FPS, with a minimum of 150 FPS and a maximum of 203 FPS. High settings produce an average of 149 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 122 FPS. All presets at this resolution are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p the optimal resolution for high-refresh-rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset averages 131 FPS, while Medium averages 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. High settings average 96 FPS, and Ultra settings average 79 FPS. This resolution provides a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a playable average above 75 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5050 begins to struggle with the higher pixel count. The Low preset averages 71 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS line. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. High settings average 52 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 43 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is possible, but only with lower settings to maintain a consistent frame rate.

The differences between presets are consistent. At each resolution, the Ultra preset is the most demanding, with the Low preset being the least. The gap between Medium and High is generally smaller than the gap between High and Ultra, suggesting that the Ultra preset introduces effects that have a disproportionate performance cost. For example, at 1080p, the jump from High (149 FPS) to Ultra (122 FPS) is a 27 FPS loss, while the jump from Medium (176 FPS) to High (149 FPS) is a similar 27 FPS loss, indicating the scaling is not perfectly linear across presets.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is a mid-range graphics card built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The GPU features 2560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units, with a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These specifications are the driving force behind the measured frame rates.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show it is a capable performer, with an average score of 21035, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, has an average score of 21153, which is -0.6% different. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% faster, while the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% slower. This puts the RTX 5050 in a competitive position within its class.

In Doom, the GPU’s role is dominant. The measured FPS data shows that frame rates are heavily influenced by resolution and settings, which are primary GPU workloads. The 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game at all tested settings, as there are no anomalies in the data suggesting memory limitations. The GPU’s 13.17 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is what determines the fill rate and shading performance, which directly impacts the average FPS.

The performance scaling with settings is a clear indicator of GPU load. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Medium is 26 FPS, while the difference between High and Ultra is 27 FPS. This shows that the GPU is the component being stressed by increased graphical complexity. At 4K, the GPU is fully saturated, and even the difference between Low and Medium is only 9 FPS, demonstrating that the pixel fill rate is the limiting factor. The RTX 5050’s 82.30 GPixel/s pixel rate is the key specification that determines performance at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

For players prioritizing high frame rates, the 1920x1080 resolution with High settings is the optimal choice. The data shows an average of 149 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for a fast-paced FPS. While the Low preset offers a higher 202 FPS, the visual quality trade-off is significant, and High provides a better balance. The Medium preset at 176 FPS is also viable, but High offers a more detailed image without a substantial performance penalty.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is recommended for the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 96 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a more immersive image than 1080p. The Ultra preset at 79 FPS is also playable, but the 17 FPS loss compared to High may not justify the marginal visual improvements. For users with 144Hz monitors, the Low preset at 131 FPS is the only one that can approach that refresh rate.

For 4K gaming, the High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to average frame rates of 52 FPS and 43 FPS, respectively. The Medium preset at 62 FPS is the highest setting that consistently stays above the 60 FPS line, but it comes with a minimum of 52 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutters. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the safest option for 4K, providing a more consistent experience and ensuring the frame rate stays well above the playable threshold.

The data suggests that the RTX 5050 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Doom. At 1080p, users can max out the settings and still enjoy high frame rates. At 1440p, a slight compromise on settings is needed to maintain a high refresh rate. At 4K, significant compromises are required, and the experience is best described as playable rather than optimal. The Ultra preset should be avoided at 4K, as the average of 43 FPS is likely to feel sluggish in a game that demands quick reactions.