Doom

Doom, the 2016 first-person shooter, remains a demanding title for modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 across a matrix of resolutions and settings. The data provides a clear picture of where this combination excels and where its limits become apparent, offering a methodical breakdown of its capabilities in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable yet steep decline in performance as resolution increases, which is a direct indicator of the rendering load shifting onto the GPU. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 167 FPS. This drops to 123 FPS on High and 101 FPS on Ultra, showing a 27.5% performance hit from Low to Ultra at the same resolution. The progression from 1080p to 1440p is significant; for example, on High settings, the average FPS falls from 123 to 80, a reduction of 35%. This trend continues aggressively when moving to 4K, where the High preset yields only 43 FPS, a 46.3% drop from the 1440p result.

The scaling pattern from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, indicating that the RTX 5050's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become a bottleneck at the higher pixel count. At 4K, the average FPS across all settings is below the 60 FPS threshold, with only the Low preset (59 FPS) coming close. This suggests that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, as the frame rate is not just dropping due to pixel count but also due to memory bandwidth constraints. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is more moderate, suggesting the CPU can still feed the GPU adequately at these resolutions, but the transition to 4K overwhelms the graphics card.

The data shows that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, where the CPU and GPU are balanced enough to deliver high frame rates. The jump to 1440p still offers playable performance on Medium (94 FPS) and High (80 FPS), but the strain on the GPU becomes evident. The 4K results are uniformly below 60 FPS, confirming that this resolution is not viable for a smooth experience with this hardware configuration. The limiting factor is clearly the GPU, as the frame rate drops are disproportionate to the increase in pixel count, pointing to memory bandwidth and processing power limitations rather than CPU constraints.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 achieves a rank of 2974 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the lower 20% of all possible pairings, indicating that while it is a functional setup, it is not a top-tier performer for this particular game. The ranking suggests that many other CPU-GPU combinations deliver higher average frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs or better-balanced pairings.

The GPU itself, the RTX 5050, holds a 66th percentile ranking among all tested GPUs. This means it performs better than 66% of the graphics cards in the database, but it is not a high-end part. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (0.6% slower), the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (1% slower), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (1.6% faster). This puts the RTX 5050 in a performance class with older or lower-tier cards, which explains its struggles at higher resolutions in Doom.

The CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, ranks much higher, sitting in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T, which it matches exactly in average score, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which is 0.1% faster. This indicates the CPU is a relatively strong component, and its performance is not the primary bottleneck in this pairing. The low combo rank is therefore almost entirely attributable to the GPU's limitations, which is consistent with the resolution scaling data that shows the frame rate collapsing at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. In Doom, a game that is not exceptionally CPU-intensive by modern standards, this processor provides ample headroom. The benchmark data for the CPU shows a strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743. This single-core performance is crucial for gaming, as most game logic and physics are handled by a few threads.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo. At 1080p Low, the 167 FPS average shows the CPU can push frame rates well beyond what the GPU can handle at higher settings. The fact that the frame rate drops significantly when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and again to 4K, while the CPU load presumably remains similar, confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (89.6 GB/s) are more than sufficient for Doom's requirements.

The CPU's high percentile ranking (83rd) and its benchmark scores, such as the PassMark multi-thread score of 24873 and single-thread score of 3468, suggest it is a capable gaming processor. However, its performance is essentially wasted at 4K in this game, as the RTX 5050 cannot keep up. For users with this CPU, pairing it with a stronger GPU would yield significantly better results in Doom, but as it stands, the data shows a clear imbalance where the CPU is ready to deliver more frames than the GPU can render.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K with a smooth frame rate?

A: No. The measured data shows that the highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 59 on Low settings, which is just below the 60 FPS target. All other settings at 4K, including Medium (51 FPS), High (43 FPS), and Ultra (35 FPS), fall well below 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware in Doom?

A: The data indicates 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, the combo achieves an average of 146 FPS on Medium and 123 FPS on High, both of which are excellent for a smooth experience. Even 2560x1440 is playable, with 80 FPS on High.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, is 0.6% slower, while the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% faster. This indicates the RTX 5050 sits in a mid-to-low performance tier.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this combo in Doom?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, ranks in the 83rd percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 66th percentile. The performance scaling, where FPS drops by 46.3% from 1440p to 4K on High settings, points to the GPU's memory bandwidth and processing power being overwhelmed.

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

A: At 1080p, the average FPS on Low is 167, while on Ultra it drops to 101. This represents a 39.5% decrease in performance from the lowest to the highest preset, showing the significant impact of graphical fidelity settings.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the database for this game?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 2974 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This puts it in the lower 20% of all tested pairings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary driver of performance in this setup, and its characteristics dictate the results seen across the resolution and settings matrix. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth, it is a modern entry-level card. Its boost clock of 2572 MHz and 2560 shading units give it a theoretical FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS. These specs are adequate for 1080p gaming but are strained by the demands of 4K.

The GPU's benchmark scores, such as the PassMark G3D score of 17326 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502, reflect its mid-range positioning. Its nearest rivals in the database are notably older or less powerful cards, such as the AMD Radeon HD 8970M and the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL. This positioning explains the 4K performance, where the card's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become a significant limitation. The game's textures and effects at 4K likely exceed the memory bandwidth, causing the frame rate to plummet.

At 1080p, the RTX 5050 shows its strengths. The 167 FPS on Low and 146 FPS on Medium demonstrate that for 1080p gaming, this card is more than capable of delivering high frame rates. However, the data also shows a clear ceiling. The jump from 1080p to 1440p on High settings causes a 35% drop in FPS, and the jump to 4K causes another 46.3% drop. This pattern suggests that the card's texture rate (205.8 GTexel/s) and pixel rate (82.30 GPixel/s) are simply not enough to handle the increased pixel count efficiently. The GPU is a solid performer for 1080p, but it is not a high-resolution powerhouse.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 101 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual fidelity. The High preset at 1080p offers a slight performance boost to 123 FPS, but the visual difference from Ultra is likely minimal, making Ultra the recommended choice for those with a 60Hz or 144Hz monitor.

At 1440p, the data suggests that the High preset (80 FPS) offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset (94 FPS) is also viable for users who prefer higher frame rates over graphical detail. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 65 FPS, which is still playable but close to the edge of the 60 FPS target. For the smoothest experience at 1440p, Medium is the safest bet, but High is the recommended setting for a balance.

For 4K, the data is less encouraging. The Low preset yields 59 FPS, which is just below 60 FPS and may be acceptable for some users on a 60Hz display, but it requires sacrificing all graphical fidelity. The Medium preset (51 FPS) and High preset (43 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience, as they will result in noticeable stuttering. The Ultra preset at 35 FPS is only suitable for screenshots or slow-paced content. In short, 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo in Doom, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for a proper gaming experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following tables provide the exact measured average FPS, along with minimum and maximum FPS where recorded, for each resolution and settings combination.

1920x1080

| Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Low | 167 | - | - |

| Medium | 146 | 124 | 168 |

| High | 123 | - | - |

| Ultra | 101 | - | - |

2560x1440

| Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Low | 108 | - | - |

| Medium | 94 | 80 | 108 |

| High | 80 | - | - |

| Ultra | 65 | - | - |

3840x2160

| Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Low | 59 | - | - |

| Medium | 51 | 43 | 59 |

| High | 43 | - | - |

| Ultra | 35 | - | - |

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern. At 1080p, all settings are above 100 FPS, providing a very smooth experience. At 1440p, the performance is still playable on most presets, with only Ultra dipping close to 60 FPS. At 4K, the performance is below 60 FPS on all presets, with only the Low preset coming close. The Medium preset's min FPS values (124 at 1080p, 80 at 1440p, 43 at 4K) show that frame pacing remains consistent, but the overall averages make 4K unsuitable for competitive or fast-paced play.