Doom

Measured Performance Overview

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination delivers a consistently playable experience across all tested resolutions in Doom, with average frame rates ranging from 56 fps at 4K Ultra to 194 fps at 1080p High. The data indicates this pairing ranks in the 62nd percentile of all tested CPU-GPU combinations for this title, placing it at position 1396 out of 3712 total combos. The system exhibits classic dependency shifting: at 1080p the CPU becomes a more significant factor, while at 4K the GPU takes over as the primary limiter, a pattern clearly visible in the frame rate deltas between settings presets.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate curve from 1080p to 4K reveals how the RX 7700 XT scales under increasing pixel load. At 1080p High, the combo produces 194 fps; at 1440p High, it drops to 126 fps; and at 4K High, it falls to 68 fps. This represents a 65% reduction when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% reduction when moving from 1440p to 4K. The scaling pattern is steep but consistent, suggesting the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution climbs.

The delta between 1080p and 1440p at High settings (194 to 126 fps, a 35% drop) is larger than the delta between 1440p and 4K (126 to 68 fps, a 46% drop from the 1440p figure), which is characteristic of a system where the CPU still has headroom at lower resolutions and the GPU progressively takes over the workload as pixel count rises. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 264 fps, while at 4K Ultra it falls to 56 fps; that 208 fps spread across the resolution/settings matrix shows a wide operating range that depends heavily on both graphics load and preset choice.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K reveals where this pairing becomes GPU-bound. At 1080p High, the average is 194 fps; at 1440p High, it drops to 126 fps; at 4K High, it falls to 68 fps. That is a 65% reduction from 1080p to 4K at the High preset, which is a substantial scaling penalty consistent with the Radeon RX 7700 XT's memory bandwidth and compute resources being taxed at higher pixel counts.

The Low preset tells a similar story: 264 fps at 1080p, 171 fps at 1440p, and 68 fps at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p Low is roughly 35%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K Low is about 27%. This pattern suggests the RX 7700 XT becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU with this class of bandwidth (432.0 GB/s). At 1080p, the CPU's 12 cores and high boost clock are able to feed the GPU adequately, as shown by the 264 fps Low preset result; by 4K, the workload becomes GPU-bound.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling across resolutions illustrates a classic GPU-limited scenario at higher pixel counts, with CPU headroom available at lower resolutions. At High settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 shows a drop from 194 fps to 126 fps, a reduction of 68 fps or roughly 35%. Moving from 1440p High to 3840x2160 High reduces the average from 126 fps to 68 fps, a further decline of 58 fps, or approximately 46%. This progressive, substantial drop as resolution increases is a clear indicator that the Radeon RX 7700 XT becomes the limiting component at 4K, while at 1080p the frame rates are high enough that CPU and game engine overhead play a larger relative role.

The gap between Low and Ultra presets widens considerably at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the spread between Low (264 fps) and Ultra (159 fps) is 105 fps, while at 4K that spread narrows slightly to 74 fps (93 fps Low vs 56 fps Ultra). This behavior is expected: at lower resolutions the CPU can feed the GPU more frames, and visual settings still matter; at 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor and the difference between presets becomes a smaller absolute delta in frame rate. The 4K Ultra result of 56 fps is the only measured point below the 60 fps threshold, while every other setting and resolution combination clears it.

How This Combo Ranks

The Core i7-12700KF and RX 7700 XT combination sits at rank 1396 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This places the pairing in the upper-middle tier of all configurations in the database, ahead of roughly 62 percent of tested systems. The processor itself holds an 85th percentile standing against all CPUs in the broader benchmark suite, which supports the idea that the combo's ranking is not held back by the CPU in this title. Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the Core i7-13700T scores marginally lower on average benchmark score (35,403 vs 35,365, a -0.1% delta), while the Core i5-13600T scores nearly identically at 35,305 (0.2% higher). This positions the i7-12700KF as a mid-pack performer among its immediate peers, with the GPU doing the heavy lifting in Doom's frame output.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake processor with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its 12 cores split between performance and efficiency architecture, with the 10 nm process node and 25 MB of shared L3 cache providing plenty of headroom for Doom’s multi-threaded engine. The CPU's benchmark scores demonstrate strong single-thread and multi-thread capability: 3DMark 16-thread score of 9282, Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838, and a single-thread passmark of 3984.

In this title, the CPU's performance is adequate to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by the high frame rates at lower resolutions. However, the percentile ranking of 85 vs all CPUs indicates it sits above average but not at the absolute top tier. The Core i7-12700KF's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core i7-13700T (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i5-13600T (0.2% faster), showing that its raw compute potential is closely matched by mid-range 13th-gen partscans. The core configuration of 12 cores and 20 threads with a 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost is well suited to Doom's engine, which typically scales with both high single-thread and multi-thread performance.

In terms of raw compute benchmarks, the CPU posts a multi-thread score of 34092 in PassMark and 12111 in Cinebench R20, while single-thread results reach 3984 in PassMark and 410 in Cinebench R15. These numbers place the i7-12700KF in the 85th percentile among all tested CPUs. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, scores 35403 in average benchmark score, a delta of -0.1%, while the Intel Core i5-13600T is 0.2% behind. This tight clustering indicates the i7-12700KF's performance is well within the expected range for its class, with no significant outlier behavior in synthetic tests.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured frame rate data for this combination across all tested configurable presets is as follows:

1920x1080:

• Low: 264 fps average
• Medium: 230 fps average, 196 fps minimum, 265 fps maximum
• High: 194 fps average
• Ultra: 159 fps average

2560x1440:

• Low: 171 fps average
• Medium: 149 fps average, 127 fps minimum, 171 fps maximum
• High: 126 fps average
• Ultra: 103 fps average

3840x2160:

• Low: 93 fps average
• Medium: 81 fps average, with a minimum of 68 fps and maximum of 93 fps
• High: 68 fps average
• Ultra: 56 fps average

The scaling pattern is consistent: each step from Low to Medium to High to Ultra costs roughly 15-20% of frame rate at a given resolution item with the most notable absolute drop occurring between High and Ultra at 4K, where the average goes from 68 to 56 fps stanchions. The measured data shows only one setting has a recorded maximum at 1080p Medium (265 fps) and 1440p Medium (171 fps), while the 4K Medium row shows a spread from 81 avg with min 81 and max 81 — the narrowest range in the entire set.

CPU Analysis: Core i7-12700KF

This processor is based on Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process with 12 cores and 20 threads. Its 25 MB of L3 cache and 5.00 GHz boost clock contribute to strong single-thread performance, as reflected in the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4071 and Geekbench single-core score of 2255. Multi-threaded results are equally robust: Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 12111, and PassMark's multi-thread score is 34092_shape. The 12-core/20-thread configuration, when paired with the 125W TDP and unlocked multiplier, provides ample compute headroom for game logic, physics, and streaming workloads that Doom's id Tech engine utilizes. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all tested CPUs suggests it sits well above the median for gaming performance, and the benchmark deltas to its nearest rivals are within a fraction of a percent, indicating the i7-12700KF is competitively positioned.

GPU and VRAM Behavior

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT features 12 GB of VRAM on a 192-bit bus, with a memory clock of 2250 MHz delivering 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its RDNA 3 architecture, built on TSMC's 5nm process, includes 3456 shading units and 96 ROPs, with boost clocks up to 2544 MHz. Typical synthetic results for this GPU class are not listed, but the measured Doom performance shows a clear scaling pattern tied to resolution and settings. At 1080p High, the GPU produces 194 fps; at 1440p High this drops to 126 fps (a 35% reduction); and at 4K High the frame rate falls to 68 fps (a 46% reduction from 1440p). This scaling is slightly steeper than ideal but reflects the GPU's memory bandwidth constraints at higher pixel countscars. The 432 GB/s bandwidth is the likely limiting factor at 4K, where the traversal from Low (93 fps) to Ultra (56 fps) shows the GPU's shading capability is sufficient but memory pressure increases. At 1440p, the drop from Medium (149 fps) to Ultra (103 fps) is a 31% penalty, while at 1080p the same settings transition costs only 30% (230 to 159 fps), showing the GPU maintains efficiency until 4K. The RX 7700 XT's 245W TDP and 12 GB VRAM are sufficient for Doom at all tested settings, with no VRAM-related stutter or low-texture artifacts reported in the measured data.

Measured FPS by Resolution and Settings

The complete measured dataset breaks down as follows. At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates span from 56 fps at Ultra to 93 fps at Low. The Medium preset records 81 fps with a minimum of 68 and maximum of 93, while High sits at 68 fps. At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance is markedly better: Low produces 171 fps, Medium 149 fps (127-171 range), High 126 fps, and Ultra 103 fps. At 1920x1080 (1080p), frame rates are exceptionally high: Low reaches 264 fps, Medium 230 fps (196-265), High 194 fps, and Ultra 159 fps. The data shows that at 1080p, all settings exceed 150 fps, which far surpasses the refresh rate of standard monitors. At 1440p, even the Ultra preset maintains a playable 103 fps. Only at 4K does the system dip below 60 fps, specifically at the Ultra setting (56 fps). This pattern indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution; the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with a GPU-bound workload, where the RX 7700 XT's performance degrades predictably as pixel count increases.

Performance Analysis and CPU Bottleneck Assessment

Examining the frame rate scaling when moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K, we can assess whether the CPU or GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p High, the system produces 194 fps. At 1440p High, it produces 126 fps, a 35% drop. At 4K High, it produces 68 fps, a further 46% drop. This scaling closely matches the pixel count increase: 1080p to 1440p is a 78% pixel increase, yet frame rate only drops 35%, indicating the CPU is not fully saturating the GPU at 1080p. The 1440p to 4K transition is a 2.25x pixel increase, and frame rate drops by 46%, which is also not proportional, suggesting the GPU remains the primary limiter at higher resolutions. The Intel Core i7-12700KF, with its 12 cores and 5.00 GHz boost clock, clearly has sufficient headroom for this game's engine. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12111 and single-core score of 410 place it in the mid-to-upper tier of desktop processors, and the measured frame rates below 200 fps at 1080p indicate the GPU is the binding constraint. At 4K Ultra, the 56 fps average is likely near the GPU's maximum computational throughput, and the CPU's role is minimalcars.

Settings Recommendations and Optimal Preset Analysis

The measured data indicates that the optimal balance of visual quality and frame rate depends heavily on the target display resolution. For 1080p displays, the High preset at 194 fps provides an excellent experience, as the jump from Medium (230 fps) to High (194 fps) is a modest 15% performance loss for a significant visual improvement. The Ultra preset at 159 fps is still well above 144Hz refresh rates, so users with high-refresh 1080p monitors can choose Ultra without dropping below 144 fps. At 1440p, the High preset (126 fps) is recommended for most users, as it comfortably exceeds 100 fps while the Ultra preset (103 fps) is also playable. However, the Medium preset at 149 fps offers a smoother experience with minimal visual difference at typical viewing distances. The data shows that 1440p Medium is the sweet spot for maintaining high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. At 4K, the situation is more nuanced: High (68 fps) is the highest preset that stays above 60 fps, while Medium (81 fps) provides a better safety margin. The Ultra preset at 56 fps dips below the 60 fps threshold, which may cause noticeable judder on 60Hz displays. For 4K gaming, the Medium or High presets are the recommended choices based on the measured averages.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this CPU and GPU in Doom?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 264 fps at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the system fail to maintain 60 fps?

A: At 3840x2160 (4K) with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate drops to 56 fps, which is below the 60 fps threshold.

Q: How does the CPU's core/thread configuration influence performance in Doom?

A: The i7-12700KF has 12 cores and 20 threads. The measured frame rates scale consistently with resolution, indicating the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested setting; performance is limited by the GPU instead.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 171 fps, while Ultra averages 103 fps, a 66% performance reduction for maximum visual quality.

Q: Which preset provides the best balance of visual quality and smooth frame rates at 4K?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 delivers 81 fps on average, which is well above the 60 fps target while still offering moderate visual improvements over Low.

Q: Is there any measured data showing frame time variance or stutter?

A: The dataset includes minimum and maximum fps only for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1920x1080 Medium, the range is 196-265 fps; at 2560x1440 Medium, it is 127-171 fps; at 3840x2160 Medium, it is 68-93 fps. No frame time or 1% low data is provided.