Doom

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz, making it one of the highest-clocked desktop parts in the database. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 36 MB L3 cache. This processor also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, though that is irrelevant for discrete GPU testing.

In Doom, a 2016 FPS title, the CPU's role is largely about maintaining high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 274.3 FPS average. At 1080p Ultra, that drops to 165.3 FPS, which is still extremely high. The processor's single-thread performance, as measured by Cinebench R23 at 7040 points, and its multi-thread score of 49872, indicate a part that can feed even the most demanding GPUs at high refresh rates. Given that Doom is an older title with a well-optimized engine, the i9-14900K's 32 threads are more than sufficient; the game is unlikely to stress all cores, but the sheer clock speed and per-core efficiency ensure that frame pacing remains consistent.

The processor's percentile rank among all CPUs is 97, placing it in the top tier. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD EPYC 7413 (avg score 80041, delta -0.3%), the Intel Core i9-14900KF (avg score 79245, delta +0.7%), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (avg score 79240, delta +0.7%). The i9-14900K's average benchmark score is 79824, which is essentially tied with the EPYC 7413 and just ahead of the Ultra 7 variants. For gaming specifically, the high boost clock of 6.00 GHz is the key asset, as Doom's engine benefits from rapid single-thread execution. The data does not show any CPU-related frame rate dips in the measured rows, which suggests the processor is never the limiting factor in this pairing.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti achieves a combo rank of 663 out of 1681 tested combinations in Doom. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems, which is notable given the GPU's age. The RTX 3070 Ti is an Ampere architecture card with a 74th percentile rank among all GPUs, so the combo's rank reflects a balanced pairing rather than an extreme one. A rank of 663 out of 1681 means approximately 60% of tested combos are slower, while 40% are faster. This is a solid position for a system that is not using the absolute latest hardware.

In context, the RTX 3070 Ti's nearest GPU rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME (avg score 30755, delta +0.3%), the AMD Radeon RX 6700 (avg score 31112, delta -0.8%), and the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 (avg score 31142, delta -0.9%). The 3070 Ti's average benchmark score is 30849, which is statistically tied with the RX 590 GME and only slightly behind the RX 6700. This means the combo's rank is largely driven by the CPU's strength, but the GPU still holds its own in Doom's specific workload. The measured frame rates show that at 1440p High, the combo produces 127.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 59.3 FPS, barely below that threshold. The rank of 663 suggests that while there are faster combos, this pairing is far from a low-end performer. It sits in a sweet spot where the CPU's high clock speeds compensate for the GPU's mid-range standing.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 274.3 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 179 FPS, a reduction of approximately 35%. At 4K Low, it falls to 93.9 FPS, which is a further 48% reduction from 1440p. This scaling pattern indicates that at lower resolutions, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU can easily keep up with the frame generation demands. The 1080p Low result of 274.3 FPS is so high that it saturates most display refresh rates, and the CPU's 6.00 GHz boost clock is more than adequate to drive those frames.

At higher quality settings, the scaling is steeper. For High settings, the progression is 199.6 FPS at 1080p, 127.8 FPS at 1440p, and 68.9 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at High is roughly 65%, which is a typical GPU-bound curve. At Ultra settings, the numbers are 165.3 FPS at 1080p, 105.6 FPS at 1440p, and 59.3 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is just below the 60 FPS target, indicating that the RTX 3070 Ti's 8 GB of VRAM and its compute throughput are the limiting factors at the highest resolution and quality. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases, because the GPU takes longer to render each frame, reducing the demand on the processor to supply draw calls.

The data shows a clear inflection point: at 1080p, the system is heavily GPU-limited, as evidenced by the large FPS gains from lowering settings (274.3 FPS at Low vs 165.3 FPS at Ultra). At 4K, the GPU is even more stressed, with Ultra dipping below 60 FPS. The CPU never appears to be the bottleneck, as even the most demanding CPU scenario (1080p Low) produces frame rates that are far above what any display can show. This suggests that users with high-refresh monitors at 1080p will be fully satisfied, while 4K users must dial back settings to maintain playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60+ FPS?

A: At 1440p High, the combo achieves 127.8 FPS, and even at 1440p Ultra it holds 105.6 FPS. At 4K High, it drops to 68.9 FPS, while 4K Ultra falls to 59.3 FPS. So 1440p is the optimal resolution for high refresh rates, while 4K requires lowering to High settings for a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 30849. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME, scores 30755, a delta of +0.3%. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 scores 31112, a delta of -0.8%, meaning the 3070 Ti is slightly behind that card.

Q: Does the i9-14900K bottleneck the RTX 3070 Ti in Doom?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the system produces 274.3 FPS, which is far beyond any practical refresh rate. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7040 and multi-core score of 49872 indicate it can handle the game's demands without limiting the GPU.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems in Doom?

A: The combo ranks 663 out of 1681 tested combinations. This places it in the upper-middle tier, meaning about 60% of tested systems are slower.

Q: How much FPS is lost going from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the frame rate is 199.6 FPS. At 1440p High, it is 127.8 FPS. At 4K High, it is 68.9 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K is approximately 65%, indicating a strong GPU bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile rank among all processors?

A: The i9-14900K is in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79824. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF, scores 79245, a delta of +0.7%.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA104 chip, fabricated on an 8 nm process by Samsung. It has 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 608.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1575 MHz, with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and it features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. It also includes 48 ray tracing cores and 192 tensor cores, though Doom (2016) does not use ray tracing. The card's FP32 performance is rated at 21.75 TFLOPS, and its texture rate is 339.8 GTexel/s.

In Doom, the GPU's role is dominant, especially at higher resolutions and quality settings. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for this game, as even at 4K Ultra the system does not appear to hit memory limits. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 59.3, which is just below the 60 FPS target, suggesting that compute throughput rather than VRAM is the limiting factor. The card's percentile rank is 74, placing it above average but not in the top tier. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME (delta +0.3%), the AMD Radeon RX 6700 (delta -0.8%), and the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 (delta -0.9%). These deltas are all within 1%, meaning the RTX 3070 Ti performs nearly identically to these cards in aggregate benchmarks.

The data shows that the GPU's performance scales predictably with settings. At 1080p Low, the card produces 274.3 FPS, but this is likely CPU-bound at that point, as the GPU has excess headroom. At 4K Ultra, the card is fully utilized, and the 59.3 FPS result reflects its raw compute power. The memory clock is 1188 MHz, effective 19 Gbps, which is high for the era, and the 608.3 GB/s bandwidth is more than enough for Doom's textures. The GPU's TDP is 290 W, with a suggested PSU of 600 W, but these power figures do not directly affect frame rates. Overall, the RTX 3070 Ti is a capable mid-range card that handles Doom well, but it is not sufficient for 4K Ultra at a solid 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and refresh rate goals. For 1080p displays, the system is overkill. At 1080p Low, it achieves 274.3 FPS, which is beyond any consumer monitor's refresh rate. Even at 1080p Ultra, it produces 165.3 FPS, which is still above 144 Hz. For 1080p, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it provides the best visual quality without sacrificing playability. The 165.3 FPS average at Ultra is well above the 60 FPS threshold and even clears 144 Hz for high-refresh monitors.

For 1440p, the Ultra preset also works well, delivering 105.6 FPS. This is a solid experience for 100 Hz or 120 Hz displays. However, if a user has a 144 Hz monitor, the High preset at 1440p yields 127.8 FPS, which is closer to that target. The Medium preset at 153.3 FPS is also an option for those who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. For 1440p, High is the recommended balance, as it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium while staying above 120 FPS.

For 4K, the situation is more delicate. The Ultra preset drops to 59.3 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target, and the High preset at 68.9 FPS provides a small but safe margin. The Medium preset at 83.4 FPS offers a more comfortable buffer, while Low at 93.9 FPS is the smoothest but sacrifices visual quality. For 4K, the High preset is the best recommendation, as it maintains playable frame rates above 60 FPS while preserving most of the game's visual details. Users who cannot tolerate any frame rate drops should consider Medium, while those with adaptive sync displays might accept Ultra's 59.3 FPS. The data clearly shows that the RTX 3070 Ti is best paired with High settings at 4K, High or Ultra at 1440p, and Ultra at 1080p. This ensures the smoothest experience without unnecessary compromises.