Doom

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers a combination that ranks 740th out of 3,712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the top 20% of all configurations. This ranking reflects a system where a high-end GPU is paired with a mid-range six-core processor from 2018, resulting in frame rates that are generally excellent but not always maximized. The data indicates that the CPU becomes a limiting factor at lower resolutions, while the GPU’s immense power ensures playable performance even at 4K Ultra settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 740 out of 3,712 tested configurations places it in the 80th percentile of all CPU-GPU pairings tested in Doom. This is a strong showing, but it is not as high as the GPU’s individual percentile would suggest. The RTX 4080 alone ranks in the 86th percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-9400 sits in the 47th percentile among all CPUs. The gap between these two percentiles highlights a potential bottleneck, where the processor’s lower relative standing pulls the combined rank down from what the graphics card alone might achieve.

Looking at the CPU’s synthetic benchmarks, the i5-9400’s average benchmark score of 2,254 places it just 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and 0.3% above the Intel Core i7-10710U. These nearest rivals are all close in performance, indicating that the i5-9400 is competitive within its class but far from the top of the CPU hierarchy. In contrast, the RTX 4080’s average benchmark score of 54,247 is only 0.1% below the RTX 4080 SUPER, showing that this GPU is at the very top of its performance tier.

The combination’s rank suggests that in Doom, the overall experience is dominated by the GPU’s capabilities, but the CPU’s limitations prevent the system from fully utilizing the RTX 4080 at lower resolutions. At 1080p, where CPU overhead is more significant, the frame rates are high but show diminishing returns compared to the GPU’s raw power. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary driver, and the system’s rank reflects a smoother, more balanced performance profile.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU-GPU combo in Doom?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 740th out of 3,712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 20% of all tested setups.

Q: How does the CPU’s individual benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2,254, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i7-10710U, showing it is closely matched with these competitors.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 254, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the RTX 4080’s performance close to its nearest rival?

A: Yes, the RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, which is just 0.1% below the RTX 4080 SUPER, indicating nearly identical performance levels.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 85, achieved at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 209, with a minimum of 178 and a maximum of 240.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of decreasing performance as resolution increases, but the rate of decline is not uniform across settings. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 254 at Low settings to 212 at Ultra, a spread of 42 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the range narrows slightly, from 219 at Low to 156 at Ultra, a spread of 63 FPS. At 4K, the range widens further, from 141 at Low to 85 at Ultra, a spread of 56 FPS.

The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K varies by setting. For Low settings, the average FPS drops from 254 to 141, a decrease of 44.5%. For High settings, the drop is from 228 to 104, a decrease of 54.4%. For Medium settings, the drop is from 242 to 123, a decrease of 49.2%. For Ultra settings, the drop is from 212 to 85, a decrease of 59.9%.

This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, particularly at 4K. The RTX 4080’s 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game’s demands, but the frame rate reduction from 1080p to 4K is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p, the i5-9400’s six cores and six threads create a bottleneck, as evidenced by the smaller FPS gains when moving from Medium to Low settings compared to the gains seen at higher resolutions. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU limits the maximum achievable frame rate, while at 4K, the GPU’s workload dominates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 254, which is the highest recorded for any configuration in this dataset. Medium settings produce an average of 242 FPS, with a minimum of 205 and a maximum of 278. High settings yield an average of 228 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to an average of 212 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 42 FPS, showing that the CPU’s limitation at this resolution caps the gains from lower graphical demands.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a slight decline. Low settings achieve an average of 219 FPS, while Medium settings produce 209 FPS with a minimum of 178 and a maximum of 240. High settings average 191 FPS, and Ultra settings average 156 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 63 FPS, which is wider than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is beginning to take on more of the workload.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop more significantly. Low settings still achieve an average of 141 FPS, which is playable for fast-paced action. Medium settings average 123 FPS, with a minimum of 104 and a maximum of 141. High settings average 104 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 85 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 56 FPS, showing that the GPU’s performance scaling is more pronounced at this resolution.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 4080 provides ample performance for Doom, but the i5-9400’s limitations become apparent at 1080p where the CPU cannot feed the GPU fast enough. At 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, and the frame rates are more predictable based on the graphics settings.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience at 4K, the data shows that High settings offer a strong balance between visual quality and performance. The average FPS of 104 at 3840x2160 with High settings is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making this the recommended preset for 4K. Ultra settings at 4K drop to an average of 85 FPS, which is still playable but may show more noticeable frame dips in intense scenes. Medium settings at 4K provide an average of 123 FPS, but the visual fidelity loss may not be worth the extra frames.

At 1440p, the choice of settings depends on the refresh rate of the display. For a 144 Hz monitor, Ultra settings at 156 FPS average is the best fit, as it exceeds the refresh rate and provides maximum visual quality. For a 240 Hz monitor, Medium settings at 209 FPS average is recommended, as it comes close to the refresh rate while maintaining higher quality than Low settings. The minimum FPS of 178 at Medium settings ensures that most frames will stay above the 144 Hz threshold.

At 1080p, the CPU limits the frame rates, so the choice of settings has a smaller impact on performance. Ultra settings at 212 FPS average is the highest visual quality option and is recommended for most users, as it still provides a high frame rate. Low settings at 254 FPS average offer the highest frame rate, but the visual difference is likely minimal given the game’s optimization. Medium settings at 242 FPS average provide a middle ground, but the CPU bottleneck means that the performance gap between settings is less pronounced than at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, with 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU’s benchmark scores show a moderate performance level, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6,629 and a single-core score of 935. These scores place the CPU in the 47th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a mid-range processor.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p resolution, where the frame rates are limited by the processor’s ability to handle game logic and draw calls. The data shows that at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is only 42 FPS, whereas at 4K, the difference is 56 FPS. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the bottleneck, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. The six cores and six threads are sufficient for the game, but the processor’s age and relatively low clock speeds compared to newer CPUs may limit the maximum frame rate.

At higher resolutions, the CPU’s limitations are less apparent, as the GPU becomes the primary constraint. The i5-9400’s dual-channel memory support and 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth are adequate for the game, but the processor’s overall performance is modest compared to the RTX 4080. The CPU’s nearest rivals in benchmark scores, such as the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and the Intel Core i7-10710U, are all within 0.4% of the i5-9400’s score, confirming that this processor is at the lower end of the performance spectrum for modern gaming.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a flagship graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process. It features 9,728 shading units, 76 ray tracing cores, and 304 tensor cores, with a boost clock of 2505 MHz. The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Passmark G3D score of 34,457 and an OpenCL score of 214,739, placing it in the 86th percentile among all GPUs.

In Doom, the RTX 4080’s performance is the dominant factor at all resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the GPU still manages an average of 85 FPS, which confirms its raw power. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the RTX 4080 SUPER, are within 0.1% of its average benchmark score, showing that this is one of the fastest graphics cards available. The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Doom, even at 4K with Ultra settings, and the 716.8 GB/s bandwidth ensures that textures and geometry are loaded quickly.

The GPU’s role is most pronounced at 4K, where the frame rates scale closely with the graphics settings. The data shows that at 4K, the average FPS ranges from 141 at Low to 85 at Ultra, a difference of 56 FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU’s workload. The RTX 4080’s high texture fill rate of 761.5 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s allow it to handle the game’s demands at high resolutions without issue. Its 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 performance ensures that even the most demanding graphical effects are processed efficiently. The GPU’s 320 W TDP and triple-slot design indicate that it is a power-hungry component, but its performance in Doom justifies the power consumption.