Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT pairing delivers a robust, high-refresh-rate experience in Doom, with the data showing a clear progression of performance that scales predictably with resolution and settings. The benchmark results indicate that this combination is well-balanced for this title, though the balance shifts noticeably depending on whether the workload is more CPU-bound or GPU-bound.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which are the figures that directly influence how quickly it can process game logic and feed the GPU. The processor’s cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a 24 MB shared L3 cache, a configuration that helps maintain high instruction throughput in a fast-paced FPS like Doom.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU’s single-thread performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4516. This single-core strength is critical for Doom’s engine, which relies heavily on a few primary threads for game simulation and draw call submission. The multi-core results are equally respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a Passmark multithread score of 37816, indicating that the 14 cores handle background tasks and any secondary threads without bottlenecking the main game loop.

The CPU holds an 89th percentile ranking against all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 46062. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, with the Ultra 5 235 scoring 0.1% higher than the former and 0.1% lower than the latter. This places the processor in a very competitive performance tier. For Doom specifically, the high boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that the CPU can maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the limiting factor. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU’s ability to push high frame rates is a key contributor to the measured FPS, as the GPU has more headroom to render frames quickly.

The processor’s memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. In a game like Doom, which streams assets and geometry, this bandwidth is sufficient to prevent stutters and ensure smooth frame delivery. The absence of ECC memory support is typical for a desktop gaming processor and does not impact gaming performance. The 65 W TDP indicates that the CPU is power-efficient, which in a gaming system allows more thermal headroom for the GPU to operate at higher clocks.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 22 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process. The GPU’s clock speeds are notably high, with a base clock of 2321 MHz, a game clock of 2424 MHz, and a boost clock of 2581 MHz. These high frequencies allow the card to execute shading operations at a rapid pace, which is essential for maintaining high frame rates in a visually intense game like Doom. The GPU is equipped with 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, providing a solid foundation for pixel throughput and texture fill rates.

Memory configuration is a strong point for the RX 6700 XT, with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s. The memory operates at 2000 MHz, with an effective data rate of 16 Gbps. For Doom at 4K resolution, the 12 GB VRAM capacity is adequate to handle the high-resolution textures without exceeding the memory limit, as evidenced by the measured FPS data at 3840x2160. The memory bandwidth ensures that texture data is delivered to the shaders efficiently, preventing bottlenecks in high-detail scenes.

The GPU’s compute capabilities include an FP32 throughput of 13.21 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s. These figures translate directly to how quickly the GPU can fill the screen with rendered geometry and apply lighting effects. The GPU ranks in the 72nd percentile against all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27425. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, with the RX 6700 XT scoring 0.0% lower than the RTX 4070 Mobile and 0.5% lower than the RTX 3090. This performance parity with the RTX 3090 is notable, as it suggests the RX 6700 XT can hold its own against higher-tier cards in certain workloads.

In the context of Doom, the GPU’s role becomes more dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully stressed, and the CPU’s performance allows the FPS to soar. At 4K, the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become the determining factors. The RT Cores are present, but Doom does not heavily utilize ray tracing, so the GPU’s traditional rasterization performance is what matters most here. The power consumption is rated at 230 W TDP, which is reasonable for the performance level offered. The GPU’s production status is end-of-life, but its benchmark results remain competitive in this title, showing that it is a capable choice for Doom.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system’s performance scales with resolution. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 169. Moving up to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 110, a decrease of 35%. At 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 59, which is a further 46% drop from 1440p. This scaling pattern is typical for a system where the GPU becomes increasingly the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The data reveals that the frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced in absolute terms. This suggests that while the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates at 1080p, the GPU’s rendering workload at 4K is so demanding that it reduces the FPS to near the 60 FPS threshold. The fact that the FPS does not halve exactly with the increase in pixel count indicates that the CPU is still contributing some overhead, but the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint at 4K.

The difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution further illustrates this point. At 1080p, the FPS ranges from 230 at Low settings to 138 at Ultra settings, a spread of 92 FPS. At 4K, the range is from 81 at Low settings to 49 at Ultra settings, a spread of only 32 FPS. This narrower spread at 4K indicates that the GPU is so heavily loaded at that resolution that even reducing the graphical fidelity does not yield proportionally large gains in FPS, as the GPU’s raw compute and memory bandwidth are saturated. Conversely, at 1080p, the GPU has enough headroom that lowering settings allows the CPU to push the frame rate much higher, confirming that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

The Medium settings data provides the only min and max FPS figures in the dataset. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average FPS is 70, with a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 81. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average is 130, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 200, with a minimum of 170 and a maximum of 230. These ranges show that the frame pacing is relatively stable, with the minimum FPS staying above 60 at 4K Medium, which is a good sign for gameplay smoothness.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 230, which is an exceptionally high number that indicates the CPU and GPU are both operating efficiently without any significant bottleneck. Medium settings yield an average of 200 FPS, with a minimum of 170 and a maximum of 230. High settings bring the average down to 169 FPS, and Ultra settings reduce it further to 138 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a consistent decline, but even at Ultra, the frame rate is well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but starts to show the GPU’s workload. Low settings produce an average of 149 FPS, while Medium settings result in 130 FPS, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149. High settings achieve 110 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 90 FPS. The data shows that at 1440p, the system still provides a highly playable experience, with even Ultra settings maintaining an average above 90 FPS, which is suitable for smooth and responsive gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings yield an average of 81 FPS, which is still quite playable. Medium settings reduce the average to 70 FPS, with a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 81, indicating that the frame rate can dip to the exact 60 FPS mark during intense scenes. High settings bring the average down to 59 FPS, which is just below the common 60 FPS target. Ultra settings push the average to 49 FPS, which may result in a less smooth experience for players who prefer higher frame rates. The 4K data suggests that for the best balance of visual quality and performance, Medium settings are the sweet spot, as they maintain an average above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT holds a rank of 1506 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom. This places the pairing in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems, indicating that it performs better than roughly half of the configurations in the database. The rank is a composite measure that takes into account the performance of both the CPU and GPU in the context of this game, and it reflects the balanced nature of this pairing.

This ranking suggests that while the system is not in the top echelon of performance, it is far from a low-end configuration. The CPU’s 89th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking contribute to this overall position. The data implies that there are many combos with either a more powerful CPU or GPU that achieve higher FPS, but the combination of these two specific components offers a level of performance that is competitive for 1440p gaming and capable of 4K at reduced settings.

The ranking also indicates that the system is well-matched, as neither component is severely holding back the other in most scenarios. In titles where the CPU is more critical, the Ultra 5 235’s strong single-thread performance pushes the system up the ranks. In GPU-intensive scenarios, the RX 6700 XT’s solid rasterization performance ensures that the system remains competitive. For Doom specifically, this rank of 1506 out of 2930 combos shows that there is significant room for improvement with higher-tier hardware, but the system is positioned to deliver a satisfying experience for most players.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Doom?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 230, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, at 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 70, with a minimum of 60. This indicates that the system can hold 60 FPS, but it may occasionally drop to exactly 60 during demanding scenes.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score is 2085. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, has an average benchmark score that is 0.1% lower, indicating they are essentially tied in overall performance.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth and how does it affect 4K performance?

A: The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s, which is sufficient to feed the 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. This bandwidth is a key factor in achieving the 59 FPS average at 4K High settings, as it allows for efficient texture streaming.

Q: Is the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p larger than from 1440p to 4K?

A: The drop from 1080p to 1440p at High settings is 59 FPS (from 169 to 110), while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 51 FPS (from 110 to 59). The drop is slightly larger from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: What does the combo’s rank of 1506 out of 2930 indicate?

A: It indicates that this CPU and GPU combination performs better than 1424 other tested combos in Doom, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations in the database.

Settings Recommendations

For players using this Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the data shows that Ultra settings yield an average of 138 FPS, which is more than sufficient for a smooth experience on a standard 60 Hz or even 144 Hz monitor. However, for those with a 240 Hz display, High settings at 169 FPS may be more appropriate, as the visual difference between High and Ultra is often minimal while the FPS gain is significant.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. Ultra settings produce an average of 90 FPS, which is still very playable. However, High settings provide a substantial boost to 110 FPS, which is a 22% increase in performance. Given that the visual fidelity difference between High and Ultra in Doom is not drastic, High settings at 1440p offer the best experience in terms of fluidity and responsiveness. Medium settings at 130 FPS are another option for those who prioritize maximum frame rates, but the jump from Medium to High is noticeable in image quality.

For 4K gaming, the choice is more constrained. Ultra settings at 49 FPS are not recommended, as the frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel less smooth. High settings at 59 FPS are marginal, as the average is just below 60 FPS. The data suggests that Medium settings are the best choice for 4K, as they provide an average of 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. This ensures a consistent gameplay experience without the risk of frame rate drops below the critical 60 FPS mark. Low settings at 81 FPS are also viable, but the reduction in visual quality is significant, making Medium the recommended preset for the best balance of performance and aesthetics at 4K.