Doom

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a highly constrained gaming experience in Doom, with the measured FPS data revealing a system where the graphics solution is the dominant bottleneck at every resolution. The data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, but the absolute performance levels remain modest throughout, placing this combo firmly in the lower tier of tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

Analyzing the measured FPS across the three tested resolutions reveals a consistent and significant performance drop as pixel count increases, which is characteristic of a system limited by its graphics processor. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate moves from 71 FPS at 1920x1080, down to 46 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 25 FPS at 3840x2160. This progression represents a 35% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% decrease when moving from 1440p to 4K. In total, the jump from 1080p to 4K at High settings results in a 65% reduction in average FPS, which is a stark illustration of the GPU's inability to keep pace with the increasing rendering load.

The scaling pattern is remarkably consistent across all four settings presets. For instance, at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 96 at 1080p to 62 at 1440p, and then to 34 at 4K. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 45% drop from 1440p to 4K, mirroring the High preset scaling almost exactly. Similarly, the Medium preset shows 84 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K, while the Ultra preset shows 58, 37, and 20 FPS respectively. The uniformity of these percentage drops strongly indicates that the limiting component is the GPU, as a CPU bottleneck would typically show less severe scaling at higher resolutions where the GPU is doing more work.

The measured data also includes min and max FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the average is 84 FPS with a min of 71 and max of 96. At 1440p Medium, the average is 54 FPS with a min of 46 and max of 62, and at 4K Medium, the average is 29 FPS with a min of 25 and max of 34. These ranges show that frame times are relatively stable, with the delta between min and max FPS remaining consistent at around 13-14 FPS across all resolutions. This stability suggests that while the overall performance is low, the frame pacing is not erratic, which is a minor positive for the experience.

The data clearly shows that this combination is not suitable for 4K gaming in Doom, with even the lowest settings preset failing to reach 35 FPS on average. The 1440p resolution presents a playable middle ground, with the Low and Medium presets achieving average frame rates of 62 and 54 FPS respectively, which are generally considered acceptable for smooth gameplay. At 1080p, the system is at its most capable, with the Low preset providing near-100 FPS average performance and the High preset still delivering a respectable 71 FPS, indicating that this resolution is the intended target for this hardware pairing.

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. Its benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391 and a single-core score of 3302. The processor also demonstrates strong multithreaded performance in other tests, such as a Geekbench multicore score of 12137 and a Passmark multithread score of 27575. These figures suggest a highly capable CPU that should not be a limiting factor in most gaming scenarios.

However, in the context of Doom with the Arc B370, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. Given the significant FPS drops observed when increasing resolution, the data suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS figures across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain constant while the GPU's workload increases. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3925, should be more than sufficient to feed the Arc B370 with draw calls and game logic data. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed and the CPU's role is relatively more important, the 96 FPS average is likely still limited by the GPU's rendering capabilities rather than the CPU's processing power. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 16 threads provide ample headroom for the game's engine, ensuring that frame pacing is not negatively impacted by CPU stalls.

The benchmark data for the CPU places it at the 79th percentile when compared to all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, has an average score of 27872, representing a negligible delta of -0.3%. This indicates that the i5-12600KF is a high-performing processor that sits in the upper tier of desktop CPUs. In this specific game, the CPU is effectively a non-factor in the performance equation, with the measured FPS being almost entirely dictated by the GPU's output. The data supports the conclusion that any FPS limitations in Doom are not attributable to the i5-12600KF.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear performance bottleneck in this configuration. Its specifications reveal a product designed for low-power, integrated graphics scenarios, with a TDP of just 25 W and a bus interface of IGP. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it relies on System Shared memory, which means its bandwidth is system-dependent. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score for the Arc B370 is 1184, which places it at the 5th percentile compared to all GPUs. This low percentile is reflected in the Doom performance data, where the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates. The nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark data are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), which are both older, low-performance parts. This comparison underscores the Arc B370's position at the very bottom of the GPU performance spectrum.

The GPU's architecture, Xe3-LPG, and its process node of 3 nm do not translate into competitive gaming performance in this instance. The reliance on System Shared memory is a notable disadvantage, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can severely limit performance in memory-intensive scenarios. The data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, the GPU only manages an average of 96 FPS, which is far from the high refresh rates that competitive FPS players might desire.

At 4K Ultra settings, the GPU's performance collapses to an average of just 20 FPS, which is unplayable. The data consistently shows that the Arc B370 is the limiting factor at all resolutions and settings. The GPU's low pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s, while mathematically adequate for basic tasks, are insufficient for the demands of a 4K rendering workload in a modern game engine. The conclusion from the data is inescapable: the Arc B370 is a graphics solution that is only suitable for low-resolution, low-detail gaming, and it severely bottlenecks the otherwise capable i5-12600KF.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's frame rate preferences. At 1920x1080, the data shows that the High preset is a viable choice, delivering an average of 71 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, as the jump to Ultra only yields a marginal increase in visual fidelity but drops the average FPS to 58, a decrease of 18%. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 84 FPS, which is a significant improvement over High, but the visual difference between Medium and High in Doom is often noticeable. For users prioritizing a smooth experience, the High preset at 1080p is the sweet spot, as it stays well above the 60 FPS threshold.

For those targeting 2560x1440, the data suggests that the Low preset is the only reliable option for smooth gameplay, with an average of 62 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 54 FPS, which is still playable but may exhibit more noticeable frame dips during intense action sequences. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they produce average FPS figures of 46 and 37, respectively, which fall below the ideal range for a fast-paced FPS. The performance cost of moving from Low to Medium at 1440p is a 13% FPS reduction, which may not be worth the visual upgrade for all users, but it remains within the bounds of playability.

At 3840x2160, the data indicates that this combo is simply not suited for gaming. Even the Low preset only manages an average of 34 FPS, which is below the 35 FPS minimum that many consider the floor for a "playable" experience. The Medium preset at 4K yields 29 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets drop to 25 and 20 FPS, respectively. None of these settings provide an acceptable gaming experience at 4K. Therefore, the recommendation is to avoid 4K altogether with this hardware pairing, or to use a dynamic resolution scaling technique if the game supports it, though the measured data does not include such scenarios.

The best overall experience per the measured rows is achieved at 1920x1080 with the High preset. This configuration provides an average of 71 FPS, which is smooth, while still offering a level of visual detail that is superior to the Low and Medium presets. For users with less stringent visual requirements, the Low preset at 1080p provides the highest frame rate at 96 FPS, which would be ideal for competitive play. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended, as it offers diminishing returns in visual quality while exacting a significant performance penalty, such as the 25% FPS drop observed when moving from High to Ultra at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 3425 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places the combo in the bottom 8th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is among the lower-performing configurations for this specific game. The poor ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU, as the CPU's performance is in the top 21st percentile globally, with a percentileVsAllCpus of 79. The CPU's high average benchmark score of 27799 confirms that it is not the source of the system's low ranking.

The combo's rank is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows average frame rates that are far below what high-end systems achieve in Doom. The 1080p High result of 71 FPS is respectable for a low-end system, but it pales in comparison to the performance of higher-ranked combos that can achieve well over 144 FPS at the same settings. The 4K performance, with max average FPS of 34 at Low settings, is on par with some of the lowest-performing configurations in the database.

Given that the GPU's percentileVsAllGpus is 5, it is expected that this combo would rank near the bottom of the list. The nearest GPU rivals, which include the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1190, are all legacy parts from over a decade ago, and their performance in modern games is known to be very limited. The data suggests that users of this combo should have very modest expectations for gaming performance, and the system is likely better suited for non-gaming tasks or very old or less demanding titles. The 3425 rank out of 3712 combos serves as a quantitative confirmation of this system's position in the performance hierarchy for Doom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data is presented below, organized by resolution and settings. All figures represent average FPS unless otherwise noted.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 34 FPS
• Medium: 29 FPS (min: 25, max: 34)
• High: 25 FPS
• Ultra: 20 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 62 FPS
• Medium: 54 FPS (min: 46, max: 62)
• High: 46 FPS
• Ultra: 37 FPS

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 96 FPS
• Medium: 84 FPS (min: 71, max: 96)
• High: 71 FPS
• Ultra: 58 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where the combo can consistently deliver above 60 FPS, with the Low preset achieving 96 FPS and the High preset achieving 71 FPS. The 1440p resolution is a borderline case, with only the Low preset breaking the 60 FPS barrier at 62 FPS. The 4K resolution is entirely unplayable, with all presets failing to reach 35 FPS. The Medium preset consistently shows the min and max FPS values, indicating a stable frame rate range that is roughly 13 FPS wide across all resolutions, which suggests the performance is consistent rather than spiky.

FAQ

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

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can achieve average frame rates above 60 FPS on most presets. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset reaches 62 FPS, while 3840x2160 fails to reach 35 FPS on any setting.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the Arc B370 scores 1184, which is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186) and 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190). Its performance is essentially on par with these legacy parts.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF a bottleneck in this system?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor. The FPS scales significantly with resolution, which is a sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391, indicate it is far more capable than the GPU.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with the High preset is 46 frames per second. This is below the 60 FPS target and is not optimal for a fast-paced FPS game.

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

A: No, the data shows that the maximum average FPS at 3840x2160 is 34, achieved with the Low preset. The Ultra preset only produces 20 FPS, making 4K gaming unplayable with this hardware.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to all other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 3425 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the bottom 8th percentile of all configurations. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's performance, which is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.