Doom

The data for Doom with the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti shows a classic scenario where the graphics card is the definitive performance limiter. The measured average frame rates across resolutions and presets illustrate a steep performance curve that is heavily dependent on the GPU’s workload, while the CPU’s substantial headroom remains largely untapped in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic decline as resolution increases, which is the primary indicator of GPU-bound performance. At 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the combo achieves an average of 150.2 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops the average to 95.4 FPS, a reduction of roughly 36%. The scaling continues to 4K (3840x2160), where the average falls to 50.1 FPS, another significant drop of about 47% from the 1440p result.

This pattern is consistent across all presets, demonstrating that the scaling is tied to pixel throughput rather than scene complexity. For instance, the High preset yields 108.1 FPS at 1080p, 69.4 FPS at 1440p, and 39.6 FPS at 4K. The frame rate nearly halves with each step up in resolution, which is a hallmark of a system constrained by the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth rather than the CPU’s processing power. The GTX 1660 Ti’s 288.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 84.96 GPixel/s pixel rate are the specifications that dictate these results. The i7-14700KF, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is not the bottleneck here; benchmark results indicate that the CPU is capable of far higher frame rates than the GPU can physically render. The data strongly suggests that a lower-resolution display or a reduction in internal rendering scale would be the most effective way to unlock higher FPS, as the CPU has ample headroom to support such an increase.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the central component determining the performance envelope in this configuration. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory subsystem is a critical factor in the 4K results, where the frame rates drop to 34.5 FPS on the Ultra preset. The data shows that the GPU’s memory capacity and bandwidth are insufficient to maintain fluid frame rates at the highest resolutions with high-quality textures.

The GPU’s clock speeds, with a base of 1500 MHz and a boost of 1770 MHz, are relatively modest for the demands of Doom at 4K. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 shows a spread from 34.5 FPS on Ultra to 50.1 FPS on Low. This 15.6 FPS difference between the lowest and highest presets at 4K is relatively small compared to the 62.5 FPS spread at 1080p (from 87.7 FPS on Ultra to 150.2 FPS on Low). This compression of the performance range at 4K indicates that the GPU is saturated with pixel work, and changing graphics settings has a diminished effect because the primary bottleneck is the raw rendering resolution. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 5.437 TFLOPS and its Turing architecture are the underlying factors for its compute capabilities, but the data shows that it is the memory and pixel throughput that limit the experience in this game. The GPU’s percentile rank of 55 against all other GPUs places it in the mid-range, which aligns with the observed performance that is sufficient for 1080p high-refresh gaming but struggles at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific configuration of the Core i7-14700KF and GTX 1660 Ti ranks 1474 out of 1681 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the lower percentile of tested systems, which is a direct consequence of the GPU’s mid-range standing. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 13925 places it near rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 570X (13871, a delta of 0.4%) and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821, a delta of 0.8%). The data shows that the GTX 1660 Ti is statistically on par with these competitors in synthetic benchmarks, and the in-game results reflect this tier of performance.

In contrast, the CPU is a top-tier part. The i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70104 and sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700K (70074, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (70420, -0.4% delta). This massive disparity between the CPU’s high percentile and the combo’s low overall rank (1474/1681) is definitive proof that the pairing is unbalanced for this title. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is providing virtually no performance ceiling for the GPU to hit, meaning the i7-14700KF is vastly more capable than what the GTX 1660 Ti can deliver in Doom. The combo rank is effectively a measure of the GPU’s performance, with the CPU contributing negligible constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with a balance between visual quality and frame rate. The High preset at 1080p delivers an average of 108.1 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay on a standard 60 Hz display and provides a substantial visual upgrade over the Low preset. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 128.5 FPS, which is a 19% improvement over High but may not offer a perceptible visual difference in all scenes. The Ultra preset, while visually rich, drops the average to 87.7 FPS at 1080p, still playable but with a noticeable cost in performance relative to High.

For users with a 1440p display, the data suggests that the High preset at 69.4 FPS is the ceiling for a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 82.8 FPS is a viable alternative for those prioritizing frame rate, but the jump to Ultra yields 60.7 FPS, which is borderline for fast-paced action. At 4K, the data shows that no preset provides a consistently playable experience, with even the Low preset only reaching 50.1 FPS. The High preset at 4K (39.6 FPS) and Ultra (34.5 FPS) are below the standard for fluid gameplay. The recommendation is to target 1080p with the High or Medium preset to take full advantage of the GPU’s capabilities while maintaining high frame rates. The data clearly shows that the Low preset at 1080p (150.2 FPS) is a significant performance outlier, but the visual compromise is substantial for a marginal FPS gain over the Medium preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for achieving high frame rates with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where this combo consistently delivers high frame rates. At this resolution, the Low preset reaches 150.2 FPS, and even the Ultra preset maintains 87.7 FPS, making it the recommended target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its potential bottleneck?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end part with an average benchmark score of 70104, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The benchmark results indicate that it is not the limiting factor in this configuration; the GPU is the primary constraint on performance.

Q: Is this combo suitable for 4K gaming in Doom?

A: No. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 34.5 on Ultra to 50.1 on Low. These frame rates are below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience, indicating that the GTX 1660 Ti is not powerful enough for 4K in this title.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 150.2 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 87.7 FPS. This represents a 62.5 FPS difference, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality settings.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its closest performance peers?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 13925. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 570X, scores 13871, a delta of 0.4%, while the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile scores 13821, a delta of 0.8%. This indicates they are statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Does the 6 GB of VRAM on the GPU cause issues in this game?

A: The data suggests that memory capacity is a factor at high resolutions. At 4K, the performance drops significantly, with the Ultra preset hitting 34.5 FPS. This is likely due to the 6 GB VRAM and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth being insufficient for the texture and pixel data required at 3840x2160, limiting the frame rate.