Doom

The pairing of Intel’s Core i5-14400F with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a study in imbalance, but for Doom (2016), the data reveals a surprisingly playable combination at 1080p. This is not a high-end rig; the GPU sits in the 30th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU enjoys an 88th percentile standing. The benchmark results show exactly where this pairing shines and where it collapses, providing a clear picture of what this system can and cannot do.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking pattern in the measured data is how rapidly performance deteriorates as resolution climbs. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces an average of 73.8 FPS, which is genuinely smooth for a fast-paced shooter. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops that figure to 47.2 FPS, a significant 36% reduction. At 3840x2160, the average plummets to 25 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable play. This scaling behavior is the classic signature of a GPU-limited scenario; the workload is expanding with pixel count, and the GTX 1050 Ti, with its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 112.1 GB/s of bandwidth, simply runs out of resources.

The gap between 1080p and 1440p is the first major cliff. Even at High settings, the jump from 53.3 FPS to 35.5 FPS is a loss of roughly one-third of the frame rate. This suggests that 1440p is only viable with the lowest preset, and even then, it does not reach the 60 FPS mark. The 4K results are uniformly poor, ranging from 17.6 FPS on Ultra to 25 FPS on Low. These numbers are not merely unplayable; they indicate that the GPU is the overwhelming bottleneck at this resolution, as the CPU’s power cannot compensate for the sheer pixel throughput required. The data suggests the limiting component at 1440p and above is almost entirely the graphics card, whereas at 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU adequately, evidenced by the higher scores.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and a single-core score of 3093. This level of performance places it in a dead heat with rivals like the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, showing a deltaPct of 0 and 0.2, respectively. In the context of Doom, a game from 2016, the CPU is rarely the primary constraint. The data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system reaches 73.8 FPS, which is a strong indicator that the processor can handle the game’s logic and draw calls without breaking a sweat.

The single-core performance is particularly relevant for an older title like Doom, which often relies on one or two primary threads. The PassMark single-thread score of 3723 and the Geekbench single-core score of 2333 suggest strong per-core capability. However, the multi-threaded strength (PassMark multithread score of 25783) ensures that background tasks or lighter-threaded engines won't cause stutters. The data shows that when the GPU is not overwhelmed, the CPU can push frame rates high enough to be limited by the graphics card’s pixel fill rate rather than its own processing. In this pairing, the 14400F is the anchor of stability; it is never the reason for a low frame rate in this game. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 10 cores provide a massive safety margin for a title of this generation.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K?*

A: The data indicates no playable experience. At 3840x2160, even the best-case scenario (Low settings) yields an average of 25 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 17.6 FPS. These are below the standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware?

A: The only resolution where the system achieves a consistently smooth experience is 1920x1080. At this resolution, Low settings provide an average of 73.8 FPS, and Medium settings still reach 64.5 FPS, making 1080p the clear target.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct competitors?

A: The Core i5-14400F is statistically tied with the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 in average benchmark scores, with deltaPct values of 0 and 0.2, respectively. It is also just 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 250.

Q: Is the GTX 1050 Ti a strong performer relative to other GPUs?

A: No. The GTX 1050 Ti ranks in the 30th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 5316 puts it in the same class as the NVIDIA GeForce 930A and the GeForce 940M, which are mobile-oriented parts.

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

A: The gap is substantial. The system achieves 73.8 FPS on Low but drops to 43.3 FPS on Ultra at 1920x1080. This is a 41% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the Ultra preset is too demanding for the GPU.

Q: Does lowering the resolution help the GPU bottleneck?

A: Yes, but only to a point. Dropping from 2560x1440 to 1920x1080 at High settings improves the average frame rate from 35.5 FPS to 53.3 FPS. However, the GPU remains the limiting factor even at 1080p, as the CPU is far more capable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete matrix of performance across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system produces its best results. Low settings yield an average of 73.8 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings follow closely at 64.5 FPS, still comfortably above the 60 FPS target. High settings manage 53.3 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a competitive shooter. Ultra settings drop to 43.3 FPS, showing a clear limit for the GPU’s capabilities at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates fall below the ideal threshold. Low settings produce an average of 47.2 FPS, which is acceptable but not smooth. Medium settings yield 39.7 FPS, High settings 35.5 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 31.8 FPS. None of these figures reach the 60 FPS mark, indicating that 1440p should be avoided for serious play. At 3840x2160, the results are marginal. Low settings average 25 FPS, Medium 21.8 FPS, High 19.1 FPS, and Ultra 17.6 FPS. These numbers are strictly for observation, not gameplay, as they are well below the minimum for a responsive experience. The progression is linear and predictable: every increase in resolution or settings level takes a proportional toll on the average frame rate, confirming the GPU as the primary performance limiter.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration. With a base clock of 1291 MHz and a boost clock of 1392 MHz, it is a modest part by modern standards. Its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s, which is insufficient for high-resolution textures and effects in Doom. The GPU’s benchmark scores are weak, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 305 and a PassMark G3D score of 6340, placing it in the 30th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce 930A and the GeForce 940M, with deltaPct values of 0 and 0.4, respectively, which are typically found in entry-level laptops.

The data shows that this GPU is only suitable for 1080p gaming. The measured FPS at 1920x1080 on Medium (64.5 FPS) represents the sweet spot, where the GPU’s 768 shading units and 32 ROPs can keep up with the game’s demands. Pushing to Ultra settings at this resolution overwhelms the card, dropping the average to 43.3 FPS. The 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors suggest a card designed for basic power efficiency, not high-end performance. The 2.138 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is simply not enough to handle the geometry and lighting effects at higher resolutions. In essence, the GTX 1050 Ti can deliver a playable Doom experience, but only when asked to do a limited amount of work.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This configuration yields an average of 64.5 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for a fast-paced FPS. The jump from Low to Medium costs roughly 9 FPS (from 73.8 to 64.5), but the visual improvement is typically worth it, as the GPU still has enough headroom to maintain a solid frame rate. The High preset at 1080p (53.3 FPS) is a workable alternative if visual fidelity is the priority, but it approaches the lower limit of what is acceptable for twitch-based aiming.

For players who prioritize maximum frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p is the clear choice, delivering 73.8 FPS. This setting is recommended for competitive play where every millisecond counts. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as it produces the lowest frame rates (43.3 FPS at 1080p) without providing a proportional visual benefit. At 2560x1440, the data suggests that even the Low preset (47.2 FPS) is not sufficient for a consistent 60 FPS experience, so it is not recommended. The 4K resolution is entirely off the table for this hardware. The verdict is clear: stick to 1080p, use Medium for a balanced experience, or drop to Low for maximum smoothness.