Doom

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers exceptional performance in Doom, consistently producing high frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings. The data indicates this combination ranks in the 70th percentile of all tested combos, making it a potent setup for this title. The RTX 3080 Ti’s raw power dominates, while the i5-9400 provides sufficient support to avoid severe bottlenecks, though CPU limitations become apparent at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings?

A: The average frame rate is 66 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is the lowest average recorded in this dataset for this combo. This indicates that while the GPU is powerful, the most demanding settings at 4K will still challenge the system.

Q: How does the CPU’s multi-core performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400’s average benchmark score is 2254, placing it nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2259 (a delta of -0.2%). It is also virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, which has a score of 2246 (a delta of 0.4%).

Q: What is the maximum FPS recorded at 1920x1080?

A: The highest maximum FPS recorded in the dataset is 278, achieved at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. The average FPS for that specific configuration is 242, with a minimum of 205.

Q: Does the GPU have a high memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, the RTX 3080 Ti features a 384-bit memory bus and a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s, paired with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory. This substantial bandwidth is crucial for feeding the high pixel and texture rates at 4K resolutions.

Q: At which resolution does the frame rate drop below 100 FPS on High settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS drops to 81. This is the only resolution tested where the High preset fails to maintain an average above 100 FPS.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score of 41187. This places it well ahead of the majority of graphics cards.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications directly explain the high frame rates observed. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. More importantly, its memory subsystem is built for high-resolution gaming, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. This immense bandwidth allows the card to handle the large texture data and geometry loads typical of Doom without stalling.

The GPU’s architecture is Ampere, built on an 8 nm process at Samsung, with 28,300 million transistors. With 10,240 shading units, the card can process a massive amount of pixel data, which translates directly to the high FPS figures seen in the measured data. For instance, at 2560x1440, the card delivers an average of 149 FPS on High settings, showcasing its ability to drive high refresh rate monitors at this resolution. Even at 4K, the card maintains playable averages of 81 FPS on High, but the jump to Ultra settings brings it down to 66 FPS, highlighting the GPU’s limits when all effects are maxed out at this resolution.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 41187 places it in the 83rd percentile, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, has a score of 40377, which is 2% lower. This data confirms the 3080 Ti is a high-end performer, and its capabilities are the primary reason this combo achieves such high frame rates in Doom. The card’s 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is a theoretical measure that aligns with its practical results, which show it capable of exceeding 200 FPS at 1440p on lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 1092 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places it comfortably in the upper third of all systems tested, indicating a strong overall gaming performance for this title. While the rank is not in the top tier, it is important to contextualize this with the CPU’s standing; the i5-9400 is in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, which is a mid-range position.

The data suggests the combo is heavily GPU-bound, meaning the graphics card is doing the majority of the work. The GPU is in the 83rd percentile, while the CPU lags behind in relative terms. This discrepancy is typical of a pairing where a high-end GPU is matched with a more modest processor. The combo rank reflects the system’s overall capability, and the high FPS numbers across the board show that the CPU does not cripple the GPU’s performance in this game. Compared to other combos, this system is better than 70% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result for a game like Doom that is well-optimized.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The FPS data reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally fast, with the Low preset averaging 254 FPS. The Medium preset averages 242 FPS with a maximum of 278 FPS, while High averages 228 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p maintains a high average of 188 FPS, demonstrating that the system is never CPU-bound at this resolution in a way that harms playability.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains outstanding. The Low preset delivers an average of 202 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 176 FPS with a minimum of 150 FPS. The High preset still achieves a very smooth 149 FPS average. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops the average to 122 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with a roughly 20-30% reduction in FPS across all settings, which is expected given the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limits are tested. The Low preset yields an average of 109 FPS, providing a smooth 4K experience. The Medium preset averages 95 FPS, with a minimum of 81 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 81 FPS, which is still playable. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS, averaging just 66 FPS. This indicates that for 4K gaming, users will need to choose between High and Medium settings to ensure a consistently smooth experience, as the Ultra preset may result in noticeable frame drops in demanding scenes. The data shows a clear trend: the system is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p, and remains viable for 60+ FPS gaming at 4K with adjusted settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a Coffee Lake processor with 6 cores and 6 threads, operating at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 9 MB L3 cache. While this is a solid mid-range processor, its performance is clearly secondary to the GPU in this pairing. The CPU’s average benchmark score is 2254, which places it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The data suggests the i5-9400 is sufficient for this task at most settings, as the frame rates scale well with resolution increases. However, the CPU’s limitations become apparent when comparing the frame rates at 1080p versus 1440p. The performance drop from 1080p Low (254 FPS) to 1440p Low (202 FPS) is not purely linear, indicating that the CPU can sometimes become the limiting factor at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom.

The CPU’s single-core performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 score of 935, is adequate for gaming. However, its 6-thread limit means it cannot leverage additional parallel processing that some modern titles might use. In this dataset, the CPU does not cause a bottleneck that ruins the experience, but it does prevent the system from reaching the absolute maximum FPS potential of the RTX 3080 Ti at 1080p. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, performs nearly identically with a score of 2259, confirming the i5-9400’s mid-range positioning. This is a case where the CPU is a supporting actor, and the GPU drives the overall experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 3840x2160, the data indicates that the Ultra preset is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as it averages only 66 FPS. The High preset, averaging 81 FPS, offers a better balance for 4K gaming, providing a playable experience without significant visual compromises. The Medium preset is a viable alternative for those seeking higher frame rates, averaging 95 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Medium may be noticeable.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the best choice for a premium experience, delivering an average of 149 FPS. This is ideal for 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset, at 122 FPS, is also a strong option if visual fidelity is prioritized over the slight FPS drop. At 1920x1080, the system is so powerful that even the Ultra preset, at 188 FPS, is more than sufficient for any monitor. The High preset, averaging 228 FPS, provides near-maximum visual quality with a massive performance headroom.

In summary, the data suggests that for 4K users, High settings are the sweet spot. For 1440p users, both High and Ultra are excellent, with High being the safer bet for maintaining higher frame rates. At 1080p, users can comfortably max out the settings and still enjoy frame rates far beyond what most displays can handle. The measured rows show a consistent pattern: the GPU handles the load well at lower settings, and the CPU does not introduce stuttering or major frame drops, making the High preset the most well-rounded recommendation across all resolutions for a balance of visual quality and performance.