Doom

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 achieves a combo rank of 554 out of 1,681 tested combinations for Doom. This places the pairing in the upper third of all tested systems, indicating a strong configuration for this title. The rank reflects a balanced partnership where neither component becomes a consistent bottleneck across the tested settings and resolutions, though the data does reveal which part takes the lead under specific conditions. The combination sits comfortably ahead of the median tested system, and the measured frame rates confirm that this is a high-performance setup for the 2016 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s position at 554 out of 1,681 tested combos places it in the 67th percentile of all systems tested for Doom. This is a solid result, though not a top-tier ranking, suggesting that while the hardware is capable, other tested combinations with higher-end components or different pairings achieve higher frame rates. The ranking is determined by aggregate performance across all measured resolution and settings rows, and the data shows this combo excels at lower resolutions but loses ground at 4K Ultra. The i5-14600K alone sits in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the RX 9070 ranks in the 79th percentile among all GPUs, so the combined result is slightly lower than the CPU’s individual standing. This indicates that the GPU limits overall combo performance in this game, particularly at higher settings, rather than the processor holding the system back.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the primary driver of frame rates in Doom, especially as resolution and settings increase. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for this title’s textures and effects at any resolution tested. The boost clock runs at 2520 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz, and the card’s 3584 shading units handle the rendering workload. In the measured results, the GPU’s influence is clear: at 1080p Low, the combo hits 297.6 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 60.8 FPS. This scaling shows that the RX 9070 is the limiting factor at 4K Ultra, as the frame rate falls to just above the 60 FPS threshold, while the CPU has more headroom. The GPU’s 16 GB VRAM is never a constraint in these measurements, as even the highest settings at 4K do not show a disproportionate drop that would indicate memory pressure. The card’s 128 ROPs and 224 TMUs contribute to its pixel and texture throughput, which are sufficient for Doom’s rendering demands. Benchmark scores for the GPU, such as a Passmark G3D score of 25,381 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,290, support its position in the 79th percentile, slightly behind rivals like the NVIDIA A2 (0.2% lower score) and ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 (0.7% higher score).

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p High, the combo produces 220.4 FPS, which drops to 141.8 FPS at 1440p High, and further to 78.6 FPS at 4K High. This represents a 64% reduction from 1080p to 4K at High settings, indicating that the GPU is doing progressively more work while the CPU maintains sufficient headroom. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 45%, showing that the scaling is not linear and the GPU becomes more stressed at higher pixel counts. At Low settings, the pattern is similar but with higher absolute numbers: 297.6 FPS at 1080p, 193.2 FPS at 1440p, and 105.9 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is still above 100 FPS, demonstrating that the RX 9070 can handle this game at 4K with reduced settings. The limiting component shifts with resolution; at 1080p, frame rates above 200 FPS suggest the CPU is keeping up with the GPU’s output, but at 4K, the GPU’s rendering load becomes the primary factor in the final frame rate. The Ultra preset shows the most significant scaling, with 176.9 FPS at 1080p dropping to 114.9 FPS at 1440p and 60.8 FPS at 4K, a 66% total reduction from 1080p to 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this combo for a smooth experience?

A: At 1440p High, the combo delivers 141.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. At 4K High, the frame rate drops to 78.6 FPS, which is still playable but less headroom for demanding scenes.

Q: How does the Ultra preset affect performance compared to High?

A: The Ultra preset reduces frame rates significantly across all resolutions. At 1080p, Ultra yields 176.9 FPS versus 220.4 FPS on High, a 20% reduction. At 4K, Ultra produces 60.8 FPS versus 78.6 FPS on High, a 23% reduction, pushing the system to the edge of playability.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 297.6 FPS, and at 1080p High it hits 220.4 FPS. These high frame rates indicate that the GPU is the primary limiter, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at these rates, but the GPU’s rendering capacity caps the output.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 4K with Medium settings?

A: At 4K Medium, the measured average is 88.3 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS target and shows that the RX 9070 can handle 4K with moderate settings without dropping to the lower frame rates seen at Ultra.

Q: How does the RX 9070 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 34,780, which is 0.2% lower than the NVIDIA A2’s score of 34,866, and 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 7970’s score of 34,541. This places it in a tight competitive band with those cards.

Q: Does the combo maintain above 60 FPS at 4K with any settings?

A: Yes, at 4K Low the average is 105.9 FPS, at 4K Medium it is 88.3 FPS, and at 4K High it is 78.6 FPS. Only at 4K Ultra does the frame rate drop to 60.8 FPS, which is still just above the 60 FPS threshold.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K provides the processing foundation for this combo, with 14 cores and 20 threads running at a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The processor’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 or DDR5) contribute to its ability to feed the GPU without stalling. In Doom, the CPU’s role is more evident at lower resolutions where frame rates exceed 200 FPS. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 297.6 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra it still manages 176.9 FPS, indicating the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output at these settings. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,881 and a single-core score of 4,642, place it in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, has an average score of 49,062, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-14600K’s average of 49,166. This CPU is not the bottleneck in most of the measured rows, as the frame rates scale with resolution and settings in a pattern consistent with GPU limitation. However, at 4K Ultra, the CPU still has headroom, as the frame rate drops to 60.8 FPS, which is more likely due to the GPU’s rendering load than any CPU constraint. The processor’s 125W TDP and support for PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes ensure it can communicate with the RX 9070 efficiently, though the game’s data does not show any signs of PCIe bandwidth limitation.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the High preset at 1440p offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 141.8 FPS. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience for fast-paced FPS gameplay. For users with a 4K display, the Medium preset at 88.3 FPS is the recommended choice, as it maintains high frame rates while preserving a reasonable level of visual fidelity. The High preset at 4K drops to 78.6 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium provides more headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it reduces frame rates to 176.9 FPS at 1080p, 114.9 FPS at 1440p, and 60.8 FPS at 4K, with the 4K result being too close to the minimum playable threshold. At 1080p, the High preset at 220.4 FPS is preferable to Ultra, which drops to 176.9 FPS, as the visual difference is likely minimal while the performance gap is significant. The Low preset at 1080p produces the highest frame rate at 297.6 FPS, but this is unnecessary for most displays and sacrifices visual quality. For competitive play where frame rate is paramount, the Low preset at 1440p (193.2 FPS) is a strong option, offering high speed with a resolution bump over 1080p. The data suggests that the combo performs best when the GPU is not overburdened by Ultra settings, so sticking to High or Medium provides the most consistent experience across all resolutions.