Doom

This combo pairs the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 for Doom, producing a dataset that spans four quality presets across three resolutions. The results show a system that is clearly capable of high-refresh 1080p play, but which begins to strain under the load of 4K Ultra settings. The data indicates a GPU-bound experience at higher resolutions, with the mobile processor providing ample headroom at lower settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this hardware for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The data shows that the 2560x1440 resolution with High settings achieves an average of 80 FPS, and even the Ultra preset at this resolution hits 65 FPS. For a locked 60 FPS experience with headroom, 1440p is the sweet spot, as the 3840x2160 resolution only surpasses 60 FPS on the Low preset (59 FPS average).

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmark performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has an average benchmark score of 34083, placing it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, scores nearly identically at 33989, a delta of just 0.3%. The AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 are also within 0.4% of its score, indicating a tight grouping of performance at this level.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM of the RTX 5050 a limiting factor in this game?

A: Based on the measured FPS, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM does not appear to cause a hard limit at the tested settings. The frame rates scale predictably with resolution and quality, with the 4K Ultra preset falling to 35 FPS. This suggests the GPU's compute capability and memory bandwidth (320.0 GB/s) are the more significant performance limiters than VRAM capacity in this specific title.

Q: What kind of performance can I expect at 1080p with this setup?

A: At 1920x1080, the system is extremely fast. The Medium preset delivers an average of 146 FPS, while the High preset reaches 123 FPS. For maximum performance, the Low preset hits 167 FPS average, making this an excellent combination for a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor.

Q: How does the RTX 5050's synthetic benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, putting it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. It performs within 1.6% of the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (score 20713) and is just 0.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (score 21153), showing it sits in a competitive performance tier.

Q: Does the game scale well with the different quality presets at 1440p?

A: Yes, the scaling is consistent. At 2560x1440, the average FPS moves from 108 on Low, to 94 on Medium, 80 on High, and finally 65 on Ultra. This shows a clear performance cost for each step up in visual quality, allowing for precise tuning based on whether the priority is frame rate or graphical fidelity.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the dominant component in this combo's gaming performance. This is evident from how the frame rates scale with the graphics load. The GPU's core specifications, including a boost clock of 2572 MHz and 2560 shading units, are tasked with rendering the game's fast-paced environments. Its memory subsystem, consisting of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the data demands of Doom at the tested settings.

The RTX 5050's synthetic benchmark results support its role as the primary performance driver. With a Passmark G3D score of 17326 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502, the GPU demonstrates a solid level of rasterization performance. The data indicates that as we increase the resolution from 1080p to 4K, the workload on the GPU increases significantly, and the average FPS drops accordingly. This is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The processor is not the bottleneck here; rather, the RTX 5050's raw compute power and memory bandwidth dictate the final frame rates in this title.

The GPU's architecture also supports modern DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, which are relevant for a game like Doom that can leverage these APIs for efficient rendering. While the game is not the newest release, the RTX 5050's modern feature set ensures it handles the game's engine with ease. The performance data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at the highest settings and resolutions, as the FPS drops to 35 at 4K Ultra, indicating the card is fully saturated.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 2560x1440 stands out as the optimal configuration. This setting delivers an average of 80 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while still providing a significant visual upgrade over the Low and Medium presets. The 1440p resolution also offers a sharper image than 1080p, making it a more immersive experience without the steep performance penalty seen at 4K.

If the priority is maximum frame rates for a competitive edge, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the clear choice, achieving an average of 167 FPS. This is ideal for a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor. For users with a standard 60Hz 4K display, the Low preset at 3840x2160 is the only viable option, averaging 59 FPS, though this requires a significant sacrifice in visual quality. The Medium preset at 1080p (146 FPS) is also an excellent choice for high-refresh gaming if a small drop in fidelity from Low is acceptable.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for 1080p gaming, where it averages 101 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 65 FPS, which is playable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. The 4K Ultra preset is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as it averages only 35 FPS. The data suggests that High settings offer the most efficient use of the hardware's capabilities, providing a large jump in fidelity from Medium with a manageable 14 FPS cost at 1440p (94 to 80 FPS).

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 2974th out of 3712 tested combos for Doom. This places it in the lower half of all system configurations, which is somewhat surprising given the strong individual component performance. The CPU sits at the 84th percentile, and the GPU at the 66th, so the combination's overall rank is pulled down by the pairing of these two specific parts.

This ranking indicates that while this is a capable system, there are a large number of other hardware combinations that deliver higher frame rates in this game. The rank reflects the absolute performance level of the combo, not its efficiency or value. It is a data point that contextualizes the system's position relative to the entire spectrum of tested hardware. The system's performance is respectable, but it is not at the top of the charts, which is expected for a mobile CPU paired with an entry-level dedicated GPU.

The delta between the combo's rank and the individual component percentiles suggests that the RTX 5050 is the constraining factor for high-end performance. A more powerful GPU paired with this CPU would likely result in a much higher combo rank, as the CPU has the headroom to feed a faster graphics card. In this specific pairing, the GPU's performance ceiling is what defines the system's overall position in the Doom benchmark rankings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling across the three tested resolutions clearly illustrates where the bottleneck lies. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on the High preset, the average FPS drops from 123 to 80, a reduction of 43 FPS (about 35%). The subsequent jump to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average FPS falling to 43, a further 37 FPS drop (about 46%). This steep decline in performance as pixel count increases is the definitive indicator of a GPU-bound workload.

This pattern is consistent across all quality presets. For example, on the Medium preset, the FPS goes from 146 at 1080p to 94 at 1440p, and then down to 51 at 4K. The percentage drop is similar in each step, confirming that the RTX 5050 is being progressively overwhelmed by the increased rendering load. The CPU, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, is not showing signs of being a limiting factor, as it would if frame rates plateaued or became erratic across different resolutions.

The data shows that the RTX 5050 is the limiting component in this system for Doom. At 1080p, the GPU has enough headroom to push very high frame rates. As the resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and shading power become the constraining factors, causing a predictable and significant drop in performance. This means that for this combo, the most effective way to improve performance is to lower the resolution or the quality settings, as the processor has ample capacity to keep up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact measured average frame rates for every resolution and settings combination.

1920x1080

• Low: 167 FPS average
• Medium: 146 FPS average (min 124, max 168)
• High: 123 FPS average
• Ultra: 101 FPS average

At 1080p, this combo is exceptionally fast. Even the Ultra preset maintains an average of over 100 FPS, making it a great fit for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Low preset is the top performer, nearly hitting 170 FPS, which is ideal for esports-level competitive play.

2560x1440

• Low: 108 FPS average
• Medium: 94 FPS average (min 80, max 108)
• High: 80 FPS average
• Ultra: 65 FPS average

1440p is where the system begins to show its balance. The High preset delivers a very smooth 80 FPS, and even the Ultra preset stays above 60 FPS. This resolution offers a strong mix of performance and visual clarity, making it the recommended target for this hardware.

3840x2160

• Low: 59 FPS average
• Medium: 51 FPS average (min 43, max 59)
• High: 43 FPS average
• Ultra: 35 FPS average

4K is demanding for this setup. Only the Low preset manages to get close to 60 FPS. The Ultra preset is not playable at a consistent standard, averaging just 35 FPS. This resolution is only suitable for visual fidelity over performance, and even then, it requires significant settings compromises.