Doom

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, and its benchmark scores place it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. In synthetic tests, it achieves a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and a multi-thread score of 7952, while its Cinebench R23 results show 3309 points in single-core and 23444 points in multi-core. These numbers indicate a strong balance of high-frequency single-core performance and substantial multi-threading capability, which matters for Doom because the game’s id Tech engine is known for scaling well across multiple threads while still favoring high IPC cores for physics and game logic.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU’s influence is most visible at lower resolutions where the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 150.3 FPS, which is the highest recorded frame rate in the dataset. This suggests that the processor can feed the GPU sufficiently to reach high refresh rates, even if the GPU is a mid-range part. The i5-12600KF’s nearest rivals, the Intel Core i9-10900K and Core i5-12600K, have average benchmark scores of 27829 and 27851 respectively, with deltaPct values of 0 and -0.1 relative to the i5-12600KF’s average of 27827. This places it effectively in a dead heat with those parts, meaning the CPU is not a limiting factor in Doom when paired with this GPU; the frame rates are more likely constrained by the graphics card, especially at higher settings.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The processor’s core configuration and clock speeds directly influence its ability to handle Doom’s demands. With 10 cores and 16 threads, the i5-12600KF offers ample parallelism for the game’s rendering threads and background tasks. The boost clock of 4.90 GHz ensures that single-threaded workloads, such as the main game loop, execute with minimal latency. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 1995 and 4-thread score of 3806 show that the CPU scales efficiently when moving from light to moderate thread usage, which is typical for a game like Doom that uses a handful of threads for core simulation. The Cinebench R20 single-core score of 1389 reinforces that the CPU’s per-core strength is high, which helps maintain consistent frame pacing even when the GPU is under load.

The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this system for Doom, as evidenced by the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 150.3 FPS average suggests the CPU can push well beyond what the GTX 1660 SUPER can render at higher settings. However, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent when comparing it to weaker processors; its 84th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 27827 indicate it sits above the majority of CPUs, so users upgrading from older dual-core or quad-core parts would notice significant gains in minimum frame rates. The processor’s memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, along with dual-channel configuration, also ensures that memory bandwidth is not a constraint, though the game’s performance is more sensitive to GPU throughput in this pairing.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process, featuring 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1530 MHz, boosting to 1785 MHz, and it delivers 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU’s 1408 shading units and 48 ROPs handle rasterization, while its pixel rate of 85.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s determine fill-rate capabilities. In the context of Doom, the GPU is the dominant factor in the measured FPS data. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 88.5, which is a substantial decrease from the 150.3 FPS at Low settings, indicating that the graphical workload scales heavily with settings.

The GPU’s 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for Doom at all tested settings, as the game’s textures and geometry fit within that capacity at 1080p and 1440p, and even at 4K, the average FPS remains playable at 37.8 on High. The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 14286. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, with deltaPct values of -0.2, meaning the GTX 1660 SUPER performs nearly identically to those integrated and low-end discrete solutions in synthetic tests. However, in Doom, the GPU’s performance is clearly stronger than those rivals, as the measured FPS data shows playable frame rates even at 4K, which those weaker parts would struggle to achieve. The GPU’s end-of-life status and 125 W TDP make it a dated but still functional option for 1080p gaming.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which points to the GPU as the primary limiting component in this system. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 106.6, dropping to 70.9 at 1440p High, and further to 37.8 at 4K High. This represents a 33.5% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a 64.5% decrease from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with GPU-bound behavior, where pixel count and fill-rate demands increase quadratically with resolution, overwhelming the GTX 1660 SUPER’s 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate. The CPU’s performance, meanwhile, remains constant across resolutions, so the frame rate drop is entirely attributable to the GPU’s rendering limitations.

Looking at Low settings, the FPS drops from 150.3 at 1080p to 97.3 at 1440p, and then to 52.3 at 4K. The percentage drops are 35.3% and 65.2%, respectively, which is similar to High settings, indicating that the GPU is still the bottleneck even when graphical complexity is reduced. This is because the resolution itself, not the settings, drives the number of fragments to shade. The fact that the Ultra preset at 1080p (88.5 FPS) is almost double the 4K High (37.8 FPS) further emphasizes that the GPU’s raw throughput is insufficient for 4K, while the CPU has headroom to spare. In contrast, if the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect FPS to remain flat across resolutions, but the data shows a steep decline, confirming the GPU’s dominance in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this system in Doom, and at what settings?

A: The highest average FPS is 150.3, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only preset that breaks the 150 FPS threshold in the measured data.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27827, while its closest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, scores 27829, a deltaPct of 0. This means the two processors perform identically in aggregate benchmarks, with a negligible 0.1% difference from the Core i5-12600K.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this GPU and CPU combination?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The 4K Low preset averages 52.3 FPS, which is playable, while 4K Medium hits 46.4 FPS and 4K High drops to 37.8 FPS. The 4K Ultra preset averages 34 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking and how does it affect Doom’s performance?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER ranks in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is slightly above average. In Doom, this translates to solid 1080p performance (88.5 FPS on Ultra) but struggles at 4K, where it cannot maintain 60 FPS on any preset.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck at 1440p High settings?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck, as evidenced by the 70.9 FPS average at 1440p High, which is a 33.5% drop from 1080p High. The CPU’s high benchmark scores and single-thread performance mean it is not limiting frame rates at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system depends on the target resolution. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset at 88.5 FPS provides the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, as it remains above 60 FPS while delivering the highest graphical fidelity. If a higher refresh rate monitor is in use, the High preset at 106.6 FPS offers a significant boost in smoothness with only a minor reduction in visual effects. The Medium preset at 128.1 FPS is also viable for competitive play, but the jump from High to Medium is less noticeable than the jump from Ultra to High.

At 1440p, the High preset at 70.9 FPS is the recommended choice, as it stays comfortably above 60 FPS and provides a sharp image. The Medium preset at 80.4 FPS offers a more comfortable margin for frame rate dips, but the visual difference is minimal. The Ultra preset at 58.7 FPS is playable but risks dropping below 60 FPS in intense scenes, so it is only recommended for players who prioritize image quality over smoothness. For 4K, the Low preset at 52.3 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, while the Medium preset at 46.4 FPS and High at 37.8 FPS are too choppy for most users. The data indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p Ultra or 1440p High, with 4K reserved for static scenes or screenshots rather than active gameplay.