Doom

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti delivers a playable Doom experience across most settings, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling defined by the graphics card. At 1080p, the combo is capable of high frame rates, yet the scaling curve shows diminishing returns as resolution increases, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a predictable decline as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 107.7 at 1080p to 74.2 at 1440p, a reduction of 33.5 FPS, and then falls further to 40.1 at 4K. This pattern is consistent across all presets, with the gap between 1440p and 4K being particularly steep—the 4K High result is roughly 46% lower than the 1440p figure. This sharp drop at 4K strongly suggests the GTX 1660 Ti’s 6 GB GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus are struggling to feed the pixel pipeline at that resolution.

The scaling behavior also highlights the GPU-bound nature of the system at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 152.7 FPS, which is more than double the 4K Ultra result of 31.5 FPS. However, the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 62 FPS (152.7 vs 90.7), while at 4K the same preset gap is only 22.9 FPS (54.4 vs 31.5). This compression at 4K indicates that the GPU is saturated even at Low settings, leaving little headroom for visual quality improvements without sacrificing frame rate. The data shows that 1440p is the practical ceiling for smooth gameplay, with even Ultra settings maintaining 60.2 FPS, whereas 4K Ultra dips below 32 FPS, which is not viable for a fast-paced FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its benchmark scores reveal a strong single-thread performer: the 3DMark single-thread score is 893, and Cinebench R23 single-core reaches 1681. These figures are relevant because Doom’s engine is known to scale well with single-thread performance, and the data supports that this CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo.

The CPU’s multi-threaded results, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11912 and a PassMark multithread score of 14015, are respectable for a quad-core part but are unlikely to be stressed by Doom’s workload. The measured FPS at 1080p Low—152.7 FPS—is high enough to suggest the i3-12100F can feed the GTX 1660 Ti adequately at lower resolutions. However, the fact that 1080p Ultra only reaches 90.7 FPS, versus 152.7 at Low, indicates that the GPU is the primary constraint, not the CPU. The CPU’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4/DDR5) provide sufficient bandwidth for this game’s demands, but the benchmark results show the processor’s performance ceiling is well above what the GPU can deliver at higher settings.

The i3-12100F’s nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 0.1% lower, and the Intel Core i7-7700K, which is 1.8% behind. This places the i3-12100F in a competitive position for gaming, but the combo’s overall ranking (1449 out of 1681) suggests that the GPU is dragging down the system’s relative performance. In synthetic tests, the CPU’s percentile ranking against all CPUs is 72, indicating it outperforms most processors, but the GTX 1660 Ti’s percentile is only 55, confirming the imbalance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on which preset offers the best balance of performance and visual fidelity. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 107.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while Ultra drops to 90.7 FPS—still playable but with diminishing returns for the extra visual load. The Medium preset at 128.6 FPS is a strong middle ground, offering a 19.4% improvement over High while likely maintaining most visual quality features. For players prioritizing frame rate, Low at 152.7 FPS is the fastest option, but the visual compromise is significant.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. High settings yield 74.2 FPS, which is adequate for most players, but Ultra drops to 60.2 FPS—right at the edge of playability. Medium at 84.6 FPS is the sweet spot, providing a 14% boost over High while staying comfortably above 60 FPS. At 4K, the data is less forgiving: only Low settings (54.4 FPS) approach playability, while Medium (45.2 FPS) and High (40.1 FPS) fall short of smooth performance. Ultra at 31.5 FPS is not recommended for any competitive or action-oriented play. The benchmark results indicate that 1080p High or 1440p Medium are the optimal presets, depending on the user’s resolution preference, as they balance the GPU’s load against the CPU’s headroom.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Doom, this configuration ranks 1449 out of 1681, placing it in the lower 14% of all tested systems. This low ranking is primarily attributable to the GTX 1660 Ti, which, despite being a capable 1080p card, trails its nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark list. The GTX 1660 Ti’s average benchmark score is 13925, putting it 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 570X and 0.8% behind the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile. Its PassMark G3D score of 12871 and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1061 illustrate its mid-range positioning, which is reflected in the measured FPS at higher resolutions.

The CPU, however, punches above its weight. The i3-12100F’s average benchmark score of 13516 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534, delta -0.1%) and ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K (13280, delta 1.8%). This means the processor is not the weak link; rather, the combo’s ranking is dragged down by the GPU’s inability to maintain high frame rates at 4K, where the system falls behind more balanced pairings. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield a disproportionate improvement in the combo’s ranking, as the CPU has ample headroom to support a faster graphics card without becoming a bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Doom?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the most consistent, with all presets from Low (152.7 FPS) to Ultra (90.7 FPS) remaining above 90 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Ultra dips to 60.2 FPS, while Low stays at 95.1 FPS, making 1440p viable for most settings. 3840x2160 is only playable at Low (54.4 FPS), as High and Ultra fall to 40.1 and 31.5 FPS respectively.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system hits 152.7 FPS, but 4K Ultra drops to 31.5 FPS, showing the GTX 1660 Ti struggles with pixel throughput. The i3-12100F’s single-thread score of 893 in 3DMark and its 72nd percentile ranking against all CPUs suggest it has sufficient power for this game.

Q: How does the i3-12100F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The i3-12100F’s average benchmark score of 13516 is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534) and 1.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K (13280). It also edges out the Intel Core i3-10105 (13430) by 0.6%, showing strong performance for a quad-core part.

Q: What is the GTX 1660 Ti’s standing among GPUs?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 13925, placing it 0.4% above the AMD Radeon RX 570X (13871) and 0.8% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (13812). Its percentile ranking is 55, indicating it outperforms just over half of all GPUs in the database.

Q: Which preset provides the most balanced experience at 1440p?

A: Medium settings at 2560x1440 deliver 84.6 FPS, which is 14% higher than High (74.2 FPS) and 40% higher than Ultra (60.2 FPS). This preset offers the best compromise between visual quality and frame rate stability, as all other presets either dip below 75 FPS or sacrifice too much visual fidelity.

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

A: Only marginally, and only at Low settings, which average 54.4 FPS. Medium drops to 45.2 FPS, High to 40.1 FPS, and Ultra to 31.5 FPS, all of which are below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The data suggests 4K is not a practical target for this hardware configuration.