Doom

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT delivers a playable experience in Doom, though performance is heavily dependent on the graphics settings selected. The benchmark data for this combination shows a clear pattern where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, with frame rates ranging from a highly fluid 192 FPS at 1080p Low to a demanding 40 FPS at 4K Ultra. The combo ranks in the 28th percentile among all tested combinations for this game, indicating that while it is not a top-tier configuration, it provides a solid foundation for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and playable 1440p performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a steep performance curve as resolution scales from 1080p to 4K, which is classic evidence of GPU-bound behavior at higher resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 141 FPS, but this drops to 91 FPS at 1440p and further to 49 FPS at 4K, representing a 35% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 65% reduction from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline indicates that the Radeon RX 6600 XT's rendering throughput is the bottleneck at higher pixel counts, while the i7-14700KF has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets, but the magnitude of the drop varies. For Low settings, the transition from 1080p to 1440p shows a 68 FPS decrease (from 192 to 124 FPS), while the 1440p to 4K step costs another 57 FPS (from 124 to 67 FPS). This suggests that even at the lowest graphical load, the GPU is still the limiting factor at 4K, as the frame rate drops to less than half of the 1080p result. The data indicates that the CPU is rarely the constraint in this title, as the 20-core processor can easily maintain high frame rates at 1080p where the GPU is less stressed.

At Ultra settings, the resolution scaling is even more punishing: 115 FPS at 1080p falls to 75 FPS at 1440p and then to 40 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured FPS in the entire dataset, highlighting that this combination is not suitable for 4K gaming at maximum quality. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is 27 FPS (67 vs 40), which is smaller than the 77 FPS gap at 1080p (192 vs 115), further confirming that resolution has a more significant impact on performance than settings at higher pixel counts.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. In Doom, a game from 2016, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic updates, and the data suggests this processor is more than sufficient for the task. The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 192 FPS, which is likely near the practical ceiling for the GPU in this scenario, indicating that the CPU is not a limiting factor.

The processor's multi-core performance is exceptional, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,167 and PassMark multi-thread score of 52,425. However, Doom's engine does not heavily scale with core count beyond a certain point, and the single-thread performance is what matters most for high-FPS scenarios. The i7-14700KF's Cinebench R20 single-core score of 2,618 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,480 indicate strong per-core performance, which is critical for maintaining high average FPS in fast-paced shooters.

The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 or DDR5) contribute to low latency and high bandwidth, which helps maintain consistent frame delivery. The data shows that even at 1080p Ultra, where the CPU must process more draw calls due to higher geometric complexity, the combo still achieves 115 FPS, demonstrating that the processor has ample headroom. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700KF's average benchmark score of 70,163 is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and 0.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, though it is 1% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested CPU-GPU combinations for Doom, this setup holds the rank of 2,660 out of 3,712 combos, placing it in the 28th percentile. This ranking indicates that while the configuration is capable of running the game, there are many more powerful combinations that achieve higher average FPS. The rank is likely dragged down by the GPU's mid-range positioning, as the RX 6600 XT sits at the 70th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU is at the 94th percentile among all CPUs.

The combination of a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU creates an imbalance that is reflected in the ranking. The i7-14700KF's performance class is significantly higher than the RX 6600 XT's, meaning that the GPU is the bottleneck in most scenarios, especially at higher resolutions. This is evident from the measured FPS data, where the GPU's rendering limits are clearly visible at 4K, while the CPU's potential is underutilized at 1080p.

Compared to other combos in the database, this ranking suggests that users would see better results by pairing the RX 6600 XT with a less powerful CPU, or by upgrading the GPU to better match the i7-14700KF's capabilities. The data implies that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration for Doom, and the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are the primary constraints on performance. The combo's ranking of 2,660 out of 3,712 places it in the lower half of tested configurations, indicating that there is significant room for improvement in terms of overall FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo in Doom?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 192, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution across different settings?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 40 at Ultra settings to 67 at Low settings, with Medium achieving 59 FPS and High achieving 49 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as frame rates drop significantly with resolution increases while the CPU has ample headroom for high-FPS scenarios.

Q: What is the difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings achieve 108 FPS average with a minimum of 92 FPS, while High settings achieve 91 FPS average.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for Doom?

A: It ranks 2,660 out of 3,712 tested combos, placing it in the 28th percentile.

Q: What is the frame rate range at 1080p Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 115, with no minimum or maximum values recorded in the dataset.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip, is the primary driver of frame rates in this configuration. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivering 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, the GPU has sufficient resources for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data shows it struggles at 4K. The GPU's boost clock of 2589 MHz and game clock of 2359 MHz provide solid raw compute power, as evidenced by its 10.60 TFLOPS FP32 performance.

The GPU's role in Doom is critical, as the game's fast-paced action requires high and consistent frame rates. The benchmark data shows that the RX 6600 XT is capable of delivering over 100 FPS at 1080p for all settings except Ultra, where it still achieves 115 FPS. However, the 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes a concern at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 40, suggesting that the memory bandwidth and capacity are insufficient for the higher texture and geometry loads.

The GPU's 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs are well-suited for a game like Doom, which is optimized for high frame rates. The measured FPS at 1440p High (91 FPS) and 1440p Medium (108 FPS) show that the GPU can handle mainstream gaming resolutions effectively. However, the 4K results, ranging from 40 to 67 FPS, demonstrate that the GPU is not designed for 4K gaming without significant graphical compromises.

The GPU's benchmark scores, including a PassMark G3D score of 16,461 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,804, place it at the 70th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, has an average score that is 0.7% lower, while the Intel Arc A350M is 0.8% higher. This mid-range positioning aligns with the measured FPS data, showing that the GPU is capable but not exceptional for demanding titles at high resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, Ultra settings are recommended, as the combo achieves 115 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. If a higher refresh rate monitor is used, High settings at 1080p provide 141 FPS, while Medium settings offer 167 FPS with a minimum of 142 FPS, ensuring consistent frame delivery.

For 1440p, the data suggests that Medium settings provide the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 108 FPS and a minimum of 92 FPS. High settings at 1440p drop to 91 FPS, which is still playable, but the lower minimum FPS could result in noticeable stutters during intense action. Low settings at 1440p achieve 124 FPS, but the visual quality reduction may not be worth the performance gain for most users.

At 4K, the combo is not recommended for demanding settings. The only playable option appears to be Low settings, which achieve 67 FPS average, while Medium settings drop to 59 FPS and High settings to 49 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as the 40 FPS average is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. For a consistent experience, 1080p with High or Ultra settings is the sweet spot, providing high frame rates without significant visual compromises.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 115 at Ultra to 192 at Low, with Medium achieving 167 FPS (minimum 142, maximum 192) and High achieving 141 FPS. The 1080p results show that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming, as even Ultra settings exceed 100 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 75 at Ultra to 124 at Low. Medium settings achieve 108 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS, while High settings achieve 91 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that the combo can handle this resolution well with Medium or High settings, but Ultra settings may require a compromise on visual quality for smoother gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 40 at Ultra to 67 at Low. Medium settings achieve 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS, while High settings achieve 49 FPS. The 4K results show that the combo is not suitable for 4K gaming at high settings, as even Low settings barely reach 60 FPS average. The data clearly indicates that the RX 6600 XT is the limiting factor at 4K, with the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute power unable to maintain high frame rates at this resolution.