Doom

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a playable but heavily GPU-bound experience in Doom, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the graphics card as the limiting component across all tested resolutions. The data shows a system that excels at high-refresh 1080p gaming but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K, making it a classic example of a modern high-core-count CPU paired with a mid-range Turing-generation GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a stark and predictable decline as resolution increases, confirming that the RTX 2060 is the primary bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo averages 105 FPS, while at 2560x1440 Ultra, that figure drops to 68 FPS—a 35% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160 Ultra, the average plummets to 37 FPS, which is a 65% loss from the 1080p result. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, with the gap between 1440p and 4K being particularly severe.

The scaling behavior indicates that the CPU is not constraining performance at any resolution. The i7-14700KF’s 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample headroom, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate drops are almost entirely proportional to the pixel count increase. For example, at High settings, the transition from 1080p (129 FPS) to 1440p (83 FPS) represents a 36% decline, while going from 1440p to 4K (45 FPS) results in a 46% drop. This non-linear falloff at the highest resolution is typical of a GPU that is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth.

At Low settings, the RTX 2060 still manages 175 FPS at 1080p, 113 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. The fact that even at 4K Low the system cannot reach 60 FPS average (it hits exactly 61) suggests that the GPU’s 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the higher memory pressure of 4K rendering, regardless of the reduced shading load. The 4K Medium preset shows a min FPS of 45 and max of 61, with an average of 53, indicating that the frame pacing becomes inconsistent once the resolution exceeds what the 192-bit memory bus can comfortably handle.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a Raptor Lake-R architecture processor with 20 cores (likely a mix of performance and efficiency cores), 28 threads, and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile against all processors, placing it well above the vast majority of desktop chips.

In Doom, which is a game from 2016 with a well-optimized Vulkan-based engine, the CPU’s role is minimal at most resolutions. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would theoretically have the most influence, the system achieves 175 FPS. This is far below the CPU’s capability ceiling, as evidenced by its Passmark multi-thread score of 52425 and single-thread score of 4480. The CPU simply is not the limiting factor here.

The nearest rivals to the i7-14700KF in synthetic CPU benchmarks are the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (0.2% slower), AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.4% slower), and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.9% slower), with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K being 1% faster. These tiny deltas suggest that swapping the 14700KF for any of these processors would yield virtually no difference in Doom frame rates, since the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 or DDR5) are more than sufficient for this title’s demands.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the i7-14700KF and RTX 2060 ranks 2934 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the bottom 21% of all configurations, which is a surprisingly low position given the CPU’s strength. The ranking reflects the GPU’s modest standing in the overall hierarchy: the RTX 2060 sits in the 58th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (0% delta), AMD Radeon 680M (0.1% slower), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (0.6% faster), and AMD Radeon RX 7600 (0.8% faster). These nearly identical scores indicate that the RTX 2060 is functionally equivalent to a much older flagship (GTX 580) and a modern integrated GPU (Radeon 680M), which explains why the combo ranks so low in a game that is heavily GPU-bound.

The high rank number (2934) suggests that most tested combos in the database use stronger GPUs, even if paired with weaker CPUs. This is a critical insight: the i7-14700KF is overkill for the RTX 2060 in Doom, and the combo’s rank is entirely dictated by the GPU’s performance tier. If the same CPU were paired with a higher-end GPU, the rank would improve dramatically, as the CPU has proven it can sustain far higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 2060 delivers its best results across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 175 FPS, Medium 152 FPS (with a min of 130 and max of 175), High 129 FPS, and Ultra 105 FPS. These figures indicate that the GPU can comfortably drive high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, with even the most demanding Ultra preset staying above 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop but remain playable for most titles. Low settings yield 113 FPS, Medium 99 FPS (min 84, max 113), High 83 FPS, and Ultra 68 FPS. The Ultra setting at 1440p is the first point where the system dips below the 70 FPS threshold, but it remains smooth enough for a single-player FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles significantly. Low settings average 61 FPS, Medium 53 FPS (min 45, max 61), High 45 FPS, and Ultra 37 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is nearly unplayable, with a sub-40 FPS average that would be detrimental to a fast-paced shooter. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 45 indicates noticeable stutters during intense scenes, further confirming the GPU’s limitations at this resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. It features 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, though Doom does not utilize ray tracing or DLSS, so these dedicated units have no impact on the measured performance. The GPU’s base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost of 1680 MHz, and it has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The GPU’s synthetic benchmarks show a Passmark G3D score of 14111 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1242. Its performance in Doom directly reflects these numbers, with the 4K results being particularly telling. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for 1080p and 1440p at all settings, but at 4K, the memory footprint required by textures and buffers likely exceeds what is available, leading to the significant frame rate drops observed.

The RTX 2060’s 58th percentile ranking against all GPUs places it in the mid-range, which aligns with its measured performance. Its nearest rival, the GTX 580, is a 2010-era card, yet the performance delta is 0%—a signal of how far the RTX 2060’s feature set has been outpaced by newer architectures. The Radeon RX 7600, which is 0.8% faster in synthetic tests, would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Doom.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Doom at 1440p with High settings?*

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 83 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The i7-14700KF ranks in the 94th percentile for CPUs, while the RTX 2060 ranks in the 58th percentile for GPUs. The frame rate drops proportionally with resolution increases, indicating the GPU is saturated.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, as it delivers over 100 FPS at all settings, including Ultra (105 FPS). At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 68 FPS, which is still playable but less smooth.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rival, the GTX 580?

A: In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 2060 and GTX 580 have identical average scores (0% delta). In Doom, the RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM and modern architecture provide better real-world performance at higher resolutions, though the synthetic scores are equal.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this combo?

A: Only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 61. At Medium, it drops to 53 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 37 FPS, making 4K gaming impractical for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: Does the RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM limit performance?

A: Yes, particularly at 4K. The 192-bit memory bus and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the memory demands of 4K, resulting in significant frame rate drops compared to 1440p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, yielding 105 FPS. This provides the best visual quality while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. If a player prefers maximum frame rates, dropping to Low at 1080p increases the average to 175 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play.

For 2560x1440, the High preset (83 FPS) offers the best balance of visual fidelity and smoothness, as the Ultra preset (68 FPS) is still playable but approaches the lower limit for a smooth experience. The Medium preset (99 FPS) is also viable if higher frame rates are preferred over Ultra quality.

At 3840x2160, the data indicates that only the Low preset (61 FPS) reaches the 60 FPS threshold, but it comes with significant visual compromises. The Medium preset (53 FPS) is borderline playable, but the High (45 FPS) and Ultra (37 FPS) presets should be avoided due to inconsistent frame pacing and sub-40 FPS averages. For this resolution, players should either accept Low settings or consider upgrading the GPU, as no setting provides a truly comfortable experience.