Doom

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a formidable combination for Doom, delivering frame rates that range from highly competitive at 1080p to entirely playable at 4K. The data shows a system that scales predictably with resolution, with the GPU becoming the primary constraint as pixel count increases. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, offering a clear picture of what to expect from this pairing in the 2016 FPS classic.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic performance curve typical of a high-end CPU and GPU pairing. At 1920x1080, the combination is utterly dominant, with the average frame rate at Low settings hitting 338.2 FPS. This figure strongly suggests that the CPU, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is capable of feeding the GPU far more frames than it can render at this resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is significant—338.2 FPS versus 201.2 FPS—which shows that even at this lower resolution, visual settings have a measurable impact, but the system never drops below a very playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high, though the scaling begins to shift. The Low preset produces 218.1 FPS, while Ultra yields 131.7 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a performance drop of roughly 35% on the Low preset, indicating that the GPU is starting to take on more work. However, the fact that even the Ultra preset at 1440p clears 130 FPS means the experience remains exceptionally smooth, and the system is still not being pushed to its limits.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. The Ultra preset drops to 72.8 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS target for most displays but shows a substantial 45% reduction from the 1440p Ultra result. The Low preset at 4K holds at 120.9 FPS, which is commendable, but the gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution (120.9 vs 72.8) is the largest of any resolution tested. This confirms that the RX 7900 XT is working hard at 4K, and the performance scaling is primarily dictated by GPU load rather than CPU capability. The data shows a system that is CPU-bound at 1080p, balanced at 1440p, and GPU-bound at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination handle Doom at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes, it can. The measured data shows an average of 72.8 FPS at 3840x2160 on the Ultra preset. This is above the standard 60 FPS target, making the game fully playable at 4K with all settings maxed out.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors?

A: For a 144Hz or higher refresh rate display, 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. The High preset achieves 160.6 FPS, and even the Ultra preset delivers 131.7 FPS. This ensures you can fully utilize a high refresh rate monitor without compromise.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The difference varies by resolution. At 1080p, the gap is 137 FPS (338.2 vs 201.2). At 1440p, the gap is 86.4 FPS. At 4K, the gap narrows to 48.1 FPS, showing that the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions, reducing the relative impact of settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF a bottleneck for the RX 7900 XT in this game?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as the frame rates are extremely high but the scaling between settings is less pronounced. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The 14-core, 20-thread CPU is more than sufficient for this title.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: The combination ranks 342nd out of 1681 tested combos for this game. This places it in the top 21% of all systems tested, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of configurations.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and High settings?

A: The difference is minimal. At 4K, High delivers 88 FPS versus 104 FPS for Medium. At 1440p, the difference is 29.4 FPS (160.6 vs 190). The cost of moving from Medium to High is relatively small, suggesting High is the better choice for visual quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this Intel and AMD pairing at rank 342 out of 1681 tested combinations for Doom. This is a strong result, putting the system in the top 20 percent of all configurations evaluated. The ranking reflects a well-balanced setup where the high single-thread performance of the i5-14600KF, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4643, complements the raw power of the RX 7900 XT, which has an average benchmark score of 38358 and sits in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs.

While the CPU's nearest rivals—such as the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X—are within a 0.6% performance delta in general benchmarks, the specific pairing with the RX 7900 XT yields excellent results in this game. The 342nd rank is not a reflection of weakness, but rather proof of the high caliber of the other 341 systems that outperform it. Given the game's release date in 2016, the combination of a modern 14-core CPU and a high-end RDNA 3.0 GPU is more than capable of overwhelming this title, and the rank confirms it sits comfortably in the upper echelon of tested hardware.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guideline for the optimal settings at each resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the obvious choice, as it still delivers an astronomical 201.2 FPS. There is no reason to lower settings at this resolution, as the system has ample headroom to run the game at maximum visual fidelity while maintaining frame rates far beyond what any standard display can show.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset, with 131.7 FPS, is again the recommended starting point. This frame rate is sufficient for all but the most demanding 144Hz+ monitors. For those with a 165Hz or 240Hz panel, the High preset, delivering 160.6 FPS, is a better match, offering a small visual compromise for a significant increase in frame rate. The data shows that the jump from High to Ultra at this resolution costs roughly 29 FPS, a trade-off that may not be worth it for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the decision is more nuanced. The Ultra preset provides 72.8 FPS, which is perfectly playable and offers the best image quality. The High preset, at 88 FPS, is a strong alternative for those who prefer a higher frame rate for a smoother experience, as the visual difference between High and Ultra is often subtle. The Medium preset, at 104 FPS, is the best option for players targeting 100+ FPS at 4K, while the Low preset, at 120.9 FPS, is available for those who prioritize maximum smoothness above all else. Given the data, the High preset at 4K strikes the best balance between visual fidelity and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average frame rates is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the system delivers 338.2 FPS on Low, 298.2 FPS on Medium, 251.1 FPS on High, and 201.2 FPS on Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the results are 218.1 FPS on Low, 190.0 FPS on Medium, 160.6 FPS on High, and 131.7 FPS on Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the system produces 120.9 FPS on Low, 104.0 FPS on Medium, 88.0 FPS on High, and 72.8 FPS on Ultra.

These numbers illustrate a consistent pattern: the performance penalty for each step up in quality is relatively uniform. From Low to Ultra at 1080p, there is a 40.5% reduction in frame rate. At 1440p, the same comparison shows a 39.6% reduction, and at 4K, a 39.8% reduction. This consistency indicates that the game’s settings scale predictably across resolutions, and the system’s performance is stable without any unexpected drops. The lowest recorded average is 72.8 FPS (4K Ultra), which remains well above the threshold for a playable experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This configuration is a strong match for Doom, a game that, while released in 2016, still benefits from high single-thread performance. The CPU’s strong single-core capabilities, reflected in its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4643, ensure that the game’s primary game logic and draw call processing are handled with minimal latency.

The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample fast memory for the game’s assets, reducing the need to access slower system memory. The benchmark results show that at 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all settings, suggesting that the CPU is the limiting factor at this resolution. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 137 FPS, which is a larger absolute gap than at higher resolutions, but the frame rates are so high that the CPU is clearly keeping up.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as the RX 7900 XT struggles to maintain the same frame rates as at lower resolutions. The CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with enough data, and the data shows it does this effectively. The i5-14600KF’s performance is more than adequate for this title, and the combination with the RX 7900 XT is well-balanced, with neither component significantly holding back the other in a way that would detract from the gaming experience. The CPU’s 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs further confirms its capability as a strong partner for a high-end GPU in this game.