Doom

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is a combination that prioritizes CPU headroom over GPU muscle. In Doom, this pairing produces a playable experience at 1080p, but the data clearly shows that the GPU becomes the limiting component as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, ranking, and the specific roles of the processor and graphics card in this matchup.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. This pattern is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo delivers 88.9 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops the average to 61 FPS, a reduction of roughly 31%. Pushing further to 3840x2160 Ultra results in a 29 FPS average, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p Ultra figure.

The trend is even more pronounced at lower settings, where the CPU is less stressed. At Low settings, the framerate falls from 148.6 FPS at 1080p to 96.7 FPS at 1440p, and then to 49.6 FPS at 4K. The fact that even the Low preset cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K confirms that the GTX 1660 SUPER's compute and memory throughput are saturated. The GPU's 192-bit memory bus and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the pixel count at 4K, regardless of the graphical complexity. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where the processor’s capabilities are not fully taxed and the GPU can keep up with the rendering load.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific hardware combination ranks 1488 out of 1681 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the lower tier of performance, which is expected given the GPU's age. The GTX 1660 SUPER sits at the 55th percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-14600KF is at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs. This massive gap in percentile ranking means the CPU is operating far below its potential in this game, held back by the graphics card.

The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core i5-14600K (0.4% ahead), the AMD EPYC 4345P (0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.6% behind). These are all high-performance processors, and the i5-14600KF's average benchmark score of 49367 is within a few points of them. In contrast, the GPU's nearest rivals are integrated graphics solutions like the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, with deltaPct values of -0.2%. This comparison highlights that the GTX 1660 SUPER is competing with entry-level graphics, while the CPU is competing with top-tier desktop processors. The rank of 1488 out of 1681 confirms that this is a CPU-heavy pairing where gaming performance is dictated almost entirely by the weaker GPU component.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience based on the measured rows, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the optimal choice. It provides an average of 108.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at the same resolution yields 88.9 FPS, still playable, but the High preset offers a significant performance buffer with minimal visual compromise. The Low preset at 1080p hits 148.6 FPS, but this is unnecessary headroom that comes at the cost of visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset drops to 72.5 FPS, which is still acceptable, but the Medium preset at 84.4 FPS provides a more comfortable margin. Pushing to Ultra at 1440p yields 61 FPS, which is borderline. The data indicates that 4K is not a realistic target for this combo, as even the Low preset only manages 49.6 FPS. For a stable experience, the High preset at 1080p is the sweet spot, balancing visual fidelity with a framerate that fully utilizes the display's refresh rate potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete data set reveals a clear hierarchy across resolutions and settings.

1920x1080: The Low preset delivers the highest average at 148.6 FPS. Medium follows at 131.2 FPS, then High at 108.2 FPS, and finally Ultra at 88.9 FPS. All presets at this resolution are comfortably above 60 FPS, with the Low preset approaching the 144 Hz refresh rate territory.

2560x1440: Performance scales down proportionally. Low averages 96.7 FPS, Medium 84.4 FPS, High 72.5 FPS, and Ultra 61 FPS. This resolution is still viable for high-refresh-rate monitors, but only if the user is willing to lower settings from the maximum.

3840x2160: This is where the GPU is overwhelmed. Low averages 49.6 FPS, Medium 42.3 FPS, High 35.7 FPS, and Ultra 29 FPS. No preset at 4K reaches the 60 FPS mark, indicating that this resolution is not suitable for this hardware combination in Doom.

The gaps between settings are consistent, with each step down in quality adding roughly 10-15% more performance. This linear scaling confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as a CPU bottleneck would show inconsistent gains when reducing the graphical load.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K?*

A: No. The measured data shows that even at the Low preset, the average FPS at 3840x2160 is only 49.6 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 29 FPS, which is not a playable experience for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware?

A: The data suggests 1920x1080 is the ideal resolution. All four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) achieve average framerates above 88 FPS, with the Low preset reaching 148.6 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 14286, which is -0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 and -0.5% behind the AMD Radeon Vega 11. It is essentially tied with integrated graphics solutions in synthetic tests.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The CPU is at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 55th percentile. The measured FPS drops significantly with resolution, which is the classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Q: What is the difference between High and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 108.2 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 88.9 FPS. The difference is 19.3 FPS, which is a 17% performance loss for the Ultra preset's increased visual load.

Q: What kind of memory bandwidth does the GPU have?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has a 192-bit memory bus with 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a key factor in its performance, as the memory throughput becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, running on a 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it is a powerhouse, scoring 32889 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4643 in single-core. It sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, just 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-14600K and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X.

In Doom, this CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo hits 148.6 FPS, which is a high ceiling. However, as resolution increases, the FPS drops, indicating that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The processor has more than enough headroom to handle the game's engine at higher framerates, but the GTX 1660 SUPER cannot render frames fast enough to utilize the CPU's full potential. This combo is a classic case of a modern, high-end CPU being paired with an older, mid-range GPU, leaving significant performance on the table.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER uses the TU116 chip on a 12 nm process. It features 1408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. The GPU has a base clock of 1530 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz, with a memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It comes with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU is rated at a 55th percentile among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 14286 places it just behind the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (-0.7%).

The GPU's role in Doom is to handle the rasterization and pixel shading. The measured FPS data shows that it is the definitive bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the 29 FPS average is a clear indicator that the GPU's 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and its memory bandwidth are overwhelmed. The 6 GB VRAM is not the primary issue, as the game runs at all settings, but the raw throughput is insufficient for 4K. The GPU's performance at 1080p is adequate, but its inability to maintain 60 FPS at 4K even on Low settings confirms that this is a 1080p-centric card.