Doom

This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 in the 2016 FPS title, Doom. The data presents a clear picture of a system where the legacy GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the modern CPU provides ample headroom. Benchmark results indicate a configuration that is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, with 4K proving to be a significant challenge for the graphics card.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance drop as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 115.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that figure falls by roughly a third to 78 FPS, a decrease of 37.7 FPS. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average plummeting to 42.2 FPS, which is a 63.5 FPS drop from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern strongly implies that the GeForce GTX 1070’s rendering capabilities are exhausted long before the 10-core processor becomes a limiting factor.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, with Low settings, the average frame rate goes from 156.5 FPS at 1080p, to 99.9 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 53.5 FPS at 4K. The relative performance loss from 1080p to 4K is nearly identical across the Low and High presets, indicating that the bottleneck is resolution-driven pixel throughput rather than a particular setting's computational complexity. The data suggests that the GTX 1070's 256-bit memory bus and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions, limiting the flow of texture data to the GPU cores.

The question this raises is whether the CPU is ever a factor. Given that the FPS drops are so pronounced with each resolution increase, the processor is likely idling, waiting for the GPU to finish each frame. The performance headroom of the i5-13400F, with its boost clock of 4.60 GHz, is not being fully utilized in this title at these settings. The data points to a configuration where the GPU is the definitive performance ceiling from 1440p upwards.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, built on the 16 nm Pascal architecture, is the central figure in these results. Its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus is a defining characteristic. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS collapses to 30.7, a figure that is barely playable. This is a stark contrast to the 4K Low result of 53.5 FPS, which is a 22.8 FPS improvement. This gap suggests that the Ultra preset's demands on memory capacity and bandwidth are exceeding what the GTX 1070 can efficiently manage, forcing the card into a state where it is struggling to feed its 1920 shading units.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1506 MHz and a boost of 1683 MHz, are fixed in the data. The benchmark results show that even at High settings, the card cannot maintain a 60 FPS average at 4K, scoring 42.2 FPS. This indicates that the card's raw compute power, rated at 6.463 TFLOPS for FP32, is insufficient for the pixel count of 3840x2160. The card's percentile ranking of 51 against all GPUs suggests it is an average performer in the current landscape, and its nearest rival, the GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER, is statistically close in average benchmark score, with a deltaPct of -1.4.

The memory subsystem appears to be a critical factor. With the game’s release date in 2016, the GTX 1070 was a high-end card, but its 8 GB capacity is now a baseline. The data implies that the card's 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth is the limiting factor at 4K, as the frame rate drops are more severe than what would be expected from a pure compute limitation. The transition from Medium to Ultra at 4K, which only yields a 16.1 FPS difference (46.8 to 30.7), shows how quickly the card's resources are exhausted by higher fidelity settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for an optimal experience. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is achievable, with an average of 94.6 FPS. This is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay and suggests that the GTX 1070 can handle the game's maximum visual fidelity at this resolution. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p is a 21.1 FPS drop (115.7 to 94.6), but the resulting frame rate is still highly playable, making Ultra the recommended choice for users with 1080p displays.

For 1440p, the situation becomes more nuanced. The High preset yields a solid 78 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset drops to 63.3 FPS, which is still playable but begins to approach the threshold where frame pacing could become noticeable in a fast-paced FPS. The data suggests that High is the safer choice for a consistent experience, while Ultra is viable for those who prioritize visuals over a higher frame rate buffer. The Low preset at 1440p, at 99.9 FPS, offers a high frame rate but likely sacrifices too much visual fidelity to be a worthwhile trade-off.

At 4K, no preset achieves a 60 FPS average. The highest measured average is 53.5 FPS on Low, which is not ideal for a competitive shooter. The High and Medium presets, at 42.2 and 46.8 FPS respectively, are borderline playable but will not provide a fluid experience. The Ultra preset, at 30.7 FPS, is not recommended. The data indicates that 4K is not a practical resolution for this combo in Doom, and users should either lower their expectations or their resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the average FPS results.

1920x1080:

• Low: 156.5 FPS
• Medium: 134.9 FPS
• High: 115.7 FPS
• Ultra: 94.6 FPS

The 1080p results show a clear hierarchy, with a 61.9 FPS difference between the Low and Ultra presets. The scaling is nearly linear, with each step up in quality costing approximately 20 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, but it has enough headroom to handle the full range of settings.

2560x1440:

• Low: 99.9 FPS
• Medium: 86.8 FPS
• High: 78 FPS
• Ultra: 63.3 FPS

At 1440p, the frame rates are compressed compared to 1080p. The difference between Low and Ultra is 36.6 FPS, less than at 1080p. The card is starting to feel the pressure of the increased pixel count. The Ultra preset remains above 60 FPS, which is a notable achievement for this older GPU.

3840x2160:

• Low: 53.5 FPS
• Medium: 46.8 FPS
• High: 42.2 FPS
• Ultra: 30.7 FPS

The 4K results are consistently below the 60 FPS target. The data shows that the performance gap between Low and Ultra narrows to just 22.8 FPS, suggesting that even the lowest settings are heavily taxing the GPU's memory interface and shading units. The card is clearly overmatched at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Doom, this specific configuration ranks 1428 out of 1681 combos. This places it in the bottom 15% of all tested systems, which is a surprisingly low position given the 1080p performance. The ranking suggests that while the combo is capable of high frame rates at lower resolutions, its overall standing is dragged down by its inability to handle 4K, which is likely a common benchmark resolution for many other, more modern GPU pairings.

The CPU's individual ranking is much stronger, with a percentile of 82 against all CPUs. This indicates that the i5-13400F is a high-performing processor relative to its peers. However, in this specific game and combo, its contribution is limited by the GPU. The GPU's percentile of 51 against all GPUs places it squarely in the middle of the pack, and its nearest rivals, such as the Quadro K4200 and GTX 880M, have very close average benchmark scores, with deltaPct values of 0.7 and -1.3 respectively. This reinforces the idea that the GTX 1070 is a mid-range performer in the current testing environment.

The rank of 1428 indicates that there are 253 other combos that perform worse, but a vast majority perform better. This is a direct consequence of the GPU's age. The data implies that this combo is best viewed as a 1080p gaming solution, and its ranking reflects that it is not competitive at higher resolutions when compared to the broader field of tested hardware.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K with a playable frame rate?

A: No. The measured data shows that the highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 53.5 on Low settings, with Ultra yielding only 30.7 FPS. These figures are below the generally accepted 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: The High preset provides an average of 78 FPS, which offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset at 63.3 FPS is also viable, but High provides more headroom for demanding scenes.

Q: How does the GTX 1070's performance compare to its nearest rival, the GTX 1650 SUPER?

A: The benchmark data shows the GTX 1070 has an average score of 12331, while the GTX 1650 SUPER has a deltaPct of -1.4, meaning it scores slightly lower. The performance difference between the two is minimal.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. The data shows the combo achieves 115.7 FPS on High at 1080p, which is a very high frame rate. The CPU is likely not the limiting factor, as the GPU is being tasked with rendering a high number of frames.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The average FPS on Low is 156.5, while on Ultra it is 94.6. This is a difference of 61.9 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems in Doom?

A: The combo ranks 1428 out of 1681 tested combinations. This places it in the lower portion of the rankings, primarily due to its weak 4K performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, is a modern processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21279 and a single-core score of 3004. These numbers place it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a high-performing processor. However, in Doom, the data suggests its role is secondary to the GPU.

The CPU's base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz provide significant processing power. Yet, the measured FPS scaling with resolution is almost entirely a function of GPU load. The fact that the FPS drops so consistently with resolution increases indicates that the CPU is not the component limiting performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution.

The data implies that the i5-13400F has ample headroom for this game. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and high single-thread performance are more than sufficient for Doom's engine. The benchmark results point to a scenario where the CPU is ready to feed frames at a much higher rate than the GTX 1070 can produce them. This is a common pairing dynamic: a modern, capable CPU paired with an older, less powerful GPU. The system's overall performance is therefore dictated by the GPU, and the CPU's potential is left untapped in this specific workload. The processor's high performance ensures it will not cause stutters or frame drops, but it cannot overcome the GPU's hardware limitations.