Doom

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 presents a clear picture for Doom: this is a combination where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, but the CPU’s strong multi-threaded performance ensures that frame rates remain high even when the graphics card is not fully taxed. The measured data shows a predictable scaling pattern, with performance dropping as resolution increases, but the degree of that drop reveals the balance of this specific hardware pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 shows a significant performance cost, which is typical for a game like Doom that relies heavily on raw GPU throughput. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 202 FPS, which is an excellent baseline that indicates the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU without creating a noticeable frame rate ceiling. Moving up to 2560x1440 Low, the average drops to 131 FPS, a reduction of approximately 35%. This is a substantial hit, but the resulting frame rate is still very high, suggesting that the GPU is starting to work harder while the CPU still has headroom.

When pushing to 3840x2160 Low, the average falls to 71 FPS. This is a dramatic 46% decrease from the 1440p result and a 65% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep decline is the clearest indicator that the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor at 4K. The GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are simply not sufficient to maintain the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. The data shows that while the CPU (with its 10 cores and 16 threads) can handle the game’s logic and draw calls at any resolution, the GPU’s rendering workload becomes the wall.

This pattern holds across all settings presets. For example, with High settings, the average frame rate goes from 149 FPS at 1080p to 96 FPS at 1440p (a 36% drop), and then to 52 FPS at 4K (a 46% drop from 1440p). The consistency of this scaling across Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets confirms that the bottleneck is almost exclusively the GPU as resolution increases. The RTX 5050, with its 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus, is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, but it is clearly overmatched at 4K. If you are targeting 4K, you will need to make significant compromises on settings, and even then, the average frame rate will hover around the 60 FPS mark only on Low settings. For smooth 4K gameplay, you would be better off sticking to 1440p where the performance is much more comfortable.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 1766 out of 2930 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the 60th percentile of all tested systems, which is a solidly mid-pack result. It indicates that while this pairing is not a top-tier performer for this game, it significantly outperforms a large portion of the field. The rank is likely dragged down by the GPU’s performance at 4K, where many other combos with more powerful graphics cards will pull ahead.

Looking at the individual components, the CPU’s performance is a strong point. The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292, placing it at the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (with a delta of 0%), the Intel Core 5 120 (with a delta of -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (also at -0.3%). This shows that the 13400F is competitive with these other processors, trading blows within a 0.4% margin. This is a strong CPU that is unlikely to be the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, including Doom.

On the other hand, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, which places it at the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (delta of -0.6%), the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (delta of -1%), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (delta of +1.6%). This suggests the RTX 5050 is a mid-range performer in the overall GPU landscape. The data indicates that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing, which aligns with the resolution scaling analysis. The combo’s rank of 1766 is a reflection of this GPU limitation, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU’s high percentile ranking does not fully compensate for the GPU's mid-pack position when combined for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on your target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, you have a lot of flexibility. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 122 FPS, which is more than enough for a smooth experience on a standard 60Hz or 144Hz monitor. The High preset gives you 149 FPS, which is a 22% improvement over Ultra and is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. If you have a 240Hz monitor, the Medium preset at 176 FPS is a better choice, but even the Low preset at 202 FPS is playable. There is no reason to use Low settings at 1080p unless you are chasing the absolute maximum frame rate, as the visual quality trade-off is not worth the FPS gain over High or Ultra.

For 2560x1440, the picture is still very good, but you must start making choices. The High preset achieves a solid 96 FPS, which is excellent for most gaming monitors. The Medium preset is slightly faster at 114 FPS, a 19% increase, and is a great choice if you prioritize frame rate over the minor visual differences between Medium and High. The Ultra preset drops to 79 FPS, which is still playable but not as smooth. The Low preset at 131 FPS is only recommended if you have a 144Hz or higher monitor and want to maximize performance. For most users, High or Medium at 1440p will provide the best balance of visual quality and performance.

For 3840x2160, the data is clear: you must make significant compromises. The Low preset is the only one that achieves an average above 60 FPS, at 71 FPS. Medium drops to 62 FPS, which is playable but close to the edge. High sits at 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS, both of which are below the ideal threshold for smooth gameplay. For 4K, the recommendation is to use Low or Medium settings. The difference between these two presets is 9 FPS, so you may prefer Medium if you have a VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) monitor and can tolerate the occasional dip. High and Ultra are not recommended for 4K on this hardware, as the frame rates will be too inconsistent for a good experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 202 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 176 | 150 | 203 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 149 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 122 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 131 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 114 | 97 | 131 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 96 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 79 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 71 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 62 | 52 | 71 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 52 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 43 | - | - |

The data shows a few key points. At each resolution, the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra is consistent. At 1080p, the gap is 80 FPS (from 202 to 122). At 1440p, the gap is 52 FPS (from 131 to 79). At 4K, the gap is 28 FPS (from 71 to 43). This shows that the cost of enabling higher settings is substantial at lower resolutions, where the GPU has more headroom, but becomes less impactful at 4K, where the GPU is already saturated. The Medium preset data also includes min and max FPS values, showing a range of 150-203 at 1080p, 97-131 at 1440p, and 52-71 at 4K. These ranges show that there is some frame time variance, but nothing that would cause stuttering on a standard VRR display. The High and Ultra presets do not have min/max data, but their averages are consistent with the scaling trend.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K with high settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS for 4K High is 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K Ultra preset is even lower at 43 FPS. For a playable 4K experience, you must use Low or Medium settings, which average 71 FPS and 62 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The data suggests 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At this resolution, you can achieve high frame rates with good visual quality. For example, the High preset averages 96 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 114 FPS. This provides a much better experience than 4K, where you must sacrifice settings to stay above 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU is a high performer, ranking at the 77th percentile. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU limit. At 1080p, the CPU can push the GPU to 202 FPS on Low, but at 4K, the GPU cannot keep up, dropping to 71 FPS on Low.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to other GPUs in the database?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, placing it at the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, which is 1.6% faster, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is 0.6% slower. It is a mid-range performer, not a top-tier card.

Q: What settings should I use for a 144Hz 1080p monitor?

A: You can comfortably use the High preset, which averages 149 FPS, or the Medium preset, which averages 176 FPS. The Ultra preset at 122 FPS is also an option, but it is slightly below the 144Hz refresh rate. For a 240Hz monitor, the Low preset at 202 FPS is the only one that consistently exceeds that target.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F a strong processor for gaming?

A: Yes, the data indicates it is a strong processor. It has an average benchmark score of 25292, placing it at the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its multi-threaded performance is competitive with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, as the delta between them is less than 0.4%. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, which is more than enough for Doom.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. This is a high-performance desktop CPU, and its benchmark scores reflect that. In the Cinebench R23 test, it scores 22604 points in multi-core and 3191 points in single-core. This strong multi-threaded performance ensures that the CPU can handle the game’s engine logic, AI, and physics without becoming a bottleneck, even when the GPU is producing very high frame rates.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and process game state. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 202 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This indicates that the CPU is not holding back the GPU at these settings. Even at 1440p and 4K, the frame rates are limited by the GPU, not the CPU. The CPU’s high single-thread performance (a score of 3191 in Cinebench R23) is also important for games that rely on a few main threads. The 13400F's performance is comparable to its nearest rivals, with a delta of 0% against the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, -0.3% against the Intel Core 5 120, and -0.3% against the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D. This places it in a very competitive position. The CPU's 65W TDP is modest for a desktop part, but its performance puts it in the 77th percentile. For this game, the 13400F provides a solid foundation that will not limit the gaming experience, allowing the RTX 5050 to be the sole determinant of graphical performance.