Doom

The Intel Core i5-13400F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX combination delivers exceptional performance in Doom, a 2016 FPS title. The data shows this pairing is capable of extreme frame rates, particularly at lower resolutions, and remains highly playable even at 4K with maximum settings. The benchmark results indicate a system that prioritizes raw GPU throughput, with the CPU providing ample headroom to keep the graphics card fed.

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

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.60 GHz. The processor features a 20 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its benchmark scores place it in the 82nd percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25236.

In the context of Doom, the CPU's role is to maintain high frame pacing and avoid becoming a bottleneck. The processor's single-thread performance is strong, as evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 960 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3004. This is crucial because Doom's engine is well-optimized for high frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p, the system achieves an average of 361.4 FPS on Low settings, which is a clear indicator that the CPU is capable of processing game logic fast enough to support very high output from the GPU.

The 13400F's multi-threaded capabilities, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21279, are less critical for this particular title but ensure that background tasks do not interfere with gameplay. Compared to its nearest rivals, the CPU sits nearly exactly between the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and the Intel Core i7-13620H. It is 0.5% slower than the 5600X3D and 0.1% faster than the i7-13620H, indicating that its performance envelope is well established for gaming workloads. The processor's 65 W TDP suggests it is an efficient choice, but the benchmark results are what matter here, and they show a CPU that is more than adequate for the demands of this game.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the dominant component in this pairing. It is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. The GPU has a boost clock of 2498 MHz and a game clock of 2365 MHz. It scores in the 85th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44019.

The GPU's massive memory capacity and bandwidth are overkill for Doom, but they ensure that there are no memory-related stutters or texture pop-in. The data confirms the GPU's strength: at 1440p, the system averages 233.7 FPS on Low settings and 175.4 FPS on High. The RX 7900 XTX is clearly the primary driver of frame rates in this system. Its performance is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, which is 2% faster in average benchmark scores, and it is 0.8% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile. This indicates that the RX 7900 XTX is a top-tier graphics solution, and its high pixel rate of 479.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 959.2 GTexel/s are more than sufficient to handle the fast-paced action in Doom.

Even at 4K Ultra, the system manages 77.7 FPS, which shows that the GPU is capable of handling the highest settings at the most demanding resolution. The gap between the CPU and GPU performance is substantial, meaning the RX 7900 XTX is the component that dictates the system's overall gaming capability in this title.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear progression as resolution increases, highlighting the shift in system bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 361.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 233.7 FPS, a significant 35% decrease. At 4K Low, the average is 125.4 FPS, which is a further 46% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-bound system, where the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU without holding it back.

At higher settings, the pattern is consistent. For High settings, the frame rates are 267.4 FPS at 1080p, 175.4 FPS at 1440p, and 92.3 FPS at 4K. The performance delta between 1080p and 4K is 65% for High settings, which is a substantial drop. This steep decline indicates that the RX 7900 XTX is being fully utilized as the resolution increases, and its workload becomes the limiting factor. The CPU's performance, which is constant across resolutions, is not the constraint here.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the system is likely pushing against the CPU's limits, as the frame rates are exceptionally high. However, the CPU still manages to provide over 360 FPS on Low. As resolution scales, the GPU's rendering load increases, and the FPS drops accordingly. This is a textbook example of a balanced system where the GPU is the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides a solid foundation that does not hinder the GPU's output. The fact that 4K Ultra still yields 77.7 FPS proves that this combo is viable for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming in this title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

According to the database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX ranks 260th out of 1681 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the top 15.5% of all systems tested, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU.

The rank is more a reflection of the GPU's dominance than the CPU's, as the RX 7900 XTX is a powerful card. The 13400F is a capable processor, but the rank suggests that combos with higher-end CPUs (like the i7 or i9 series) might score slightly higher due to better frame pacing at the extreme frame rates seen at 1080p. However, the data shows that the difference is likely small, as the CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.5% of its average benchmark score.

For a builder, this rank means that this combo is a very solid choice for Doom. It is not the absolute top-tier configuration, but it delivers frame rates that are far beyond what most displays can handle. The system has more than enough power for a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor at 1440p, and it can even drive a 4K 120Hz display on lower settings. The rank reflects a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate gaming, with the GPU providing the bulk of the performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the expected performance at 1440p on High settings?

A: The data shows an average frame rate of 175.4 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is a very high frame rate, suitable for fast-paced FPS gaming on high-refresh-rate monitors.

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

A: Yes. At 4K with Ultra settings, the system averages 77.7 FPS. If you prefer higher frame rates, dropping to High settings raises that to 92.3 FPS, and Low settings yield 125.4 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F is 0.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-13620H and 0.5% slower than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D. It is effectively performance-equivalent to these processors for general benchmarks.

*Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system for Doom?*

A: The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the system achieves 361.4 FPS on Low, suggesting the CPU is capable of keeping up with the GPU's output, but the GPU's workload increases significantly as resolution scales.

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect on Low settings?

A: At 1080p Low, the system averages 361.4 FPS. At 1440p Low, it averages 233.7 FPS, and at 4K Low, it averages 125.4 FPS. These are all extremely high frame rates.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have, and is it sufficient?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX has 24 GB of GDDR6 memory. This is far more than Doom requires and ensures no memory-related performance issues at any resolution or setting.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience. For most players, the High preset at 1440p is the sweet spot, offering an average of 175.4 FPS. This provides a fluid and responsive experience that is ideal for competitive play. If you have a 4K display, the High preset is recommended, as it delivers 92.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and is a better balance than Ultra, which drops to 77.7 FPS.

For players with 1080p monitors, the Ultra preset is a viable option, as it still achieves a massive 220.5 FPS. However, the difference between High and Ultra at this resolution is minimal (267.4 FPS vs 220.5 FPS), so you may prefer High for slightly higher frame rates. The Low preset is unnecessary for this hardware, as it pushes frame rates beyond 360 FPS at 1080p, which is beyond the refresh rate of most displays. The Medium preset offers a balanced middle ground, with 318.1 FPS at 1080p and 202.8 FPS at 1440p. Ultimately, the data suggests that High settings at 1440p or 4K provide the best combination of visual quality and performance, ensuring the experience is smooth and visually rich without sacrificing frame rate.