Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Doom, but the data indicates that the 4K resolution is where this combination begins to struggle, particularly at higher graphical presets. The measured frame rates show a clear hierarchy where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at 4K, while the CPU’s substantial multi-core capabilities ensure that lower resolutions are not bottlenecked. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on the GPU’s VRAM and clock behavior, resolution scaling, CPU roles, and actionable settings recommendations based solely on the provided data.

FAQ

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

A: The combo ranks 2974 out of 3712 tested combinations in the database, which places it in the lower half of all possible pairings for this specific title.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13790F?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265HX has an average benchmark score of 63173, which is a 0.1% improvement over the Intel Core i7-13790F’s average score of 63080. This places the 265HX statistically on par with that rival in synthetic CPU benchmarks.

Q: What is the GPU’s average benchmark score and how does it compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER?

A: The RTX 5050 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 43268. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, a desktop card, scores 43223, meaning the mobile 5050 is 0.1% ahead in this aggregate benchmark metric.

Q: What are the best and worst average FPS results recorded for this combo?

A: The best average result is 167 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The worst average result is 35 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the CPU’s single-threaded performance give it an edge in this game?

A: The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score is 5737, and its PassMark single-thread score is 4500. These scores, combined with the high boost clock of 5.30 GHz, suggest strong per-core performance that supports high frame rates at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 167 FPS Low result at 1080p.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the GPU, and how might it relate to 4K performance?

A: The RTX 5050 Mobile has a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s, which is delivered via a 128-bit bus. The measured FPS drop at 4K, such as falling from 123 FPS at 1080p High to 43 FPS at 4K High, is consistent with the increased memory pressure and bandwidth demands of rendering at that resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile is the decisive factor in this combo’s performance at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s. The data shows that this configuration is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Doom, but becomes a bottleneck at 4K. The clock speeds, with a base of 1020 MHz and a boost of 1500 MHz, are relatively modest for a modern GPU, which likely contributes to the frame rate ceiling observed in the most demanding scenarios.

The GPU’s VRAM capacity of 8 GB appears to be sufficient for the tested settings at 1080p and 1440p, where the average FPS remains high. However, the transition to 3840x2160 causes a significant performance drop. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 80 at 1440p to 43 at 4K, a reduction of over 46%. This suggests that the rendering load and memory bandwidth requirements at 4K are taxing the RTX 5050 Mobile’s resources. The GPU’s 2560 shading units and 32 ROPs are tasked with rendering a much larger pixel count, and the 384.0 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient to maintain the same throughput as at lower resolutions.

The GPU’s synthetic benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2365, place it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in aggregate score include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, where the 5050 Mobile is 0% different, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile, where it is 0.9% faster in the average benchmark score. This data implies that while the RTX 5050 Mobile is not a top-tier part, it holds its own against older flagship desktop cards and even a high-end mobile part in synthetic tests, but Doom’s real-world 4K results show its practical limits. The GPU’s texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s are the theoretical limits that explain why Ultra settings at 4K, which demand the highest texture and pixel throughput, yield only 35 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution increases, heavily implicating the GPU as the limiting component. Scaling from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows a consistent and steep drop in average frame rates across all settings. For example, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 123 at 1920x1080, to 80 at 2560x1440, and finally to 43 at 3840x2160. This represents a 35% decrease when moving to 1440p, and a further 46% decrease when moving to 4K.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU’s rendering throughput and memory bandwidth cannot keep pace with the increasing pixel count. The fact that the FPS drop is not linear with the pixel count increase (from 1080p to 4K, the pixel count quadruples, but FPS drops by roughly 65% at High settings) indicates that other factors, such as memory bandwidth and fill rate, are also contributing to the bottleneck.

The data for Low settings further confirms this. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 167 FPS, which drops to 108 FPS at 1440p, and then to 59 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is still playable, but the significant reduction from the 1080p figure shows that even at the lowest settings, the GPU’s resources are stretched. This suggests that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, users would need to rely on the Low preset, and even then, the margin is slim. The Ultra preset at 4K yields only 35 FPS, which is well below the threshold for smooth gameplay, reinforcing the conclusion that the RTX 5050 Mobile is not designed for 4K Ultra gaming in Doom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a comprehensive look at the performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers excellent performance across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 167 FPS, while Medium averages 146 FPS, with a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 168 FPS. High settings yield an average of 123 FPS, and even the Ultra preset maintains a solid 101 FPS average. This resolution is clearly where the CPU and GPU pair shine, with all presets exceeding the 100 FPS threshold, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset averages 108 FPS, which drops to 94 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS). The High preset averages 80 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 65 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with High settings providing a very playable experience and Ultra still staying above the 60 FPS mark.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limitations become apparent. The Low preset is the only one that remains comfortably playable, with an average of 59 FPS. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS, indicating noticeable frame pacing issues. High settings drop further to 43 FPS, and Ultra settings yield an average of just 35 FPS. None of the presets above Low achieve a consistent 60 FPS average at 4K, making this resolution a challenging target for the RTX 5050 Mobile in Doom.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX serves as the foundational component that prevents this combo from being CPU-limited in most scenarios. With 20 cores and 20 threads, based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, this processor offers substantial multi-threaded throughput. Its benchmark scores are impressive, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40642 and a PassMark multi-thread score of 47985. These results place the CPU in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a high-end mobile processor.

The CPU’s single-thread performance is also crucial for gaming. With a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5737 and PassMark single-thread score of 4500 show strong per-core capabilities. This is why, at 1080p with Low settings, the combo can achieve 167 FPS; the CPU can quickly process the game’s logic and issue draw calls to the GPU without creating a bottleneck. The fact that the FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, even at the same settings, confirms that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The data shows that the Core Ultra 7 265HX is a very capable gaming CPU. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark scores include the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, which it beats by 0.7%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, which it trails by 0.2%. These close margins suggest that the 265HX is at the top of its performance class. In Doom, this translates to a system that can easily push high frame rates at 1440p and below, ensuring that the user’s experience is primarily dictated by the GPU’s capabilities rather than the processor. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory further contribute to its ability to handle the game’s data streams efficiently.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The average FPS of 101 is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides the best visual quality without compromising playability. Users with high-refresh-rate displays (144Hz or higher) could opt for the High preset at 123 FPS or the Medium preset at 146 FPS to maximize smoothness, but the Ultra preset remains the best balance of quality and speed.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended sweet spot. It delivers an average of 80 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while still offering a significant visual upgrade over Medium. The Ultra preset, at 65 FPS, is also playable and could be chosen by those who prioritize image quality over a higher frame rate buffer. However, for the most consistent experience, High settings provide a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target, ensuring that the frame rate does not dip into less desirable territory.

For 3840x2160, the recommendations are more constrained. The Low preset, with an average of 59 FPS, is the only option that provides a near-60 FPS experience. The Medium preset, at 51 FPS, is acceptable for slower-paced play but will suffer from occasional drops to 43 FPS. The High and Ultra presets, at 43 FPS and 35 FPS respectively, are not recommended for competitive or fast-paced gameplay due to the low and potentially inconsistent frame rates. Therefore, for 4K gaming, users must sacrifice visual fidelity to the Low preset to achieve a playable frame rate with this hardware.