Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a highly specific performance profile in Doom, one defined by the stark contrast between a strong modern CPU and an integrated GPU that is positioned at the very bottom of the discrete graphics hierarchy. The measured data shows a system that is entirely GPU-bound at every resolution and setting, with the CPU’s substantial headroom left untapped. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to show what this combo can deliver, where its limits are, and how it ranks among other tested systems.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a classic, severe GPU bottleneck that scales predictably with pixel count. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 71 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average to 46 FPS, a significant 35% reduction in frame rate. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average falling to 25 FPS. This pattern indicates that the Intel Arc B370’s rendering capabilities are exhausted long before the CPU becomes a limiting factor. The data suggests that even at 1080p, the GPU is already the primary constraint, as the performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, rather than indicating a CPU-bound plateau.

Looking at the Low preset, the scaling tells a similar story. The system achieves 96 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 62 FPS at 1440p and then to 34 FPS at 4K. The consistent halving of performance from 1080p to 4K across both High and Low settings reinforces that the bottleneck is purely the GPU's pixel throughput and shading power. The Arc B370’s boost clock of 2400 MHz and its 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are simply insufficient to feed a 4K display with this game’s geometry and effects.

The difference between 1080p and 1440p is where the most noticeable compromise occurs. While 1080p is playable, 1440p represents a significant step down in smoothness. The 4K results, averaging just 20-34 FPS depending on the preset, are not suitable for a fast-paced FPS. The data indicates that for a consistent experience, this combo is best suited for 1080p, where the GPU can maintain a reasonable frame rate even on higher settings. Attempting to push higher resolutions will result in a frame rate that falls below the threshold for responsive gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a clear hierarchy of performance across the four presets. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 96 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate for this combo. The Medium preset follows at 84 FPS, and High at 71 FPS. The Ultra preset drops significantly to 58 FPS. This creates a clear choice for the user: prioritize maximum smoothness with Low, or accept a lower frame rate for higher visual fidelity.

For a game like Doom, where fast reflexes are critical, the data suggests that the Low or Medium presets at 1080p offer the best balance of responsiveness and visual quality. The 96 FPS on Low is the only preset/resolution combination that approaches the 100 FPS mark, making it the definitive choice for competitive play. The Medium preset’s 84 FPS is still well within a smooth range and likely offers a better visual experience than Low, making it a strong recommendation for most players. The High preset’s 71 FPS is playable but represents a measurable concession in smoothness.

The Ultra preset at any resolution is not advisable based on this data. At 1080p, it yields 58 FPS, which is a 27% drop from the High preset and a 40% drop from Low. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 37 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to just 20 FPS. These figures indicate that the Ultra preset, while visually more demanding, pushes the Arc B370 beyond its practical limits. The data clearly shows that lowering the settings to Medium or Low provides a much more stable and higher-performing experience. The min FPS values for Medium settings (71 at 1080p, 46 at 1440p, and 25 at 4K) are identical to the average FPS of High settings at those resolutions, suggesting that the Medium preset provides a more consistent frame time experience than High, which lacks recorded min FPS data.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this combo’s performance. Its benchmark data shows a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile is reflected in the measured game performance. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1190, are over a decade old, underscoring its entry-level positioning. The Arc B370 is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a 25 W TDP, operating with System Shared memory, which means its bandwidth is "System Dependent" and cannot be counted as a fixed asset.

The GPU’s clock speeds are a point of interest. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. This large boost range allows the GPU to scale up under load, but the 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 1280 shading units are the hard limits. In Doom, this translates to the frame rates observed. The GPU’s 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate and 96.00 GTexel/s texture rate are modest figures that align with its performance class. The data shows that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance; the CPU has ample power to feed it, but the Arc B370 cannot process frames fast enough to utilize that headroom.

The lack of dedicated VRAM is a critical architectural detail. With System Shared memory, the GPU is competing with the CPU for the same memory bandwidth. This can lead to performance dips in texture-heavy scenes, although the measured average FPS suggests that the game is mostly limited by raw compute rather than memory bandwidth at the lower resolutions. However, the 4K results, where memory pressure would be highest, show a severe performance collapse, with the High preset dropping to 25 FPS. This is likely a combination of compute and memory bandwidth limitations.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but not at a playable frame rate. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 34 FPS on Low settings to just 20 FPS on Ultra. These figures are far below what is considered smooth for an FPS, so 4K is not a practical option for this system.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this system?

A: Based on the data, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides the best balance, with an average FPS of 84 and a minimum of 71. For maximum frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p achieves 96 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it drops the average to 58 FPS at 1080p.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, a delta of -0.2%. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a delta of -0.5%. This indicates the Arc B370's performance is statistically on par with these legacy parts, which explains its low 5th percentile ranking.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a limiting factor in this game?

A: No. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The GPU’s performance is so low that the CPU’s capabilities are far ahead. The Core Ultra 5 225 has an 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The frame rate is determined entirely by the GPU.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p on High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 71 FPS. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average drops to 46 FPS. This is a 35% reduction in performance, showing a significant penalty for the resolution increase.

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect on the Ultra preset?

A: The Ultra preset is the most demanding. At 1080p, you can expect an average of 58 FPS. At 1440p, this drops to 37 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 20 FPS. These are the lowest measured results and indicate that the Ultra preset is not viable for this hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s overall ranking in the database is 2696 out of 2930 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems, a direct result of the GPU’s poor performance. This rank is consistent with the GPU’s individual performance percentile, which is in the 5th percentile. The CPU, in contrast, is a high performer, ranking in the 85th percentile. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU creates a massive imbalance, and the combo’s rank reflects the weakest link in the chain.

The rank of 2696 means that nearly all other tested systems, even those with much older or weaker CPUs, will outperform this combo in Doom, provided they have a more powerful GPU. The data suggests that the only systems this combo would beat are those with both a slow CPU and a similarly weak integrated or entry-level GPU. This rank is a strong indicator that the Arc B370 is the defining and limiting component, and that the system is not competitive for modern gaming at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a capable processor that is completely wasted in this configuration for gaming. It features 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its benchmark scores are solid, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655. Its average benchmark score of 36938 places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The data shows that its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with a score of 36945, are within a 0% delta, meaning the Ultra 5 225 is competitive with these established parts.

However, these CPU strengths have no bearing on the Doom results. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at all times. The CPU’s 20 MB of L3 cache and high boost clock are more than sufficient to handle the game’s logic and draw calls. The fact that the FPS scales linearly with resolution and settings, regardless of the CPU load, confirms that the Ultra 5 225 is never waiting on the GPU, but rather the reverse. The CPU is ready to feed frames, but the Arc B370 cannot process them fast enough to take advantage of the CPU's processing power.

In this specific pairing, the CPU's role is to provide a stable platform without introducing any frame pacing issues. The data indicates it does this perfectly. The measured frame rates are consistent and predictable, which is a sign of a healthy system. The bottleneck is so severe that the CPU’s performance is essentially irrelevant to the final frame rate. For users considering this CPU for future upgrades, the data shows it has significant headroom and will not be a limiting factor when paired with a more powerful discrete GPU.