Doom

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 pairing delivers a remarkably smooth experience in Doom, with frame rates that consistently outpace the refresh rates of most monitors. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data, explaining how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the final results across resolutions and settings.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and can boost up to 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU shows strong single-threaded performance with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 910, and scales well with multi-threading, achieving 5873 in the 3dmark_16_threads test and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989.

For a fast-paced FPS like Doom, the data indicates that the i5-12400's single-thread performance is more than sufficient. The game's engine benefits from high clock speeds and efficient instruction handling. Looking at the measured frame rates, the CPU does not appear to be the limiting factor at any tested setting. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lightest, the average FPS reaches 314, suggesting the i5-12400 can feed the RTX 4070 without bottlenecking. The CPU's percentile ranking sits at 72, meaning it outperforms the majority of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (0.1% slower), Intel Core i7-1355U (0.3% slower), and AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (0.7% slower), with the Intel Core i3-14100F being 0.9% faster. These close deltas confirm that the i5-12400 is a solid mid-range performer, and in Doom specifically, its 12 threads and high boost clock are ample for maintaining high frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 achieves a combo rank of 860 out of 3712 tested combinations in Doom. This places the pairing in the top 23% of all systems in the database for this game. Given that the RTX 4070 is a high-end GPU and the i5-12400 is a capable mid-range CPU, this ranking seems appropriate. It indicates that while there are faster combos (likely with more powerful CPUs like the 12th Gen i7 or i9, or newer generations), this particular setup delivers performance that is well ahead of the average system.

The gap between this combo and the top-ranked systems is likely due to CPU differences, as the RTX 4070 is already a very powerful card. However, the ranking also suggests that the i5-12400 does not hold the GPU back significantly. In a game like Doom, which is not extremely CPU-intensive, the 6-core/12-thread configuration is sufficient to keep the RTX 4070 fed, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The data shows that this combo is a well-balanced pairing, offering high-end GPU performance without the need for a flagship CPU.

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

Examining the measured FPS across resolutions reveals the classic scaling behavior where the GPU becomes more of a bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 231. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 150, a 35% decrease. At 4K High, the average falls to 81, which is a further 46% drop from 1440p. This steep decline is a clear indicator that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, while the CPU's performance headroom is not fully utilized at 1080p.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 273 at 1080p to 177 at 1440p and then to 96 at 4K. At Low settings, the drop is from 314 at 1080p to 203 at 1440p and 110 at 4K. The fact that 4K performance is roughly a third of 1080p performance across the board suggests that the RTX 4070's rendering workload scales linearly with pixel count, which is expected. The CPU's role is diminished at 4K, as the GPU is working much harder to fill those pixels. Therefore, the data suggests that the i5-12400 is not a limiting factor until you reach very high frame rates at lower resolutions, where the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more relevant.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high. With Low settings, the average FPS is 314. Medium settings yield an average of 273, with a minimum of 232 and a maximum of 314. High settings produce an average of 231, while Ultra settings drop to an average of 189. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the RTX 4070 is running at full capacity, and the CPU is keeping up without issue.

At 2560x1440, performance remains very strong. Low settings average 203 FPS. Medium settings average 177 FPS, with a minimum of 150 and a maximum of 204. High settings average 150 FPS, and Ultra settings average 122 FPS. These results show that 1440p is the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming, as even Ultra settings clear the 120 FPS threshold comfortably.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. Low settings average 110 FPS. Medium settings average 96 FPS, with a minimum of 81 and a maximum of 110. High settings average 81 FPS, and Ultra settings average 66 FPS. While 4K performance is still playable, it requires a drop to Medium or Low settings to maintain a smooth 100+ FPS experience. The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is for maximum frame rates, 1440p is the balanced choice, and 4K is for visual fidelity at the cost of some speed.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, with memory running at an effective speed of 21 Gbps. It contains 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, along with 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores. The card's FP32 performance is rated at 29.15 TFLOPS, and it has a TDP of 200 W.

In Doom, the RTX 4070's role is dominant. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, especially at higher resolutions. The 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, even at 4K Ultra, where no memory-related stuttering is indicated by the minimum FPS numbers. The high boost clock of 2475 MHz ensures that the GPU can maintain its peak performance, and the bandwidth from the GDDR6X memory is ample for the game's textures. The GPU's benchmark scores are also strong, with a 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 3854 and a passmark_g3d score of 26927. Its percentile ranking is 81, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (0.1% slower), AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% slower), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (1.3% slower), with the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 being 1.3% slower. This data confirms the RTX 4070 is a high-end card that excels in this title.

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 display and preference for frame rate versus visual quality. For 1080p users with a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the High preset is recommended. It delivers an average of 231 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most high-refresh monitors, while providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium. If a user has a 360Hz monitor, the Medium preset at 273 FPS might be more appropriate, but High is a better balance for most.

For 1440p users, the Ultra preset is the best choice. At an average of 122 FPS, it comfortably exceeds the 120 FPS target for high-refresh-rate gaming and offers the best visual fidelity. If a user prefers even higher frame rates for competitive play, the High preset at 150 FPS is a viable alternative, but Ultra provides a more immersive experience without sacrificing smoothness. The 1440p Medium preset at 177 FPS is also an option for those who want maximum speed, but the visual difference between Medium and Ultra is substantial, and the FPS drop is not too severe.

For 4K users, the situation is different. The Ultra preset at 66 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth on a 60Hz display. The High preset at 81 FPS is a better choice, offering a good balance between visual quality and performance. However, to achieve a consistently smooth 100+ FPS experience at 4K, the Medium preset at 96 FPS is recommended. The Low preset at 110 FPS is an option for competitive play, but the visual downgrade is significant. For most 4K users, the Medium preset provides the best experience, as it maintains a high frame rate while still looking good. In summary, the data suggests that the best experience is to prioritize High/Ultra settings at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium settings at 4K, to get the most out of this hardware combination.