Doom

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread Coffee Lake processor with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. For a game like Doom, which is an older title from 2016, this CPU configuration is more than adequate to feed the GPU, as the data shows the combo achieving high frame rates across all tested resolutions. The CPU’s performance, reflected in an average benchmark score of 2305, places it at the 50th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it sits squarely in the middle of the pack. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10305 and Intel Core i3-1125G4, both with an average score of 2300 and a deltaPct of 0.2, indicating that the i5-9400 is virtually identical in compute performance to those parts. In the context of Doom’s results, the CPU’s six threads are sufficient to handle the game’s engine, as the bottleneck shifts heavily to the GPU, especially at higher settings and resolutions.

The architecture, based on the 14 nm process node, supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. While this memory bandwidth is not exceptionally high by modern standards, it does not appear to hinder performance in this specific game, as the measured FPS numbers are consistently high. The CPU’s integrated UHD 630 graphics are irrelevant here since a discrete GPU is present, but the 9 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L1 and L2 caches of 64 KB and 256 KB respectively provide enough on-die resources for the game’s instructions. The boost clock of 4.10 GHz is the key factor, as Doom is sensitive to single-thread performance, and the data suggests that the i5-9400’s ability to hit high clocks on a few cores allows it to keep up with the RTX 5080 without creating a significant frame rate ceiling.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 achieves a combo rank of 309 out of 1681 tested combinations in Doom. This places the system in the top 18.4% of all tested combos, which is a strong result for a CPU that is several generations old and no longer in production. The high rank is primarily driven by the GPU’s immense power, as the RTX 5080 sits at the 89th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 59188. The CPU’s mid-pack performance does not drag the combo down significantly because the game’s engine is well-optimized, allowing the GPU to operate near its full potential.

When looking at the GPU’s nearest rivals, the RTX 5080 is 1.6% ahead of the Intel Arc A570M and 2.5% ahead of the Intel Arc A580, while being 1.9% behind the Intel Arc Pro A60. These small deltas suggest that the RTX 5080 is in a tight performance cluster, but in Doom, its raw throughput translates into very high FPS. The combo’s rank of 309 indicates that while there are 308 faster combos, most of those likely feature newer, higher-end CPUs that can push even more frames at lower resolutions. At 1080p and 1440p, the CPU becomes a more relevant factor, but the data shows that even with the i5-9400, the system remains in the top tier of results.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-9400 bottleneck the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 in Doom?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the bottleneck is minimal. At 4K Ultra, the combo still achieves 92.3 FPS, and at 1080p Low, it reaches 251.5 FPS. While the i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305, which is mid-pack, the game’s engine scales well enough that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, especially at higher resolutions.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 5080 compared to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5080 has an average benchmark score of 59188. Its closest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, scores 60326, which is 1.9% higher. The Intel Arc A570M scores 58239, which is 1.6% lower than the RTX 5080.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this combo to maintain a high frame rate?

A: According to the measured FPS, 2560x1440 with High settings yields 197.2 FPS, while 1920x1080 with High settings yields 229.5 FPS. If you want to push maximum quality, 3840x2160 Ultra still provides a playable 92.3 FPS.

Q: Is the i5-9400’s six-thread configuration a limitation?

A: The data shows that the six threads are sufficient for Doom. The CPU has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, and the game’s engine does not appear to require more threads, as evidenced by the high FPS numbers across all settings and resolutions.

Q: How does the combo rank compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 309th out of 1681 tested combos, placing it in the top 18.4%. This is a strong showing, given that the CPU is an older model, and it highlights the GPU’s dominance in this pairing.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the CPU, and does it affect gaming?

A: The i5-9400 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. While this is not high, the game’s performance data shows that it does not create a bottleneck, as the system achieves high FPS numbers even at lower resolutions where CPU load is higher.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets. Starting at 3840x2160, the system delivers an average of 109.7 FPS on High settings, which is a solid experience for 4K gaming. Dropping to Medium yields 128.1 FPS, a 16.8% increase over High, while Low settings push the frame rate up to 150.2 FPS. At the top-end Ultra preset, the average falls to 92.3 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play, but it is clear that the GPU is being fully utilized at this resolution, with the CPU providing just enough headroom.

Moving down to 2560x1440, the performance improves significantly. On High settings, the average frame rate is 197.2 FPS, which is a 79.8% increase over the 4K High result. Medium settings deliver 209.9 FPS, and Low settings reach 220.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces 166.7 FPS, which is a substantial 80.6% higher than the 4K Ultra result. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, as it offers high frame rates while still maintaining visual fidelity.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are the highest, but the gains over 1440p are smaller. High settings produce 229.5 FPS, Medium yields 239.5 FPS, and Low hits 251.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p delivers 214.6 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. The data shows a clear trend: the CPU is starting to become a limiting factor at 1080p, as the frame rates are not scaling as much as they did between 4K and 1440p. However, with all results above 214 FPS, this is a non-issue for practical gaming. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 36.9 FPS, while at 4K it is 57.9 FPS, indicating that the GPU has less headroom to spare at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is a massive part of this combo’s success. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is more than enough for Doom, even at 4K Ultra, where the game’s textures and assets are loaded without issue. The GPU is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process node by TSMC, with 45,600 million transistors on a 378 mm² die. Its boost clock of 2617 MHz and base clock of 2295 MHz allow it to sustain high performance, and its 10752 shading units are the primary drivers of the high FPS numbers seen in the data.

The GPU’s compute capabilities are exceptional, with an FP32 performance of 56.28 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s. These specifications translate directly into the measured frame rates, as the RTX 5080 is able to render Doom’s scenes with ease. The GPU is also equipped with 84 RT cores and 336 tensor cores, although these are not heavily utilized in a game that does not feature ray tracing or DLSS from the original 2016 release. The 112 ROPs ensure that pixel output is not a bottleneck, which is evident from the high pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 59188 places it at the 89th percentile of all GPUs, confirming its high-end status. In this game, the RTX 5080’s performance is so strong that it is the sole reason the combo ranks as high as it does. The data shows that the GPU is capable of pushing frame rates beyond 250 FPS at 1080p Low, which confirms its raw power. The card’s 360 W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this class of hardware, and its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides ample bandwidth for data transfer.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s display and preference for visual quality versus frame rate. For users with a 3840x2160 display, the High preset is the best choice, as it delivers 109.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset, while visually superior, drops to 92.3 FPS, which is still playable but offers diminishing returns for the 17.4 FPS loss. For those who prioritize competitive play, the Medium preset at 128.1 FPS provides a noticeable boost in smoothness without a significant visual downgrade from High.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the clear winner, offering 197.2 FPS, which is more than enough for any high-refresh-rate monitor. The Ultra preset at 166.7 FPS is also excellent if the user wants maximum visual detail, as the frame rate remains far above the threshold where motion blur or stutter becomes noticeable. The Low and Medium presets at 220.4 FPS and 209.9 FPS respectively are unnecessary for most users, as the visual quality loss is not worth the extra frames.

For 1920x1080, the High preset is recommended, as it delivers 229.5 FPS, which is sufficient for even the fastest 240 Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 214.6 FPS is also viable, providing a better visual experience while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds most display refresh rates. The Low preset at 251.5 FPS offers the highest possible frame rate, but the visual trade-off is substantial. In summary, the data suggests that High settings across all resolutions offer the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate, with Ultra being a valid choice for users with 1440p or lower resolution displays who want the best image quality without sacrificing playability.