Doom

# CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts up to 5.00 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. This is a high-end desktop chip that sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 35,684. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, scores 35,802, a delta of -0.3%, meaning the Intel part is essentially performance-equivalent to that chip. Against the Intel Core i7-13700T, the i7-12700K is 0.6% ahead, and it trails the Intel Core i5-14500HX by 0.7%.

In the context of Doom, a fast-paced FPS, the CPU's job is to feed the GPU with draw calls and maintain frame pacing. The i7-12700K's multi-threaded muscle is substantial: it scores 29,241 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 12,281 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Single-thread performance is equally strong at 4,128 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1,043 in 3DMark single-thread. These numbers matter because Doom's id Tech 6 engine is known for scaling well with strong single-thread performance, though the game can also utilize multiple cores for physics and AI. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency in gameplay.

However, the data shows that this CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The GPU is. The i7-12700K's benchmark scores place it far above what Doom requires at the resolutions tested. The processor's 20 threads and 5.00 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom for the game's logic, leaving the rendering workload squarely on the AMD Radeon RX 570.

# GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is a GCN 4.0 architecture GPU built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, featuring 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die. It has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU runs at a base clock of 1168 MHz with a boost clock of 1244 MHz, while the memory operates at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). Its compute capabilities include 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, yielding 5.095 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The RX 570 sits in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 30,158. Its nearest rivals are surprisingly modern: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 scores 30,109 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT scores 30,097 (0.2% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile scores 29,928 (0.8% behind). This proximity in average scores does not tell the whole story for Doom, as the measured FPS reveals the RX 570's age and 4 GB VRAM limitation.

In Doom, the GPU's 4 GB memory capacity is a critical factor. At 1080p and 1440p, the card can manage playable framerates at lower settings, but the 224.0 GB/s bandwidth and 5.095 TFLOPS throughput become bottlenecks at higher resolutions. The GPU's boost clock of 1244 MHz is modest by modern standards, and the 32 ROPs limit pixel throughput. The data confirms this: at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 17.5, which is unplayable. The GPU is clearly the weak link in this combination.

# How This Combo Ranks

This pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 1,607 out of 1,681 tested combos in Doom. That places it in the bottom 4.5% of all configurations, a poor showing that underscores the severe imbalance between the high-end CPU and the mid-range, end-of-life GPU. The combo rank is driven almost entirely by the GPU's inability to keep pace with modern rendering demands.

The i7-12700K's 89th percentile CPU standing contrasts sharply with the RX 570's 74th percentile GPU standing. In a game like Doom, which is heavily GPU-bound at most settings, the CPU's strength is wasted. The data indicates that pairing this processor with a much stronger GPU would yield dramatically better results, as the CPU has headroom to spare. The 1,607th rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability but rather the GPU's limitation.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the combination delivers playable framerates across most settings. Low settings produce an average of 95.3 FPS, which is excellent for a fast-paced shooter. Medium settings drop to 82.4 FPS, still smooth. High settings yield 68.3 FPS, which remains above the 60 FPS threshold for most gamers. Ultra settings, however, fall to 53.8 FPS, which is borderline for competitive play but acceptable for single-player.

Moving to 1440p, the performance drops become more pronounced. Low settings average 62 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium settings average 50.2 FPS, High settings average 45 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 35.5 FPS. None of these 1440p results are consistently smooth, indicating the GPU is struggling to maintain frame rates at this resolution.

At 4K, the combination collapses. Low settings average 31.9 FPS, Medium averages 30.3 FPS, High averages 21.8 FPS, and Ultra averages 17.5 FPS. These numbers are all well below the 60 FPS target and even below 30 FPS for most settings, making 4K impractical with this GPU.

# Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and reveals the GPU as the limiting component. At Low settings, 1080p yields 95.3 FPS, while 4K yields 31.9 FPS—a 66.5% reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 68.3 FPS to 21.8 FPS, a 68.1% reduction. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 53.8 FPS to 17.5 FPS, a 67.5% reduction. These consistent percentage drops across settings indicate a GPU bottleneck, as the CPU's performance does not degrade with resolution.

The RX 570's 4 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the pixel and texture workloads at 4K. The 32 ROPs and 39.81 GPixel/s pixel rate simply cannot fill the 8.3 million pixels of a 4K display at acceptable rates. The i7-12700K, with its 5.00 GHz boost clock and strong single-thread scores, is not the cause of this scaling pattern. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, but the data shows a clear GPU-limited collapse.

# FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of running Doom at 1080p with smooth framerates?

A: Yes, at Low settings the average FPS is 95.3, at Medium it is 82.4, and at High it is 68.3. All three are above 60 FPS, making them viable for play.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: 1080p is the only resolution where the combo consistently achieves playable framerates across multiple settings. At 1440p, only Low settings (62 FPS) approach playability, and at 4K, all settings fall below 32 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The i7-12700K scores 35,684 on average, which is 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (35,802) and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700T (35,468).

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

A: Yes, the resolution scaling data shows consistent FPS drops of roughly 67% from 1080p to 4K, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's strong benchmark scores indicate it has significant headroom.

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

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570 is in the 74th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 30,158, placing it near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (30,109) and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (30,097).

Q: Is Ultra settings playable at any resolution?

A: At 1080p, Ultra averages 53.8 FPS, which is borderline. At 1440p, it drops to 35.5 FPS, and at 4K, it is 17.5 FPS. Only the 1080p Ultra result is marginally playable.

# Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combination, the data points to 1080p with Medium or High settings. Medium settings deliver 82.4 FPS, which provides smooth gameplay with better visual fidelity than Low (95.3 FPS). High settings at 68.3 FPS are also acceptable and offer improved textures and effects. Ultra settings at 1080p (53.8 FPS) are playable but may feel less responsive in fast-paced combat.

At 1440p, the choice narrows to Low settings (62 FPS) for a playable experience. Medium (50.2 FPS) and High (45 FPS) are below the ideal threshold, and Ultra (35.5 FPS) is not recommended. At 4K, no settings achieve playable framerates—Low averages 31.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 17.5 FPS—so 4K should be avoided entirely with this GPU.

The optimal balance of smoothness and quality is 1080p Medium, which offers 82.4 FPS while retaining enough visual detail for Doom's fast-paced environments. For competitive play, 1080p Low at 95.3 FPS provides the highest framerate headroom. The i7-12700K's strong performance ensures the CPU will not cause stutters at any of these settings, making the GPU the sole determinant of the final experience.