Doom

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Doom across all tested configurations. The dataset shows this combination is capable of pushing well past the refresh rates of most displays, even at 4K, making it a top-tier performer for this title. The analysis below breaks down how the system scales, what the bottleneck is, and where the optimal settings lie.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling pattern for this combo reveals a system that is heavily optimized for high-refresh-rate gaming. At 1080p, the frame rates are astronomically high, with the Low preset hitting 366 FPS. As resolution increases to 1440p, there is a significant drop of 129 FPS (from 366 to 237 FPS) at the Low setting. Moving to 4K, the Low preset again sees a substantial drop of 109 FPS (from 237 to 128 FPS). This consistent and dramatic scaling with resolution indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component, even at lower settings.

The scaling pattern is typical of a game that becomes more GPU-bound as pixel count increases. The delta between resolutions is substantial. For example, at Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 319 FPS at 1080p to 206 FPS at 1440p, a 113 FPS reduction. The subsequent drop from 1440p to 4K is 94 FPS, bringing the average down to 112 FPS. This non-linear scaling shows that the GPU's rendering workload is the dominant factor. The CPU is powerful enough to feed the GPU at all resolutions, but the RX 7900 XTX's raw pixel throughput is what determines the final output.

The data suggests that the 12-core CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution tested. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates plateau or scale much more gently when the resolution increases. Instead, the consistent and large FPS drops across all settings point squarely at the GPU. The RX 7900 XTX, with its 24 GB of memory and 960.0 GB/s bandwidth, is being pushed to its limits at higher resolutions, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D has ample headroom. This makes the combination ideal for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, where the GPU can still deliver over 200 FPS on most presets.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture. Its high core count and thread count ensure that even heavily threaded game logic and background tasks do not interfere with frame delivery. The processor's benchmark results are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739. These scores indicate a processor with both immense multi-threaded capability and excellent single-thread performance, which is crucial for game simulation and draw call submission.

In Doom, the CPU's role is to handle the game's physics, AI, and the command stream sent to the GPU. The data shows that the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is more than capable of this task. The fact that frame rates are so high at 1080p (e.g., 269 FPS on High) demonstrates that the CPU can maintain a very high frame rate ceiling. The processor's 128 MB of L3 cache is a significant asset, as it helps reduce latency for frequently accessed data, which is beneficial for game performance. The base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz provide the high single-threaded speed needed to avoid becoming a bottleneck.

The performance relative to its nearest rivals is marginal. Compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, the 9900X3D has an average benchmark score that is 0.6% lower. It is 1.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and 2% higher than the Intel Xeon 6505P. These small deltas suggest that in this game, the CPU is not a differentiator at the tested settings. The bottleneck is firmly with the GPU. The CPU's high performance ensures that the GPU is consistently fed with data, allowing it to operate at its maximum potential. The results show that the 9900X3D provides a strong foundation for this high-end GPU, ensuring that the GPU is the performance limiter.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 366 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the CPU benchmark score compare to its closest rival?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D's average benchmark score is 0.6% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which has an average score of 55093.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the dataset?

A: The lowest average frame rate recorded is 77 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset.

Q: Is the system capable of 4K gaming at high refresh rates?

A: Yes, the data shows it is. At 4K, the High preset delivers an average of 94 FPS, and the Medium preset delivers 112 FPS, which are suitable for high-refresh-rate displays.

Q: Does the GPU have enough memory for this game?

A: Yes, the GPU has 24 GB of GDDR6 memory. This is a large amount of memory, and the game's most demanding settings at 4K still deliver playable frame rates, indicating memory capacity is not a limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance percentile rank for the CPU compared to all other CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is in the 91st percentile when compared to all CPUs in the benchmark database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of the combo's performance across a matrix of settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system delivers extremely high performance, with all presets exceeding 220 FPS. The Low preset leads at 366 FPS, followed by Medium at 319 FPS, High at 269 FPS, and Ultra at 220 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 271 and a maximum of 367, indicating very smooth performance. The gap between Low and Ultra is 146 FPS, which is significant but still leaves all settings in a very playable range.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high. The Low preset hits 237 FPS, Medium follows at 206 FPS, High at 174 FPS, and Ultra at 143 FPS. The Medium preset has a minimum of 176 FPS and a maximum of 237 FPS. The trend is consistent, with a 94 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, as it offers a great balance between visual fidelity and high frame rates, with even the Ultra preset maintaining an average of 143 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system still delivers excellent performance. The Low preset provides 128 FPS, Medium delivers 112 FPS, High provides 94 FPS, and Ultra drops to 77 FPS. The Medium preset has a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS, indicating that even at 4K, the frame rate is stable. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 51 FPS. This scaling shows that the GPU is working much harder at 4K, but the overall performance is still impressive, with all presets remaining playable.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a high-end graphics card based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 31 chip. It features 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a massive 960.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is crucial for high-resolution gaming, as it allows the GPU to quickly access textures and geometry data. The GPU has 6144 shading units and a boost clock of 2498 MHz, which contribute to its high raw compute performance of 61.39 TFLOPS.

In Doom, the GPU's role is to render the scene, handle the graphical effects, and output the final frame. The data confirms that this GPU is the primary performance driver in this system. The frame rates scale directly with the rendering resolution, a clear sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The card's performance is notable for its consistency. For instance, at 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS is 176, which is only 30 FPS lower than the average, showing stable frame delivery. The GPU's large memory pool ensures that even at 4K Ultra settings, there is no performance stutter or frame drops related to memory swapping.

The GPU's benchmark scores are also noteworthy. It has a Passmark G3D score of 31238 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6841. Its average benchmark score of 19410 places it in the 64th percentile of all GPUs. Interestingly, its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB, which has a score only 0.4% lower, and the NVIDIA TITAN Xp, which is 1.2% lower. This reflects the RX 7900 XTX's strong performance in these specific tests. The GPU's ability to maintain high and consistent frame rates across all tested presets makes it an excellent match for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best settings depend on the user's display and performance targets. For users with a 1080p 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the Ultra preset is recommended. The average FPS of 220 is well above the refresh rate of most 1080p monitors, allowing for maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. The High preset is also an option, offering 269 FPS, but the visual upgrade from High to Ultra is generally worth the 49 FPS trade-off when there is so much headroom.

For 1440p gaming, which appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, the High preset is an excellent choice. It delivers an average of 174 FPS, which is high enough for even the most demanding 144Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 143 FPS is also a strong choice, providing a better visual experience while still maintaining a frame rate that is well above 120 FPS. For those who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Medium preset at 206 FPS offers a nearly 60 FPS advantage over Ultra.

At 4K, the Medium preset is highly recommended. It provides an average of 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS, ensuring a smooth and consistent experience that is well-suited for 120Hz displays. The High preset is playable at 94 FPS, but the Medium setting provides a more comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, while looking the best, drops to 77 FPS, which is a significant step down. The data suggests that the Medium preset at 4K offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for this high-end hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX ranks at number 362 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the top 13% of all tested systems, a strong showing that confirms its high-end status. The ranking is a result of the synergy between the two components. The CPU's high single-thread performance and large cache ensure that the GPU is never starved for data, allowing the GPU's immense processing power to be fully utilized.

While the rank is impressive, the absolute performance is even more telling. The system is capable of delivering frame rates that are significantly higher than what most displays can show, especially at 1080p and 1440p. The fact that it can maintain an average of 112 FPS at 4K Medium settings highlights its capability as a top-tier 4K gaming machine. The rank of 362 also indicates that there are a few other combinations that perform better, but the margin is likely small, given this setup's already excellent results. This combo represents a very high-performance pairing that is well-suited for the fast-paced action of Doom, providing a smooth and responsive experience at any resolution.