Doom

Doom, the 2016 reboot of the id Software franchise, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware configurations. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB. The data indicates that this combo ranks at 2552 out of 2930 tested combinations, placing it in the lower 13th percentile of all configurations in our database for this specific title. This is a pairing where the GPU’s limited 4 GB VRAM and modest compute capabilities are the primary determinants of the final frame rates, often overshadowing the CPU's strong processing potential.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB achieves a rank of 2552 out of 2930 tested combos for Doom. This position places the configuration in the bottom tier of performance, indicating that while the game is playable at lower settings, it struggles to deliver high refresh rate experiences at higher graphical presets. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's position in the market; the RTX 3050 4 GB sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in our database, a mid-pack performer that is often bottlenecked by its memory capacity.

The CPU, in contrast, is a high-performing component. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46062. This places it in close competition with processors like the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, with delta percentages of 0.1% and -0.1%, respectively. This data suggests that the CPU is more than capable of feeding frames to the GPU, but the GPU's limits are reached much sooner. Therefore, the combo's low rank in Doom is almost entirely a reflection of the graphics card's performance ceiling, not the processor's capabilities. The benchmark results show a system where the processor's potential is left untapped at higher resolutions and settings due to the GPU's inability to keep pace.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 100 FPS. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average drops to 65 FPS. The 3840x2160 resolution at High settings only yields 35 FPS, so 1440p is the highest resolution that remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 136 FPS on Low settings to 82 FPS on Ultra settings, a reduction of 54 FPS. At 1440p, the drop is from 88 FPS on Low to 53 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the difference is from 48 FPS on Low to 29 FPS on Ultra.

Q: Does the 4 GB VRAM of the RTX 3050 affect performance?

A: While the measured FPS data does not directly track VRAM usage, the significant performance drops at higher resolutions and settings are consistent with a GPU that is limited by its 4 GB frame buffer. The combination of a 128-bit memory bus and 192.0 GB/s bandwidth, paired with only 4 GB of memory, is a limiting factor for high-resolution textures and detail levels.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, scores 46030, a delta of 0.1%. The Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 46098, a delta of -0.1%. This indicates the Ultra 5 235 is squarely in the same performance tier as these other high-end processors.

Q: Is the RTX 3050 4 GB capable of running Doom at 4K?

A: The benchmark results show it is technically playable but not at a smooth frame rate. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 48. On Medium, it drops to 41 FPS, and on High, it falls to 35 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only one that dips below 30 FPS, averaging 29 FPS.

Q: What is the CPU's boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz. This high boost capability is part of why it performs well in single-threaded tasks and can keep up with demanding game engines.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the decisive component in this configuration's Doom performance. Its specifications define the boundaries of what is achievable. The GPU features a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1740 MHz, with 2048 shading units and 32 ROPs. The memory subsystem consists of 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s. These specs are modest by modern standards and are reflected in the measured FPS.

The 4 GB VRAM capacity is particularly critical for a game like Doom, which features fast-paced action and detailed environments. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the average frame rate drops significantly. This is a classic sign of a VRAM or memory bandwidth bottleneck. At 1080p, the GPU can manage high frame rates, but at 4K, the demand for texture data and geometry exceeds what the 4 GB buffer can efficiently hold, leading to the lower scores observed. The GPU's 7.127 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is enough for 1080p gaming but is insufficient for high-refresh-rate 1440p or playable 4K on higher presets. The GPU's performance percentile of 50% confirms its mid-range standing, and in this pairing, it is the limiting factor for the system's overall gaming capability in Doom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo handles Doom across different resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the configuration performs admirably. The Low preset yields an average of 136 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 118 FPS, with a minimum of 100 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS. The High preset averages 100 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS standard. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 82 FPS. This shows that even at 1080p, the Ultra preset demands a significant performance cost.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance decreases noticeably. The Low preset averages 88 FPS, which is still smooth. The Medium preset averages 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS. The High preset drops to 65 FPS, which is right at the edge of the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset falls to 53 FPS, which is no longer a consistently smooth experience for fast-paced action.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become stark. The Low preset averages 48 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only feasible on the lowest settings, and even then, it does not provide a consistently fluid experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the bottleneck in this system. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 100 at 1920x1080 to 65 at 2560x1440, a 35% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 35, which is a 65% reduction from the 1080p score. This drastic falloff suggests that the GPU is the limiting component.

A system with a more powerful GPU would show a less severe drop as resolution increases, with the CPU becoming the limiting factor at lower resolutions. Here, the opposite is true. The CPU is powerful enough to handle the game's logic at high frame rates, but the GPU cannot render the increased pixel count fast enough. Even at Low settings, the pattern holds: 136 FPS at 1080p drops to 88 FPS at 1440p and 48 FPS at 4K. The performance halving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated, confirming that the RTX 3050 is the primary constraint on this system's performance in Doom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and refresh rate.

For a 1080p display, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 100 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. While the Ultra preset is playable at 82 FPS, the visual difference may not justify the ~18% performance hit. The Low and Medium presets are also viable, but they are unnecessary for a 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the best balance. It averages 77 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target, and it has a minimum of 65 FPS, ensuring that the experience remains smooth in demanding scenes. The High preset averages 65 FPS, which is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 53 FPS is not recommended for a consistent experience.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that this combo is not well-suited for the resolution. The Low preset averages 48 FPS, which is close to 60 FPS but not quite there. Users who insist on 4K will need to accept the Low preset and potentially tolerate some stutter, as the Medium preset drops to an average of 41 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to their sub-40 FPS averages.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a high-end desktop processor that provides more than enough processing power for Doom. It features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This architecture, built on a 3 nm process, is part of the Arrow Lake-S series and supports the Intel Socket 1851. The processor includes 24 MB of shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

In the context of Doom, the CPU's role is to handle the game's physics, AI, and frame rendering commands. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The high boost clock ensures that single-threaded performance is strong, which is important for game engines. Its synthetic benchmark scores, such as 2085 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 14769 in multi-core, place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The data shows that even when the GPU is struggling at 4K, the CPU is likely not being fully utilized. The performance drops are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's limitations. Therefore, while the CPU is a capable component, its performance is masked by the graphics card in this specific pairing.