Doom

Doom is an older title, but it remains a demanding benchmark, and this pairing of an Intel Core i5-14600KF with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 shows a clear performance profile. The data indicates that the RTX 2060 is the limiting factor in most configurations, while the 14-core CPU provides ample headroom. The measured results show a wide range of performance from 37.5 FPS at 4K Ultra to 173.4 FPS at 1080p Low, making it essential to understand how settings and resolution impact the experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo delivers consistently high frame rates, with an average of 129.7 FPS on High settings. This is the only resolution where all settings presets, including Ultra, achieve a playable frame rate above 100 FPS, making it the target for a smooth experience.

Q: Can this PC handle 4K gaming in Doom?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. The data shows an average of 44.3 FPS at 4K High and 52.3 FPS at 4K Medium. To get a playable 60 FPS average at 4K, you must drop to Low settings, which yields an average of 61 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rival, the Intel Core i5-14600K?

A: The i5-14600KF is essentially performance-equivalent to the i5-14600K. In the average benchmark score, it holds a 0.4% advantage over the 14600K, a negligible difference that will not be noticeable in gaming.

Q: Is the RTX 2060's 6 GB of VRAM a problem for Doom?

A: While the benchmark data does not isolate VRAM usage, the GPU's 6 GB GDDR6 memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the measured results. The performance drop from High to Ultra settings at 4K (44.3 to 37.5 FPS) suggests that the GPU's processing power, rather than a memory capacity issue, is the primary constraint.

Q: What is the difference between the RTX 2060 and the AMD Radeon RX 7600S?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, indicating a near-identical performance level between the two in general compute tasks.

Q: What is the overall standing of this CPU and GPU combo in the benchmark database?

A: This specific combo ranks 1377th out of 1681 tested combinations for Doom. This places it in the lower half of results, which aligns with the RTX 2060 being a mid-range, older-generation GPU.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the High preset is the clear winner at both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. At 1080p, High produces 129.7 FPS, which is a significant jump from the 105 FPS on Ultra, and the visual difference between High and Ultra is often less impactful than the 24.7 FPS gain. At 1440p, High yields 82.4 FPS, keeping the experience well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 1440p provides a slight boost to 99.9 FPS, but the jump to High is a better trade-off for visual quality given the minimal performance cost.

At 4K, the situation changes. Ultra is not viable with an average of 37.5 FPS, and High at 44.3 FPS is still below the ideal smoothness target. The Medium preset at 52.3 FPS is a better choice, but it still falls short of 60 FPS. If you insist on 4K, Low settings at 61 FPS is the only way to achieve a 60 FPS average. However, the data strongly suggests that 1440p High is the optimal experience for this hardware, providing a high frame rate without the severe compromises required for 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is drastic and clearly indicates a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 129.7 FPS at 1920x1080 to 82.4 FPS at 2560x1440, a 36.5% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K (3840x2160) at High shows another steep decline to 44.3 FPS, a further 46.2% drop. This pattern shows that the RTX 2060's rendering capabilities are being saturated as the pixel count increases.

This scaling behavior is typical for a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The Intel Core i5-14600KF, with its high single-thread performance, is not holding the system back. Even at 1080p Low, where the frame rate peaks at 173.4 FPS, the CPU is able to feed the GPU without issue. As resolution increases, the load shifts entirely to the GPU, and the frame rate drops proportionally with the number of pixels. The data shows that the GPU's fillrate and shading power are the limiting factors, not the CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1377 out of 1681 is a direct reflection of the GPU's age and tier. This places it in the bottom 18% of all tested combinations for Doom. The CPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, but the RTX 2060 is the weak link, sitting in the 58th percentile against all GPUs. The combination results in a system that is heavily unbalanced for a modern title.

The data suggests that this pairing is not optimal for achieving maximum performance in Doom. A more powerful GPU would unlock the full potential of the i5-14600KF. The high CPU benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889 and a single-core score of 4643, indicate that the processor is capable of supporting much higher frame rates than what the RTX 2060 can deliver. The rank confirms the GPU holding the system back from its full potential.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, built on the Turing architecture, is the defining component in this benchmark. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has 1920 shading units and operates at a boost clock of 1680 MHz. These specifications are put to the test in Doom, where the GPU's raw throughput determines the final frame rate.

The performance data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, the GPU is powerful enough to push high frame rates, but even then, the gap between Low (173.4 FPS) and Ultra (105 FPS) shows the cost of its features. The RTX 2060 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, which allows it to run the game's advanced features. However, the drop to 37.5 FPS at 4K Ultra shows that the GPU's compute power is insufficient for the highest settings at high resolutions. The GPU is the primary factor in the frame rate differences seen across all resolutions and settings, confirming its role as the system's main performance limiter.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080:

The best performance is at Low settings, with an average of 173.4 FPS. Medium settings yield a still-excellent 153.8 FPS. High is the recommended setting, averaging 129.7 FPS. Ultra is the most demanding, producing an average of 105 FPS.

2560x1440:

At Low settings, the combo averages 115.5 FPS. Medium settings drop to 99.9 FPS. High settings provide a solid 82.4 FPS. Ultra is demanding, with an average of 67 FPS, which is still playable but shows the GPU's strain.

3840x2160 (4K):

Low settings are the only playable option, averaging 61 FPS. Medium settings drop to 52.3 FPS. High settings average 44.3 FPS. Ultra is the most demanding, with a low average of 37.5 FPS, which is not recommended for smooth gameplay.