Doom

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a distinct performance profile in Doom, characterized by a significant bottleneck at the graphics stage. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings indicate that while the CPU is exceptionally capable, the integrated-class GPU limits the experience to lower resolutions and presets. This analysis breaks down the measured data to explain the scaling behavior, component roles, and optimal configurations for this specific combination.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a predictable and steep decline in average FPS as resolution increases, moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 71 FPS at 1920x1080 to 46 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 25 FPS. Scaling further to 3840x2160 yields only 25 FPS, a drop of 21 FPS from the 1440p result. This pattern indicates that the performance ceiling is heavily dictated by the GPU's rendering capabilities, as the workload per pixel increases dramatically at higher resolutions.

The scaling behavior from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this conclusion. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (96 FPS) and Ultra (58 FPS) is 38 FPS, showing that the GPU is the primary limiter even at the lowest resolution tested. At 2560x1440, the spread narrows slightly to 25 FPS (62 FPS on Low to 37 FPS on Ultra), and at 3840x2160, the spread is 14 FPS (34 FPS on Low to 20 FPS on Ultra). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions is typical of a system where the GPU is fully saturated, and the relative cost of each setting increment becomes a smaller fraction of the total render time.

The transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings results in a 35% performance drop (71 to 46 FPS). The subsequent transition to 3840x2160 results in a 46% drop (46 to 25 FPS). These percentages highlight the non-linear cost of pixel count, with the jump to 4K being particularly punishing for this GPU. The data suggests that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combination can approach smooth, playable frame rates on higher presets, while 2560x1440 is only viable on Low settings, and 3840x2160 remains below 35 FPS even on the lowest preset.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive component in this system's Doom performance, acting as the primary constraint. Its benchmark profile is modest, with an average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This low standing is reflected in the measured FPS, which struggles to maintain high frame rates even at 1920x1080 with reduced settings. The GPU's architecture is Xe3-LPG on a 3 nm process, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, yet these specifications translate to a limited 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning the GPU relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This setup is a significant disadvantage for gaming, as memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and likely shared with CPU operations. The lack of dedicated video memory explains why the GPU struggles so severely at higher resolutions like 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, where the demand for memory bandwidth and capacity increases substantially. The data indicates that this shared memory architecture is a key reason why the average FPS at 3840x2160 High settings is only 25, a figure that is not competitive for a fluid gaming experience.

The GPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals in the database is telling. The data shows the Intel Arc B370 is essentially tied with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (deltaPct -0.2) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (deltaPct -0.5). These are legacy components, underscoring that the Arc B370's raw graphics power is comparable to much older hardware. The benchmark results for Doom align with this ranking, as the GPU cannot push high frame rates at 1080p Ultra, achieving only 58 FPS. The GPU's role is therefore to provide a baseline experience, which is only acceptable when paired with the CPU's strong performance at lower graphical demands.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This configuration produces an average of 84 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. This is the only setting and resolution combo that provides a consistently smooth frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining a reasonable balance of visual quality. The High preset at 1920x1080 is also playable at 71 FPS average, but the Medium preset offers a higher average and a better minimum frame rate, suggesting it is a more stable choice.

For users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, 1920x1080 on Low settings delivers the highest average FPS measured in the dataset at 96 FPS. This preset ensures the most responsive gameplay but sacrifices visual details. At 2560x1440, the only viable option is Low settings, which yields an average of 62 FPS. While this is technically playable, the minimum FPS is not recorded, and the average is only marginally above the 60 FPS target, making it a riskier choice for maintaining consistent performance during intense scenes. The Medium preset at this resolution drops to 54 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold.

The 3840x2160 resolution is not recommended for this combination, as even the Low preset achieves only 34 FPS on average. The High and Ultra presets are even more demanding, resulting in 25 FPS and 20 FPS respectively, which are not acceptable for a fast-paced FPS. The data suggests that users should avoid 4K entirely and instead focus on 1920x1080 for the best balance of performance and quality. The Medium preset at 1080p appears to be the sweet spot, as it offers a substantial improvement in stability over High while keeping the average FPS high enough to fully utilize the CPU's capabilities.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Doom?*

A: The data clearly indicates that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, the combo achieves playable frame rates on all presets, with Medium settings providing an average of 84 FPS. Higher resolutions, such as 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, result in significantly lower average FPS, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

*Q: Can this system handle Doom at 4K resolution?*

A: No, the measured results show it cannot. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 34 on Low settings to 20 on Ultra settings. These frame rates are far below what is considered playable for a fast-paced FPS, indicating that the GPU is not powerful enough for 4K gaming in this title.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Based on the nearestRivals data, the Intel Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184. It is virtually identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, with a deltaPct of -0.2, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, with a deltaPct of -0.5. This suggests its raw performance is in the same class as these older graphics cards, which is consistent with its low gaming FPS.

Q: Which graphics preset provides the highest average frame rate?

A: The Low preset at 1920x1080 provides the highest average frame rate across all tested configurations, achieving 96 FPS. This is followed by the Medium preset at the same resolution, which achieves 84 FPS. The data shows that lowering graphical settings is the most effective way to increase performance with this GPU.

Q: Is the performance difference between Medium and High settings significant?

A: Yes, the difference is measurable. At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 84 on Medium to 71 on High, a 13 FPS decrease. The minimum FPS also drops from 71 to an unrecorded value, but the average difference is substantial enough to impact perceived smoothness, making Medium the more stable choice.

Q: What is the CPU's role in the overall performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F is a high-end processor with a benchmark percentile of 91, and its performance is far above what the GPU can feed. The data shows that as resolution increases, the FPS drops significantly, which indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. Its role is to provide ample headroom, ensuring that it does not bottleneck the GPU in this scenario.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Doom, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B370 holds a rank of 2696 out of 2930 total combos. This places it in the lower 8th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that its overall performance is poor relative to the vast majority of other configurations. The high rank number signifies that most other CPU/GPU pairings deliver better frame rates in this game.

The low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU's weak performance. The CPU, ranking in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, is a top-tier component, but its capabilities are severely underutilized by the Arc B370, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The combination of a strong CPU and a very weak GPU results in a system that is poorly balanced for gaming, as the graphics card is unable to translate the CPU's processing power into high frame rates. The data suggests that this combo is not suitable for a demanding title like Doom if a high rank or competitive performance is the goal.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its performance metrics are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958. This places the CPU in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, demonstrating its high processing capability. In the context of Doom, this processing power is more than sufficient to handle the game's logic, physics, and AI, but it is not the determining factor for the system's overall FPS.

The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, and its performance is so strong that it becomes irrelevant to the frame rate in most scenarios. This is evident from the resolution scaling data; if the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively constant across different resolutions as the GPU load changes. Instead, the FPS drops dramatically at higher resolutions, confirming that the GPU is the sole limiting component. The CPU's high clock speeds, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, ensure that it can rapidly process draw calls and game state updates, but this speed is wasted when the GPU can only render a limited number of frames per second.

The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (deltaPct 0.6), have comparable average benchmark scores, but their performance in a real-world gaming scenario would be similar to the i7-14700F. The data shows that the i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620, which is just 0.6% higher than the Ryzen 9 7900X. This suggests that replacing the CPU with a similarly performing model would not change the gaming outcome, as the GPU bottleneck would remain. The CPU's primary contribution is to ensure that it is never the cause of stuttering or low frame times, which is a critical but secondary role in this configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the average FPS measured for each resolution and settings preset.

At 1920x1080, the performance is as follows:

• Low settings: 96 FPS average
• Medium settings: 84 FPS average (minimum 71 FPS, maximum 96 FPS)
• High settings: 71 FPS average
• Ultra settings: 58 FPS average

This resolution shows the best results for the combo. The progression from Low to Ultra results in a steady decrease in FPS, with a total drop of 38 FPS from the lowest to the highest preset. The Medium preset provides a solid middle ground with a high average and a playable minimum.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly:

• Low settings: 62 FPS average
• Medium settings: 54 FPS average (minimum 46 FPS, maximum 62 FPS)
• High settings: 46 FPS average
• Ultra settings: 37 FPS average

The data shows that only the Low preset remains above the 60 FPS threshold, and even then, it is close to the limit. The Medium preset falls below 60 FPS, and the higher presets drop further, making this resolution unsuitable for a consistently smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the performance is severely constrained:

• Low settings: 34 FPS average
• Medium settings: 29 FPS average (minimum 25 FPS, maximum 34 FPS)
• High settings: 25 FPS average
• Ultra settings: 20 FPS average

None of the presets at this resolution achieve a playable frame rate. The average FPS ranges from 20 to 34, which is well below the standard for a smooth FPS. The data confirms that this GPU cannot handle 4K rendering in Doom, regardless of the graphical settings chosen.