Doom

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a striking asymmetry in Doom: a top-tier 16-core processor driving an integrated GPU whose benchmark scores place it near the bottom of the database’s tested graphics hardware. The measured frames per second tell a story of a system that is entirely GPU-bound, where the CPU’s substantial multi-threaded and single-threaded capabilities are effectively left idle. This analysis breaks down the data for this specific combination, examining how the processor’s architecture and the graphics solution’s limitations dictate the playable experience across resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in the database for Doom?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2580 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the lower percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it can run the game, its performance is far from the top of the charts.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390’s raw benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). These deltas show the B390 is only marginally faster than these older, low-end parts.

Q: What is the best average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Doom is 107, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. The data shows that performance degrades as settings are increased, with Medium producing 93 FPS, High producing 78 FPS, and Ultra producing 64 FPS at the same resolution.

Q: Is the i7-13700K’s performance a limiting factor in Doom?

A: The data does not suggest the CPU is a bottleneck. The i7-13700K scores in the 89th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881. In contrast, the Arc B390 scores in the 9th percentile against all GPUs. The massive gap in percentile rankings, combined with the FPS scaling across resolutions, strongly indicates the GPU is the primary constraint.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 69 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 41 FPS. This represents a significant 28 FPS drop, or roughly a 40% reduction in performance, for the visual fidelity gain of the Ultra preset.

Q: Does the Arc B390 have its own dedicated video memory?

A: No, the Intel Arc B390’s memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system’s main RAM. Its memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," confirming it relies on shared system memory rather than dedicated VRAM.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a TDP of 125 W. The processor has a large 30 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. Its benchmark results are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. It also achieves a Geekbench single-core score of 2529 and a multi-core score of 19429. This places the CPU in the 89th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 46881.

In the context of Doom, the processor’s capabilities are far beyond what is being utilized. The game’s measured FPS across all settings and resolutions shows a pattern consistent with a GPU bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 107 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 4K with the same Low settings, the FPS drops to 37. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively constant regardless of resolution, as the processor’s workload would not change significantly. The significant drop in FPS with increasing resolution is a classic sign that the graphics processor is the limiting component, not the CPU.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, have average scores of 46971 and 46654, respectively, with delta percentages of -0.2% and 0.5% compared to the i7-13700K. This shows that the Core i7-13700K is competitive with other high-end processors, but this competitive standing does not translate to high FPS in this specific configuration. The data implies that the CPU is essentially waiting on the GPU for the majority of the time, rendering its powerful multi-threading and high clock speeds irrelevant for this game’s performance ceiling. The processor is a non-factor in the FPS numbers presented, save for ensuring the system does not cause additional slowdowns.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the definitive bottleneck in this system. This integrated graphics processor, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process, has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its compute power is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The GPU’s memory configuration is entirely "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and instead relies on the system’s main memory for all graphics data, with bandwidth being "System Dependent." This shared memory setup is a significant limitation for a demanding game like Doom.

The GPU’s benchmark performance is poor. It has a single benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This score places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (1463, +1.3%), GeForce 800M (1460, +1.5%), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, +2.5%), and GeForce GT 710 (1443, +2.7%). These comparisons show that the Arc B390 is only marginally faster than these entry-level GPUs from years past, which are not known for their gaming prowess.

This GPU performance directly dictates the FPS results. The highest average FPS achieved is 107 at 1080p Low. This is the ceiling for this graphics solution in Doom. At 4K, the highest average FPS is only 37, also on the Low preset. The GPU’s inability to handle the game’s demands at higher resolutions and settings is the primary reason for the low frame rates. The 80 W TDP and IGP slot width reinforce that this is a low-power, integrated solution not designed for high-end gaming. The data clearly indicates that the Arc B390’s performance is the single determining factor for the playability of Doom in this configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2580 out of 2930 combos in the database for Doom. This rank of 2580 places the combo in the bottom 12% of all tested systems. This is a remarkably low ranking, especially considering the processor is in the 89th percentile for CPU performance. This disparity highlights the overwhelming influence of the GPU on the final gaming experience. The powerful CPU does not boost the ranking because the GPU prevents the system from achieving high frame rates.

The combo’s performance is entirely anchored by the GPU’s 9th percentile ranking. The database’s ranking for the combo reflects the weakest link in the chain, which is the Intel Arc B390. The high-performing CPU is essentially wasted in this pairing for the purposes of gaming. The rank suggests that when compared to other systems with similar CPUs, this combo would be at the very bottom. When compared to other systems with similar GPUs, the ranking would be more dependent on the CPU, but since the GPU is so weak, the overall FPS is what drags the combo down to its 2580 position. This pairing serves as a clear example of how a CPU cannot compensate for a severely underpowered GPU in a graphics-intensive application like Doom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s target resolution and preference for smoothness over visual quality. The data shows that the Low preset consistently provides the highest average FPS at every resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 107 FPS, which is the only setting that breaks the 100 FPS mark. This is the only configuration that provides a frame rate clearly high enough for a smooth, fast-paced FPS experience.

For 1440p, the Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS, hitting 69 FPS. The Medium preset yields 60 FPS, which is playable but on the edge, while High (51 FPS) and Ultra (41 FPS) fall below the ideal threshold for a fluid experience. At 4K, no setting provides a playable frame rate. The Low preset only manages 37 FPS, with Medium at 33 FPS, High at 28 FPS, and Ultra at 22 FPS. These numbers are all well below the 60 FPS target and would result in a sluggish and unresponsive experience.

Therefore, the recommendation is clear. For 1080p, the Low preset is the best choice for performance, but Medium (93 FPS) and High (78 FPS) are also viable if visual fidelity is a priority. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only reliable option for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions due to the significant FPS penalty. The data suggests that to get the best experience, users should prioritize the Low or Medium presets at 1080p, or the Low preset at 1440p, and should not consider 4K as a viable resolution for this hardware combo in Doom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the combo’s performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Ultra: The average FPS is 64.
• High: The average FPS is 78.
• Medium: The average FPS is 93, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 107.
• Low: The average FPS is 107.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably:

• Ultra: The average FPS is 41.
• High: The average FPS is 51.
• Medium: The average FPS is 60, with a minimum of 51 and a maximum of 69.
• Low: The average FPS is 69.

At 3840x2160, the performance degrades further, making the game difficult to play:

• Ultra: The average FPS is 22.
• High: The average FPS is 28.
• Medium: The average FPS is 33, with a minimum of 28 and a maximum of 37.
• Low: The average FPS is 37.

The data reveals a consistent pattern. For each resolution, the Low setting provides the highest FPS, and the Ultra setting provides the lowest. The difference between Low and Ultra is substantial. At 1080p, the gap is 43 FPS (107 vs 64). At 1440p, the gap is 28 FPS (69 vs 41). At 4K, the gap is 15 FPS (37 vs 22). This shows that the GPU’s performance is heavily impacted by the visual settings, and that the Low preset is required to get the best possible frame rate. The minimum and maximum FPS data for the Medium preset shows a wider variance at lower resolutions, but the averages paint a clear picture of a system that struggles to maintain high frame rates, especially at higher settings and resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and dramatic scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. This scaling is a key indicator of where the performance bottleneck lies. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 107 to 69, a reduction of 38 FPS. When moving from 1440p to 4K (3840x2160) on the same preset, the FPS drops from 69 to 37, a reduction of 32 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K is a total of 70 FPS, representing a 65% decrease in performance.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. For example, on the High preset, the FPS drops from 78 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p, and then to 28 at 4K. On the Ultra preset, the FPS drops from 64 to 41 to 22 across the same resolutions. The substantial FPS drops with each increase in resolution indicate that the graphics processor is working progressively harder to render more pixels. This is the signature behavior of a GPU-bound system. The CPU, the Intel Core i7-13700K, is more than capable of handling the game’s logic and draw calls at any of these resolutions, as evidenced by its top-tier benchmark scores. The limiting factor is the Intel Arc B390’s ability to fill pixels.

The fact that the FPS falls by such a large margin when resolution increases, while the CPU’s workload remains relatively static, solidifies the conclusion that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary constraint. The data implies that even at 1080p with Low settings, the GPU is already near its maximum output. The game’s engine is requesting more graphical work than the GPU can provide. This is not a scenario where the CPU is too slow to feed the GPU; rather, it is one where the GPU is too slow to handle the rendering demands of the game, regardless of the CPU’s formidable processing power. The resolution scaling data effectively proves that this combo’s performance is dictated almost entirely by the integrated graphics solution.