Doom

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a highly capable 1080p experience in Doom, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data set shows a combination that comfortably handles high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, remains playable at 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth framerates at 4K with maximum settings. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes the CPU’s role, and ranks the combo against other tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 121.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p Ultra drops the average to 78.5 FPS, a reduction of 43.1 FPS or roughly 35%. The jump to 4K Ultra is even more punishing, with the average falling to 40.3 FPS, which is 48.7% lower than the 1440p result and only 33% of the 1080p figure. This pattern strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the limiting component; the frame rate is directly tied to the pixel count being rendered.

The scaling from High to Ultra settings at each resolution further confirms this GPU limitation. At 1080p, the difference between High (146.3 FPS) and Ultra (121.6 FPS) is 24.7 FPS. At 1440p, the gap narrows to 15.2 FPS (93.7 vs 78.5), and at 4K it shrinks to just 11.5 FPS (51.8 vs 40.3). This diminishing delta suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that the additional rendering load from Ultra settings has less relative impact on the final framerate. Conversely, the gap between Low and Ultra settings remains substantial at all resolutions, with a 77.1 FPS difference at 1080p, 52.8 FPS at 1440p, and 32.7 FPS at 4K, showing that the GPU’s raw compute is the dominant factor across the board.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. In Doom, a title that is heavily GPU-dependent, the CPU’s role is to feed frames fast enough to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate the processor is more than adequate for this task. The multi-threaded performance is strong, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23444 and a Geekbench multicore score of 12373. The single-thread performance is equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3309 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2529.

The data suggests that the CPU is not constraining performance at any tested resolution. At 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lightest, the combo achieves 198.7 FPS. This high framerate indicates that the CPU can sustain a very high level of instruction throughput, keeping up with the GPU’s output. The processor’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory further contribute to its ability to handle game logic and asset streaming without hiccups. In comparison to its nearest rivals, the i5-12600KF’s average benchmark score of 27827 is virtually identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27829, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-12600K (27851, -0.1% delta). This places it in a performance tier where it will not be the limiting factor in a mid-range GPU pairing like this one.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination at 1920x1080 with High settings is 146.3 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Doom?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 51.8 FPS on High, 60.4 FPS on Medium, and 40.3 FPS on Ultra. While the Medium and High settings are playable, the Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 4K on Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 121.6. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 40.3. This represents a performance increase of 81.3 FPS, or roughly 200% higher at 1080p.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors?

A: The data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 120 FPS across all settings. At 1440p, only the Low preset (131.3 FPS) and Medium preset (112.7 FPS) come close to or exceed the 120 FPS mark, while High (93.7 FPS) and Ultra (78.5 FPS) are better suited for 60-100 Hz displays.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The steep decline in frame rates from 1080p to 4K, coupled with the CPU’s high multi-threaded scores (e.g., 23444 in Cinebench R23), suggests the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the component that determines the final performance ceiling in Doom.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct competitor?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27827, which is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-10900K at 27829 (a 0% delta). This indicates a negligible performance difference between the two processors in synthetic tests.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across nine distinct configurations. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally strong. The Low preset yields an average of 198.7 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings drop this to 175.1 FPS, High settings to 146.3 FPS, and the demanding Ultra preset still manages a very smooth 121.6 FPS. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains respectable but requires settings adjustments for higher refresh rates. The Low preset achieves 131.3 FPS, while Medium drops to 112.7 FPS. High settings produce a solid 93.7 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 78.5 FPS. For a 1440p 144Hz monitor, players would need to use Low or Medium settings to fully utilize the display’s refresh rate. At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset averages 73 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 60.4 FPS, and High settings to 51.8 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of 40.3 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. The spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 32.7 FPS, highlighting the significant impact of image quality settings on this GPU’s performance at high pixel counts.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database for Doom, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT holds a rank of 1079 out of 1681 tested combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all configurations tested for this game. The percentile ranking for the GPU itself is 72, indicating it performs better than 72% of all GPUs in the database. However, the combo’s overall rank suggests that many other pairings, likely with more powerful graphics cards, achieve higher frame rates in Doom.

The rank is a direct reflection of the measured FPS data, particularly at higher resolutions. While the combo excels at 1080p, its performance at 1440p and 4K pulls its overall standing down relative to combos with higher-end GPUs. The CPU’s strong performance, evidenced by its 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs, is not enough to offset the GPU’s limitations at 4K. The data indicates that for this specific game, the graphics card is the determining factor for the combo’s rank. If the goal is to play Doom at 1080p with maximum frame rates, this combo is a strong performer. For 4K gaming, the rank reflects that it is not a top-tier solution, and users seeking higher 4K performance would need to look at configurations with more powerful GPUs.