Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the Intel Arc B580 produces a set of measured frame rates in Doom that clearly illustrate where the performance ceiling lies for this combination. The data shows a system that is capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p, but which becomes increasingly constrained as resolution climbs, with the GPU taking on a dominant role in the final results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a predictable yet important pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 186 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops the average to 120 FPS, a reduction of 66 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 65 FPS. This progression from 1080p to 4K represents a 65% decrease in average frame rate at Low settings, clearly demonstrating that the rendering load scales heavily with pixel count.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 137 at 1080p, to 88 at 1440p, and finally to 48 at 4K. The Medium preset shows 162 FPS at 1080p, 105 FPS at 1440p, and 57 FPS at 4K. Even the Ultra preset, which starts at 112 FPS at 1080p, drops to 72 FPS at 1440p and then to 39 FPS at 4K. The consistency of these drops indicates that resolution scaling is a primary factor in this game’s performance, independent of the specific quality settings chosen.

The nature of these drops suggests that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, is likely able to feed the GPU adequately, and the results are more balanced. However, the steep decline at 4K, where even Low settings only produce 65 FPS, points to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck. The Intel Arc B580, with its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus, has a memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s, which is a fixed resource. As the pixel workload quadruples from 1080p to 4K, the demand on the GPU’s shading units, texture units, and memory bandwidth increases proportionally, and the measured frame rates reflect this.

The gap between settings at 4K is also telling. The difference between Low (65 FPS) and Ultra (39 FPS) is 26 FPS, which is a substantial 40% performance hit. At 1080p, the same Low-to-Ultra gap is 74 FPS (186 down to 112), but that represents a smaller 40% relative drop. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so saturated that even reducing settings provides diminishing returns, as the core pixel processing cost dominates the frame time.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580’s specifications directly inform the measured results. The GPU is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and features 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. Its base and boost clocks are both listed at 2670 MHz, which is a relatively high operating frequency. The memory configuration consists of 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. This memory subsystem is a critical component for a game like Doom, which often requires rapid texture streaming and geometry processing.

The GPU’s average benchmark score is 23021, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which scores 23061 with a deltaPct of -0.2%, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22895 with a deltaPct of 0.6%. This indicates that the Arc B580 performs in a similar tier to these cards in general benchmarks, though the specific in-game results will vary.

In Doom, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly apparent at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo only manages 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold often considered smooth for fast-paced action. This is likely due to the GPU’s raw compute capabilities. The FP32 performance is listed at 13.67 TFLOPS, which is a measure of its single-precision compute throughput. At 4K, the sheer number of pixels that need to be processed for lighting, shadows, and effects overwhelms this capability, leading to lower frame rates.

The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for Doom at these settings, as the game is unlikely to exceed this allocation at 4K. However, the memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s is a more likely constraint. The 192-bit bus width means that while there is ample capacity, the speed at which data can be moved to and from the GPU cores is limited. The measured FPS data supports this, as the drop from 1440p to 4K is severe across all settings, indicating that the GPU is hitting a bandwidth or fill-rate wall.

The GPU’s boost clock of 2670 MHz is a fixed value, and the data does not indicate any dynamic clock behavior. This means the performance is stable at that frequency, but also that there is no headroom for the GPU to push beyond its rated speed under load. The pixel rate is listed at 213.6 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 427.2 GTexel/s. At 4K, the pixel rate becomes a significant factor, as the GPU must fill over 8 million pixels per frame. The combination of these factors explains why the GPU is the limiting component at high resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: The measured average FPS is 137 at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 39, which is the lowest measured value in the data.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 Medium is 105, with a minimum of 89 and maximum of 120. Given the high frame rate, the CPU is likely still keeping up, but the GPU is starting to become a more significant factor.

Q: What is the best average FPS achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 186, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the Arc B580's benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, which is 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080's score of 22895.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested combinations in Doom?

A: The combo ranks 2175 out of 2930 total tested combinations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. The Low preset yields an average of 186 FPS, which is the maximum average recorded. The Medium preset averages 162 FPS, with a minimum of 137 and a maximum of 186. The High preset averages 137 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 112 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the combo can easily handle high refresh rate monitors, even at maximum quality settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. The Low preset averages 120 FPS, which is still very playable. The Medium preset averages 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 120. The High preset averages 88 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 72 FPS. All of these are above the 60 FPS mark, suggesting a smooth experience, though the margin for error is thinner at Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal for a fast-paced FPS. The Low preset averages 65 FPS, which is the only setting to stay above 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. The High preset averages 48 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 39 FPS. These results show that 4K gaming with this combo requires a compromise on settings to maintain a playable frame rate.

The data also shows the minimum and maximum FPS for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the range is 137 to 186 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 89 to 120 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 48 to 65 FPS. This indicates that the variance in frame times increases at higher resolutions, which could lead to more noticeable stutters or hitches during intense scenes.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the Intel Arc B580 is ranked 2175 out of 2930 total tested combinations in Doom. This places it in the 74th percentile of all combos, meaning that roughly a quarter of tested systems perform worse. While this is not a top-tier ranking, it is a respectable position considering the hardware involved.

The CPU’s average benchmark score is 64640, which places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the general CPU benchmarks are the AMD EPYC 4464P, which scores 64823 with a deltaPct of -0.3%, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which scores 64438 with a deltaPct of 0.3%. This shows that the CPU is a high-performing part, with a score that is essentially tied with its closest competitors.

The GPU’s average benchmark score is 23021, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. As noted, its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range GPU explains the overall ranking. The CPU is not the limiting factor, but the GPU holds the combo back from achieving higher frame rates, especially at higher resolutions.

The combo rank of 2175 suggests that in Doom, this system is outclassed by a significant number of other configurations. However, it still outperforms 755 other tested combos. The ranking reflects the GPU’s position in the market; it is a capable card, but it does not compete with high-end offerings that would push the combo into a higher percentile.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is well-suited for gaming, as the high boost clock and large cache can help reduce latency and improve frame pacing.

In Doom, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. The game is known for its fast-paced action and large enemy counts, which can stress the CPU. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is able to feed the GPU sufficiently to achieve average frame rates above 112 FPS even at Ultra settings. This suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution.

The CPU’s benchmark scores support its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 42216 in multi-core and 5960 in single-core. The single-core score is particularly relevant for gaming, as many games still rely heavily on single-threaded performance. The Passmark single-thread score is 4689, which is strong. The CPU’s 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms that it is a high-end part.

At 1440p and 4K, the CPU’s workload does not increase as much as the GPU’s, since the resolution primarily affects pixel processing. The data shows that the frame rates drop consistently with resolution, which is a GPU-driven effect. The CPU’s performance remains sufficient, as the combo never shows a scenario where the CPU is clearly holding back the GPU, given that the GPU’s benchmark percentile is much lower than the CPU’s.

The CPU’s memory support is DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. This is adequate for feeding the CPU’s cores. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes ensures that the GPU has a high-bandwidth connection, though the Arc B580 uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, which is still more than sufficient for this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset offers an average of 112 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high refresh rate displays. The High preset at 137 FPS provides a smoother experience, but the jump to Ultra only costs 25 FPS, making it a viable choice for maximum visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 88 FPS, which is a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset drops to 72 FPS, which is still playable but may show more frame pacing issues in demanding scenes. The Medium preset at 105 FPS is the best choice for a high refresh rate experience, as it stays above 100 FPS. Given the minimum FPS of 89 at Medium, this preset offers a safer margin for maintaining a consistent frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the options are more limited. The Low preset averages 65 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, which is below 60 and may result in a less smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets, at 48 and 39 FPS respectively, are not recommended for competitive play. For 4K, the Low preset is the only setting that achieves a playable average frame rate, but users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate may accept the Medium preset’s 57 FPS.

The data indicates that the Medium preset provides the most consistent performance across all resolutions, with the minimum FPS values recorded only for this preset. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 137 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 89 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 48 FPS. This consistency suggests that Medium is the most balanced setting for this combo, avoiding the extremes of Low (which sacrifices too much visual quality) and Ultra (which demands too much from the GPU). For the best experience, users should prioritize Medium or High settings at 1080p and 1440p, and only consider Low at 4K.