Doom

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a combination that sits near the bottom of the database for Doom, ranking 1605 out of 1681 tested combos. This is not a high-refresh-rate powerhouse, but the measured data reveals a setup that can deliver a playable experience at 1080p if settings are managed carefully. The following analysis breaks down exactly what this pairing does in Doom, where its limits are, and how to get the most out of it.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F brings a solid foundation for this 2016 FPS title. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it offers more than enough parallel processing headroom for a game of this era. The base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz are handled by the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process. The L3 cache is 18 MB shared, which helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores. The processor’s general benchmark standing is respectable, holding the 77th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 19221.

In Doom, the CPU is rarely the bottleneck. The nearest rivals in the CPU database show how close the i5-12400F is to other mid-range options. It scores essentially identically to the Intel Core i7-8700K, with a deltaPct of 0.1. It also trades blows with the Intel Core i5-1335U (0.3% faster) and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (0.7% slower). Even against the AMD EPYC 7773X, the delta is only 1.3%. These tight margins mean the CPU is not the differentiator in this combo’s low ranking; the integrated graphics are the limiting factor. The 12400F has no integrated graphics, so all rendering falls to the GTX 1650, which is where the performance ceiling is set.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The overall ranking for this specific pair in Doom is 1605 out of 1681 combos. That places it in the bottom 5% of all tested configurations, which might sound alarming at first. However, context matters. The ranking is determined by the average FPS across all measured resolution and settings combinations. Since this GPU is an entry-level model, the combo’s position reflects its performance at higher resolutions, where it struggles significantly.

The data shows the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU’s benchmark scores are competitive with much more powerful graphics cards, but the GTX 1650’s average benchmark score of 8713 puts it in the 43rd percentile for all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile (0.4% faster), the AMD Radeon 550X (0.4% faster), the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 (0.5% slower), and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 (0.5% slower). This means the GPU is performing at a level consistent with other low-end parts from its era. The combo’s rank is thus a direct reflection of the GPU’s limits, not a criticism of the CPU.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 89.8 FPS. Dropping to 2560x1440 at Low settings yields 58.9 FPS, a reduction of about 34%. Moving up to 3840x2160 at Low settings brings the average down to 33.9 FPS, another 42% drop from the 1440p figure.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. At High settings, the frame rate goes from 68.7 FPS at 1080p, to 45 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 24.4 FPS at 4K. This steep decline as resolution increases is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rate would remain relatively flat when resolution changes, because the CPU workload stays similar. Instead, the data shows the GTX 1650 is being overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count, confirming that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck in this pairing.

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

The full measured FPS table for this combo in Doom is as follows:

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Ultra settings yield 21.9 FPS, High settings produce 24.4 FPS, Medium settings reach 28.3 FPS, and Low settings manage 33.9 FPS. None of these are suitable for fast-paced FPS gameplay; even the best 4K result is below the 30 FPS threshold for smooth motion.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains marginal. Low settings hit 58.9 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 49.5 FPS, High settings fall to 45 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 38 FPS. The 1440p Low and Medium presets are the only viable options here, offering a reasonable balance of visual quality and frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its best performance. Low settings reach 89.8 FPS, which is very smooth. Medium settings deliver 78.1 FPS, still excellent for most players. High settings produce 68.7 FPS, a solid result. Ultra settings drop to 58.1 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS territory for most of the run, though the average is just below that threshold. These are the numbers that define the practical limits of this setup.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture part built on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. The base clock is 1485 MHz, with a boost clock of 1665 MHz. Memory runs at 2001 MHz, or 8 Gbps effective. The GPU has 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is 2.984 TFLOPS, and the pixel rate is 53.28 GPixel/s.

The 4 GB VRAM is a significant limitation for Doom, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The game’s texture requirements at 4K Ultra likely exceed the available memory, causing the GPU to swap data and drop the average FPS to 21.9. Even at 1080p Ultra, the 58.1 FPS result suggests the GPU is working hard to keep up with the game’s demands. The 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors indicate this is a low-power card, designed for basic 1080p gaming rather than high-end configurations. The GPU’s end-of-life production status and its launch MSRP of 149 USD place it as an entry-level option, which matches its performance profile in this game.

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

For the best experience with this combination, the data points to 1920x1080 as the target resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 89.8 FPS, which is the highest measured average. This setting provides the smoothest gameplay, ideal for a fast-paced FPS where reaction time matters. The Medium preset at 78.1 FPS is a strong alternative, offering better visual fidelity while still maintaining a high frame rate.

The High preset at 1080p yields 68.7 FPS, which is still playable but begins to approach the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 58.1 FPS is the heaviest option, and while it is technically playable, the average frame rate dipping below 60 FPS might cause noticeable stutter on some displays. For most players, the Medium preset at 1080p represents the sweet spot: it delivers 78.1 FPS, which is 9.4 FPS higher than High and 20 FPS higher than Ultra, while still looking significantly better than Low.

At 1440p, the Low preset at 58.9 FPS is the only truly smooth option, but it requires sacrificing visual quality. The Medium preset at 49.5 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced segments but may feel less responsive in combat. At 4K, none of the presets are recommended, as even the best result of 33.9 FPS at Low settings is too low for a game that demands quick reflexes. The data strongly suggests that 1080p Medium is the optimal configuration for this combo, balancing frame rate and image quality within the GPU’s capabilities.