Doom

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combination delivers a very strong Doom experience, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling dictated by the graphics card. At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast, pushing frame rates that far exceed display refresh rates for most monitors. As resolution increases, the frame rate drops in a predictable curve, indicating that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 1440p and especially at 4K. The benchmark results show a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and capable of smooth 1440p play, but it will require settings adjustments to maintain high frame rates at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a consistent and significant performance drop as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the "High" settings preset, the average frame rate falls from 142 FPS at 1080p to 92 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 50 FPS at 4K. This represents a 35% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% decrease when stepping up to 4K. This pattern strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the workload on the GPU increases exponentially with pixel count.

Looking at the "Low" settings preset reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 193 FPS, which drops to 125 FPS at 1440p and 68 FPS at 4K. The scaling here is similar, with a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings presets is a strong indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller performance delta between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU workload would remain relatively constant while the GPU workload increases.

The data suggests that the Core i5-12600KF has ample headroom to feed the RX 7600. Its single-thread performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong, and the frame rates at 1080p, where the CPU load is proportionally higher, are extremely high. This implies that the CPU is not holding the system back. The primary takeaway from the resolution scaling is that users targeting 4K will need to rely on lower settings presets to achieve playable frame rates, while 1080p and 1440p users can enjoy high or ultra settings with excellent performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate this combo can achieve in Doom?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 193 FPS, which occurs at the 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" settings preset.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K with "Medium" settings, the combo achieves an average of 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS. The "High" preset yields 50 FPS average, while "Ultra" drops to 41 FPS average.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p compare to 1080p?

A: The performance at 1440p is significantly lower than at 1080p. For example, on the "High" preset, the average frame rate drops from 142 FPS at 1080p to 92 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 50 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor for this game?

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The consistent percentage drop in frame rates from 1080p to 4K is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload, and the high frame rates at 1080p indicate the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU effectively.

Q: What is the framerate range for the "Medium" preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with "Medium" settings, the average frame rate is 109 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for Doom?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 2540 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2540 out of 3712 tested combinations for Doom indicates that while it provides a highly playable experience, it is not at the top of the performance leaderboard. The percentile ranking for the GPU is 57, meaning it performs better than 57% of all GPUs in the database. This suggests that the RX 7600 is a solid mid-range performer. The CPU's percentile is higher at 79, indicating the i5-12600KF is a stronger component relative to its peers.

This disparity in ranking between the CPU and GPU further reinforces the idea that the GPU is the limiting factor for this system. In a game like Doom, which is known for its optimized engine, the CPU's high percentile and strong synthetic scores allow it to easily keep up with the GPU's output. The combo's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's more modest standing. When compared to other systems, this combo will outperform those with weaker GPUs but will fall behind systems pairing the same CPU with a more powerful graphics card. The data suggests this is a well-matched pairing for mainstream gaming, where the CPU offers headroom for future GPU upgrades.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: 193 FPS average
• Medium: 168 FPS average, with a minimum of 143 FPS and a maximum of 193 FPS
• High: 142 FPS average
• Ultra: 116 FPS average

At 2560x1440:

• Low: 125 FPS average
• Medium: 109 FPS average, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS
• High: 92 FPS average
• Ultra: 75 FPS average

At 3840x2160:

• Low: 68 FPS average
• Medium: 59 FPS average, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS
• High: 50 FPS average
• Ultra: 41 FPS average

The data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy. At 1080p, all presets deliver frame rates well above 60 FPS, with even the "Ultra" preset achieving 116 FPS. At 1440p, the "Ultra" preset falls to 75 FPS, which is still playable, but the "High" and "Medium" presets offer more comfortable headroom. At 4K, only the "Low" preset manages to stay above 60 FPS, while "Medium" and "High" hover near 60 FPS, and "Ultra" drops below 45 FPS. The "Medium" preset consistently shows the full range of min, max, and average FPS, providing a detailed look at frame time consistency.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 plays the central role in determining the frame rates for this combo, particularly as resolution increases. The GPU's specifications, including its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are sufficient for the demands of Doom. The benchmark results indicate that its performance is competitive with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM and the AMD Radeon Pro 560X, as shown in its nearest rivals list. The GPU's core clocks are a key aspect of its performance; the base clock is 1720 MHz, with a boost clock of 2655 MHz and a game clock of 2250 MHz.

These clock speeds allow the GPU to maintain high throughput in a fast-paced game like Doom. The 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs are tasked with rendering the game's graphics, and the data shows they handle 1080p and 1440p very well. The GPU's 57th percentile ranking among all GPUs is consistent with its measured performance in this game, where it provides a solid 60+ FPS experience at 1440p on high settings. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor in this title at the tested resolutions and settings, as the game does not appear to exceed this allocation. The GPU's performance characteristics, combined with the CPU's ability to feed it data, result in the frame rates seen in the benchmark data.

Settings Recommendations

For users with a 1920x1080 monitor, the "Ultra" preset is the clear choice, delivering an average of 116 FPS. This provides a visually rich experience while maintaining frame rates high enough for competitive play. If a user prioritizes maximum frame rates, the "Low" preset at 193 FPS is an option, but the visual fidelity loss is significant for a game that can run at high settings. The "High" preset at 142 FPS offers a good balance for those who want high visual quality with a large frame rate buffer.

At 2560x1440, the "High" preset is recommended as the sweet spot, providing an average of 92 FPS. This is comfortably above 60 FPS and offers a great balance between visual quality and performance. The "Ultra" preset, at 75 FPS, is also viable for users who prefer maximum visual detail and can tolerate slightly lower frame rates. The "Medium" preset is a safe fallback for those who want to ensure frame rates never dip below 92 FPS, as its minimum is 92 FPS.

For 4K gaming, the choice of settings is more critical. The "Low" preset yields an average of 68 FPS and is the only preset to consistently stay above 60 FPS. The "Medium" preset averages 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS, which is playable but may have noticeable dips during intense scenes. The "High" and "Ultra" presets are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as they average 50 FPS and 41 FPS respectively. The data indicates that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, users should stick to the "Low" preset, or use "Medium" if they can tolerate occasional frame rate dips below 60 FPS. For the best overall experience, this system is ideally suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it can run high or ultra settings without compromise.