Doom

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Doom with the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER reveals a clear pattern: the game scales almost perfectly with resolution, indicating that the GPU is the dominant limiting factor across all tested settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 347.5 FPS, but dropping to 4K Low reduces that to 124.1 FPS — a 64% performance decrease that shows the rendering load is shifting heavily onto the graphics card. The scaling is consistent: moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings cuts frame rates from 167.1 FPS to 88 FPS, a 47% reduction, while the same resolution jump at Ultra drops from 137.3 FPS to 76.5 FPS, a 44% loss.

This behavior tells us that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution below 4K. At 1080p High, the combo produces 254.9 FPS, and at 1440p High it still delivers 167.1 FPS — both far above the 144Hz refresh rate that most high-end monitors offer. The fact that performance degrades so predictably with pixel count suggests that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are being utilized effectively, but the workload is purely rasterization-bound. The 76.5 FPS result at 4K Ultra is the only sub-100 FPS outcome in the entire measured set, which indicates that even at the most demanding settings, this pairing remains playable for competitive or single-player sessions.

The data also shows diminishing returns from Low to Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, the gap between Low (347.5 FPS) and Ultra (207.7 FPS) is 40%, while at 4K the same settings gap is 38% (124.1 FPS to 76.5 FPS). This consistency implies that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is the primary driver of frame rates, not memory bandwidth or CPU scheduling. In short, resolution scaling here is nearly textbook: the GPU dictates performance, and the CPU has headroom to spare.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K brings 12 cores and 20 threads across its Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. In Doom, a game originally released in 2016, this processor is far more capable than the workload demands. The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low, where CPU overhead is typically most visible, the combo hits 347.5 FPS — a figure that suggests the processor is not limiting frame delivery. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller FPS gains when lowering graphical settings at lower resolutions, but the data shows a 36% jump from 1080p High (254.9 FPS) to 1080p Low (347.5 FPS), which indicates the GPU is still the constraint even at the lightest settings.

The i7-12700K’s single-thread and multi-thread performance, as measured by synthetic benchmarks, supports this interpretation. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4128 points and multi-core score of 29241 points place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (0.3% slower) and the Intel Core i7-13700T (0.6% faster) showing that it sits in a competitive but not exceptional position. In Doom’s engine, which was designed for the hardware of its 2016 release, the i7-12700K’s 5.00 GHz boost clock ensures that even the most demanding frame-time spikes are handled without noticeable stutter. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample data locality for the game’s geometry and texture streams, further reducing any potential CPU-side delays.

The data shows that the CPU’s role in this combo is to remain transparent — it never becomes the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, where the GPU is clearly saturated (76.5 FPS), the CPU still has headroom, as evidenced by the fact that lowering settings to 4K Low increases FPS to 124.1, a 62% improvement that could only occur if the GPU had spare capacity to exploit. The i7-12700K’s 20 threads are more than sufficient for Doom’s multi-threaded rendering tasks, and its 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests it will not hold back the RTX 4070 SUPER in any scenario.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the clear workhorse in this pairing, and its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, 192-bit bus, and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are the key specs driving Doom’s performance. The GPU’s 7168 shading units, 224 TMUs, and 80 ROPs combine to deliver 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, which the measured FPS data shows is being fully utilized at every resolution and settings combination. At 4K Ultra, the card produces 76.5 FPS, which is the lowest result in the entire dataset and indicates that the GPU is the sole bottleneck at that setting. The fact that dropping to 4K High only improves performance to 88 FPS — a 15% gain — suggests that the game’s Ultra preset adds a significant load on the GPU’s pixel shaders and texture units, but the card still has enough headroom to maintain playable frame rates.

The RTX 4070 SUPER’s boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1980 MHz are typical for the Ada Lovelace architecture, and the 5 nm process node from TSMC allows for efficient power delivery within its 220 W TDP. The benchmark results show that the GPU’s 84th percentile ranking among all GPUs is well-earned, with nearest rivals like the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (0.2% slower) and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (0.3% slower) confirming that it sits at the upper mid-range of performance. In Doom, the GPU’s memory subsystem is particularly important: the 504.2 GB/s bandwidth and 12 GB capacity are sufficient to handle the game’s texture streaming at 4K, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Ultra, the 76.5 FPS result shows no signs of memory-related stuttering or texture pop-in.

The data reveals that the GPU is the primary factor determining FPS across all tested configurations. At 1080p Low, the card achieves 347.5 FPS, which is close to the practical limit for most displays, and the performance scales down predictably as resolution and settings increase. The RTX 4070 SUPER’s 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores are not directly utilized in Doom, as it lacks ray tracing and DLSS support, but the card’s raw rasterization power is more than enough to deliver a smooth experience. The 198.0 GPixel/s pixel rate and 554.4 GTexel/s texture rate are the specs that matter here, and the measured FPS confirms that the GPU is delivering near its theoretical maximum in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

Among the 1681 tested combos in the database, the Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 284th in Doom. This places it in the top 17% of all tested combinations, which is a strong result given that the GPU alone is in the 84th percentile and the CPU is in the 89th percentile. The rank suggests that this pairing is well-balanced for Doom, as it outperforms the vast majority of systems while still leaving room for higher-end configurations that pair the RTX 4070 SUPER with faster CPUs or pair the i7-12700K with more powerful GPUs.

The combo’s rank of 284 out of 1681 means that roughly 1400 tested combinations produce lower average FPS in Doom, which is expected given the RTX 4070 SUPER’s mid-to-high-end positioning. However, the rank also implies that this system is not at the absolute top tier — there are 283 combos that outperform it, likely featuring GPUs with higher compute throughput or CPUs with faster single-thread performance. The deltaPct values from the CPU and GPU nearest rivals show that both components are closely matched to their competition: the i7-12700K is within 0.8% of its nearest rivals, and the RTX 4070 SUPER is within 1.6%, meaning that small performance differences in either component could shift the combo’s rank by a few positions.

For a game like Doom, which is highly optimized and not particularly demanding by modern standards, this rank reflects the GPU’s dominance in determining FPS. The CPU’s high percentile ranking ensures that it does not drag the combo down, but the GPU’s 84th percentile is the more binding constraint. The data shows that this combo is a capable 1440p and 4K performer, with the 167.1 FPS at 1440p High and 88 FPS at 4K High being strong indicators of its overall position in the rankings.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p High delivers 167.1 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, while 4K High still provides 88 FPS for a more immersive experience. The choice depends on whether you prioritize frame rate or resolution.

Q: Why is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K so significant?

A: The drop is due to the GPU being the limiting factor. At 1080p High, the combo produces 254.9 FPS, but at 4K High it drops to 88 FPS, a 65% reduction, because the RTX 4070 SUPER’s shading units and memory bandwidth are taxed by the four-fold increase in pixel count.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER in Doom?

A: No. The CPU’s 5.00 GHz boost clock and 20 threads are more than sufficient. The fact that 1080p Low (347.5 FPS) is significantly higher than 1080p High (254.9 FPS) proves the GPU is the constraint, not the CPU.

Q: How does this combo’s rank compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 284th out of 1681 tested combinations, placing it in the top 17%. This is a strong result that reflects the balanced performance of the i7-12700K and RTX 4070 SUPER for this title.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, Low produces 124.1 FPS, while Ultra produces 76.5 FPS, a 39% performance gap. The Ultra preset adds significant GPU load, but both settings remain playable.

Q: Does the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM affect performance in Doom?

A: The data does not show any VRAM-related limitations. The 12 GB capacity and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for all tested settings, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling without sudden drops.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, the High preset at 1440p is the standout choice, delivering 167.1 FPS. This setting provides a significant improvement over Medium (199.9 FPS at 1440p) in visual fidelity while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds most monitors’ refresh rates. If 4K is the target, High settings at 88 FPS are the recommended compromise, as Ultra drops to 76.5 FPS — a noticeable reduction that does not justify the marginal visual gains in a fast-paced FPS. For competitive play, 1080p Low at 347.5 FPS is the maximum frame rate available, but the 1080p Medium setting at 304.6 FPS offers a better visual experience with only a 12% performance penalty.

The data suggests that the Ultra preset is not worth the FPS cost at any resolution. At 1080p, Ultra (207.7 FPS) is 23% slower than High (254.9 FPS), and at 4K, Ultra (76.5 FPS) is 13% slower than High (88 FPS). The Medium preset is a viable middle ground, especially at 4K where it delivers 109.6 FPS, but High provides a more consistent experience across all resolutions. Given that the RTX 4070 SUPER is capable of exceeding 100 FPS at 4K when settings are moderated, the recommendation is to prioritize High settings at 1440p or 4K, and reserve Low settings only for scenarios where maximum frame rate is the sole objective.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce 347.5 FPS, Medium yields 304.6 FPS, High drops to 254.9 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 207.7 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 40% reduction, which is consistent with the GPU’s workload increasing with each preset tier.

At 2560x1440, the results show a similar pattern but with lower absolute values. Low settings achieve 228.1 FPS, Medium reaches 199.9 FPS, High delivers 167.1 FPS, and Ultra falls to 137.3 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 40%, matching the 1080p scaling, which indicates that the GPU is handling the additional pixels without hitting any memory bandwidth limits.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops more significantly. Low settings produce 124.1 FPS, Medium delivers 109.6 FPS, High achieves 88 FPS, and Ultra yields 76.5 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 38%, which is slightly tighter than at lower resolutions, suggesting that the GPU is approaching its compute ceiling at 4K. The 88 FPS result at 4K High is the most balanced 4K option, while the 76.5 FPS at 4K Ultra remains playable but with a noticeable reduction in fluidity compared to the 1440p results. Overall, the data shows that this combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it can maintain frame rates well above 144 FPS at most settings, while 4K gaming requires a compromise between visual quality and frame rate.