Doom

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 occupies a unique position in the benchmark hierarchy for Doom. With a combo rank of 2696 out of 2930 tested configurations, this pairing sits in the lower percentile of performance, but the data reveals a distinct performance profile that hinges entirely on the graphics processor. The 20-core, 28-thread Raptor Lake Refresh CPU provides substantial processing headroom, yet the integrated-class Arc B370 consistently limits frame delivery across all tested resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a high-end desktop processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node. It features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, supported by a 125 W TDP. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, this processor demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability, scoring 33,440.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 18,544 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Single-thread performance is equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,160 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2,569.

The CPU’s percentile ranking against all processors is 94, placing it in the top 6% of tested CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 69,355 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69,515 with a delta of -0.2%. The i7-14700K also trails the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX by 0.7% and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F by 0.9%, while matching the AMD EPYC 9115 within 0.1%. For Doom, a game from 2016, this processor is vastly overqualified. The CPU’s role in this specific pairing is to feed frames as fast as the GPU can render them, but the benchmark results indicate the GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU’s influence is evident in the scaling pattern. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 96 FPS average, which is the highest figure recorded. This indicates the CPU can push well beyond 100 FPS if the GPU permits. However, the GPU’s limits become apparent as settings increase. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 58 FPS, a 40% reduction from Low settings. This performance cliff is not a CPU limitation—the i7-14700K has the processing power to maintain high frame rates—but rather a direct consequence of the GPU’s rendering capacity. The CPU’s 20 cores and 28 threads are largely idle in this scenario, as Doom is not a heavily threaded title by modern standards, and the integrated graphics solution cannot leverage the CPU’s full potential.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a TDP of just 25 W. The GPU features 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its memory configuration is entirely system-dependent, using shared system memory with bandwidth that varies based on the host platform. The GPU’s compute capabilities include 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.29 TFLOPS of FP16 performance.

The Arc B370’s benchmark presence is minimal, with a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,184. This places the GPU in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is among the lowest-performing graphics solutions in the database. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1,186 (0.2% higher), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 1,190 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M at 1,192 (0.7% higher). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1,168, which is 1.4% lower than the Arc B370. This places the Intel IGP in the company of legacy discrete GPUs from over a decade ago.

In Doom, the GPU’s limitations are stark. At 4K Ultra settings, the combo manages only 20 FPS average, which is unplayable. Even at 4K Low settings, the average is just 34 FPS. The GPU’s 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs are insufficient for high-resolution rendering, and the system-shared memory bandwidth cannot sustain the data throughput required for modern game assets. The GPU’s performance is consistent with its 5th percentile ranking—it is designed for basic display output, not gaming. The measured FPS data confirms that the Arc B370 is the primary limiting factor in this combo, as the CPU’s performance headroom is never fully utilized.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2696 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom. This places the pairing in the bottom 8% of all configurations, a poor result for a system with a top-tier CPU. The rank reflects the GPU’s severe bottleneck, as the i7-14700K is capable of much higher frame rates when paired with a discrete graphics card. The combo’s position in the database is driven almost entirely by the Arc B370’s performance, which pulls the entire system down despite the CPU’s 94th percentile ranking.

Comparing the combo’s performance to the CPU’s standalone capabilities highlights the disparity. The i7-14700K’s average benchmark score of 69,355 is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, a flagship processor. Yet in Doom, this combo delivers frame rates that are comparable to systems built around decade-old entry-level GPUs. The GPU’s nearest rivals—the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and AMD Radeon HD 7650M—are legacy parts, and the Arc B370’s performance in this game aligns with that vintage. The rank of 2696 indicates that the vast majority of tested combos, including those with far weaker CPUs, outperform this pairing because they employ dedicated graphics solutions.

The data shows a clear mismatch between CPU and GPU capabilities. The i7-14700K is designed for high-refresh-rate gaming and productivity workloads, while the Arc B370 is an integrated solution intended for basic tasks. In Doom, the combo’s rank reflects the GPU’s inability to translate the CPU’s processing power into playable frame rates. This is not a case of balanced performance but rather a configuration where the CPU is completely underutilized.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 96 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. Medium settings yield 84 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. High settings drop to 71 FPS average, still playable but showing a clear degradation. Ultra settings fall to 58 FPS, which is borderline for a fast-paced FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a 40% performance loss, from 96 to 58 FPS.

At 1440p, the GPU’s limitations become more pronounced. Low settings average 62 FPS, which is a 35% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. High settings fall to 46 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 37 FPS. The 1440p results show that the Arc B370 cannot maintain high refresh rates at this resolution, with even Low settings falling below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 4K, the combo struggles significantly. Low settings average 34 FPS, which is barely playable. Medium settings average 29 FPS, with a minimum of 25 FPS and a maximum of 34 FPS. High settings drop to 25 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 20 FPS. These results are uniformly poor, indicating that 4K gaming is not viable with this configuration. The frame rates at 4K are consistent with the GPU’s 5th percentile ranking, confirming that the Arc B370 is designed for display output rather than gaming.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: the combo’s performance is bounded by the GPU at every resolution and setting. The CPU’s role is to maintain consistent frame pacing, but the GPU’s rendering limits cap the maximum achievable FPS. The minimum and maximum FPS values for Medium settings show tight variance—at 1080p, the range is 71 to 96 FPS, and at 1440p, it is 46 to 62 FPS—indicating that the CPU is not causing frame-time spikes.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K illustrates the GPU bottleneck clearly. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 96 at 1080p to 62 at 1440p (a 35% decrease) and then to 34 at 4K (a further 45% decrease). From 1080p to 4K Low, the performance drops by 65%. At Medium settings, the drop is from 84 to 54 to 29 FPS, a total reduction of 65% from 1080p to 4K. High settings see a drop from 71 to 46 to 25 FPS, a 65% reduction. Ultra settings drop from 58 to 37 to 20 FPS, a 66% reduction.

These scaling percentages are nearly identical across all settings, which is a hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the scaling would be less severe at higher resolutions, as the GPU would have more time to render each frame. Instead, the consistent 65-66% drop from 1080p to 4K indicates that the Arc B370’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are overwhelmed by the increased pixel count. The GPU’s 20 ROPs are insufficient for 4K rasterization, and the system-shared memory cannot provide the bandwidth needed for high-resolution textures.

The resolution scaling also confirms that the CPU is not a limiting factor. The i7-14700K can maintain frame delivery at 1080p Low (96 FPS) without issue, and the performance drops are entirely attributable to the GPU’s rendering capabilities. The data suggests that if this combo were paired with a discrete GPU, the CPU would support significantly higher frame rates at all resolutions. As it stands, the Arc B370 is the sole constraint, and the scaling pattern reflects its architectural limitations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and the user’s tolerance for frame rate variation. At 1080p, Low settings provide the best experience, with an average of 96 FPS. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that exceeds 90 FPS, making it suitable for fast-paced gameplay. Medium settings at 1080p are also viable, with an average of 84 FPS and a minimum of 71 FPS, which remains playable. High settings at 1080p (71 FPS) are acceptable but show a noticeable drop from Medium, while Ultra (58 FPS) is the least desirable option at this resolution.

At 1440p, the data suggests that Low settings (62 FPS) are the only playable option, and even then, the frame rate is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for a smooth experience. Medium settings at 1440p (54 FPS) may be tolerable for slower gameplay, but the minimum of 46 FPS indicates potential stutter in intense scenes. High and Ultra settings at 1440p (46 FPS and 37 FPS, respectively) are not recommended, as the frame rates are too low for a first-person shooter.

At 4K, none of the settings provide a playable experience. Low settings average 34 FPS, which is below the playability threshold, and Ultra settings drop to 20 FPS. The data clearly indicates that 4K resolution should be avoided entirely with this combo. The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking and its system-shared memory architecture make high-resolution gaming impractical.

The best overall experience, based on the measured rows, is 1080p with Low or Medium settings. Low settings offer the highest frame rate (96 FPS) and the most consistent performance, while Medium settings provide a balance between visual quality and performance (84 FPS). For players who prioritize visual fidelity, Medium settings at 1080p are the sweet spot, as the jump to High settings yields a significant performance penalty (from 84 to 71 FPS) without a proportional visual improvement. The data shows that the Arc B370 is best utilized at 1080p with conservative settings, and any attempt to push higher resolutions or quality presets results in a degraded experience.