Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti delivers a robust performance profile in Doom, demonstrating a clear balance between CPU and GPU capabilities. The measured data reveals how the system scales across resolutions and settings, providing a clear picture of its strengths and limitations. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to determine the primary bottleneck, the role of each component, and optimal settings for the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates where the system’s limits lie. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 236 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops this to 153 FPS, a 35% reduction, and at 3840x2160, it falls further to 83 FPS, a 46% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline as resolution increases strongly indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher pixel counts. The GPU’s workload scales directly with the number of pixels, and the RTX 3060 Ti’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are increasingly taxed as resolution rises.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. With Ultra settings, the average FPS goes from 142 at 1080p to 92 at 1440p (a 35% drop) and then to 50 at 4K (a 46% drop from 1440p). The identical percentage drops across different settings confirm that the resolution scaling is purely a GPU-bound phenomenon. The CPU’s role remains constant, while the GPU’s rendering load increases proportionally with pixel count. At 1080p, the system is likely more balanced, but the data shows that the RTX 3060 Ti is the component that determines the ceiling at 1440p and 4K.

The transition from 1080p to 1440p is particularly telling. At Low settings, the system loses 83 FPS, which is a significant absolute drop. This indicates that even at lower graphical fidelity, the GPU is struggling to maintain the high frame rates achievable at 1080p. The system is clearly able to push well beyond 200 FPS at 1080p, but the 1440p results suggest that users targeting high refresh rates at this resolution will need to make compromises. The data shows a system that is extremely capable at 1080p, good at 1440p, and merely playable at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz provide substantial single-thread performance, which is crucial for a game like Doom. The CPU’s benchmark results support this, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085 and a multi-core score of 14769. The PassMark single-thread score of 4516 further emphasizes its strength in tasks that rely on a few fast cores.

In Doom, the CPU’s role appears to be sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at most settings. The fact that FPS scales significantly with resolution, rather than remaining flat, suggests the CPU is not the primary constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload would remain constant. Instead, the FPS drops dramatically from 1080p to 4K, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

However, the CPU’s performance is still a factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 236 FPS, which is a high frame rate that demands strong per-core performance. The Ultra 5 235’s 5.00 GHz boost clock helps ensure the game’s main thread can keep up with the GPU’s output. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with game data access. It is positioned slightly above the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 in average benchmark score (46062 vs 46030), and marginally below the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098), showing it is a competitive mid-range performer.

The data indicates the Ultra 5 235 provides a solid foundation for the RTX 3060 Ti. It has enough single-thread horsepower to drive high frame rates in Doom, a game known for its efficient engine. The 14 cores and 14 threads are more than adequate for a game that primarily relies on a few threads. The CPU’s role is to provide a stable platform, and the benchmark results suggest it does so without becoming the limiting factor in most scenarios, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU is clearly the bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on the best settings for different priorities. For players seeking the highest frame rates, the Low preset at 1080p delivers an average of 236 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, the Low preset still offers a very playable 153 FPS. The trade-off is visual fidelity, but the performance gains are substantial.

For a balanced experience, the Medium preset is a strong recommendation. At 1080p, it provides an average of 206 FPS, which is only 30 FPS less than Low but with improved visuals. At 1440p, the Medium preset achieves 133 FPS, which is still excellent for most displays. The data for Medium at 1440p shows a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 153 FPS, indicating a stable frame time experience. This preset offers the best compromise between performance and image quality.

The High preset is also a viable option for those prioritizing visuals. At 1080p, it delivers 174 FPS, and at 1440p, it drops to 113 FPS. Both are playable, but the 1440p figure is approaching the lower end of what is ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 142 FPS at 1080p and 92 FPS at 1440p. While playable, the Ultra preset at 1440p may not be suitable for gamers seeking consistently high frame rates.

At 4K, the recommendations change. The Low preset is the only one that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, with an average of 83 FPS. The Medium preset averages 72 FPS, which is playable but closer to the edge. The High preset at 61 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 50 FPS is not ideal for a smooth experience. For 4K gaming, the data suggests sticking with Low or Medium settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The measured minimum for Medium at 4K is 61 FPS, which aligns with the High preset’s average, showing that Medium is a safer choice for consistent performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1420 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is a reasonable position given the hardware. The rank reflects the overall performance of the system and its ability to run the game at various settings and resolutions.

This ranking is influenced by the GPU’s position in the market. The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129 and sits at the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060, which is 0.7% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, which is 1.4% faster. This shows the RTX 3060 Ti is a solid mid-range performer, but it is not at the top of the heap.

The CPU’s ranking is slightly higher. The Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062 and sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates the CPU is a stronger component relative to its peers than the GPU. The system’s overall rank in Doom is likely held back by the GPU, which is the more limiting factor in this title. The data shows a system that is well-balanced, but the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rate in most scenarios.

The rank of 1420 out of 2930 suggests that many other combinations can outperform this one, but also that it outperforms a significant number of others. It is not a top-tier combination, but it is far from the bottom. The system is capable of providing a good gaming experience, as evidenced by the high FPS numbers at 1080p and 1440p, but its mid-pack ranking reflects its limitations at higher resolutions and settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the workhorse of this system, and its role is clearly defined by the resolution scaling data. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus provide a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This bandwidth is a key factor in how the GPU handles the increasing texture and geometry demands at higher resolutions. The GPU’s boost clock of 1665 MHz and its 4864 shading units are responsible for the raw processing power that drives the frame rate.

The GPU’s benchmark scores illustrate its capabilities. It has a PassMark G3D score of 20349, which places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2626. When compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 3060 Ti is 0.7% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 9060 and 1.4% slower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M. These small deltas show that the GPU is closely matched with its direct competitors, making the overall system performance highly dependent on the CPU and game optimization.

In Doom, the GPU’s limitations become apparent at 4K. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 yields an average of 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many gamers consider the minimum for a smooth experience. The High preset at 4K averages 61 FPS, which is exactly on that threshold. This shows that the RTX 3060 Ti is at its limits at 4K, and users must lower settings to achieve higher frame rates. The GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM may also be a factor at 4K with higher quality textures, although the data does not explicitly measure VRAM usage.

The GPU is clearly the bottleneck in this system at higher resolutions. The FPS drops of 35% from 1080p to 1440p and 46% from 1440p to 4K are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at all resolutions, but the GPU cannot keep up with the pixel count at 4K. The RTX 3060 Ti is a capable mid-range card, but it is not designed for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming in demanding titles like Doom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system’s performance across all settings and resolutions.

1920x1080: At Low settings, the system achieves an average of 236 FPS. The Medium preset averages 206 FPS, with a minimum of 175 FPS and a maximum of 237 FPS. High settings produce an average of 174 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 142 FPS. This shows a clear progression, with the system capable of exceeding 200 FPS at lower settings and staying above 140 FPS even at Ultra.

2560x1440: The Low preset averages 153 FPS. Medium settings deliver 133 FPS, with a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 153 FPS. High settings average 113 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 92 FPS. The system remains very playable at 1440p, with even the Ultra preset staying above 90 FPS.

3840x2160: The Low preset is the only one that maintains a high frame rate, averaging 83 FPS. Medium settings average 72 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS. High settings average 61 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 50 FPS. At 4K, the system is only suitable for 60 FPS gaming at Low or Medium settings.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the system is overkill for 1080p, excellent for 1440p, and adequate for 4K only with reduced settings. The Medium preset at 1440p stands out as a sweet spot, offering 133 FPS with a minimum of 113 FPS, which ensures a smooth experience on most displays. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs 20 FPS, which may not be worth the visual gain for some users. At 4K, the difference between High and Medium is 11 FPS, making Medium the better choice for maintaining a stable 60 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system to maintain a consistently high frame rate above 120 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, the system achieves 174 FPS at High settings and 206 FPS at Medium, comfortably exceeding the 120 FPS target. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (153 FPS) and Medium preset (133 FPS) stay above 120 FPS.

Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K with a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The Low preset averages 83 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 72 FPS, both above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset averages 61 FPS, which is borderline, while the Ultra preset drops to 50 FPS.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck at 1440p and 4K resolutions?

A: The data indicates the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the limiting factor. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases (e.g., 236 FPS at 1080p Low to 153 FPS at 1440p Low), which is a characteristic of GPU-bound performance.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 compare to its nearest rival in CPU benchmarks?

A: The Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030) and 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098).

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for the Medium preset at different resolutions?

A: At 1920x1080, the minimum FPS is 175. At 2560x1440, it is 113. At 3840x2160, it is 61. These minimums show the frame rate floor for this setting.

Q: What is the system's overall ranking among all tested hardware combinations in Doom?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1420 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the middle of the pack.