Doom

The pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the AMD Radeon RX 570 in Doom presents a classic study in bottleneck dynamics. The data shows a powerful, modern processor constrained by a graphics card from an earlier era, with the FPS figures across resolutions and settings painting a clear picture of where the performance ceiling lies. This analysis examines the measured frame rates to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data for this combo in Doom reveals a textbook case of GPU-bound performance at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 92 FPS. Stepping up to 2560x1440 Low drops that average to 60 FPS, a significant 34.8% reduction. Moving further to 3840x2160 Low yields just 32 FPS, which is a 46.7% drop from the 1440p figure and a 65.2% drop from 1080p. This steep, consistent decline as resolution increases is the primary indicator that the AMD Radeon RX 570 is the limiting component; the pixel throughput demand simply outpaces what the GPU can deliver.

The scaling pattern across the other settings tells the same story. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 80 at 1080p, to 52 at 1440p, and finally to 28 at 4K. The High preset follows a similar trajectory: 68 FPS at 1080p, 44 at 1440p, and 24 at 4K. Even at the most demanding Ultra preset, the frame rate craters from 56 FPS at 1080p to 36 at 1440p and a nearly unplayable 19 FPS at 4K. The consistent halving of performance with each major resolution jump is a hallmark of a GPU that is saturated, leaving the Intel Core i5-14600KF with headroom to spare.

What makes this resolution scaling particularly telling is the relative performance of the CPU. The i5-14600KF, with its high benchmark scores, is not the bottleneck here. If the processor were the limiting factor, we would expect to see less variation in FPS across resolutions, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's pixel-pushing duties increase. The data shows the opposite, confirming that the RX 570's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The 4 GB VRAM capacity also likely plays a role at 4K, where texture data can exceed that limit, further contributing to the low average FPS observed at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in Doom?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 92, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The second-best result is 80 FPS at 1080p with Medium settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF holding back the AMD Radeon RX 570 in this game?

A: No, the data suggests the opposite. The severe FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's strong benchmark scores, such as a 32,544 score in Cinebench R23 multicore, suggest it has ample capacity to feed the GPU at these settings.

Q: How does this combo's rank in Doom compare to other tested configurations?

A: The combo is ranked 3547 out of 3712 tested combos for this game. This places it in the bottom 5% of all tested systems, indicating that its performance is on the lower end of the spectrum.

Q: Can this system run Doom at 2560x1440 with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, at 1440p, the combo achieves an average of 60 FPS on Low settings and 52 FPS on Medium settings. These are generally considered playable frame rates, though the 36 FPS average on Ultra would be less smooth.

Q: What is the lowest measured performance for this combination?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 19, which occurs at 3840x2160 (4K) with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding configuration tested and results in a stuttering, unplayable experience.

Q: How does the RX 570's performance compare to its closest rivals based on the benchmark data?

A: The RX 570's average benchmark score is 28,766. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, has an average score of 28,874, which is 0.4% higher. Another close competitor, the AMD Radeon R9 M295X, scores 28,580, which is 0.7% lower.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured data places this specific configuration at rank 3547 out of 3712 total combos tested for Doom. This position in the bottom 5% is a strong indicator of overall performance, but it is essential to dissect what this ranking means in the context of the component pair. The rank reflects the final, combined output, which is heavily influenced by the GPU. The Intel Core i5-14600KF is an exceptionally capable processor, ranking in the 90th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD Radeon RX 570, while it sits in the 74th percentile for GPUs, is clearly the weaker link in this pairing for a game like Doom.

The combo's rank suggests that, for this game, the system is closer in performance to much older or lower-tier configurations than it is to modern systems. This is not a reflection of the CPU's capability but rather the stark reality of pairing a top-tier processor with a mid-range GPU from 2017. The 0.3% score difference between the i5-14600KF and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, shows that the CPU is performing at the top of its class, but this advantage is lost when the GPU cannot translate it into higher frame rates. The rank is a measure of the system's weakest link, and in Doom, that link is unambiguously the graphics card.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. On the Low preset, it achieves an average of 92 FPS, providing a very smooth experience. The Medium preset averages 80 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS, indicating some frame time variance but still solid performance. High settings yield an average of 68 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 56 FPS. All 1080p results are playable, with the Low and Medium presets being particularly well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. The Low preset still manages a 60 FPS average, which is the minimum for a smooth experience. Medium settings average 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 60 FPS. High settings drop to a 44 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 36 FPS. At this resolution, the system is clearly struggling to maintain high frame rates, and users would need to compromise on settings to stay above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the combo is out of its depth. The Low preset averages just 32 FPS, Medium drops to 28 FPS (with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 32), High averages 24 FPS, and Ultra is a slideshow at 19 FPS. These figures are consistently below the threshold for comfortable playability, making 4K gaming a non-viable option for this hardware combination in Doom. The data across all twelve measured points clearly shows a system that is well-suited for 1080p gaming but quickly becomes overwhelmed as resolution increases.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its core configuration, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, provides substantial processing power. The CPU's benchmark results are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32,544 and a single-core score of 4,594. These numbers place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, highlighting its strength as a top-tier desktop processor. In the context of Doom, a game that can utilize multiple threads but is not typically considered a heavy CPU benchmark, this processor is significantly over-provisioned.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the performance bottleneck in this system. The FPS scaling across resolutions is the key evidence. When the resolution is increased, the CPU's workload does not change significantly, but the GPU's does. The observed dramatic drops in FPS at higher resolutions are consistent with the GPU being fully utilized, while the CPU has headroom to spare. The core and thread count of the i5-14600KF ensures that even the most demanding game logic, physics, and streaming tasks are handled without creating a frame-rate limit. The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals reinforces this, as it trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, a processor that would not be considered a limitation in any modern game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is found at 1920x1080 resolution. The data shows that the Medium preset, with an average of 80 FPS, offers the best balance between visual fidelity and performance. It provides a significant boost over the Low preset's 92 FPS? No, it is lower, but the jump from Low to Medium is a substantial visual upgrade for a relatively small performance cost. The High preset, at 68 FPS, is also viable and provides a richer visual experience, but it comes with a 15% performance penalty compared to Medium.

For players prioritizing smoothness above all else, the Low preset at 1080p, with its 92 FPS average, is the clear choice. This ensures maximum frame rates and minimal input lag. However, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, as its 80 FPS average is still very fluid and offers a noticeably better-looking game. At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that maintains a 60 FPS average. While the Medium preset's 52 FPS is playable, it may feel less responsive. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as it provides the lowest FPS at each level (56 at 1080p, 36 at 1440p, and 19 at 4K) for what is often a marginal visual improvement over High settings. The data suggests that 1080p Medium is the recommended configuration for the best overall experience.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is built on the Polaris architecture and features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. Its core clock speeds are 1168 MHz base and 1244 MHz boost. The GPU's 2048 shading units and 32 ROPs are responsible for its rendering capabilities, which are reflected in its 5.095 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. These specifications, while respectable for its time, place it firmly in the mid-range segment, and the benchmark data confirms its role as the primary bottleneck in this system for Doom.

The GPU's 4 GB VRAM is a critical limiting factor, particularly at higher resolutions. The data shows a stark performance cliff as resolution increases, which is consistent with the VRAM capacity being exceeded. At 4K, the GPU is likely struggling not only with raw pixel throughput but also with memory swapping as textures exceed the 4 GB frame buffer. The GPU's benchmark score of 28,766 and its 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs show it is an average performer, but its closest rivals, like the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (0.4% faster) and the AMD Radeon RX 470 (0.8% slower), are also from a similar performance tier. The measured FPS data shows that while the GPU can handle 1080p gaming well, its performance caps out quickly. The 92 FPS at 1080p Low is a solid result, but the inability to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p on High settings and the sub-30 FPS results at 4K illustrate that the RX 570 is a 1080p-centric graphics card.