Doom

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER represent a high-end pairing for running Doom, and the measured frame rates across resolutions and presets show a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher settings. The data indicates that this combination delivers exceptional performance, pushing well past the refresh rate of typical high-refresh displays even at 4K with maximum settings. The following analysis breaks down the specific roles of the CPU and GPU, provides settings guidance, and contextualizes the combo's performance against other tested configurations.

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 based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. It features a substantial 36 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. While Doom is a 2016 title and not known for being heavily multithreaded, this processor's sheer single-thread capability—evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2262.5 and Geekbench single-core score of 2655—ensures that it is never a bottleneck in this game's engine.

The CPU's performance percentile sits at 95, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of all tested CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 79097 places it in a tight competitive cluster. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF, scores slightly higher at 79371, a delta of -0.3%, making the two effectively identical in performance. The AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% ahead, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% behind. This data shows the i9-14900K is at the very top of the consumer performance stack.

In the context of Doom's measured FPS, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 349 FPS. This very high frame rate, which is far beyond what most displays can show, is where a powerful CPU becomes critical. The data shows that even at this extreme, the system is not CPU-limited, as the frame rate scales predictably with resolution and settings changes. The CPU's high boost clock of 6.00 GHz is a key factor, as Doom's engine benefits significantly from high-frequency single-core performance. The processor's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 39399.5 and Passmark multithread score of 58674 further confirm its capability, but for this game, the single-thread performance is the more relevant metric.

The CPU's memory support for DDR5 and its dual-channel bus also contribute to overall system responsiveness, ensuring that data can be fed to the GPU without introducing latency. While the benchmark data does not isolate CPU-specific FPS tests, the fact that the i9-14900K ranks in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, combined with the extremely high frame rates observed, leads to a clear conclusion: the processor is not the limiting component in this configuration. Its 24 cores and 32 threads provide immense headroom, but it is the high clock speed and strong single-core performance that are most relevant to Doom's performance.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary driver of frame rates in this analysis. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, it features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2475 MHz, and it has a memory clock of 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The GPU's FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS and its 56 RT cores indicate a highly capable piece of hardware, though Doom does not typically leverage ray tracing in these specific benchmark scenarios.

The GPU's benchmark results support its high-end positioning. It has a percentile rank of 83 among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 43223. Its nearest rivals are very close, with the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB being -0.1% behind and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile being -1.0% behind. This suggests that in general compute tasks, the RTX 4070 SUPER is competitive with some top-tier workstation and mobile parts, though its Passmark G3D score of 29995 is the more relevant figure for gaming.

In Doom, the GPU's impact is clearly visible across the measured settings and resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages 74 FPS, a figure that demonstrates the GPU is working hard to render the game at maximum detail. The 12 GB VRAM buffer is a key asset here, as it allows the GPU to hold the necessary textures and assets for high-resolution rendering without running out of memory and causing stutters. The data shows that the GPU is the primary scaling factor: as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the frame rate drops significantly, a classic sign of a GPU-bound system. For instance, moving from 1080p High (257 FPS) to 4K High (90 FPS) represents a 65% reduction in FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU's rendering load increasing.

The RTX 4070 SUPER's performance is consistent with its position in the market. It is not the absolute fastest GPU, but its 12 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth make it well-suited for modern titles. The data indicates that in Doom, it is the definitive bottleneck, but a very capable one, as it can still deliver playable and often excellent frame rates at 4K. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution highlights the GPU's workload; at 4K, the jump from Low (123 FPS) to Ultra (74 FPS) is a 40% performance cost for the visual fidelity increase.

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

Analyzing the measured FPS, the "High" preset offers the most balanced experience across all three resolutions, providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium while retaining a comfortable performance margin. At 4K, High delivers 90 FPS, which is 16 FPS higher than Medium's 107 FPS? No, it is 17 FPS lower. The data shows High at 90 FPS, Medium at 107 FPS, and Ultra at 74 FPS. High is a strong middle ground.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it hits the 90 FPS mark, which is above the 60 FPS standard and provides a smooth experience. Ultra drops to 74 FPS, which is still playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes. Medium at 107 FPS is also excellent, but High offers a better balance of visual quality and performance for those with high-refresh-rate 4K displays. For 1440p, High is the clear winner, delivering 166 FPS. This is an excellent frame rate for high-refresh monitors, and it is a significant jump from the 136 FPS of Ultra. The Low preset at 1440p (226 FPS) offers diminishing returns in visual quality for the extra frames.

At 1080p, the system is so powerful that the choice is less critical. High delivers 257 FPS, which is more than enough for even the fastest 240Hz+ monitors. Ultra at 210 FPS is also excellent, and the visual improvement over High is worth the 47 FPS drop for most users. The Medium preset at 304 FPS is only recommended for competitive play where every frame counts. The data suggests that for the best overall experience, the High preset is the sweet spot, providing high visual fidelity without sacrificing the frame rates that make the game feel responsive. The Ultra preset is for those who prioritize image quality above all else and have a display that can take advantage of the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination holds a rank of 607 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the top 16.4% of all configurations tested, which is a strong showing for a system that is not the absolute latest generation. The rank indicates that this combo outperforms the vast majority of systems, but it is not at the very top of the leaderboard, which is likely occupied by newer or more expensive combinations.

This ranking context is more informative than just the raw FPS numbers. It shows that while the i9-14900K is a top-tier CPU (95th percentile), the RTX 4070 SUPER, while excellent, is not the absolute top GPU (83rd percentile). The combination's rank of 607 suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing, pulling the overall rank down from what it would be with a faster GPU. The data shows that this is a high-end combination, but there are 606 other combos that are faster.

The rank is a single data point that synthesizes the CPU and GPU's performance. It is a relative measure, and the fact that the combo is in the 84th percentile of all tested combos (100 - (607/3712)*100 = 83.6%) confirms that this is a very capable system. The delta between the CPU's high percentile (95) and the combo's rank (84th percentile) is a clear indicator that the GPU is the bottleneck in this specific pairing. The CPU has plenty of headroom, but the GPU's performance ceiling prevents the combo from achieving a higher overall rank. This is a typical situation for a well-balanced system, but users looking to improve their rank would need to upgrade the GPU rather than the CPU.

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

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly identifies the GPU as the limiting component. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 257 FPS at 1080p to 166 FPS at 1440p, and then to 90 FPS at 4K. This is a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The data shows a consistent and predictable decline in FPS as pixel count increases, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound system.

This scaling pattern is crucial for understanding the system's capabilities. The CPU is capable of delivering frame rates well beyond 300 FPS at 1080p, as demonstrated by the Low preset at 349 FPS. The fact that the frame rate drops so heavily at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is running out of rendering horsepower, not that the CPU is struggling to keep up. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM is sufficient, but its compute power is the limiting factor at 4K.

The data confirms that the system is well-balanced, but the GPU is the clear performance ceiling. At 1080p, the system is almost certainly CPU-limited in some scenarios, as the frame rates are high enough to approach the CPU's maximum throughput. However, as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the system becomes firmly GPU-bound. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings (257 to 90 FPS) is a 65% reduction, which is substantial and directly attributable to the GPU's rendering load. This means that for users who want to play at 4K with higher settings, the RTX 4070 SUPER is the component that needs to be upgraded to achieve higher frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 166 FPS.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's high single-core performance and percentile rank (95) allow it to keep up, but the FPS drops significantly with resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the best preset for 4K gaming according to the data?

A: The High preset is recommended for 4K, as it delivers 90 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 74 FPS, while Medium yields 107 FPS, but High offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

Q: How many tested combinations does this system outperform?

A: This combo ranks 607 out of 3712 tested combos, meaning it outperforms 3105 other configurations in the database.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 349 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 210 FPS, a difference of 139 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU's boost clock play a role in this game's performance?

A: Yes, the i9-14900K's boost clock of 6.00 GHz is a key factor. Doom benefits from high single-thread performance, and the CPU's ability to reach these high clocks ensures it does not bottleneck the GPU at higher frame rates.