Doom

The Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination secures the 1686th position out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 57th percentile of all systems benchmarked for this title. This mid-pack ranking suggests the pairing delivers a competent experience, but the data reveals a system that is neither a top-tier performer nor a slouch, with the GPU clearly acting as the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1686 out of 2930 places it in the upper-middle tier of the database for Doom. This is a position that typically indicates a system capable of solid frame rates at mainstream settings, but one that will not dominate at the extreme high end. The CPU, the Intel Core i5-14400F, holds the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, a strong score that suggests it is far from being a bottleneck in this pairing. However, the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9060, sits at the 59th percentile among all GPUs, which is a more modest standing. This disparity between the CPU's percentile and the GPU's percentile is a clear sign that the graphics card is the limiting factor in this system's overall performance tier.

The data implies a system built around a very capable processor that is paired with a mid-range graphics solution. In a game like Doom, which is known for being well-optimized, this combination yields a playable experience across most resolutions, but the GPU's performance ceiling becomes apparent when pushing towards 4K. The rank relative to other combos reflects this balance, landing the system in a large cluster of configurations that offer similar 1440p and 1080p performance. The CPU's benchmark average of 32279 places it within 0.5% of rivals like the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS, confirming that the processor's contribution to the combo's rank is consistently solid across different hardware pairings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the central figure in determining this combo's gaming experience. Its specifications paint a picture of a modern, efficient mid-range card. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, the card offers a memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU's clock speeds are notably high, with a base of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock reaching 2990 MHz. These high clocks help compensate for the relatively narrow memory bus, allowing the card to maintain respectable throughput in most scenarios.

In the context of Doom, the GPU's role is clear from the measured FPS. The card's 21.43 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power and 64 ROPs are sufficient to drive high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. However, the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus become a point of concern at 4K. The benchmark results show a significant performance drop at 3840x2160, which suggests that the memory subsystem is struggling to keep up with the data demands of the higher resolution. The GPU's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, has an average benchmark score that is only 0.7% higher, indicating that the RX 9060 is in a well-established performance tier, but the data shows it is not a high-end part designed for 4K dominance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of scaling that highlights the GPU as the primary bottleneck. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160 shows a clear and consistent drop in average frame rates across all settings. This is the expected behavior for a system where the graphics card is the limiting factor; as resolution increases, the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth demands grow, and the GPU's performance degrades proportionally.

At Ultra settings, the average FPS falls from 127 at 1080p to 82 at 1440p, a decrease of 35%. At 4K, the average drops further to 45 FPS, a 45% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline indicates that the RX 9060 is being pushed to its limits. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear but becomes more punishing at higher resolutions, which is a hallmark of a GPU that is reaching its memory bandwidth or compute capacity limits. The data suggests that while the CPU can easily feed the GPU with frames at 1080p, at 4K the GPU is struggling to process the increased workload, making it the clear performance ceiling for this combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a detailed look at the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. Average FPS ranges from 211 on Low to 127 on Ultra. The Medium preset delivers an average of 184 FPS with a minimum of 156 and a maximum of 212, showing a very stable frame time. High settings follow closely with 155 FPS average. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the RX 9060 has ample headroom, and the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors, even on the highest quality presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's strain. Low settings produce an average of 137 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings deliver 119 FPS on average, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 137. High settings are still very playable at 101 FPS average. The Ultra preset, however, drops below the 100 FPS mark to an average of 82 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for the combo, offering a great balance between visual fidelity and high frame rates, though users targeting 144Hz will need to dial down from Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. The average FPS drops significantly across all settings. Low settings yield 74 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 65 FPS with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74. High settings dip to 54 FPS average, and Ultra falls to an average of just 45 FPS. These numbers suggest that 4K gaming is only viable on the Low or Medium presets if a stable 60 FPS is the goal. The Ultra preset at 4K would feel sluggish, and the High preset is borderline, highlighting the card's limits at this resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a robust processor that provides the foundation for this system. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, a configuration that offers strong multi-threaded performance. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, which can boost up to 4.70 GHz, allowing for excellent single-threaded responsiveness. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a versatile and powerful choice for gaming. In Doom, which is not particularly demanding on the CPU, the i5-14400F is more than capable of keeping up with the GPU.

The data confirms that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The i5-14400F's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055. These scores place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, far above the GPU's 59th percentile. The CPU's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, has an average score that is only 0.1% higher, indicating that the i5-14400F is at the top of its performance class. In the context of the measured FPS, the CPU's role is largely to provide a stable frame delivery platform. The fact that FPS scales down predictably with resolution and settings, rather than showing erratic dips that would indicate a CPU bottleneck, is strong evidence that the processor is handling its duties without issue. The system's performance is entirely dictated by the GPU's rendering capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 is the most balanced resolution. The combo achieves an average of 101 FPS on High settings and 137 FPS on Low, offering a strong mix of visual quality and high frame rates. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops below 74 even on Low settings, making 1440p the optimal choice for a consistently smooth experience.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is only 54 on High settings and drops to 45 on Ultra. To achieve a playable 60 FPS, the user would need to select the Medium or Low preset, which average 65 FPS and 74 FPS respectively.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F performs exceptionally well. Its average benchmark score of 32279 is only 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-12800H and 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS. This places it in a tight cluster of high-performing processors, where its multi-core and single-core scores are competitive.

Q: Is the GPU more or less powerful than its closest competitor?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is nearly identical in performance to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. The data shows the RTX 3060 Ti has an average score that is only 0.7% higher, indicating that these two cards are effectively in the same performance tier.

Q: What is the impact of changing from Low to Ultra settings?

A: The impact is substantial. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 211 on Low to 127 on Ultra, a 40% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is from 137 FPS to 82 FPS, and at 4K, it falls from 74 FPS to 45 FPS. The Ultra preset imposes a significant performance cost across all resolutions.

Q: Does the system show any signs of a CPU bottleneck?

A: No. The performance scaling with resolution and settings is consistent and predictable, which is the signature of a GPU-limited system. The CPU's high benchmark percentile and strong single-core scores indicate it is delivering frames to the GPU without becoming a limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience depends heavily on the user's display and performance targets. For users with a 1080p display, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 155 FPS. This provides a great balance of visual fidelity and performance, easily exceeding 144 Hz for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is also viable at 127 FPS average, but the 28 FPS gain from dropping to High is significant, making High the more efficient option.

For 1440p users, the High preset is the recommended starting point, with an average of 101 FPS. This offers a highly playable experience with good detail. For those seeking maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 137 FPS average is an option, but it sacrifices visual quality. The Medium preset at 119 FPS average is a strong middle ground, providing a good balance between the two. The Ultra preset at 82 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced competitive play.

At 4K, the recommendations are more constrained. The Medium preset is the best choice for a playable experience, averaging 65 FPS. This is the only preset that comes close to a 60 FPS target without significant drops, as its minimum FPS is 55. The Low preset at 74 FPS average is the best option for a smoother experience, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. The High and Ultra presets should be avoided for 4K, as they average 54 FPS and 45 FPS respectively, which is too low for a comfortable experience. The data clearly shows that the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best overall experience, balancing a high frame rate of 119 FPS with respectable visual quality, making it the recommended choice for most users.