Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 delivers a highly capable 1080p experience in Doom, with performance scaling predictably into 1440p and diminishing returns at 4K. The data places this combination in the 32nd percentile of tested configurations, indicating that while it is not a top-tier pairing, it provides a consistent and smooth experience for the majority of players. The analysis below breaks down the specific performance metrics, the role of each component, and the optimal settings for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific configuration at rank 1991 out of 2930 tested combos for Doom. This ranking places the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 pairing in the lower half of all tested systems, yet the performance data suggests this is more a reflection of the GPU's position in the market than a fundamental weakness in the system. The combo's percentile rank of 32% means that roughly two-thirds of all tested configurations deliver higher average frame rates in this title. However, the measured FPS data shows that this rank is achieved with the GPU being the primary limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU is certainly not holding the system back; its own benchmark scores place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, a stark contrast to the GPU's 57th percentile standing. This disparity suggests that the system's overall rank is dragged down by the graphics card, and that upgrading the GPU would yield a substantial jump in the combo's ranking without needing to touch the processor. The core issue is that the RX 7600, while competent, is positioned as a mid-range part, and Doom's demanding engine at higher settings and resolutions exposes its limitations relative to more powerful competitors.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Doom?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combo is ranked 1991 out of 2930 tested combinations. This places it in the 32nd percentile of all systems tested for this game.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265's average benchmark score is 64,640. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, scores 64,823, making the Intel chip 0.3% slower. It is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and 0.7% faster than the AMD EPYC 7343.

Q: What is the best resolution for achieving a consistently smooth frame rate above 60 FPS?

A: At 2560x1440, all tested settings (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) produce average frame rates well above 60 FPS, with the lowest average being 75 FPS on Ultra settings. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset (68 FPS) achieves an average above 60 FPS.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 193 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 116 FPS. This represents a 77 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding on the GPU.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15,171. Its closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, which scores 15,199, making the RX 7600 0.2% slower. It is 0.6% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro 560X.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with the Medium preset, the system recorded an average FPS of 109, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS. This indicates a fairly stable frame time with a variance of 33 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data shows a clear and predictable trend in frame rate scaling as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of producing very high frame rates, with the Low preset hitting an average of 193 FPS and even the demanding Ultra preset maintaining a solid 116 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system has ample headroom and is likely not fully stressing the GPU, allowing the CPU to feed frames efficiently. Moving to 2560x1440, there is a significant drop in performance across all settings. The High preset drops from 142 FPS to 92 FPS, a 35% reduction, while the Ultra preset drops from 116 FPS to 75 FPS, a 35% reduction as well. This proportional drop is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload is increasing with the pixel count and the RX 7600's processing power becomes the limiting factor.

The jump to 3840x2160 (4K) produces another substantial performance hit. The High preset falls to 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to just 41 FPS. The Low preset, which manages 68 FPS, is the only setting that remains technically playable above 60 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a reduction in FPS of roughly 45-46% for the High and Ultra presets. This steep decline confirms that the 8 GB frame buffer and the GPU's compute capabilities are overwhelmed at 4K, particularly with higher quality settings that demand more memory bandwidth and shading power. The data strongly suggests that the system is heavily GPU-limited at 1440p and severely so at 4K. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, is not the bottleneck; the RX 7600's architecture simply does not have the raw throughput to sustain high frame rates at these resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all standard resolutions and quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system excels. The Low preset achieves an average of 193 FPS, the Medium preset averages 168 FPS with a minimum of 143 FPS and a maximum of 193 FPS, the High preset averages 142 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 116 FPS. All of these are well above the threshold for smooth, competitive play. Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 125 FPS, Medium averages 109 FPS (min 92, max 125), High averages 92 FPS, and Ultra averages 75 FPS. While the Ultra preset dips below 80 FPS, it is still very playable. The most demanding scenario is 3840x2160. Here, the Low preset manages an average of 68 FPS, Medium averages 59 FPS (min 50, max 68), High drops to 50 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41 FPS. The data shows that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, only the Low preset is viable, and even then, it is close to the limit. The step-up in resolution from 1080p to 4K represents a significant increase in pixel count, and the GPU's performance scales accordingly, confirming its role as the primary performance limiter.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the decisive component in this system's gaming performance. Built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a 6 nm process, it features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This is a mid-range specification, and the benchmark results in Doom reflect its capabilities. The GPU's average benchmark score is 15,171, which places it in the 57th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, scores 15,199, showing the RX 7600 is essentially on par with that card. The GPU's boost clock of 2655 MHz and game clock of 2250 MHz are relatively high, but the 8 GB frame buffer and 128-bit memory bus become a bottleneck at higher resolutions and detail settings.

In Doom, the GPU's role is paramount. The measured FPS data shows that the system is heavily GPU-bound at 1440p and 4K. The 41 FPS average on Ultra at 4K is a clear indicator that the card's compute units and memory bandwidth are saturated. The performance scaling from 1440p to 4K is not linear, with a more significant drop than what would be expected if the CPU were a factor. The 8 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at most settings, but at 4K with Ultra textures, it may be a limiting factor, causing the GPU to rely on slower memory spillover. The data suggests that the RX 7600 is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can consistently deliver high frame rates, and is capable of 1440p gaming with some compromises in settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a high-end desktop processor that provides more than enough computational power for this gaming workload. With 20 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, it is a formidable part. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42,216 and a single-core score of 5,960. The processor's average benchmark score of 64,640 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, is only 0.3% faster. This data indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this system. In Doom, which is a title that can be sensitive to CPU performance for physics and game logic, the Core Ultra 7 265 has ample headroom.

The measured FPS data confirms this analysis. The frame rate drops observed when moving from 1080p to 1440p and 4K are entirely consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with pixel count, which is the hallmark of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high clock speeds and core count ensure that it can feed the GPU with draw calls and game state data without introducing stutter or frame time spikes. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,689 is particularly relevant for gaming, as many game engines still rely heavily on a few fast cores. The Core Ultra 7 265's performance in this area guarantees that the RX 7600 is the component that limits the frame rate, not the processor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear path for optimizing the gaming experience. For players with a 1920x1080 monitor, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 142 FPS, which is a significant improvement over the 116 FPS of the Ultra preset, while the visual difference between High and Ultra in fast-paced action is often minimal. The High preset offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance, ensuring a high and stable frame rate that can take advantage of high refresh rate monitors. The Low preset at 193 FPS is for competitive play where frame rate is paramount, but the High preset offers a more visually pleasing experience without sacrificing playability.

For those gaming at 2560x1440, the High preset remains the sweet spot. With an average of 92 FPS, it provides a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, at 75 FPS, is also playable but may show more noticeable frame rate dips in intense scenes. The Medium preset at 109 FPS is a good alternative for players who prioritize frame rate over visual detail. At 3840x2160, the options are more limited. The Low preset is the only one that consistently averages above 60 FPS, hitting 68 FPS. The Medium preset, at 59 FPS, is close but may not provide a locked 60 FPS experience. Players with 4K displays should consider lowering the resolution or accepting the Low preset to maintain a playable frame rate, as the Ultra and High presets at 41 and 50 FPS respectively will feel less smooth. Ultimately, the data suggests that the best overall experience for this system is at 1440p with the High preset, which offers a strong balance of image quality and performance, allowing the hardware to work efficiently without being overburdened.