Doom

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Doom, but the data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as resolution climbs. At 1080p, the combination is heavily CPU-limited, with the GPU struggling to keep pace with the processor's output. At 4K, the tables turn, and the GPU becomes the definitive limiting factor. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to show exactly where this combo excels and where it falls short.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and tells a clear story about component balance. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 140.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 89.1 FPS at 2560x1440, a substantial 36.6% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average plummets to 47.8 FPS, which is just 34% of the 1080p performance. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions: as pixel count increases, the graphics card's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the primary constraints.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (193.4 FPS) and Ultra (116.1 FPS) is 77.3 FPS, a 40% performance hit for maximum visual fidelity. At 4K, that same settings gap shrinks to 25.4 FPS (67.7 vs 42.3 FPS), a 37.5% reduction. This compression suggests that at 4K, even Low settings are demanding enough to keep the GPU fully occupied, whereas at 1080p, the CPU can feed frames fast enough to expose the GPU's limits more clearly.

The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1080p, even Ultra settings maintain an average above 116 FPS, which is smooth for fast-paced FPS action. At 1440p, High settings deliver 89.1 FPS, which is playable, but Ultra drops to 77.3 FPS. The 4K numbers are the weakest link: no settings preset breaks the 68 FPS barrier, and Ultra sits at a marginal 42.3 FPS. For a game like Doom, where maintaining high frame rates is critical for responsiveness, 4K gaming with this combo is not recommended.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its benchmark results show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21279 and a Passmark multithread score of 25032. The single-thread performance is also solid, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2301 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3634. This CPU sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs tested, putting it well above average.

In Doom, the CPU's role is most apparent at 1080p, where frame rates are high enough to potentially bottleneck a weaker processor. However, the data shows that even at 1080p Low settings (193.4 FPS), the i5-13400F is not the limiting factor; the RTX 2060 SUPER simply cannot render frames any faster. The CPU's 16 threads and 20 MB of shared L3 cache are more than sufficient for Doom's engine, which is known for being well-optimized. The processor's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-13620H (0.1% higher avg score) and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (0.5% lower avg score), are all within a 0.5% performance delta, indicating that this CPU is competitively positioned in its class.

The fact that FPS scales almost linearly with resolution and settings, rather than hitting a CPU-imposed ceiling, confirms that the i5-13400F is not the bottleneck in this pairing. Even at 4K Ultra (42.3 FPS), the CPU is likely idling, waiting for the GPU to finish its work. This is a good sign for longevity; if the GPU were upgraded in the future, the CPU would still have headroom to support higher frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its core clocks are 1470 MHz base and 1650 MHz boost, with 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs. The GPU's benchmark scores are modest, with a Passmark G3D score of 16462 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011. It sits in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, which is below average for modern standards but adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

The measured FPS data confirms that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The drop from 67.7 FPS at 4K Low to 42.3 FPS at 4K Ultra shows that the GPU's raw compute power and memory bandwidth are insufficient for high-resolution, high-detail rendering. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is also a consideration; while Doom itself does not typically exceed 8 GB at these settings, the margin for error is thin, and future titles with larger textures could cause issues.

At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU performs more admirably. The 140.6 FPS at 1080p High and 89.1 FPS at 1440p High are respectable figures for a mid-range card from 2019. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (0.5% higher avg score) and GTX TITAN (0.3% higher avg score), are very close in performance, meaning this card is well-positioned within its generation. However, the data clearly shows that this GPU is not designed for 4K gaming, and users should target lower resolutions for a consistently smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 1176 out of 1681 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the lower 30% of all combinations, which is a direct reflection of the GPU's age and performance class. The ranking is not a criticism of the CPU, which is capable, but rather a consequence of pairing a strong 2023 processor with a 2019 mid-range GPU.

The combo's ranking suggests that while it can handle Doom at 1080p and 1440p with acceptable frame rates, it is not a high-performance setup by modern standards. The 1176th rank implies that there are many other combinations that deliver higher average FPS in this game. For a user with a 144Hz monitor, this combo would likely struggle to consistently hit 144 FPS at 1080p Ultra (116.1 FPS), but it would be fine at High settings (140.6 FPS). The ranking is a useful reference point: it tells you that this setup is entry-level for high-refresh-rate gaming and not suitable for 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Doom?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the sweet spot. All settings presets maintain an average above 116 FPS, and High settings deliver 140.6 FPS. 2560x1440 is playable at Low (125.6 FPS) and Medium (109.8 FPS), but High (89.1 FPS) and Ultra (77.3 FPS) are less ideal for fast-paced gameplay.

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

A: The data shows that 4K is not recommended. Even at Low settings, the average FPS is 67.7, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. At Ultra, the average drops to 42.3 FPS, making the game feel sluggish. The GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25236. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-13620H, scores 25201, which is a 0.1% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D scores 25365, a 0.5% difference. These deltas are negligible, meaning the CPU is competitively matched with its peers.

Q: Is the GPU the bottleneck in this setup?

A: Yes, particularly at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU and GPU are more balanced, but the FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a classic GPU-bound pattern. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K Ultra, where it drops to 42.3 FPS.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average is 89.1 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold and is generally considered smooth for single-player action, but it may not be enough for competitive multiplayer where higher frame rates are preferred.

Q: How does this combo rank against all tested combos?

A: It ranks 1176 out of 1681 combos tested for Doom. This places it in the lower 30%, indicating that while it is functional, many other combinations deliver higher performance in this game.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the data points to the High preset as the optimal choice. At 1080p, High delivers 140.6 FPS, which is only 5.6% lower than Medium (168.8 FPS) but offers noticeably better visuals. The jump from High to Ultra costs 24.5 FPS (140.6 to 116.1 FPS), a 17.4% reduction, which is a significant trade-off for marginal graphical improvements. At 1440p, High is again the sweet spot, providing 89.1 FPS, which is more than sufficient for a smooth experience.

The Medium preset is a viable alternative if you prefer higher frame rates. At 1080p Medium, you get 168.8 FPS, which is 20% faster than High. At 1440p Medium, you get 109.8 FPS, which is a 23% improvement over High. Low settings are only recommended if you are targeting the absolute maximum FPS for competitive play, as they yield 193.4 FPS at 1080p and 125.6 FPS at 1440p. However, the visual degradation is severe. Avoid Ultra settings at 1440p (77.3 FPS) and 4K (42.3 FPS), as the frame rate drops below the comfort zone for a fast-paced shooter. Stick with High at 1080p or 1440p for the best overall experience.