Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a strong, high-refresh-rate experience in Doom, with the benchmark data placing this combination at rank 1755 out of 2930 tested combos. This places it in the upper 40th percentile of all possible hardware pairings for this title, indicating a well-balanced setup that leans heavily toward the GPU as the primary performance driver. The measured frame rates show that this combo is capable of exceeding 200 FPS at 1080p, but 4K Ultra presents a significant challenge that requires careful settings management.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1755 out of 2930 tested combinations for Doom places this system firmly in the upper-middle tier of the benchmark database. While the CPU itself holds a very strong 93rd percentile among all processors, the overall gaming performance is moderated by the GPU's 61st percentile ranking among all graphics cards. This disparity suggests that the RTX 4060, rather than the 20-core processor, is the limiting factor in most scenarios. The data shows that this pairing is not in the top echelon for 4K gaming, but for 1440p and 1080p, the rank reflects a highly capable machine that can comfortably drive modern FPS titles.

The raw benchmark scores reinforce this positioning. The CPU's average benchmark score of 63173 places it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-13790F and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, indicating that the 265HX is a top-tier mobile processor. Conversely, the GPU's average score of 17639 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon 780M, with a deltaPct of just 0.3%, and is 0.7% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro 460. This confirms that the RTX 4060, while competent for 1080p and 1440p, is not a high-end part, and its performance characteristics dictate the overall gaming experience.

The combination of a flagship-class CPU with a mid-range GPU creates a distinct profile. The data shows that in CPU-light scenarios, this combo will excel, but in GPU-bound situations, the frame rate will be capped by the RTX 4060. This is a classic pairing for users who prioritize high frame rates at lower resolutions and may engage in productivity tasks that benefit from the CPU's 20 threads.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the central component determining the frame rate ceilings in Doom. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1830 MHz and boosts to 2460 MHz, with memory running at an effective 17 Gbps. These specifications are well-suited for a fast-paced FPS like Doom, which is not particularly memory-hungry at 1080p, but the 8 GB capacity and 128-bit bus become limiting factors at higher resolutions.

The measured FPS data clearly shows the GPU's influence. At 1080p, the RTX 4060 can push frame rates well beyond 120 FPS on all preset levels, with a peak of 203 FPS at Low settings. This indicates that the GPU has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate displays at this resolution. However, the scaling to 1440p and 4K is not linear, showing a typical GPU-bound decline. The GPU's 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power and 236.2 GTexel/s texture rate are sufficient for 1440p, but the 4K results suggest that the 8 GB frame buffer and memory bandwidth are stressed.

The RTX 4060's position relative to its rivals underscores its mid-range status. In the database, it is within 0.2% of the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and 0.5% of the AMD Radeon Pro 560, which are significantly older parts. This indicates that while the RTX 4060 offers modern features like ray tracing and DLSS, its raw rasterization performance is comparable to older generations. For Doom, a title from 2016 that relies on pure rendering speed, this means the GPU's performance is solid but not exceptional, with the 4K Ultra preset proving to be a heavy workload.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 149 at 1920x1080 to 97 at 2560x1440, a decrease of 35%. Moving to 3840x2160, the average further drops to 52 FPS, a 46% reduction from 1440p and a 65% reduction from 1080p. This steep decline is indicative of the GPU hitting its architectural limits, as the number of pixels increases dramatically while the CPU has ample headroom.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX, with its 20 cores and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at all resolutions. The evidence is in the 1080p Low settings result, which reaches 203 FPS. If the CPU were a limiting factor, we would see diminishing returns as settings are lowered or resolution is reduced, but the FPS continues to climb, reaching the highest measured value at the lowest workload. This indicates the CPU can handle the game's engine with significant ease.

The scaling pattern also highlights the importance of settings over resolution. For instance, at 4K, going from Ultra (43 FPS) to Low (71 FPS) yields a 65% performance increase, which is more impactful than dropping from 1440p to 1080p at the same settings. This suggests that for users targeting 4K, adjusting the in-game preset is the most effective way to achieve playable frame rates, as the GPU struggles to maintain 60 FPS even at High settings (52 FPS) at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo excels. The Low preset achieves an average of 203 FPS, with Medium at 177 FPS and a minimum of 150 FPS. High settings yield 149 FPS, and Ultra drops to 122 FPS. All results at this resolution are well above the 60 FPS threshold, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a comfortable margin above 120 FPS, making this the ideal resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU's strain. The Low preset averages 131 FPS, Medium averages 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS, High averages 97 FPS, and Ultra drops to 79 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with all presets remaining playable. The Ultra preset's 79 FPS is still above the 60 FPS standard, providing a smooth experience for most users.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4060 becomes the clear bottleneck. The Low preset is the only one to achieve a comfortable average above 60 FPS, hitting 71 FPS. Medium averages 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS, which is borderline. High settings drop to 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS. These results show that 4K is only viable with lower presets, and the Ultra preset is not recommended for a consistent experience. The gap between Low (71 FPS) and Ultra (43 FPS) at 4K is a 65% difference, emphasizing the GPU's sensitivity to settings at this resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX serves as a high-performance foundation for this gaming combo. With 20 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, this processor is built for heavy multi-threaded workloads. Its 30 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s ensure that data can be fed to the GPU quickly, eliminating any potential CPU-side stalling in Doom.

The CPU's benchmark results reinforce its capability. A Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40642 and a single-core score of 5737 demonstrate exceptional performance in both parallel and single-threaded tasks. The Passmark multi-thread score of 47985 and single-thread score of 4500 further confirm its position in the top 7% of all CPUs. For a game like Doom, which is well-optimized and can utilize multiple cores, this processor provides a significant performance buffer.

However, the data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The fact that frame rates increase consistently when moving from 1080p Ultra (122 FPS) to 1080p Low (203 FPS) shows that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting, we would see similar frame rates regardless of GPU load. The CPU's performance headroom is so large that it can easily handle the game's engine at its highest settings, leaving the RTX 4060 to determine the final output. This makes the 265HX a future-proof choice, as it will not need an upgrade for gaming for several years.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve high frame rates?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution for high frame rates, with all presets exceeding 120 FPS. The Low preset reaches 203 FPS, while Ultra still maintains 122 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K, the Low preset averages 71 FPS, and Medium averages 62 FPS. High and Ultra settings drop below 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging only 43 FPS.

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

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. Evidence shows that frame rates scale significantly with resolution and settings, from 203 FPS at 1080p Low to 43 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is a typical GPU-bound behavior. The CPU has ample headroom.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639. It is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 780M, showing they are nearly identical in raw performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between Ultra and Low settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 79 FPS, while the Low preset averages 131 FPS. This represents a 66% increase in frame rate when switching from Ultra to Low.

Q: Does the CPU's high core count benefit this game?

A: The CPU's 20 cores and 20 threads provide substantial headroom, but the data suggests that Doom does not require all of them. The frame rate is consistently limited by the GPU, as shown by the FPS scaling across resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is highly recommended, as it delivers an average of 122 FPS. This provides the best visual quality while remaining well above the 60 FPS threshold and still high enough for most high-refresh-rate monitors. If a user has a 240Hz display, dropping to High (149 FPS) or Medium (177 FPS) will yield a more responsive experience.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 97 FPS, it provides a smooth and immersive experience without the visual compromises of the Low or Medium presets. The Ultra preset, at 79 FPS, is also viable for users who prioritize image quality over maximum frame rate, but the 97 FPS of High is a safer choice for competitive play. The Low preset at 131 FPS is an option for those seeking the highest possible frame rate, but it sacrifices significant visual detail.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it is the highest quality setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS (62 FPS). The Low preset offers a higher average of 71 FPS but with reduced visual fidelity. The High preset (52 FPS) and Ultra preset (43 FPS) are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience. Users targeting 4K should accept the Medium preset as the maximum playable setting, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for the full Ultra experience.