Doom

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX pairing in Doom produces a dataset that clearly delineates the roles of each component. The CPU, a 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake-S part with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, provides substantial headroom for the game's logic. Its performance on the 3dmark 16-thread test (9282) and 3dmark max-threads test (9983) indicates strong multi-threaded throughput, while its single-thread score of 1043 in 3dmark shows it can handle the primary game thread efficiently. This combination of high single-thread speed and ample multi-core resources ensures the CPU is rarely the bottleneck, even when the GPU is generating hundreds of frames per second.

The benchmark results across resolutions confirm this balance. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 363.4 FPS, a figure that is far beyond the refresh rate of most displays and suggests that the CPU is still managing to feed the GPU. The GPU, built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with 6144 shading units and a boost clock of 2498 MHz, is clearly the dominant force. The data shows that as resolution increases, the frame rate drops in a pattern that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's performance percentile of 89 versus all CPUs, and its near-tie with rivals like the Intel Core i5-14400 (deltaPct 0.1) and Intel Core i9-12900HX (deltaPct 0.2), further establishes it as a high-end part that will not hold back the RX 7900 XTX in this title. The GPU's own percentile of 85 versus all GPUs, with rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (deltaPct -2) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (deltaPct 0.8), shows it sits in the top tier of graphics hardware.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The processor's architecture is central to understanding the frame rates. With 12 cores and 20 threads, the i7-12700KF offers a high degree of parallelism. However, Doom, being a fast-paced FPS, often relies heavily on a few threads for game logic and rendering commands. The CPU's single-core performance, evidenced by a 3dmark single-thread score of 1043 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2526, is what allows the system to push beyond 360 FPS at 1080p Low. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz is a key factor here, allowing for rapid processing of draw calls.

The multi-core capabilities are not wasted, however. The system’s performance in synthetic tests like Cinebench R23 multicore (28979) and Passmark multithread (34092) indicates that background tasks and the game’s various systems can be handled without stealing cycles from the main rendering thread. This is particularly relevant in Doom, where the game engine can utilize additional cores for physics and audio. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache also aids in keeping data close to the cores, reducing latency. In the context of the measured FPS, this CPU provides the necessary foundation for the GPU to operate at its peak, particularly at lower resolutions where the frame rate is highest.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings presets. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 269.7 FPS, which is a 47.9 FPS increase over Ultra (221.8 FPS) and only a 45.1 FPS decrease from the Low preset's 363.4 FPS. This makes High an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate monitors, as the visual uplift from Low to High is substantial while still maintaining a very high frame rate. The Medium preset at 314.8 FPS also offers a strong balance, but High provides a better fidelity-to-performance trade-off for most users.

At 1440p, the pattern shifts. The High preset yields 170.3 FPS, comfortably above the 144Hz threshold, while Ultra drops to 139.8 FPS. For those with 144Hz displays, High is the optimal setting, as it provides a 30.5 FPS advantage over Ultra. The Medium preset at 205.9 FPS is also viable, but High offers a more complete visual experience without sacrificing the target refresh rate. At 4K, the situation changes again. The High preset produces 92.5 FPS, which is well-suited for a 60Hz or a 120Hz display with adaptive sync. The Ultra preset at 78.5 FPS is playable but pushes the system harder for a marginal visual gain. For a consistent 4K experience, High is the strongest recommendation, as it is 14.0 FPS faster than Ultra and 19.9 FPS slower than Medium.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions is a textbook example of GPU-bound performance. Moving from 1080p High to 1440p High, the frame rate drops from 269.7 FPS to 170.3 FPS, a decrease of 99.4 FPS. This is a significant 36.9% reduction, which aligns with the increased pixel count. When moving from 1440p High to 4K High, the frame rate further drops to 92.5 FPS, a reduction of 77.8 FPS. This pattern indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the primary limiting factor; as the resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth (960.0 GB/s) are taxed more heavily.

This is further confirmed by the Low settings results. At 1080p Low, the system hits 363.4 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 232.7 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 124.8 FPS. The consistent and large percentage drops with each resolution step-up show that the CPU is not the bottleneck, as its workload remains relatively constant regardless of resolution. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would see a much smaller difference between 1080p and 1440p results. The data shows that the i7-12700KF has enough performance headroom to allow the GPU to be the sole determinant of performance in this title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the database of 1681 tested CPU and GPU combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX achieves a rank of 258. This placement in the top 15.4% of all tested combos is a strong indicator of its overall capability. The rank reflects the aggregate performance across all settings and resolutions, and a higher rank would require an even more powerful GPU, such as a card with a higher Passmark G3D score than the RX 7900 XTX's 31238. The combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's weakness; rather, it reflects the extreme performance of the top-tier GPUs that occupy the upper echelons of the list.

The CPU's individual standing helps contextualize the combo's rank. With an average benchmark score of 35355 and a percentile of 89, the i7-12700KF is a top-tier processor. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-14400 with a deltaPct of 0.1, show that it is essentially tied with the latest mid-range parts. This means that in a game like Doom, which is not heavily multi-threaded, a less expensive CPU might achieve similar results. However, the combo rank of 258 is a holistic measure, and the high frame rates achieved here, particularly the 363.4 FPS at 1080p Low, are only possible with a GPU of this caliber combined with a CPU that can keep up with it.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-12700KF compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35355. It is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-14400, which has a deltaPct of 0.1, and performs nearly identically to the Intel Core i9-12900HX, with a deltaPct of 0.2. These are all within a 0.3% margin of each other.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX a high-performing GPU according to the data?

A: Yes, the GPU's Passmark G3D score is 31238, and it has a percentile of 85 versus all GPUs. Its performance is slightly above the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, which has a deltaPct of -2, and slightly below the AMD Radeon Pro 580, which has a deltaPct of -0.4.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p 144Hz monitor?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 yields an average of 170.3 FPS, which is above the 144Hz threshold. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces 139.8 FPS, which falls below it. Therefore, High is the optimal choice for a 144Hz display.

Q: What is the maximum frame rate the system can achieve in Doom?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 363.4, which is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset. This represents the absolute ceiling for this combination in the measured data.

Q: Does the system perform better at 4K with High or Ultra settings?

A: The data shows that the High preset at 3840x2160 achieves 92.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 78.5 FPS. The High preset is 14.0 FPS faster, making it the better choice for maintaining a smoother experience at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its single-threaded performance?

A: The CPU's 3dmark max-threads score is 9983, while its 3dmark single-thread score is 1043. This shows a strong scaling capability across its 12 cores and 20 threads, but its single-thread performance, aided by the 5.00 GHz boost clock, is what drives the very high frame rates in Doom.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following data represents the measured average FPS for all 12 combinations of resolution and settings.

3840x2160 (4K)

• High: 92.5 FPS
• Low: 124.8 FPS
• Medium: 112.4 FPS
• Ultra: 78.5 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• High: 170.3 FPS
• Low: 232.7 FPS
• Medium: 205.9 FPS
• Ultra: 139.8 FPS

1920x1080 (1080p)

• High: 269.7 FPS
• Low: 363.4 FPS
• Medium: 314.8 FPS
• Ultra: 221.8 FPS

The data shows a consistent and expected scaling pattern. At each resolution, the Low preset offers the highest frame rate, followed by Medium, then High, and finally Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is most pronounced at 1080p, where it is 141.6 FPS, and narrows to 46.3 FPS at 4K. This is because at lower resolutions, the CPU and GPU are more likely to be limited by other factors, whereas at 4K, the GPU's rendering workload dominates the frame time. The overall ranking of this combo at 258 out of 1681 is a strong result, confirming that this pairing is well-suited for high-performance gaming in Doom.