Doom

The Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti pairing delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Doom, but the data shows a clear ceiling at 4K Ultra settings, where average frame rates fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The combo ranks in the 27th percentile of tested configurations for this title, indicating that while the hardware is capable, it is not optimized for maximum performance in this specific game engine.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Doom?

A: The data shows the best balance of visual quality and performance at 2560x1440 with High settings, yielding an average of 90 FPS. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 142.3 FPS on High, but 1440p provides a significant visual upgrade while remaining well above 60 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but only with lowered settings. The measured results show 68.9 FPS at 4K Low and 56.6 FPS at 4K Medium. However, 4K High (47.4 FPS) and 4K Ultra (41.4 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS smoothness target.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305, placing it virtually even with the Intel Core i3-10305 (2300, 0.2% faster), the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (2299, 0.2% faster), and the Intel Xeon E-2134 (2295, 0.4% faster). It is only 0.6% slower than the Intel Core i7-8809G (2319).

Q: Is the RTX 3060 Ti a strong performer relative to its peers?

A: The GPU sits in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25120. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6700M (25180), which is only 0.2% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 (25235), which is 0.5% faster.

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

A: The difference is substantial. The measured average FPS jumps from 118.2 on Ultra to 190.4 on Low, representing a 61% increase in frame rate. This shows that the Ultra preset imposes a heavy load on the GPU.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p and 4K shows a consistent frame rate drop as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing for Doom. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the game's texture-heavy environments at 1440p and even 4K. The GPU’s core configuration includes 4864 shading units and 80 ROPs, with a boost clock of 1665 MHz.

The data shows a clear correlation between the GPU’s workload and frame rates. At 1920x1080, the GPU is less stressed, yielding high averages like 190.4 FPS on Low. As the resolution increases to 3840x2160, the frame rate drops to 68.9 FPS on Low, demonstrating the GPU’s pixel-pushing limits. The RTX 3060 Ti’s performance percentile (69th) and its benchmark scores, such as 20349 in Passmark G3D, position it as a capable mid-range card, but the 4K Ultra results (41.4 FPS) confirm it is not a 4K-maxed-out solution for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti achieves a rank of 1235 out of 1681 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the lower-middle tier of the database, indicating that while it is far from the slowest configuration, it is outclassed by many other pairings.

This ranking is influenced by the CPU’s modest standing (50th percentile) and the GPU’s mid-range performance (69th percentile). The delta between the CPU and its nearest rivals is minimal (no more than 0.6%), so the CPU is not an outlier dragging the score down. Instead, the rank reflects the overall balance of the system, which is adequate for smooth 1080p and 1440p play but not exceptional when compared to higher-end combos that can push 4K Ultra past 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results: 190.4 FPS on Low, 166.6 FPS on Medium, 142.3 FPS on High, and 118.2 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate a highly playable experience at all presets, with even the most demanding Ultra setting comfortably exceeding 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show the expected drop. The results are 122 FPS on Low, 107.2 FPS on Medium, 90 FPS on High, and 75.8 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p Ultra figure is still above the 60 FPS target, making this a viable resolution for high-quality gaming.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle. The data shows 68.9 FPS on Low, 56.6 FPS on Medium, 47.4 FPS on High, and 41.4 FPS on Ultra. Only the Low preset breaks the 60 FPS barrier, while Medium and above fall into a range that may introduce noticeable stutter on standard 60 Hz displays.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this system. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 142.3 at 1080p to 90 at 1440p, a 37% reduction, and then to 47.4 at 4K, a further 47% reduction. This pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound workload, where the rendering resolution directly impacts performance.

The scaling is also evident at Low settings, where the FPS goes from 190.4 at 1080p to 122 at 1440p and 68.9 at 4K. The fact that the CPU’s core configuration (6 cores, 6 threads) does not change with resolution suggests that the game engine is not being limited by the processor at these settings. The consistent frame rate drops point squarely at the RTX 3060 Ti’s fill rate and memory bandwidth as the limiting factors at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 9 MB L3 cache. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as 7969 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1125 in single-core, place it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data. The measured FPS shows no signs of a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions; for instance, the 1080p Low result of 190.4 FPS is a high frame rate that would require a capable processor to maintain. However, the CPU’s modest 50th percentile ranking and its close proximity to rivals like the Core i3-10305 (2300 vs 2305) suggest that it is not a high-end part. The data indicates that the i5-9400 is sufficient for this game, but it would not be the component to upgrade if seeking higher 4K performance, as the GPU is the clear limiter.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the data points to the High preset at 2560x1440. This combination yields an average of 90 FPS, which is smooth for fast-paced FPS gameplay, while still providing a higher resolution than 1080p. The High preset at 1080p is also excellent, offering 142.3 FPS for players with high refresh rate monitors.

If the goal is maximum frame rates for competitive play, the Low preset at 1920x1080 delivers 190.4 FPS. This setting reduces graphical effects but ensures the highest possible responsiveness. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only viable option, providing 68.9 FPS. Players who prioritize visual quality over smoothness could attempt 4K Medium (56.6 FPS), but the data suggests this may not be ideal for a consistent experience. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution above 1080p, as it drops to 75.8 FPS at 1440p and 41.4 FPS at 4K, which are below the 60 FPS threshold that is often considered the baseline for enjoyable play.