Doom

The Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER pairing delivers a compelling, if uneven, experience in Doom, a 2016 FPS that scales well across a wide range of hardware. The measured data reveals a system that can crush the game at 1080p, remains highly playable at 1440p, but begins to show its limitations at 4K. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, resolution scaling behavior, and provides a detailed look at the exact frame rates achieved.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture and using a 10 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The processor features a substantial cache hierarchy, including 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is clearly designed for high-performance desktop workloads, and its benchmark scores confirm its position in the upper echelon of CPUs.

The i5-14600KF sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance. Its average benchmark score of 49367 places it in close competition with several notable rivals. The data shows it is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K (avg score 49166), 0.5% behind the AMD EPYC 4345P (avg score 49595), and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (avg score 49062). In synthetic tests, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32889 and a single-core score of 4643, alongside a Geekbench multicore score of 15636 and a single-core score of 2778.

For a game like Doom, which is known for its efficient id Tech engine, the CPU's role is often less about raw core count and more about single-thread performance and the ability to feed the GPU. The i5-14600KF's high boost clock of 5.30 GHz and strong single-core scores (Cinebench R23 single-core 4643) are highly beneficial. In this context, the processor is unlikely to be a bottleneck, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The data suggests that the CPU has ample headroom to handle the game's physics and game logic, allowing the RTX 2060 SUPER to be the determining component for frame rates in most scenarios. The processor's 125W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a flexible platform, but its performance here is clearly sufficient for the task.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the other half of this pairing, a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1470 MHz, with a boost clock of 1650 MHz. The memory operates at 1750 MHz, or 14 Gbps effective. With 2176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, the RTX 2060 SUPER is a solid mid-range performer from the GeForce 20-series, and its specs are typical for a card of its generation.

The GPU's benchmark results position it in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19774. Its nearest rivals show how tightly packed this performance tier is: it is 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (avg score 19706), 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (avg score 19680), and 0.8% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (avg score 19623). In specific tests, it scores 16462 in Passmark G3D and 6721 in Passmark GPU Compute. These scores indicate that the GPU is a capable performer, but it is not at the top of the heap.

In Doom, the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game's textures, even at higher settings. The core clock speeds are the primary driver of performance. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU can keep up, but as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rates drop accordingly. The GPU's performance in the game is directly correlated with the settings: lowering settings from Ultra to Low yields significant FPS gains, confirming that the rendering load is the main constraint. The RTX 2060 SUPER is a solid match for Doom, but it will not deliver high refresh rates at 4K.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions: 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160. The most dramatic drop occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 93.7 at 1440p to 47 at 4K, a reduction of approximately 50%. This steep drop strongly indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the increased pixel count places a massive load on the rendering pipeline.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe but still significant. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 138.7 at 1080p to 93.7 at 1440p, a decrease of about 32%. This is a typical trend for a mid-range GPU, as the resolution increases, the GPU must work harder to fill the additional pixels. The data suggests that at 1080p, the system is balanced, with the CPU and GPU working in tandem to produce high frame rates. However, as resolution increases, the GPU's limitations become more apparent.

The fact that the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p is proportionally smaller than the drop from 1440p to 4K points to the GPU being the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would not scale as dramatically with resolution. The CPU's high benchmark scores and strong single-thread performance mean it can keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU's compute power (7.181 TFLOPS FP32) is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K. This is a classic case of a system that is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming but struggles at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers excellent performance. The average FPS at Low settings is 190.3, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor. At Medium settings, the average drops to 165, and at High settings, it is 138.7. Even at Ultra settings, the average FPS remains a very playable 115.9. These numbers show that the RTX 2060 SUPER can easily handle Doom at 1080p with high refresh rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. At Low settings, the average FPS is 122.4, which is still above the threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium settings yield an average of 108.7 FPS, and High settings produce 93.7 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, results in an average of 73.8 FPS. This suggests that 1440p is a sweet spot for this GPU, as it can deliver high frame rates even on the High preset, which is a common choice for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle. The average FPS at Low settings is 67.6, which is playable but not ideal for high refresh rate monitors. Medium settings drop to 56.3 FPS, and High settings fall to 47 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average FPS is just 40.9, which is below the smoothness threshold for many players. This data confirms that 4K is not a viable option for this GPU in Doom, especially at higher settings, as the frame rates dip below 60 FPS. The overall combo rank for this pairing in the game is 1260 out of 1681, which reflects its mid-pack standing relative to all other tested combinations.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this CPU and GPU combo?*

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 is the best balance of visual quality and performance. At High settings, the average FPS is 93.7, which is smooth and responsive. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are higher (138.7 FPS at High), but 1440p offers a sharper image without sacrificing playability.

*Q: Can this system handle Doom at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 67.6 at Low settings to 40.9 at Ultra settings. While Low settings are playable, the Ultra preset will result in a sub-60 FPS experience, which may not be ideal for a fast-paced FPS.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K in average benchmark score (49367 vs 49166). This is a negligible difference, and in gaming, the two processors would perform nearly identically.

*Q: How does the GPU's performance in Doom reflect its overall benchmark standing?*

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER sits in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs. In Doom, its performance at 1080p (138.7 FPS at High) is strong, but its inability to maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra (40.9 FPS) shows that its mid-range status is consistent with the data.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU's strong benchmark scores (93rd percentile) suggest it has ample headroom.

*Q: What is the overall ranking of this specific CPU and GPU combination in Doom?*

A: The combo ranks 1260 out of 1681 tested combinations in this game. This puts it in the lower-middle portion of the rankings, reflecting that while it is capable at 1080p and 1440p, it is not a top-tier performer for 4K gaming.