Doom

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers an exceptionally high-performance experience in Doom, securing the 58th spot out of 2930 tested combos. This places the configuration in the top 2% of all systems tested for this title, a position driven almost entirely by the GPU’s raw power. The data indicates that while the CPU is a capable mid-range part, it is the graphics card that defines the experience, pushing frame rates into territory that most systems cannot reach, particularly at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 58 out of 2930 tested configurations is a standout result, placing it in the upper echelon of systems for Doom. This ranking is a clear indication that the combination of the RTX 5090 D and the i5-12400F is exceptionally well-suited for this game, as it outperforms the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings. The data suggests that the sheer graphics horsepower of the RTX 5090 D overcomes any potential bottleneck from the more modest processor, allowing the system to achieve frame rates that are competitive with, and often superior to, builds using much more expensive CPUs.

The percentile scores for the individual components support this interpretation. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 92 out of 100, based on its average benchmark score of 77712, confirms it is a top-tier part. In contrast, the CPU’s percentile ranking of 73 and an average benchmark score of 19039 indicate it is a solid, above-average performer but not at the absolute flagship level. The game’s result, however, shows the combo performing better than the sum of its parts might suggest, reinforcing that Doom’s engine is heavily reliant on GPU performance. The fact that this pairing ranks so highly despite the CPU’s more modest standing shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance in this specific title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the undisputed star of this configuration, and its specifications paint a clear picture of why it performs so well. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features a massive 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a staggering 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. This immense bandwidth is critical for a fast-paced FPS like Doom, as it allows the GPU to quickly stream textures and geometry, preventing stutters and ensuring smooth frame delivery even in chaotic scenes.

Clock speeds are also a key factor. The GPU has a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, which are quite high for a card with such a large die. These high clocks, combined with 21760 shading units, allow the card to process a colossal amount of graphical data. The benchmark data reflects this raw power, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 376915. These scores show that the GPU excels in both modern API and compute-heavy workloads, which directly translates to high frame rates in Doom’s demanding scenarios. The GPU’s 92nd percentile ranking versus all GPUs solidifies its status as a top-tier part, and its performance in this game is a direct result of these specifications.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and expected trend: performance scales down as resolution increases, but the RTX 5090 D is so powerful that it maintains playable, and often exceptionally high, frame rates even at 4K. The most telling comparison is the drop from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 328 FPS, while at 4K with the same settings, it drops to 125 FPS. This represents a significant 62% reduction in performance, highlighting the immense workload increase on the GPU at higher resolutions.

This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at all tested resolutions. Even at 4K, the average frame rates are so high that the CPU is not likely to be the primary bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a much smaller difference between 1080p and 4K performance, as the CPU’s workload does not increase as much with resolution. Instead, the substantial drop from 365 FPS at 1080p Low to 170 FPS at 4K Low shows that the GPU is being pushed harder and harder as the pixel count rises. The data suggests that this system is so powerful that it is not until the extreme resolution of 4K that the GPU starts to feel the strain, yet it still delivers frame rates that are far beyond what most displays can even refresh.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system’s capabilities across three resolutions and four quality settings. At 1920x1080, the system is almost comically over-powered, with performance that is likely to be limited by the refresh rate of the monitor rather than the hardware. The Low preset yields an average of 365 FPS, which is the highest score recorded in the entire dataset. The Medium preset is nearly as fast at 348 FPS, with a minimum of 296 FPS and a maximum of 401 FPS. High settings drop slightly to an average of 328 FPS, and even the demanding Ultra preset manages an average of 292 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the RTX 5090 D is barely breaking a sweat, and the CPU is more than capable of feeding it data.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains incredibly high but begins to show more differentiation between settings. The Low preset still achieves a massive 314 FPS average. Medium settings follow closely at 273 FPS, with a minimum of 232 FPS and a maximum of 314 FPS. High settings deliver a still-excellent 231 FPS average. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, drops to an average of 189 FPS. This is a very playable frame rate for any competitive or single-player experience, and the gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is a significant 125 FPS, showing the GPU’s scaling.

At 3840x2160, the true power of the GPU is tested, and it passes with flying colors. The Low preset still manages an average of 170 FPS, which is exceptionally high for 4K. Medium settings deliver a strong 148 FPS average, with a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 170 FPS. High settings are still very playable at 125 FPS average. Even the Ultra preset, which would cripple most other systems, maintains an average of 102 FPS. This final result is particularly notable, as it shows the RTX 5090 D can handle the absolute maximum visual fidelity at 4K while still staying above the 100 FPS mark, which is a phenomenal achievement for any hardware.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F plays a supporting role in this configuration, providing a solid foundation without becoming a significant bottleneck. It 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. While these specifications are not at the level of flagship CPUs, they are more than sufficient for a game like Doom, which is known for its optimized engine. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, show that it has strong per-core performance, which is often more important for gaming than raw core counts.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this system. At 1080p, where the CPU is typically put under the most relative strain, the system still achieves over 290 FPS on all presets. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau or even drop at this resolution, but they remain extremely high. The i5-12400F’s performance is adequate to feed the RTX 5090 D with enough data to keep it busy, even at lower resolutions. Its 73rd percentile ranking against all CPUs, while not top-tier, is more than enough for this task. The comparison to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with a deltaPct of 0, shows that it is a solid, average-performing mid-range chip, and its role here is to provide a stable platform for the GPU to excel.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user’s display resolution and refresh rate. For those with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The system achieves an average of 292 FPS at this setting, which is so high that it will likely exceed the refresh rate of any standard 1080p monitor. There is no meaningful reason to lower the settings at this resolution, as even the most demanding preset provides a flawless experience. The performance headroom is so vast that visual quality should be maximized.

For 1440p users, the Ultra preset remains the best choice for maximum visual fidelity, with an average of 189 FPS. This is a fantastic result for a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor, as it provides a smooth and responsive experience. However, if a player has a monitor with a very high refresh rate (e.g., 240Hz or higher), they could consider the High preset, which yields 231 FPS. This would provide a more competitive edge in fast-paced multiplayer, but the visual trade-off might not be worth it for a single-player campaign. The data shows that both High and Ultra are more than playable, making the choice a matter of preference between framerate and fidelity.

At 4K, the recommendation is to stick with the High preset, which delivers an average of 125 FPS. This provides an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, easily supporting a 120Hz 4K display. While the Ultra preset is still playable at 102 FPS, the 23 FPS difference between High and Ultra is a significant drop for a relatively minor visual improvement. The Medium preset, with an average of 148 FPS, is also a strong option for those who prioritize higher frame rates over maximum detail. However, given the GPU’s power, the High preset offers the best overall experience, delivering a level of detail that is nearly indistinguishable from Ultra while maintaining a comfortable frame rate buffer.