Doom

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Doom, with the data showing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution scales. This pairing sits at rank 1314 out of 2930 tested combos, placing it in the upper half of all configurations. The CPU, a 6-core/12-thread Alder Lake part with a 2.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost clock, provides ample headroom for this 2016 title, while the GPU’s 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus prove decisive at higher resolutions. The measured results reveal a system that is GPU-limited at 4K, but increasingly CPU-bound at 1080p where frame rates exceed 240 FPS on Low settings.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400’s specifications are more than adequate for Doom’s engine, which was designed to scale across multiple threads. With 6 physical cores and 12 threads, the processor can handle the game’s rendering threads and background tasks without becoming a limiting factor at most settings. The 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock provide a wide dynamic range, allowing the CPU to ramp up when the action intensifies. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency in a fast-paced FPS where every millisecond counts.

Benchmark data places this CPU at the 72nd percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest rivals show how tightly packed the mid-range market is: the AMD EPYC 7643 scores 18697 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811 (0.7% higher). The Intel Core i3-14100F trails slightly at 18519 (0.9% lower). These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, and the i5-12400’s single-thread performance—evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 1848 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2257—is sufficient to feed the RX 7700 even at high frame rates.

For Doom specifically, the CPU’s role becomes most apparent at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS reaches 241. At this point, the GPU is no longer the primary constraint, and the CPU’s ability to maintain high frame pacing is critical. The 3DMark scores illustrate the processor’s scaling: 1692 with 2 threads, 3012 with 4 threads, 4745 with 8 threads, and 5873 with 16 threads. This near-linear scaling up to 8 threads suggests the i5-12400 can fully utilize its 12 threads for games that support them, though Doom’s engine typically peaks around 8 threads, leaving some headroom.

The CPU’s TDP of 65 W and 10 nm process node indicate efficient operation, but the benchmark data does not suggest thermal throttling as a factor in these results. The processor’s PassMark multithread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 confirm it is a balanced performer, well-suited for a GPU-bound title like Doom at higher resolutions. In summary, the i5-12400 provides a stable foundation that does not bottleneck the RX 7700 until frame rates approach the triple-digit range at 1080p, and even then, the impact is minimal.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this combo for a 60 FPS target?

A: The data shows that 4K High settings yield an average of 62 FPS, which meets the 60 FPS target. For a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS, 4K Medium averages 74 FPS, while 1440p High averages 115 FPS, making both excellent choices.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 18683 is within 1% of its closest competitors. The AMD EPYC 7643 scores 18697 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811 (0.7% higher). The Intel Core i3-14100F trails at 18519 (0.9% lower), showing this is a tightly contested segment.

Q: Is the RX 7700 GPU or the i5-12400 CPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 241, which is exceptionally high. This indicates the CPU is becoming the limiting factor, as the GPU can render frames faster than the CPU can feed it. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 145 FPS, suggesting the GPU is now the primary constraint due to increased graphical load.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings average 156 FPS, while Ultra settings average 94 FPS. This represents a 62 FPS drop, or approximately 40% lower performance, when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Does the GPU’s 16 GB of VRAM provide any advantage in this game?

A: While the fact pack does not provide VRAM usage data, the 16 GB capacity on a 256-bit bus with 624.1 GB/s bandwidth ensures that Doom’s textures and assets are unlikely to exceed memory limits, even at 4K Ultra. The consistent frame rates across settings support this conclusion.

Q: How does the combo’s rank of 1314 out of 2930 translate to real-world performance?

A: The combo ranks in the 55th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms more than half of all combos. This is consistent with the measured FPS, which shows the system is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and smooth 1440p gameplay.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, with the GPU becoming the dominant bottleneck at higher pixel counts. At 1080p, the system achieves 241 FPS on Low, 210 FPS on Medium, 178 FPS on High, and 145 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these figures drop to 156 FPS (Low), 136 FPS (Medium), 115 FPS (High), and 94 FPS (Ultra). At 4K, the averages fall further to 85 FPS (Low), 74 FPS (Medium), 62 FPS (High), and 51 FPS (Ultra).

The percentage drops from 1080p to 1440p are consistent across settings: Low drops by 35%, Medium by 35%, High by 35%, and Ultra by 35%. This uniformity suggests the GPU is the limiting factor, as the same relative reduction in frame rate occurs regardless of graphical complexity. From 1440p to 4K, the drops are steeper: Low falls by 46%, Medium by 46%, High by 46%, and Ultra by 46%. This accelerated decline at 4K indicates the GPU is struggling to maintain fill rate and memory bandwidth, despite its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory.

The RX 7700’s specifications support this analysis. With 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, the GPU has ample compute resources, but its 624.1 GB/s memory bandwidth is the likely constraint at 4K. The pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1440p, but 4K’s 8.3 million pixels per frame push the GPU to its limits. The fact that Low settings at 4K still achieve 85 FPS shows the GPU is not completely overwhelmed, but the 35% drop from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, followed by the 46% drop to 4K Low, clearly demonstrates diminishing returns as resolution scales.

Conversely, the CPU’s influence is most visible at 1080p Low, where 241 FPS approaches the processor’s practical limit. The i5-12400’s 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock are sufficient for this workload, but the frame rate ceiling is evident. At 1440p and 4K, the CPU has more breathing room, as the GPU takes longer to render each frame, masking any potential CPU limitations. This behavior is typical for a mid-range CPU paired with a upper-mid-range GPU, and the data confirms the RX 7700 is the primary determinant of performance at resolutions above 1080p.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 241 FPS on Low, 210 FPS on Medium with a minimum of 179 FPS and maximum of 242 FPS, 178 FPS on High, and 145 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate that 1080p is well within the GPU’s capabilities, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a frame rate above 144 Hz, suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows a noticeable step down. Low settings average 156 FPS, Medium averages 136 FPS with a minimum of 116 FPS and maximum of 156 FPS, High averages 115 FPS, and Ultra averages 94 FPS. The 1440p results are particularly relevant for gamers with 144 Hz monitors, as High settings comfortably exceed 100 FPS, while Ultra stays above 90 FPS. The minimum FPS of 116 FPS on Medium indicates stable frame pacing, with no significant dips below the average.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s workload becomes significant. Low settings average 85 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS and maximum of 85 FPS, High averages 62 FPS, and Ultra averages 51 FPS. The 4K results show that High settings are the boundary for a 60 FPS target, as the average sits just above at 62 FPS. Ultra settings fall below 60 FPS, averaging 51 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced gameplay but is not ideal for a fast FPS like Doom.

The Medium preset at each resolution provides the most complete dataset, including minimum and maximum frame rates. At 1080p, the range is 179-242 FPS, at 1440p it is 116-156 FPS, and at 4K it is 63-85 FPS. These ranges show that frame pacing remains consistent across resolutions, with the minimum FPS staying within 15% of the average in all cases. This consistency indicates a well-balanced system without sudden spikes or drops, which is crucial for a smooth gaming experience in a title where quick reflexes are essential.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1314 out of 2930 tested combinations in Doom, placing it in the 55th percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects the system’s ability to deliver high frame rates across most settings, though it does not place in the top tier of performers. The rank is a composite measure that considers both CPU and GPU capabilities, and the data suggests the RX 7700’s mid-range positioning prevents the combo from climbing higher.

The GPU’s percentile ranking provides context for the combo’s performance. The RX 7700 sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15852. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862, 0.1% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16014, 1% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679, 1.1% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129, 1.7% higher). These small percentage differences suggest the RX 7700 is closely grouped with several other mid-range GPUs, and the combo’s rank is likely influenced by these narrow margins.

The CPU’s percentile ranking of 72% is notably higher than the GPU’s 58%, indicating the processor is the stronger component in this pairing. This imbalance means the combo’s rank is likely held back by the GPU, particularly at 4K where the RX 7700’s performance drops below 60 FPS on Ultra settings. The data shows that the combo’s rank of 1314 is consistent with its measured FPS, as it outperforms many lower-ranked combos at 1080p and 1440p but falls behind at 4K Ultra.

Comparing the combo to the GPU’s nearest rivals, the RTX 3060 Ti scores 1.7% higher in average benchmarks, which could translate to a slightly better combo rank in Doom. However, the absence of measured FPS data for these rival combos prevents a direct comparison. The combo’s rank of 1314 out of 2930 is a solid mid-pack result, indicating it will handle most gaming scenarios well, but enthusiasts seeking top-tier 4K performance may need to consider a more powerful GPU.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s resolution and frame rate target. For 1080p gamers with a 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor, the Medium preset offers the best balance, averaging 210 FPS with a minimum of 179 FPS. This preset provides a significant visual upgrade over Low (241 FPS) while maintaining frame rates well above 144 Hz. High settings at 1080p average 178 FPS, which is also excellent, but the 32 FPS drop from Medium to High may not justify the visual improvement for competitive players. Ultra at 1080p averages 145 FPS, which is still above 144 Hz, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, so frame pacing could be less consistent.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice for a 144 Hz monitor, averaging 115 FPS with no recorded minimum dips. This provides a smooth experience with high visual fidelity. Medium averages 136 FPS with a minimum of 116 FPS, offering a 21 FPS advantage over High, but the visual difference may be noticeable. Ultra at 1440p averages 94 FPS, which is below 144 Hz but still playable for most users. For those with a 60 Hz monitor, Ultra at 1440p provides a visually stunning experience at 94 FPS, well above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 4K, the High preset is the only setting that averages above 60 FPS, at 62 FPS. This is the recommended choice for a 60 Hz display, providing the best visual quality while maintaining a playable frame rate. Medium averages 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS, which is also viable and offers more headroom above 60 FPS. Low at 4K averages 85 FPS, but the visual sacrifice is substantial. Ultra at 4K averages 51 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target and is not recommended for a fast-paced FPS, as the reduced frame rate could impact responsiveness.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the most consistent frame pacing across all resolutions, as it is the only setting with recorded minimum and maximum values. At 1080p Medium, the range is 179-242 FPS, at 1440p Medium it is 116-156 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 63-85 FPS. This consistency makes Medium a safe choice for users who prioritize smooth gameplay over maximum visual fidelity. For users with high-refresh-rate displays, the High preset at 1080p or 1440p provides an excellent balance of performance and quality, while 4K users should stick to High or Medium to stay above 60 FPS.