Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Doom, but the data reveals a significant shift in system bottleneck as resolution climbs. At 4K, the combination falls below the 60 FPS threshold on Ultra settings, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor. This pairing ranks in the 55th percentile of tested combos for this game, showing solid but not top-tier performance relative to the broader database.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a classic resolution scaling curve, with performance dropping sharply as pixel count increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 241 FPS average, which drops to 156 FPS at 1440p and further to 85 FPS at 4K. This represents a 65% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a substantial decline that points to the GPU being heavily taxed at higher resolutions.

Looking at High settings, the scaling pattern is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The system delivers 178 FPS at 1080p, 115 FPS at 1440p, and 62 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is also 65%, confirming that the Radeon RX 7700's rendering throughput is the dominant factor in determining performance at higher resolutions. The fact that the percentage drop is identical across Low and High settings suggests the CPU is not introducing a bottleneck at any resolution tested.

The Medium preset shows the most complete data with min and max FPS values recorded. At 1080p Medium, the average is 210 FPS with a range from 179 to 242 FPS. At 1440p, that drops to 136 FPS average with a range of 116 to 156 FPS. At 4K, the average falls to 74 FPS with a range of 63 to 85 FPS. The consistency of these ranges—roughly a 30% spread between min and max at each resolution—indicates stable frame pacing without severe stuttering or spikes.

The Ultra preset reveals the most demanding scenario. At 1080p, the system manages 145 FPS average, which is still highly playable. At 1440p, it drops to 94 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 51 FPS. This 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that dips below 60 FPS, making it the sole point where the experience becomes marginal for smooth gameplay. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is a 65% reduction, matching the other settings, which reinforces that the GPU is consistently the limiting component across all quality presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 brings a 10-core, 10-thread configuration with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This Arrow Lake architecture processor, built on a 3 nm process, shows strong single-thread performance in synthetic benchmarks, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4412. These numbers place the CPU in the 85th percentile versus all CPUs in the database, indicating it has ample headroom for gaming workloads.

In Doom, which is not heavily multithreaded compared to modern titles, the CPU's single-thread strength is what matters most. The game's engine responds well to high clock speeds, and the 4.90 GHz boost clock provides the responsiveness needed to feed frames to the GPU at lower resolutions. The data supports this interpretation: at 1080p, the system reaches 241 FPS on Low settings, which is a frame rate that would be difficult to achieve if the CPU were struggling to keep up with the GPU's output. The fact that the 1080p numbers are so high suggests the Core Ultra 5 225 is not a limiting factor at this resolution.

However, the CPU's multicore performance is more modest. The Cinebench R23 multicore score is 25891, and the Passmark multithread score is 30459. These numbers put the processor in line with competitors like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores 36945 in average benchmark score, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018. The deltaPct values show the Core Ultra 5 225 is within 0.5% of these rivals, meaning it trades blows with mid-range processors from the previous generation. This is sufficient for Doom's engine, which does not require extensive multicore scaling to maintain high frame rates.

The processor's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s over dual-channel DDR5 is adequate for feeding the Radeon RX 7700's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. The GPU's 624.1 GB/s bandwidth is far higher, so the CPU-to-memory interface is not a bottleneck. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache provides enough on-die storage for game data, and the 192 KB L1 cache per core helps with single-threaded performance. Overall, the CPU role in this combo is to provide consistent frame delivery without becoming a constraint, and the data shows it succeeds at all resolutions tested.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1314 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 55th percentile. This is a solid mid-pack position, indicating that while the combo is capable, it does not reach the upper echelon of performance seen with higher-end processors and graphics cards. The rank reflects the GPU's 58th percentile standing among all GPUs, which is the more significant factor in determining in-game performance.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database provide context for where the Radeon RX 7700 sits. Its average benchmark score is 15852, which is within 1.7% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, just 1% higher, while the AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15862, essentially identical at -0.1% delta. This places the RX 7700 in the same performance tier as these older and newer mid-range cards, meaning the in-game rank is influenced more by the GPU than the CPU.

The CPU's percentile of 85 places it well above the GPU's 58th percentile, creating an imbalance where the processor has more headroom than the graphics card can utilize. This is typical for gaming configurations where the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but it means the combo's rank is capped by the graphics card's capability. If paired with a stronger GPU, the Core Ultra 5 225 would likely push the combo higher in the rankings, but with the RX 7700, the 1314 rank reflects the GPU-limited nature of the system.

Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing sits in the middle of the pack. The rank of 1314 out of 2930 means it outperforms roughly 55% of tested configurations, which is respectable for a mid-range setup. The data suggests that players with this combo can expect performance consistent with other systems using similarly positioned GPUs, with the CPU providing a comfortable margin of headroom that prevents it from dragging down results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce 241 FPS average, Medium produces 210 FPS with a min of 179 and max of 242, High produces 178 FPS, and Ultra produces 145 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 96 FPS, which is a 40% reduction in performance when enabling the highest quality preset. This indicates that Doom's Ultra settings impose a significant rendering cost, but even at the highest settings, the combo maintains well above 144 FPS, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 1440p, the frame rates remain strong but step down noticeably. Low settings yield 156 FPS, Medium yields 136 FPS with a min of 116 and max of 156, High yields 115 FPS, and Ultra yields 94 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is approximately 35% across all settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel count of 77% but not a linear reduction, suggesting the GPU has some headroom. At 1440p Ultra, the 94 FPS average is still well above 60 FPS, making this a viable resolution for high-quality gameplay.

At 4K, the data shows the combo's limits. Low settings produce 85 FPS average, Medium produces 74 FPS with a min of 63 and max of 85, High produces 62 FPS, and Ultra drops to 51 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K results in a 45% reduction in frame rate, which is a larger relative drop than the 1080p to 1440p transition. This is because the GPU is increasingly strained by the 4K pixel count, and the data shows that only Low and Medium settings maintain averages above 60 FPS at this resolution.

The Medium preset at each resolution provides the most complete picture with min and max FPS values. At 1080p, the range is 179 to 242 FPS, a 63 FPS spread. At 1440p, the range narrows to 116 to 156 FPS, a 40 FPS spread. At 4K, the range tightens to 63 to 85 FPS, a 22 FPS spread. This narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU's workload becomes more consistent, with less variance in frame times as the system approaches its limit.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K in Doom?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings or lower. The measured data shows 74 FPS average at 4K Medium, 85 FPS at 4K Low, and 62 FPS at 4K High. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 51 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: At 1080p, the combo delivers 145 FPS or higher across all settings, making it ideal for 144Hz or 165Hz displays. At 1440p, the system maintains 94 FPS or higher, which is suitable for 100Hz or 120Hz monitors.

Q: How does the RX 7700 compare to its nearest rival in the database?

A: The Radeon RX 7700 has an average benchmark score of 15852, which is 1.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129. It is also 1% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 9060's score of 16014, and essentially identical to the AMD Radeon R9 370X at 15862.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Core Ultra 5 225 ranks in the 85th percentile among CPUs, while the RX 7700 ranks in the 58th percentile among GPUs. The consistent 65% FPS drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings confirms the GPU is the bottleneck.

Q: What is the frame time consistency at different resolutions?

A: The Medium preset data shows that at 1080p, the min FPS is 179 and max is 242, a 35% spread. At 1440p, the min is 116 and max is 156, a 26% spread. At 4K, the min is 63 and max is 85, a 26% spread. This indicates consistent frame pacing across all resolutions.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 1314 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, which puts it in the 55th percentile. This is a mid-pack position, reflecting the GPU's mid-range performance while the CPU provides ample headroom.

Settings Recommendations

For 4K gameplay, the data clearly indicates that Medium settings provide the best balance of visual quality and performance. The 74 FPS average at 4K Medium is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the min FPS of 63 confirms that frame drops are rare. High settings at 4K produce 62 FPS average, which is technically playable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes, while Ultra at 51 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 1440p, Ultra settings are the recommended choice for the best experience. The 94 FPS average at 1440p Ultra provides a high-quality visual experience while maintaining frame rates that exceed 60 FPS comfortably. If a player prefers maximum frame rates over visual fidelity, Low settings at 1440p deliver 156 FPS, which is a significant boost over Ultra, but the visual trade-off may not be worth it given the already solid Ultra performance.

For 1080p, the combo has enough headroom to run Ultra settings at 145 FPS average, making it the clear recommendation for the highest quality experience. The 96 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is substantial, but since even Ultra maintains frame rates above 144 FPS, there is no reason to sacrifice visual quality. Players with 240Hz monitors could opt for Medium settings to reach 210 FPS, but the marginal gain over Ultra may not justify the reduced visual fidelity.

The overall recommendation is to prioritize Ultra settings at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium settings at 4K. This configuration leverages the GPU's strengths while avoiding the performance cliff seen at 4K Ultra. The data shows that the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K being a viable secondary option at reduced quality settings.