Doom

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. In the context of Doom, a 2016 FPS title, this CPU's configuration is more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The game's id Tech 6 engine is known for its scalability, but it does not require excessive core counts. The i5-11400F's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide ample bandwidth for game logic and draw calls. Benchmark results show the CPU's single-thread performance is strong, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 868 and a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 850, which are critical for maintaining high frame rates in a fast-paced shooter where each frame's render time is dependent on the main thread. The multi-threaded capabilities, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14340, ensure that background tasks and the game's auxiliary threads do not become a bottleneck. The CPU's 71st percentile ranking among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17177, places it in the upper-middle tier, and its nearest rivals show a negligible performance delta, with the AMD EPYC 7H12 being only 0.3% apart and the Intel Core i5-12450H trailing by 0.4%. For Doom, the data indicates that this processor is a capable partner, as the measured frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, suggesting that the CPU is not the primary limiting factor in this pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the decisive component in this combo for Doom. Built on the Turing architecture using a 12 nm process at TSMC, the GPU features 1536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It operates at a base clock of 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and is equipped with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU's 41st percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 7723, indicates it sits near the middle of the performance spectrum. Its nearest rivals are significantly weaker, with the AMD Radeon 540 being 0.7% lower in average score and the Intel Arc A310 trailing by 2.3%. In Doom, the GPU's role is paramount, as the game's rendering load is heavily graphics-dependent. The measured frame rates show a clear correlation with the GPU's capabilities. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 148 FPS, but this drops to 89 FPS at Ultra settings, demonstrating the GPU's sensitivity to graphical fidelity. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for Doom at the tested resolutions, as the game's texture requirements are modest by modern standards. The GPU's pixel rate of 84.96 GPixel/s and texture rate of 169.9 GTexel/s are adequate for the game's geometry and texture work, but the data shows that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, with frame rates falling below 60 FPS at 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti achieves a combo rank of 3193 out of 3712 tested combinations in Doom. This places the combo in the lower 14% of all tested systems, indicating that while it can run the game, it does so with compromises compared to more powerful setups. The rank reflects the GPU's mid-range positioning, as the CPU is comparatively stronger. The data shows that the combo's performance is primarily dictated by the graphics card, as the frame rates at 4K Ultra (31 FPS) are far from playable, while at 1080p Low (148 FPS) the experience is exceptionally smooth. The rank is a holistic measure across all resolutions and settings, and the wide variance in FPS between the lowest and highest settings contributes to its mid-pack placement. When compared to other combos, the i5-11400F's strong CPU performance does not boost the ranking as much as a more balanced GPU would, since Doom's frame rates at higher resolutions are constrained by the GTX 1660 Ti. The combo's 41st percentile GPU ranking versus the 71st percentile CPU ranking highlights this imbalance, suggesting that the system is well-suited for CPU-bound tasks but is limited in graphically intensive gaming scenarios like 4K Ultra. The measured data confirms that this combo is best positioned for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates, rather than for high-resolution, high-detail play.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for this combo in Doom at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 109 FPS, which indicates a smooth gaming experience for most players.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings, and is it playable?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 31, which is below the threshold for smooth, responsive gameplay, making it not recommended for competitive play.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS is 96 on Low settings and 57 on Ultra settings, representing a 39 FPS difference, or roughly a 41% reduction in frame rate when moving to the highest preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F or the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti the bottleneck in this system for Doom?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as frame rates scale significantly with resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 148 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, the GPU limits performance to 31 FPS, showing that the graphics card is the limiting component.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 540, in average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7723, which is 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon 540's score of 7673, indicating a marginal performance advantage.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested combinations in Doom?

A: The combo ranks 3193 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems for this game, which reflects the GPU's mid-range performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is a direct indicator of the GPU's role as the limiting factor. Starting at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 129 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 83 FPS, a reduction of 46 FPS or approximately 36%. At 3840x2160, the average further falls to 45 FPS, which is a 65% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels rendered has a direct impact on the fill rate and memory bandwidth demands. The GTX 1660 Ti's 288.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 84.96 GPixel/s pixel rate are adequate for 1080p, but they become increasingly strained at higher resolutions. The data shows that the difference between Low and Ultra settings also widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the gap between Low (148 FPS) and Ultra (89 FPS) is 59 FPS, while at 4K, the gap narrows to 21 FPS (52 FPS on Low vs 31 FPS on Ultra). This narrowing suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that even lowering settings cannot fully compensate for the pixel throughput demands, and the frame rate becomes more uniformly limited. The CPU's performance, with its high single-thread scores, is not the constraining factor here, as the frame rates scale in a manner that is typical for a graphics-limited workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal settings for this combo in Doom depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings presets are playable, but the data suggests that High settings (109 FPS) offer the best balance of visual quality and performance, as Ultra (89 FPS) provides diminishing returns for the extra GPU load. For players seeking the highest possible frame rates, Low settings at 1080p deliver 148 FPS, which is beneficial for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 2560x1440, the High preset (70 FPS) is the recommended choice, as it maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS while providing a significant visual upgrade over Low (96 FPS) and Medium (83 FPS). The Ultra preset at 1440p (57 FPS) dips just below the 60 FPS threshold, which may be noticeable in a fast-paced game. At 3840x2160, the data shows that no preset achieves a consistently smooth experience, with the highest average being 52 FPS on Low settings. For 4K play, Medium settings (45 FPS) are the most visually appealing option that remains marginally playable, but players will need to accept a lower frame rate. The benchmark results indicate that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can maintain high frame rates on High settings, and that 4K gaming should be avoided for a competitive experience. The minimum FPS values recorded for Medium settings at each resolution (109 at 1080p, 71 at 1440p, 38 at 4K) provide a floor for performance, confirming that 1440p High is the highest quality preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS.