Doom

Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Doom, with the data showing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution climbs. The combo ranks in the 57th percentile of all tested configurations for this title, indicating a balanced pairing that excels at high refresh rates but begins to strain at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 brings 10 cores and 10 threads to the battlefield, operating at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosting up to 4.90 GHz. This Arrow Lake-S architecture chip, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, features a 20 MB shared L3 cache alongside 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core. For a fast-paced FPS like Doom, the single-thread performance is paramount, and the data reflects this: the processor achieves 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 of all processors, suggesting it has ample headroom for gaming workloads. The multi-threaded capabilities are also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a Passmark multithread score of 30459. In the context of Doom, which is known for its id Tech engine efficiently scaling across cores, the 10-core/10-thread configuration ensures that frame pacing remains consistent, particularly at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is more likely to surface. The processor’s 65W TDP and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth further solidify its position as a capable gaming foundation, though the data shows its influence wanes as GPU load increases.

Benchmark comparisons place the Core Ultra 5 225 in close company with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (deltaPct 0), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (deltaPct -0.2), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (deltaPct -0.4), and Intel Core i9-12900T (deltaPct -0.5). The near-zero deltas indicate that, at the CPU level, this chip is essentially performance-equivalent to these rivals, meaning any differences in Doom’s frame rates will be driven by the GPU and resolution rather than the processor’s absolute compute headroom.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the visual workhorse here, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 44 chip. It operates with a base clock of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2990 MHz, paired with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s 1792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operations pipelines are responsible for rendering Doom’s demonic hellscapes, and its 21.43 TFLOPS of FP32 compute provides substantial raw processing power.

The GPU’s benchmark scores tell a mixed story. In Passmark G3D, it scores 17631, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, while its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322 reflects modern API performance. The nearest rivals for this card include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (deltaPct -0.7), AMD Radeon R9 370X (deltaPct 1), AMD Radeon RX 7700 (deltaPct 1), and AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (deltaPct 2.1). These deltas are minimal, suggesting the RX 9060 sits in a competitive mid-range segment. For Doom, the 8 GB VRAM is adequate at 1080p and 1440p, but the data shows that at 4K with Ultra settings, the frame rate drops to 45 FPS, indicating the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute are being pushed to their limits.

The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface and 132W TDP make this a power-efficient card, but the real story is how its clock speeds translate to gameplay. The boost clock of 2990 MHz is notably high, and the data shows this helps maintain strong performance in Doom’s fast-moving scenes, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU can flex its muscle without being bottlenecked by pixel count.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable yet informative scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p, the combo achieves 211 FPS on Low settings, 184 FPS on Medium, 155 FPS on High, and 127 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these numbers drop to 137 FPS (Low), 119 FPS (Medium), 101 FPS (High), and 82 FPS (Ultra). At 4K, the performance takes a significant hit: 74 FPS (Low), 65 FPS (Medium), 54 FPS (High), and 45 FPS (Ultra).

The drop from 1080p to 4K is steepest at the Low setting, where FPS falls from 211 to 74, a reduction of 137 FPS. At Ultra, the drop is from 127 to 45, a reduction of 82 FPS. This suggests that at Low settings, the CPU is more involved in maintaining high frame rates, and as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The data indicates that the CPU has enough headroom to push well beyond 200 FPS at 1080p, but the GPU’s rendering pipeline caps performance as pixel count rises.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling: at High settings, FPS drops from 101 to 54, a 47% reduction, while at Ultra, it drops from 82 to 45, a 45% reduction. This consistency across settings suggests that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints at 4K, rather than any specific setting toggle. For gamers seeking high refresh rates, 1080p is the clear sweet spot, while 1440p remains viable for those prioritizing visual fidelity over raw FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong performance across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 211 FPS, Medium delivers 184 FPS with a minimum of 156 and maximum of 212, High achieves 155 FPS, and Ultra still manages 127 FPS. These numbers indicate that the CPU-GPU pairing is well-balanced for competitive play, with even the most demanding preset clearing the 120 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the results remain solid but show the GPU beginning to work harder. Low settings average 137 FPS, Medium drops to 119 FPS with a range of 101 to 137, High maintains 101 FPS, and Ultra falls to 82 FPS. The minimum FPS at Medium (101) suggests that frame pacing remains stable, but the Ultra preset’s 82 FPS average indicates that 1440p with maximum settings is approaching the edge of the GPU’s comfort zone.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve flattens considerably. Low settings average 74 FPS, Medium drops to 65 FPS with a minimum of 55 and maximum of 74, High achieves 54 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45 FPS. These numbers show that 4K gaming is possible but not ideal for high refresh rate displays. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 29 FPS, compared to 84 FPS at 1080p, reinforcing that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution.

The Medium preset at 4K, with its 65 FPS average and 55 FPS minimum, offers the most playable experience for those who must game at 2160p, while High and Ultra presets dip below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the baseline for smooth action.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination ranks 1686 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 42nd percentile from the top. This ranking is notable because it sits below the CPU’s individual 85th percentile and the GPU’s 59th percentile, suggesting that the pairing’s performance in this specific game is limited by factors beyond raw component strength, likely the 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth at higher resolutions.

Compared to the nearest rival GPUs, the RX 9060’s deltaPct values are minimal (ranging from -0.7 to 2.1), indicating that swapping to an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 7700 would yield roughly similar frame rates. The CPU’s rivals show even tighter deltas, with the Ryzen 5 5600F being a virtual tie. This means that within this combo’s performance envelope, the ranking is more influenced by the game’s optimization and the GPU’s memory subsystem than by the specific silicon choices.

The rank of 1686 out of 2930 means that roughly 42% of tested combos perform better, while 58% perform worse. For a mid-range pairing, this is a reasonable result, but the data suggests that those seeking top-tier Doom performance should look toward higher-end GPUs with larger memory pools, as the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor in this configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1080p, the Ultra preset’s 127 FPS average is the best choice for those with 120Hz or 144Hz displays, as it provides the highest visual quality while remaining comfortably above 60 FPS. For competitive players prioritizing maximum frame rates, the Low preset’s 211 FPS offers the smoothest experience, though the visual compromise is significant.

At 1440p, the High preset’s 101 FPS is the recommended balance, as it stays above the 100 FPS threshold while delivering solid visual fidelity. The Ultra preset’s 82 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive on high refresh rate monitors. For those with 60Hz displays, Ultra at 1440p is a viable option, but the data suggests that High provides a better margin for frame time consistency.

At 4K, the situation is more constrained. The Medium preset’s 65 FPS average and 55 FPS minimum is the only setting that consistently breaks 60 FPS, making it the clear recommendation for 4K gaming. The High preset’s 54 FPS is borderline, while Ultra’s 45 FPS falls below the threshold for smooth action in a fast-paced FPS. For the best experience at 4K, Medium settings are the sweet spot, offering a playable frame rate without sacrificing too much visual detail.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Doom?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 as the strongest resolution, with all presets exceeding 127 FPS, and the Low preset reaching 211 FPS. At 1440p, High settings still hit 101 FPS, but 4K drops below 60 FPS on High and Ultra presets.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 3060 Ti, in this game?

A: The RX 9060 has a deltaPct of -0.7 relative to the RTX 3060 Ti in average benchmark scores, meaning the performance difference is negligible. In Doom, this suggests near-identical frame rates between the two cards when paired with the same CPU.

Q: Is the Core Ultra 5 225 a bottleneck for the RX 9060?

A: The CPU’s nearest rival, the Ryzen 5 5600F, shows a deltaPct of 0, and the CPU scores in the 85th percentile overall. At 1080p with Low settings, the CPU can push 211 FPS, indicating it is not a limiting factor at lower resolutions, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the primary constraint.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 82 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings. This is playable but may not fully utilize a 144Hz monitor.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM on the RX 9060 cause issues in Doom?

A: The data indicates that at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 45, which is likely influenced by the VRAM capacity and bandwidth. At 1080p and 1440p, the 8 GB allocation appears sufficient, as frame rates remain high across all presets.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1686 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 42nd percentile. This is lower than the individual component percentiles, suggesting the pairing’s performance is constrained by the GPU’s memory architecture in this specific title.