Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is a study in contrasts for a 2016-era shooter like Doom. The CPU is a modern, high-end desktop part, while the GPU is a legacy Turing-based card from 2019 that is now end-of-life. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system where the graphics card is the decisive factor, and the data shows that even a strong processor cannot overcome the GPU's VRAM and compute limitations at higher demands.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and clearly indicates a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 148 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average to 96 FPS, a reduction of 52 FPS. At 4K, the average falls to 52 FPS, which is just over a third of the 1080p score. This scaling pattern—where the frame rate nearly halves with each major resolution jump—is a classic sign that the GPU is saturated and the CPU is not the limiting component.

The situation becomes even more pronounced at higher settings. With Ultra settings, the average frame rate plummets from 89 FPS at 1080p to 58 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 31 FPS at 4K. The gap between resolutions widens as the settings increase, which shows that the GPU's workload is expanding faster than its processing power can handle. A CPU-limited system would show a smaller difference between 1080p and 1440p, but here the gap is substantial.

The data suggests that the Core Ultra 5 235 has ample headroom at lower resolutions. The jump from 1080p Low (148 FPS) to 1440p Low (96 FPS) shows a 52 FPS drop, which is a significant percentage decrease. This is not the behavior of a CPU bottleneck; it is the behavior of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing capability. The 4K results, with an average of 38 FPS on High settings, are borderline unplayable for a fast-paced FPS, reinforcing that the GPU is the constraining factor.

GPU Role

The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. In Doom, a game known for its fast-paced action and texture-heavy environments, this memory capacity is a critical factor. The measured data shows that at 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 45, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. This range suggests that the GPU is struggling to maintain consistent performance, likely due to memory pressure or shader complexity.

The GPU's clock speeds are relatively modest for a modern card, with a base of 1530 MHz and a boost of 1785 MHz. Its FP32 performance is rated at 5.027 TFLOPS, which places it in the lower-midrange of the current market, as evidenced by its 53rd percentile ranking among all GPUs. The benchmark results indicate that this card is not intended for high-resolution gaming at maximum quality in modern titles, and the Doom results confirm this. The card's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580, has a similar average benchmark score with a deltaPct of 0.4, showing that the GTX 1660 SUPER is firmly in a performance tier that is now several generations old.

The GPU's VRAM is likely a primary reason for the sharp drop at 4K. With only 6 GB of memory, the card must constantly swap textures and assets, which causes stuttering and frame drops. The measured minimum FPS of 38 at 4K Medium compared to the average of 45 shows that there are significant dips in performance. This is a classic symptom of VRAM exhaustion, where the GPU cannot hold all the necessary data for a frame, leading to inconsistent frame times. The GPU's role in this combo is to be the sole bottleneck, and the data shows it is holding back the capable CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 2497 out of 2930 combos for Doom. This places it in the bottom 15% of all tested systems, which is a poor result for a CPU that sits in the 89th percentile among all processors. The disconnect between the CPU's high percentile and the combo's low rank underscores how heavily the GPU drags down the overall experience.

The CPU itself is competitive with other high-end parts. Its average benchmark score of 46062 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which scores 46030 (a deltaPct of 0.1), and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, which scores 46098 (a deltaPct of -0.1). This means the processor is performing at the level of a flagship laptop chip or a high-end desktop CPU. However, the GPU's average benchmark score of 12986 is only slightly above the AMD Radeon 740M, a budget integrated graphics solution, with a deltaPct of 0.9.

The rank of 2497 out of 2930 indicates that the vast majority of tested systems achieve better frame rates in Doom. This is a direct consequence of the GPU's age and capability. The 1660 SUPER is a card that was designed for 1080p gaming, and the data shows it can handle that resolution well, but it is completely outclassed at higher resolutions. The combo's rank suggests that users with this setup should focus on 1080p gaming for a smooth experience, as the 4K and even 1440p results are subpar.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this combo. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 148 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. However, the jump to Medium yields 129 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and offers a better visual experience. The High preset at 1080p still provides 109 FPS, making it a viable option for those who want a balance of quality and speed. The Ultra preset, at 89 FPS, is the only setting at 1080p that dips below 100 FPS, but it remains playable.

For a mixed experience, the Medium preset at 1440p is the best choice, offering an average of 83 FPS with a minimum of 71 FPS. This provides a good balance between resolution and visual quality. The High preset at 1440p drops to 70 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium setting provides a more comfortable margin. At 4K, no setting is truly recommendable for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 4K averages 52 FPS, which is marginal, while Medium averages 45 FPS and High averages 38 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the worst, with an average of just 31 FPS.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this combo is 1080p with Medium or High settings. This provides a frame rate between 109 and 129 FPS, which is ideal for a fast-paced shooter like Doom. For users with a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset is the only option that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The 4K resolution should be avoided for this GPU, as even Low settings struggle to maintain a playable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured results are consistent across all settings, showing a clear hierarchy of performance.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 148 FPS. The Medium preset averages 129 FPS, with a minimum of 110 FPS and a maximum of 148 FPS. The High preset averages 109 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 89 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 59 FPS, indicating that the GPU's processing power is the main variable.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 96 FPS. The Medium preset averages 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. The High preset averages 70 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 58 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, with the Low preset losing 52 FPS and the Ultra preset losing 31 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 52 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 38 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 31 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with even the Low preset failing to reach 60 FPS. This confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor and that the CPU has no influence on the frame rate at this resolution.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 bottlenecking the GTX 1660 SUPER in Doom?

A: No. The data shows that frame rates drop dramatically from 1080p to 4K, which indicates a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution is the best choice. Even on Ultra settings, it maintains an average of 89 FPS, while 1440p drops to 58 FPS and 4K drops to 31 FPS on the same preset.

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

A: The combo ranks 2497 out of 2930 tested combos for Doom, which places it in the lower 15% of all systems. This is primarily due to the GPU's limited capability.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: No. The highest average frame rate at 4K is 52 FPS on Low settings. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 31 FPS, making 4K gaming an unsatisfactory experience.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 148 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 89 FPS. This is a difference of 59 FPS, representing a significant visual quality trade-off for a 40% reduction in frame rate.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 12986. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580, scores 12928, a deltaPct of 0.4. Another rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, scores 12940, also a deltaPct of 0.4.