Doom

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a formidable combination for Doom, delivering exceptional frame rates across all tested resolutions. The data shows this pairing is capable of pushing well beyond the refresh rates of most monitors, even at demanding 4K resolutions. Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings depend entirely on your display: for 1080p and 1440p gaming, the High preset offers a superb balance of visual fidelity and performance, while at 4K, the Medium preset provides the smoothest experience without the significant frame rate penalty of Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data reveals a clear hierarchy of performance across the four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 259.8 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor. The jump to Medium yields 302.3 FPS, and Low reaches 350 FPS, but the visual trade-off is rarely worth it when the High preset already exceeds 240 FPS. For 2560x1440, the High preset again stands out with an average of 168 FPS, comfortably above the 144Hz threshold. The Medium preset provides a boost to 196.6 FPS, but the diminishing returns on visual quality make High the recommended choice for most users.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The High preset manages an average of 91 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a fast-paced FPS. The Medium preset, however, offers a substantial improvement to 105.7 FPS, making it the best option for 4K displays. The Ultra preset, while visually superior, drops the average to 74.9 FPS, which may introduce noticeable stutter in intense combat scenarios. The Low preset at 4K hits 122 FPS, but the graphical downgrade is severe. Therefore, for the best overall experience on a 4K panel, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it maintains high frame rates while preserving a reasonable level of detail.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores indicate strong single-thread and multi-thread capabilities. The 3DMark single-thread score of 909 and the 3DMark 2-thread score of 1699 suggest that the processor handles the primary game logic and rendering threads with ease. The data shows that in this configuration, the CPU does not appear to be a bottleneck, as the frame rates scale consistently with GPU load across different resolutions.

The processor's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for a fast-paced game like Doom. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16518 and single-core score of 2332 demonstrate a balanced performance profile. The CPU's percentile ranking of 77 among all tested CPUs places it ahead of the Intel Core i7-8700K by a mere 0.1% in average benchmark score, indicating that the 12400F offers competitive performance against older high-end parts. The 3DMark max-threads score of 5912 shows that while the CPU can handle multi-threaded workloads, the game's performance is ultimately dictated by the GPU, as evidenced by the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 7168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, which contribute to its impressive pixel rate of 198.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, ensuring that texture data is fed to the cores without stuttering. The base clock of 1980 MHz and boost clock of 2475 MHz are well-suited for high-frequency rendering.

The GPU's benchmark scores are equally impressive. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627 and PassMark G3D score of 29995 place it in the 84th percentile among all GPUs. The data indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary driver of frame rates, as the measured FPS shows a clear scaling with resolution. At 1080p, the GPU is so powerful that the CPU becomes the limiting factor, as shown by the marginal differences between presets at 350 FPS. However, at 4K, the GPU's workload increases significantly, and the Ultra preset's 74.9 FPS average highlights the card's limits under maximum load. The memory clock of 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) and the 220 W TDP are consistent with a high-performance card designed for 1440p and entry-level 4K gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is ranked 285th out of 1681 combos. This places it in the top 17% of all systems tested, which is a strong result for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The ranking reflects the overall system balance, where the GPU's performance is fully utilized without significant CPU bottlenecks. The combo's position indicates that this is a well-matched pairing for high-refresh-rate gaming, as the data shows the system can achieve over 200 FPS at 1080p and over 130 FPS at 1440p on Ultra settings.

The ranking also suggests that while there are more powerful combinations available, this setup provides a compelling balance of cost and performance. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-8700K and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with deltas of 0.1% and -0.7% respectively. This means the 12400F is not leaving any performance on the table. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA RTX A6000 and AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE, have delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.3%, showing that the RTX 4070 SUPER is competitively positioned within its performance tier.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this combo?*

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 168 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1920x1080, the High preset reaches 259.8 FPS, but the visual fidelity is lower. For 4K, the Medium preset at 105.7 FPS is the most balanced option.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset for the best graphics?

A: Only if you prioritize visuals over frame rate. The Ultra preset drops the average FPS to 210.4 at 1080p, 136 at 1440p, and 74.9 at 4K. For competitive play, the High preset provides a significant frame rate advantage with minimal visual difference.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this GPU?

A: The data suggests not. At 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 350 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame output. However, at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as evidenced by the scaling from 122 FPS at 4K Low to 74.9 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Q: How does this combo compare to others in the database?

A: This combo is ranked 285th out of 1681 tested combinations, placing it in the top 17%. This indicates a well-balanced system where the GPU's performance is effectively utilized, and the CPU does not hold back the frame rates.

Q: What is the ideal settings preset for 4K gaming?

A: The Medium preset is the recommended choice for 4K, as it delivers an average of 105.7 FPS. This is significantly smoother than the High preset's 91 FPS and the Ultra preset's 74.9 FPS, while still providing a visually pleasing experience.

Q: Can this system handle high refresh rates at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data shows that even at the High preset, the system achieves an average of 259.8 FPS. This is well beyond the capabilities of most 144Hz or 240Hz monitors, allowing for a fully fluid gaming experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system excels, with the Low preset hitting an average of 350 FPS, the Medium preset at 302.3 FPS, the High preset at 259.8 FPS, and the Ultra preset at 210.4 FPS. This resolution is clearly GPU-bound, as the frame rates are exceptionally high regardless of settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains impressive, with the Low preset averaging 226.9 FPS, the Medium preset at 196.6 FPS, the High preset at 168 FPS, and the Ultra preset at 136 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, offering high visual quality with frame rates that exceed the refresh rates of most gaming monitors.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates begin to show the GPU's workload. The Low preset averages 122 FPS, the Medium preset at 105.7 FPS, the High preset at 91 FPS, and the Ultra preset at 74.9 FPS. While the Ultra preset is playable, the Medium preset provides the best balance of performance and visual fidelity for 4K displays. The data clearly shows a consistent performance hierarchy across all resolutions, with the Low preset always delivering the highest FPS and the Ultra preset the lowest.