Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT combination delivers a highly playable experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably across the three tested resolutions. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the clear limiting factor at higher settings, while the CPU demonstrates ample headroom to push frame rates to extremely high levels at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes the hardware’s standing, and offers practical guidance based solely on the provided benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K produces a substantial and expected drop in average frame rates, clearly illustrating the increasing burden on the graphics card. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 148 FPS at 1920x1080 to 96 FPS at 2560x1440, before settling at 52 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 35% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop when moving from 1440p to 4K, highlighting the significant pixel-pushing demands at the highest resolution.

The scaling pattern strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the primary constraint in this system. At 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high, suggesting the processor is capable of feeding the GPU more than enough data. However, as resolution increases, the GPU's workload expands, and the frame rate plummets accordingly. For instance, the 4K Ultra preset averages just 43 FPS, a figure that suggests the GPU is saturated with work, while the CPU waits for the next frame to render.

Interestingly, the performance gap between the Low and Ultra presets widens as resolution decreases. At 4K, the spread is from 71 FPS (Low) to 43 FPS (Ultra), a difference of 28 FPS. At 1080p, the same comparison shows a much larger gap, from 202 FPS (Low) to 121 FPS (Ultra), a difference of 81 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to expose the full performance cost of higher graphical settings, whereas at 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that the relative cost of settings is compressed.

The data suggests that for a 60 FPS target, the RX 7600 XT can manage Medium settings at 4K, as it averages 62 FPS. However, for the smoothest experience with high refresh rate monitors, sticking to 1080p or 1440p is necessary, where the combo can easily exceed 100 FPS on most presets. The 4K Ultra preset, with its 43 FPS average, is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it unsuitable for fluid gameplay without a reduction in visual fidelity.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the central figure in these benchmark results, with its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a boost clock of 2755 MHz playing a significant role in its performance profile. The generous memory allocation is particularly relevant for higher resolutions and texture-heavy settings, ensuring that the card does not run out of frame buffer space even at 4K Ultra, where the average frame rate is 43 FPS. The card's memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s, while not class-leading, is sufficient to support the observed performance levels.

The GPU's silicon, codenamed "Hotpink Bonefish" based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, demonstrates a clear performance ceiling when pushed to 4K. The 22.57 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is directly reflected in the raw frame rates, but the data shows that this compute capability is strained by the 8.3 million pixels of a 4K display. The fact that the 4K Low preset (71 FPS) is faster than the 4K High preset (52 FPS) by 19 FPS underscores how sensitive the card is to fill-rate demands.

Compared to its nearest rivals in the database, the RX 7600 XT's average benchmark score of 17083 places it in a tight cluster. It sits a mere 0.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and 0.4% above the AMD Radeon HD 7970M, while being 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. This suggests that while the card is competitive in synthetic tests, its real-world Doom performance is more heavily influenced by its driver optimization and architectural efficiencies, leading to the specific frame rates observed.

The GPU's 60th percentile ranking against all GPUs indicates a mid-range standing, and the benchmark results in Doom align with that positioning. The card is clearly not a 4K powerhouse, but it provides a robust experience at 1440p and exceptional performance at 1080p. The data shows that the RX 7600 XT's role in this combo is to deliver high-refresh-rate gaming at mainstream resolutions, with 4K being a stretch goal achievable only on lower presets.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of all tested CPU and GPU combinations for Doom, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT occupies the 1827th position out of 2930 total combinations. This ranking places it in the 62nd percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it outperforms a majority of configurations but is far from the top tier. The rank suggests a balanced mid-range setup that will handle most games well, but will not compete with high-end builds featuring flagship processors and graphics cards.

The CPU itself, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, has an average benchmark score of 36938, which puts it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with a deltaPct of 0, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at -0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at -0.4%. This indicates that the Ultra 5 225 is essentially performance-equivalent to these other mid-range processors, and any differences in gaming frame rates at lower resolutions would be minimal.

The combo's rank is likely held back by the GPU's 60th percentile standing rather than the CPU's stronger 85th percentile score. In Doom, which is known for being well-optimized, the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the significant frame rate drops. At 1080p, where the CPU matters more, the combo's performance would be relatively stronger, but the overall ranking is dragged down by the 4K results. This suggests that the pairing is well-matched for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but not for 4K enthusiasts.

The delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles (85th vs 60th) indicates a slight imbalance, with the processor having more headroom than the graphics card can utilize. This is a common configuration for mid-range gaming PCs, where the CPU is chosen for longevity and the GPU is the primary upgrade path. The data suggests that if a user were to upgrade the GPU in the future, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 would not be a limiting factor for Doom, allowing for significant frame rate gains.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive picture of the combo's capabilities across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast, with the Low preset delivering an average of 202 FPS. The Medium preset averages 176 FPS, with a minimum of 149 and a maximum of 202 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 148 FPS, while Ultra drops to 121 FPS. These numbers indicate that the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, with even the most demanding preset staying above 120 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. The Low preset averages 130 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings yield an average of 114 FPS, with a range of 97 to 131 FPS. High settings produce 96 FPS on average, while Ultra drops to 78 FPS. This resolution represents the sweet spot for this hardware, as it balances visual fidelity with high frame rates, making it ideal for 144Hz monitors with settings tuned to High or Medium.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle with more demanding presets. The Low preset averages 71 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 71 FPS, just barely clearing the 60 FPS threshold. High settings drop to 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming is only feasible on the Low or Medium presets if a 60 FPS target is desired, and even then, frame rates may fluctuate.

The consistent pattern across all resolutions is that the Medium preset offers the most balanced performance, with the largest jump in frame rate when compared to High settings. For example, at 1440p, the difference between Medium and High is 18 FPS, while the difference between High and Ultra is also 18 FPS. This suggests that the Medium preset is a significant visual compromise, while the jump from High to Ultra is less impactful in terms of frame rate cost, making High a more efficient choice for visual quality per frame.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K with a stable 60 FPS?*

A: The data shows that only the Low preset at 3840x2160 achieves an average above 60 FPS, at 71 FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, but its minimum FPS is 52, indicating it will drop below 60 FPS during intense scenes. Higher presets fall well short, with High averaging 52 FPS and Ultra at 43 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware to maximize frame rates?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution delivers the highest frame rates, with the Low preset reaching 202 FPS and the Ultra preset still managing 121 FPS. This makes 1080p the optimal choice for high-refresh-rate gaming, as all presets remain above 120 FPS on average.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with a deltaPct of 0, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at -0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at -0.4%, and the Intel Core i9-12900T at -0.5%. This indicates that the Ultra 5 225 is statistically tied with these processors in general benchmarks.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile relative to all other GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is in the 60th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17083. This places it in the mid-range tier, outperforming the lower half of GPUs but trailing the top performers.

*Q: Is the 16 GB VRAM on the RX 7600 XT sufficient for Doom at 4K Ultra?*

A: The benchmark data shows that the 4K Ultra preset averages 43 FPS, which is not a smooth experience. While the 16 GB of memory likely prevents any texture-related stuttering or loading issues, the GPU's compute power is insufficient to drive the 4K Ultra settings at a playable frame rate.

*Q: How does the combo's overall rank in Doom compare to other tested systems?*

A: This combo is ranked 1827th out of 2930 tested combinations, placing it in the 62nd percentile. This indicates that it performs better than a majority of systems tested, but it is not a top-tier configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frames per second, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's display and performance goals. For users with a 60 Hz monitor at 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point, as it averages 62 FPS. However, be aware that the minimum FPS of 52 indicates occasional drops below 60 FPS. If a rock-solid 60 FPS is required, the Low preset, averaging 71 FPS, is the safer choice, offering a significant performance buffer at the cost of visual fidelity.

For 2560x1440 displays, the High preset offers an excellent balance, averaging 96 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides enough headroom for a 100 Hz monitor. If a 144 Hz monitor is used, the Medium preset, with an average of 114 FPS, is the better option to stay closer to the display's refresh rate, though the High preset's 96 FPS is still a smooth experience.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 121 FPS. This allows for high visual quality while still providing frame rates that are suitable for most 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitors. For those with 240 Hz displays, the High preset at 148 FPS or the Medium preset at 176 FPS will provide a closer match to the monitor's capabilities, with the Low preset at 202 FPS being the only option that nearly saturates a 240 Hz panel.

In summary, the data suggests that the "High" preset is the most versatile choice across all resolutions. At 4K, it trades some smoothness for quality; at 1440p, it provides a great experience; and at 1080p, it is still incredibly fast. The Ultra preset is only recommended for 1080p, while the Low and Medium presets are best reserved for 4K gaming where frame rate is prioritized over graphical detail.