Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the AMD Radeon 890M delivers playable frame rates in Doom, but only at lower resolutions and quality settings. The data clearly shows that this combo is heavily GPU-limited, with the CPU providing ample headroom that the integrated graphics cannot fully utilize. While the 1080p Low preset hits a smooth 95 FPS, the experience degrades rapidly as resolution and settings increase, ultimately placing this configuration in the bottom 6% of all tested combos for this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and can boost up to 5.00 GHz. This processor features a hybrid configuration with a substantial 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. For a game like Doom, which is a fast-paced FPS, the CPU's high boost clock and strong single-thread performance are critical for maintaining high frame rates and minimizing input latency.

Benchmark data reinforces the CPU's capability. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 14,551 points in multi-core and 1,759 points in single-core tests. Its Passmark single-thread score of 3,509 further indicates robust per-core performance. The processor sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, placing it well above average. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 33,989, a negligible 0.3% difference, while the AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 score 34,220 and 34,222, respectively, both trailing by 0.4%. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is 0.5% behind with a score of 34,260.

In the context of Doom's measured results, the CPU is rarely the bottleneck. The most demanding scenario where the CPU might be stressed is at 1080p with Low settings, where the frame rate reaches 95 FPS. At this point, the CPU's ability to process game logic and draw calls is being tested, and the data shows it does not hold back the frame rate. The CPU's performance headroom is so significant that it allows the GPU to be the sole limiting factor across nearly all tested settings. The processor's 28 W TDP and mobile design suggest it is efficient, but its raw power is more than sufficient for this title, ensuring that the integrated GPU becomes the primary constraint on performance.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 890M is the integrated graphics solution in this combo, built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture using a 4 nm process. It features a boost clock of 2,900 MHz and 1,024 shading units. Its memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth is system-dependent rather than a fixed figure. The GPU's raw compute power is listed at 5.939 TFLOPS. In the broader GPU landscape, it scores in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, positioning it as a mid-range performer. Its average benchmark score of 9,210 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Radeon Vega 8, which trails by just 0.1%, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 is 0.7% ahead and the GeForce GTX 465 is 0.9% ahead.

The 890M's role in Doom is the decisive factor in this combo's performance. The measured frame rates show that the GPU's capabilities are quickly overwhelmed as graphical demands increase. For instance, moving from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p drops the average frame rate from 95 FPS to 57 FPS, a 40% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is highly sensitive to the increased shading, texture, and effect loads of higher presets. The GPU's 32 ROPs and 64 TMUs are modest, limiting its fill-rate and texture throughput, which are essential for a graphically intense game like Doom. While the CPU is ready to feed frames, the 890M simply cannot render them fast enough at higher settings. The result is a system where the GPU is the definitive performance ceiling, making settings and resolution adjustments the only effective levers for playability.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, confirming the GPU-bound nature of this combo. At 1080p High, the combo achieves an average of 70 FPS. When scaled to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 45 FPS, a 35.7% reduction. Stepping up to 4K High yields only 24 FPS, a further 46.7% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline is characteristic of a system where the GPU is rendering an increasing number of pixels without the processing power to compensate.

This scaling behavior strongly indicates that the limiting component is the AMD Radeon 890M. The CPU's performance is largely resolution-independent; its workload of preparing frames does not increase much from 1080p to 4K. The GPU, however, must fill an exponentially larger number of pixels. The data at Medium settings illustrates this perfectly. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 82, which is playable. At 1440p Medium, it drops to 53 FPS, still borderline playable, but at 4K Medium, it falls to 29 FPS, making the game feel sluggish. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 25 FPS, which likely results in noticeable stutter. The 1080p Low setting provides the only consistently high frame rate of 95 FPS. The pattern is clear: the 890M has enough power for 1080p gaming but lacks the headroom for high-refresh-rate play at higher resolutions. For a smooth 4K experience, the GPU would need to be several times more powerful, as the current frame rates at that resolution are below the threshold for comfortable gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and AMD Radeon 890M ranks 2,758 out of 2,930 combos for Doom. This places it in the bottom 6% of all configurations, a low ranking that reflects its performance limitations in this specific game. This score is a direct consequence of the GPU's mid-range standing combined with the title's demanding nature. While the CPU is a high-performer, it cannot compensate for the GPU's inability to render the game at high frame rates.

This rank is a holistic measure of the combo's suitability for Doom. It considers the balance between CPU and GPU capabilities. In this case, the pairing is heavily imbalanced. The CPU is overqualified for the task, while the GPU is underpowered. The data shows that this combo will struggle to provide a high-refresh-rate experience even at 1080p on higher settings. The 2,758th rank out of 2,930 combos is a definitive statement that, for the purpose of playing Doom, this is not a high-performing configuration. It is better suited for less demanding titles or for playing Doom at the lowest settings. The substantial CPU headroom is wasted because the GPU bottleneck prevents the system from ever pushing the CPU to its limits.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only viable resolution for a consistently smooth experience. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 57 on Ultra to 95 on Low. At 1440p, frame rates hover around 37-61 FPS, and at 4K, they fall to 20-33 FPS, which is generally too low for fast action.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS in Doom?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p. The 1080p Low preset achieves an average of 95 FPS, and the 1080p Medium preset hits 82 FPS. The 1080p High preset also exceeds 60 FPS with an average of 70 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, while all other settings at that resolution fall below the 60 FPS mark.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck for this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the AMD Radeon 890M is the limiting component. This is evident from the steep frame rate drops as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, with its high single-thread and multi-thread scores, provides enough processing power to not be a constraining factor in this title.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct competitors?

A: The AMD Radeon 890M has an average benchmark score of 9,210, placing it in the 45th percentile of all GPUs. It performs nearly identically to the AMD Radeon Vega 8, which is only 0.1% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 is slightly faster at 0.7%, and the GeForce GTX 465 is 0.9% faster. This shows the 890M is a solid mid-range performer but not a high-end part.

Q: What is the highest quality setting that remains playable at 1080p?

A: Based on the data, the High preset is the highest that maintains a comfortable frame rate, achieving an average of 70 FPS at 1080p. The Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS, which is still playable but closer to the edge of smoothness. The Medium preset offers a safer margin with 82 FPS, while Low provides the highest performance at 95 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU's performance competitive with other processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H performs well, sitting in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 34,083 is virtually tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, which is only 0.3% higher. It also edges out the AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, which are both 0.4% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, which is 0.5% slower.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the 1080p High preset is the recommended starting point. It delivers an average of 70 FPS, which is well within the smooth range for a FPS. This setting provides a significant visual upgrade over Low and Medium while maintaining a fluid experience. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the 1080p Low preset offers the highest performance at 95 FPS, ideal for competitive play. The 1080p Medium preset at 82 FPS is a strong middle ground, offering a good visual boost over Low with a minimal performance cost.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only option that reaches a playable average of 61 FPS. However, the Medium preset at 53 FPS may be acceptable for some players, though it is less ideal for fast-paced action. All 4K presets are not recommended for a satisfying experience, as even the Low preset only averages 33 FPS. The Ultra presets at all resolutions provide a marginal visual improvement over High but come with a substantial performance penalty, such as dropping from 70 to 57 FPS at 1080p. Therefore, the High preset is the most efficient choice, delivering the majority of the visual benefits without sacrificing the frame rate needed for responsive gameplay.