Doom

The benchmark data for Doom with the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT presents a clear picture of a system that excels at high refresh rate gaming, with performance scaling predictably as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across three resolutions and four quality presets, examining the roles of the CPU and GPU, and contextualizing the results against other tested combinations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a predictable decline as resolution increases, but the rate of that decline reveals the nature of the bottleneck at each setting. At 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, allowing the GPU to produce extremely high frame rates. Moving to 1440p, the load shifts more towards the GPU, but the drop is moderate. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor, and the frame rates reflect a more balanced workload.

Specifically, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 209 at 1920x1080 to 135 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 74 FPS (35.4%). Moving from 1440p to 3840x2160, the average FPS falls from 135 to 73, a reduction of 62 FPS (45.9%). This steeper percentage drop at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, while the CPU has more headroom at 1080p.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the 1080p average is 284 FPS, which drops to 184 at 1440p and 99 at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a 46.2% reduction, while the 1080p to 1440p drop is 35.2%. At Medium settings, the averages are 247, 160, and 87 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 45.6%, while the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35.2%. The Ultra preset follows the same trend, with averages of 171, 110, and 60 FPS. The percentage drops are 35.7% (1080p to 1440p) and 45.5% (1440p to 4K).

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary constraint, as the GPU is capable of rendering frames faster than the CPU can feed it. As the resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows, making it the dominant factor. The consistent ~35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, followed by a ~46% drop from 1440p to 4K, indicates a smooth transition of the bottleneck from CPU to GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor from the Raptor Lake family. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 24 MB of L3 cache. These specifications are relevant to its performance in Doom, a game that can be sensitive to single-thread performance.

In this game, the CPU's role is most apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the measured FPS is exceptionally high, with an average of 284 FPS on Low settings and 209 FPS on High. These numbers indicate that the CPU is able to process game logic and issue draw calls fast enough to support very high frame rates. The high boost clock of 5.30 GHz likely contributes to this strong single-threaded performance.

The CPU's benchmark scores support this assessment. In Cinebench R23, it scores 24491 in the multicore test and 2064 in the single-core test. Its Geekbench scores are 16673 for multicore and 2491 for single-core. These results show a processor with strong all-around performance. The 14 cores (6 performance and 8 efficiency) and 20 threads provide plenty of multi-threaded capability, while the high single-core scores are crucial for gaming. The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs is 90, indicating it outperforms a significant majority of processors. Its average benchmark score is 48618, placing it near rivals like the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, which has an average score of 48698 and a deltaPct of -0.2, and the AMD EPYC 4345P, which scores 48470 with a deltaPct of 0.3.

When the resolution is increased, the CPU's workload remains relatively constant, but the GPU's workload increases. This is why the FPS drops proportionally more at higher resolutions. The CPU is not the limiting factor at 4K; it has ample headroom to keep up with the GPU. The data indicates that this CPU is more than sufficient for Doom, even at the highest settings, and it is the GPU that will determine the ultimate frame rate at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. Its clocks are a base of 1295 MHz, a boost of 2430 MHz, and a game clock of 2124 MHz. The memory operates at 2438 MHz, which translates to 19.5 Gbps effective. It has 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, along with 60 ray accelerators.

The GPU's role in this system is to handle the rendering workload, and its performance is directly tied to resolution and settings. The measured FPS data shows that it is capable of very high frame rates at 1080p, but its performance is the primary factor in the frame rate at 4K. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is exactly 60, suggesting the GPU is working at its limit for that preset. At 4K High, the average is 73 FPS, and at 4K Low, it is 99 FPS. This shows that even at 4K, the GPU has headroom when settings are lowered.

The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is a significant asset, especially at higher resolutions where texture memory usage increases. This capacity helps ensure that the GPU does not become bottlenecked by memory capacity, even at 4K with high-quality textures. The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4157 and a Passmark G3D score of 24176, indicate a strong mid-to-high-end performer. However, its percentile vs all GPUs is only 51, and its average benchmark score is 11627. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, which has an average score of 11680 with a deltaPct of -0.5, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M, which scores 11528 with a deltaPct of 0.9.

The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, but it is not a weak component. It provides playable frame rates at 4K on High settings and can even reach very high refresh rates at 1440p. The combination of a robust CPU and this capable GPU results in a system where the GPU is the primary variable in the final frame rate, especially as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all tested configurations. The following breakdown details the exact numbers for each resolution and settings combination.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. On Low settings, the average FPS is 284. On Medium settings, the average is 247 FPS, with a minimum of 210 and a maximum of 284. The High preset yields an average of 209 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 171 FPS. All 1080p settings produce frame rates well above 144 Hz, making this ideal for high refresh rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very high. The Low preset averages 184 FPS. The Medium preset averages 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 and a maximum of 184. The High preset averages 135 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 110 FPS. These numbers suggest that 1440p gaming at high refresh rates is easily achievable, even with the most demanding Ultra preset.

At 3840x2160, the system is pushed harder. The Low preset averages 99 FPS. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100. The High preset averages 73 FPS. The Ultra preset averages exactly 60 FPS. At 4K, the system can maintain a smooth 60 FPS experience on Ultra, but for higher refresh rates, users would need to lower settings or resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Doom, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT holds a rank of 1238 out of 3712 total combinations. This places it in the top third of all tested systems.

This ranking is a function of both the CPU and GPU performance. The CPU's high benchmark scores, particularly its single-thread performance, help it avoid being a bottleneck, especially at lower resolutions. The GPU's solid performance, while not top-tier, is more than adequate for this game. The rank of 1238 suggests that while there are many combinations that can achieve higher frame rates, this system is well above the median performer. It represents a balanced pairing where neither component is severely limiting the other, though the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K.

The ranking also reflects the game's age and optimization. Doom from 2016 is well-optimized and can run on a wide range of hardware. The high frame rates achieved by this combo indicate that it is more than capable of handling this title, and the rank is likely higher than what would be seen in more demanding, modern games. This system is positioned to deliver a high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p and 1440p, and a solid 60 FPS experience at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS is 209 at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is exactly 60.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 284, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the frame rate scale from 1440p to 4K on High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 135 at 2560x1440 to 73 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 62 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 136.

*Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems in Doom?*

A: The combo is ranked 1238 out of 3712 tested combinations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display and performance goals. For users with a 1080p 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the High preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 209 FPS, which is well above 144Hz. For those seeking the absolute highest frame rates, the Low preset at 284 FPS is an option, but the visual fidelity of High is likely a better trade-off. The Ultra preset at 171 FPS is also viable for 1080p, offering the best visuals while still maintaining a high refresh rate.

For 1440p users, the High preset is the recommended starting point, averaging 135 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 110 FPS is also a strong choice for those who prioritize visual quality over maximum frame rate. For users with a 1440p 165Hz or higher monitor, the Medium preset at 160 FPS would be the better option to fully utilize the display's refresh rate.

For 4K users, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 60 FPS, which is ideal for a standard 60Hz display. This is the best visual experience the system can provide at 4K. If a higher refresh rate is desired, the High preset at 73 FPS is a suitable alternative, offering a modest improvement in frame rate with a slight reduction in visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is also an option for those who want a balance of quality and performance. The Low preset at 99 FPS is available for users who prioritize frame rate above all else at 4K.

In summary, the system is versatile. For 1080p and 1440p, High or Ultra settings provide an excellent balance of visuals and performance. For 4K, Ultra is recommended for 60Hz displays, while High or Medium can be used for higher refresh rate panels. The data shows that this combo handles Doom exceptionally well across all tested configurations.