Doom

# Doom: Intel Core i5-14600K + AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT

This combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT produces measured performance data in Doom that places it at rank 1061 out of 1681 tested combos. That positioning suggests a mid-pack result, with the CPU's strong benchmark standing and the GPU's more modest percentile rank both influencing the final experience. The data set includes 12 measured FPS scenarios across three resolutions and four settings presets, offering a clear picture of how this pairing scales with demand.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1061 out of 1681 places it in the lower-middle portion of all tested combinations for Doom. This percentile position is worth examining given the components' individual profiles: the CPU sits at the 93rd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 72nd percentile among all graphics cards. The gap between these standings hints that the graphics card is the limiting factor in this pairing, which the FPS data across resolutions confirms.

The i5-14600K's average benchmark score of 49166 places it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (49062) and 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-14600KF (49367). It also sits 0.9% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4345P (49595) and 1% behind the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (48698). These tight deltas indicate the CPU is not the bottleneck in most scenarios. The RX 6650 XT, meanwhile, scores essentially identically to the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (29011, deltaPct 0), the AMD Radeon RX 470 (28996, deltaPct 0.1), and within 0.5-0.6% of the Intel Arc A370M and AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH. This GPU-level parity explains why the combo lands where it does—the processor has headroom, but the graphics card defines the ceiling.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its clock speeds are notable: a base clock of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz. The memory runs at 2190 MHz, translating to 17.5 Gbps effective. With 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, the card delivers 10.79 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s.

These specifications map directly to the Doom results. At 1080p, the card pushes 200.8 FPS on Low settings, which suggests the GPU has enough raw throughput for high refresh rates when graphical demands are modest. However, the 32 RT cores and RDNA 2.0 architecture, while capable for this 2016 title, show their limits as resolution climbs. The card's 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs, combined with its average benchmark score of 29024, indicates a mainstream-class part that performs admirably in older titles but lacks the headroom of higher-tier options. The pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s and FP32 throughput of 10.79 TFLOPS are the figures that matter most for Doom's fill-rate-heavy rendering.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear GPU-bound pattern. At High settings, average FPS drops from 147.3 at 1920x1080, to 93.2 at 2560x1440, to 51 at 3840x2160. That represents a 36.7% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 45.3% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with a GPU that is increasingly stressed by pixel count.

Low settings tell a similar story but with higher absolute numbers: 200.8 FPS at 1080p, 131.3 at 1440p, and 72.5 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 34.6%, and from 1440p to 4K is 44.8%. Medium settings show 173.2 FPS at 1080p, 115.8 at 1440p, and 62.9 at 4K—drops of 33.1% and 45.7%, respectively. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with 118.5 FPS at 1080p falling to 80.7 at 1440p and 40.1 at 4K.

The consistent pattern across all settings—roughly one-third loss from 1080p to 1440p, then nearly half the remaining performance lost from 1440p to 4K—indicates the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU's 14 cores and 20 threads with a 5.30 GHz boost clock are more than sufficient to feed the GPU at these frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RX 6650 XT delivers playable-to-excellent results across all presets. Low settings produce 200.8 FPS, Medium achieves 173.2 FPS, High reaches 147.3 FPS, and Ultra still manages 118.5 FPS. Every preset at this resolution exceeds 100 FPS, making 1080p the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate displays.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limits. Low settings yield 131.3 FPS, Medium drops to 115.8 FPS, High falls to 93.2 FPS, and Ultra hits 80.7 FPS. The 1440p results are all above 80 FPS, which is smooth for most players, but the gap between Low and Ultra narrows from 82.3 FPS at 1080p to 50.6 FPS at 1440p, showing that settings choices matter less as resolution increases.

At 3840x2160, the card struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings produce 72.5 FPS, Medium drops to 62.9 FPS, High falls to 51 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 40.1 FPS. Only the Low preset at 4K stays above 60 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 32.4 FPS, the smallest of any resolution, confirming that the GPU is saturated regardless of settings at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p gaming, the data supports using Ultra settings, as the 118.5 FPS average still provides a smooth experience while maximizing visual quality. Players prioritizing maximum frame rates could choose Low at 200.8 FPS, but the jump from Ultra to Low only gains 82.3 FPS—a significant margin, yet Ultra remains well above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1440p, High settings at 93.2 FPS offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. Ultra at 80.7 FPS is also viable, but the 12.5 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the graphical impact in fast-paced combat. Low settings at 131.3 FPS provide the highest frame rates for competitive play, but Medium at 115.8 FPS and High at 93.2 FPS are both strong options depending on preference.

For 4K, the recommendation is clear: Low settings at 72.5 FPS is the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS. Medium at 62.9 FPS is borderline, while High at 51 FPS and Ultra at 40.1 FPS will feel less fluid in a game that rewards quick reactions. Players with 4K displays should accept the visual compromise or consider lowering resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K bottlenecking the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT in Doom?

A: The data does not indicate CPU bottlenecking. The i5-14600K ranks at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, and its nearest rival deltas are within 1% of comparable processors. The consistent FPS scaling across resolutions points to the GPU as the limiting factor.

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

A: High settings at 93.2 FPS provides the strongest combination of visual quality and frame rate. Ultra at 80.7 FPS remains playable, but the 12.5 FPS reduction from High to Ultra suggests diminishing returns.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K at 60 FPS?

A: Only at Low settings, which achieves 72.5 FPS. Medium dips to 62.9 FPS, High falls to 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 40.1 FPS. Stable 60 FPS at 4K requires Low settings or a reduction in resolution.

Q: How does the RX 6650 XT compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The card's average benchmark score of 29024 is essentially identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (29011, deltaPct 0) and the AMD Radeon RX 470 (28996, deltaPct 0.1). It sits 0.5% ahead of the Intel Arc A370M and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH.

Q: Does the CPU's 14-core configuration benefit Doom specifically?

A: Doom is primarily GPU-bound at the tested settings, as the FPS scaling shows. The i5-14600K's 14 cores and 20 threads with a 5.30 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom, but the benchmark data does not attribute any specific FPS gains to core count in this title.

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

A: Low settings produce 200.8 FPS, while Ultra produces 118.5 FPS—a difference of 82.3 FPS. Both exceed the 60 FPS threshold, so the choice depends on whether visual quality or maximum frame rate is prioritized.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor from the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support spans both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, and the chip includes UHD Graphics 770 as integrated graphics.

In Doom, the CPU's role is supportive rather than dominant. The measured FPS data shows that performance scales primarily with resolution and settings, not with CPU workload. The i5-14600K's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32881 and single-core score of 4642 indicate strong general-purpose performance, but the game's frame rates at 4K Ultra (40.1 FPS) versus 1080p Low (200.8 FPS) demonstrate that the GPU determines the outcome.

The processor's 93rd percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 49166 place it in elite company, within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. This means the CPU is never the weak link in this combo. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the CPU can feed frames at 200.8 FPS without becoming a constraint. Players upgrading from a weaker processor would see little benefit in Doom specifically, though the i5-14600K's headroom would matter more in CPU-intensive titles. The data shows a balanced pairing where the GPU dictates the experience, and the CPU simply keeps pace.