Doom

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB presents a fascinating study in system balance within Doom. The data reveals a configuration that scales predictably across resolutions, but the underlying bottlenecks shift dramatically depending on the settings preset. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, interpreting what the FPS figures imply about the roles of the CPU and GPU in this specific title.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and consistent decline as resolution increases, a hallmark of GPU-bound rendering. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 265.3 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 171.3 FPS, a reduction of 94 FPS, and then to 4K Low, which lands at 95.2 FPS. This steep curve indicates that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count. The pattern is similar across all presets, but the percentage drop between 1080p and 4K tells a more nuanced story.

The data suggests that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. For instance, at High settings, the frame rate falls from 197.2 FPS at 1080p to 128.4 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 66.4 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is less than half of the 1080p result, which is a substantial penalty. This indicates that the RTX 4060 Ti's 8 GB memory buffer and processing power are being saturated by the 3840x2160 resolution. The CPU's role, while still important, recedes as the GPU takes on the heavier workload. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing, with frame rates often dropping by nearly half, reinforcing that the graphics card is the dominant constraint in this regime.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe than the jump to 4K. This suggests that at 1080p, the system may be partially limited by the CPU in certain scenarios, preventing the GPU from fully stretching its legs. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rate becomes more purely a function of graphics card performance. The data implies that for this title, 1440p is the "sweet spot" where the balance between CPU and GPU is most harmonious, while 4K is squarely a GPU-bound scenario where the 4060 Ti 8 GB is the clear limiting factor.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring a boost clock of 2535 MHz and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. In Doom, the benchmark results show that this configuration is capable of delivering high frame rates, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity appears to be a critical factor at higher settings. The data shows a significant performance cliff when moving from Medium to Ultra at 4K, with average FPS dropping from 79.9 to 56.6. This suggests that the Ultra preset at 4K is pushing against the limits of the GPU's memory and processing capabilities.

The GPU's raw compute power, measured at 22.06 TFLOPS for FP32, is substantial enough to handle the game's demands at lower resolutions. At 1080p Ultra, the combo still manages 160.5 FPS, indicating that the GPU is not the primary bottleneck at this resolution. However, the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (265.3 FPS) and Ultra (160.5 FPS) is 104.8 FPS. At 4K, this gap narrows to 38.6 FPS (95.2 vs 56.6), which implies that the GPU is struggling to maintain higher frame rates regardless of the visual fidelity, as it is hitting a performance ceiling. The 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely a limiting factor at 4K, where the demand for texture data and pixel fill outpaces the memory subsystem's ability to deliver.

The GPU's score in the 3DMark Steel Nomad test is 2913, placing it in the 17th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile ranking, despite being a modern card, suggests that the benchmark is heavily stressing the GPU's specific weaknesses, possibly its narrow memory bus or limited VRAM. Interestingly, the nearest rival is the GT 555M, a much older and weaker card, with a deltaPct of 0. This is a statistical anomaly in the database, but it highlights that the 4060 Ti's performance in this specific test is not representative of its gaming capabilities. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data clearly shows that 4K Ultra is beyond its comfortable reach.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake generation, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It features 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In Doom, the CPU's role is most pronounced at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 265.3 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that requires a capable CPU to feed the GPU with enough draw calls and game logic updates. The CPU's single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681, is crucial for this.

The data suggests that the CPU is not a major bottleneck at 1080p, as the frame rates scale well with GPU load. However, the 4-core, 8-thread configuration might start to show its limits in more demanding scenarios. The benchmark results for the CPU show a multi-core score of 11912 in Cinebench R23, which is respectable but not exceptional. In Doom, which is generally well-optimized for multi-threading, the CPU's 8 threads are likely sufficient to maintain high frame rates. The CPU's percentile ranking of 72 against all CPUs indicates it outperforms the majority of processors, and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, has a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the i3-12100F is essentially on par with this high-end workstation chip in synthetic benchmarks.

The data implies that the CPU can sustain the high frame rates seen at 1080p, but its influence wanes as resolution increases. At 4K, the frame rates are heavily dependent on the GPU, and the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. The boost clock of 4.30 GHz provides the necessary single-core speed for gaming, and the 12 MB L3 cache helps with data locality. The power consumption is low at 58 W TDP, which is efficient for a desktop processor. Overall, the CPU appears to be a solid match for the GPU in this game, providing enough headroom to avoid being the primary bottleneck until very high frame rates are demanded.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high. With Low settings, the system averages 265.3 FPS. Medium settings reduce this to 232.5 FPS, while High settings bring it down to 197.2 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, still delivers a very playable 160.5 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is overkill for Doom's engine, providing refresh rates that far exceed typical monitor capabilities.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear scaling down. Low settings yield 171.3 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth. Medium settings drop to 151.4 FPS, and High settings average 128.4 FPS. Ultra settings at 1440p produce 101.1 FPS, which is just above the 100 FPS mark, providing a high-refresh-rate experience for most gamers. The step from Low to Ultra at this resolution represents a 70.2 FPS penalty, showing that the GPU is working harder but still keeping up.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more moderate. Low settings produce 95.2 FPS, which is a solid 4K experience. Medium settings average 79.9 FPS, while High settings drop to 66.4 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K are the most demanding, yielding only 56.6 FPS. The data shows a clear progression: each step up in settings at 4K costs roughly 10-15 FPS, with the gap between Medium and High being the smallest at 13.5 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is hitting a memory or bandwidth wall at this resolution, as the performance penalty per setting level is more uniform. Overall, the system is capable of 4K gaming, but only at lower settings for a consistently smooth 60+ FPS experience.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB ranks 691st out of 1681 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the 41st percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms 59% of the configurations in the database. The rank of 691 is a mid-tier position, indicating that while this combo is capable, there are many other systems that deliver higher frame rates. The data suggests that the 8 GB VRAM of the GPU is a limiting factor, as combos with higher-end GPUs likely rank higher.

The ranking implies that this configuration is not at the top of the performance heap, but it is far from the bottom. The 4-core CPU and mid-range GPU combination is a common pairing, and the rank reflects its balanced, if not spectacular, performance. The fact that it ranks 691st out of 1681 suggests that there is a wide range of performance in the database, and this combo sits comfortably in the middle. This confirms the i3-12100F's strong single-threaded performance and the RTX 4060 Ti's capabilities, even if it is not a top-tier contender.

The rank also highlights the importance of the GPU in this game. While the CPU is strong for its class, the GPU's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus likely prevent the combo from ranking higher. Combos with GPUs like the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB, which has a deltaPct of 0.2 in the GPU benchmarks, might perform slightly better due to the extra VRAM, but the difference is minimal in this game. The data suggests that the combo is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not optimized for 4K, which is reflected in its mid-tier rank.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 197.2 FPS is an excellent choice, as it provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (232.5 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds almost all monitors' refresh rates. The Ultra preset at 160.5 FPS is also viable for high-refresh-rate displays, but the difference in visual quality between High and Ultra may not justify the 36.7 FPS drop. For competitive play, the Low preset at 265.3 FPS is ideal for maximizing frame rate.

For 1440p, the Medium preset at 151.4 FPS offers a great balance between visual fidelity and performance. The High preset at 128.4 FPS is also recommended for a smoother experience, but the drop to 101.1 FPS at Ultra might be noticeable on a 144Hz monitor. The data suggests that for most 1440p gamers, the High preset is the sweet spot, providing high detail without compromising on smoothness. The Low preset at 171.3 FPS is not necessary unless the user has a very high refresh rate display and prioritizes frame rate over visuals.

For 4K, the choices are more constrained. The Low preset at 95.2 FPS provides the smoothest experience, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. The Medium preset at 79.9 FPS is a reasonable compromise, offering better visuals while still staying above 60 FPS. The High preset at 66.4 FPS is playable but may not be consistent enough for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 56.6 FPS is not recommended, as it struggles to maintain 60 FPS. In summary, the recommended settings are High at 1080p, High at 1440p, and Medium at 4K for the best balance of visual quality and frame rate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve in Doom?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 265.3, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This represents the peak performance of the Intel Core i3-12100F and RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB combination in this game.

*Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Doom?*

A: Yes, it can run at 3840x2160, but with limitations. The Low preset yields 95.2 FPS, and Medium settings drop to 79.9 FPS. The Ultra preset only manages 56.6 FPS, so high-refresh-rate 4K gaming is not feasible.

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's score of 13534. It is 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i7-1250U, showing they are all closely matched.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how might it affect performance?

A: The RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB has a memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s, provided by GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus. This bandwidth is likely a limiting factor at 4K resolutions, as the performance drop from 1440p to 4K is significant.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested systems in this game?

A: This combo ranks 691st out of 1681 tested combinations. This places it in the middle of the pack, indicating it performs better than 59% of other systems but is not a top-tier configuration.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 265.3 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 160.5 FPS. This represents a 104.8 FPS difference, showing the significant impact of visual settings on performance.