Doom

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably across resolution and settings. The data indicates a system capable of exceeding 300 FPS at 1080p on Low settings, while still maintaining playable frame rates at 4K with Ultra presets. This analysis breaks down the measured results, examining the roles of the CPU and GPU, the combo’s standing among other tested configurations, and the optimal settings for various scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU-bound title like Doom. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 314 FPS. This drops to 203 FPS at 1440p and further to 110 FPS at 4K. This represents a significant 35% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a 65% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

This scaling pattern strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The performance hit from 1440p to 4K is substantial, with the average FPS nearly halving from 203 to 110 at Low settings. This is a classic sign of the GPU's rendering pipeline becoming saturated with the increased pixel count. The CPU, with its high core count and boost clock, appears to have ample headroom at these resolutions, as the frame rate drop is directly proportional to the increase in pixel workload.

However, the scaling is not perfectly linear. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra settings is 125 FPS (314 vs. 189), while at 4K, the same settings gap is only 44 FPS (110 vs. 66). This divergence suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding frames at a rate that allows the GPU's performance to be fully utilized, making the graphics settings the main variable. At 4K, the GPU's raw throughput is the bottleneck, so even reducing settings to Low cannot fully compensate for the massive pixel fill rate demand, resulting in a smaller relative performance delta.

The data shows that the most demanding configuration tested, 4K Ultra, yields an average of 66 FPS. This is a playable frame rate, though it does not take full advantage of high-refresh-rate displays. The least demanding, 1080p Low, produces an average of 314 FPS, which is well beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The performance curve across the three resolutions suggests that users targeting 1440p will find a sweet spot, where the GPU can deliver high frame rates at medium-to-high settings without being overly constrained by pixel count.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a boost clock of up to 5.60 GHz. In Doom, a game known for its id Tech engine, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, feeding the GPU with data. The high boost clock is particularly relevant for this game, as it benefits from strong single-thread performance. The benchmark scores for the CPU are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is not the bottleneck in most scenarios. The average FPS at 1080p Low is 314, which is a very high frame rate that demands significant CPU work to prepare frames. The fact that the system can achieve this suggests the i7-14700KF has sufficient processing power to keep up with the RX 9070 XT at this resolution. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p, which results in a drop from 314 to 189 FPS, is primarily a GPU-side effect, as the graphical load increases.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals is marginal. The data shows it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX. It trails the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1%. In the context of Doom, these small differences in synthetic benchmarks are unlikely to translate into noticeable frame rate differences, as the game is not typically CPU-limited at the resolutions tested. The processor's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4/DDR5 provide a solid foundation for a high-performance gaming system.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the dominant component in this pairing for Doom. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. With a boost clock of 2970 MHz and 4096 shading units, the card is designed for high-throughput rendering. The architecture is RDNA 4.0, built on a 4 nm process from TSMC. Its compute capabilities are substantial, with an FP32 performance of 48.66 TFLOPS, which directly contributes to the high frame rates observed in the measured data.

The GPU's role is clearly evident in the resolution scaling. As pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors. The 4K results, ranging from 66 FPS at Ultra to 110 FPS at Low, show the card's performance envelope at this demanding resolution. The 1440p results, with a range of 122 to 203 FPS, illustrate a more comfortable operating zone where the card can deliver high refresh rates on high-refresh monitors.

The VRAM capacity of 16 GB is more than sufficient for Doom, even at 4K with Ultra settings. This is not a limiting factor in the measured data. The GPU's performance is instead dictated by its compute units and memory bandwidth. The drop from 203 FPS at 1440p Low to 149 FPS at 1440p High is a 27% reduction, highlighting the cost of enabling higher graphical fidelity features. The card's overall percentile ranking is at 55, and its average benchmark score is 13543, which places it in a mid-range tier according to the data, but its real-world performance in this specific game is clearly strong.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has a combo rank of 895 out of 3712 tested combinations in Doom. This places it in the top 24th percentile of all tested systems, indicating a high-performing configuration for this title. The rank suggests that while there are many faster combinations, this setup is significantly ahead of the majority of systems in the database.

The ranking is a holistic measure, reflecting the balance between CPU and GPU. Given the high FPS figures at 1080p and 1440p, the combo's strong rank is well-earned. The CPU's high single-thread performance and the GPU's substantial compute power create a balanced system that avoids severe bottlenecks. The data shows that the combo is over 24% better than the median tested system, making it a robust choice for high-refresh-rate gaming.

However, the rank also indicates that there is a tier of systems above it, likely featuring more powerful GPUs, that can achieve even higher frame rates, particularly at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 66 FPS, while playable, is not competitive with top-tier combinations that might push past 100 FPS at this setting. The combo's position at 895 suggests it is a very capable mid-to-high-end pairing, but not the absolute pinnacle of performance in the database.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K smoothly?

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 66 FPS at 4K with Ultra settings, which is playable. For a smoother experience, the Medium preset at 4K yields 96 FPS, and the Low preset achieves 110 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144Hz monitor?

A: At 1440p, the High preset delivers an average of 149 FPS, which is above 144Hz. For more headroom, the Medium preset at 1440p averages 177 FPS, ensuring frame rates stay above the monitor's refresh rate.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F?

A: According to benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-14700KF has an average score that is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F. This indicates nearly identical synthetic performance.

Q: Is the 16 GB of VRAM on the RX 9070 XT enough for Doom?

A: Yes, the measured data shows no indication that VRAM is a limiting factor. The GPU is able to achieve its highest frame rates at 1080p, and the performance scaling across resolutions is consistent with compute and bandwidth limits, not memory capacity.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with the Ultra preset?

A: The measured data shows an average of 189 FPS at 1080p with the Ultra preset. This is a very high frame rate, well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming monitors.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, which is a characteristic of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p, the CPU is likely sufficient to feed the GPU, as frame rates are very high.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the 1440p Medium preset is the most balanced option based on the measured data. It provides an average of 177 FPS, which is high enough for smooth gameplay on most high-refresh-rate monitors, while still offering a significant visual upgrade over the Low preset. The minimum FPS recorded at this setting is 150, ensuring that even the most demanding scenes stay above the 144Hz threshold.

If a player prioritizes maximum visual fidelity, the 1440p High preset is a strong choice, delivering an average of 149 FPS. This is still a very playable frame rate and offers better image quality than Medium. At 4K, the Medium preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 96 FPS, which is a good balance between visual quality and performance. The 4K Ultra preset, while playable at 66 FPS, may not be ideal for fast-paced action where higher frame rates are preferred.

For competitive play where frame rate is king, the 1080p Low preset is the obvious choice, with an average of 314 FPS. This maximizes responsiveness and minimizes input lag, though it sacrifices visual detail. The 1080p Medium preset is a good alternative, offering 273 FPS while improving visual quality. Ultimately, the data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, allowing for high frame rates without compromising too much on graphical settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | ----------: |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 314 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 273 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 231 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 189 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 203 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 177 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 149 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 122 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 110 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 96 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 81 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 66 |

The data for the Medium preset also includes min and max FPS values, which provide additional insight. At 1080p, the Medium preset has a minimum of 232 FPS and a maximum of 314 FPS. At 1440p, the Medium preset has a minimum of 150 FPS and a maximum of 203 FPS. At 4K, the Medium preset has a minimum of 81 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS. These figures show that the frame time consistency is good, with the minimum FPS staying at a playable level even in the most demanding scenarios. The maximum FPS values often match the average FPS of the lower settings preset, indicating that the game is not hitting a hard CPU limit in these cases.