Doom

Doom, the 2016 reboot of id Software’s iconic FPS franchise, pushes the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT combination through a rigorous gauntlet of resolutions and presets. The measured data reveals a pairing that is decisively capable at 1080p and 1440p, but which begins to show its limitations when pushed to 4K Ultra settings. This analysis breaks down the specific performance metrics, contextualizes the hardware’s standing among tested combos, and offers clear guidance on how to optimize the experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this hardware for a high refresh rate experience?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average of 178 FPS on High settings and 242 FPS on Low. Even on the most demanding Ultra preset, it maintains an average of 145 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where the hardware consistently exceeds 144 FPS across all tested settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has an average benchmark score of 70879. This places it 1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70163) and 1.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (69996). Conversely, it trails the Intel Xeon 6511P by 0.2% (71051) and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 by 0.7% (71370).

Q: Is the GPU’s benchmark performance similar to any other cards?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT’s average benchmark score is 26011, which is only 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon R9 M395X (25891) and 0.6% higher than the AMD FirePro W7100 (25856). It is also 1.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile (25740).

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: The data shows an average of 136 FPS at this resolution and preset. The measured range includes a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS, indicating a smooth and highly playable experience.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Doom?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160, the combo delivers a playable average of 62 FPS on High settings and 74 FPS on Medium. However, the Ultra preset drops the average to 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players prefer.

Q: How does this specific CPU+GPU combo rank among all tested configurations for Doom?

A: It ranks 1696 out of 3712 tested combos. This places it in the 54th percentile, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of all other system configurations tested in this game.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the primary driver of frame rate output in this configuration. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the high-resolution textures and rapid asset streaming that Doom’s demonic arenas demand. The card operates at a base clock of 2150 MHz and a boost clock of 2600 MHz, with a game clock rated at 2495 MHz. These clock speeds allow the GPU to maintain high utilization, as evidenced by the strong performance scaling from 4K to 1080p.

The GPU’s role becomes more critical as resolution increases. At 3840x2160, the pixel throughput requirement is immense, and the GPU's 166.4 GPixel/s pixel rate becomes a limiting factor. This is clearly visible in the measured data: the average frame rate at 4K High (62 FPS) is nearly half of that at 1440p High (115 FPS). The 13.31 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is ample for the game’s Vulkan-based renderer, but the memory bandwidth and pixel fill rate are what ultimately cap performance at higher resolutions. The transition from 1440p to 1080p shows less dramatic scaling, suggesting that at lower resolutions, the CPU begins to play a more significant role in feeding the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the comprehensive database of tested system configurations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT achieves a rank of 1696 out of 3712 combos for Doom. This places the system in the upper half of all tested configurations, indicating a balanced and capable setup for this specific title. The rank reflects the combined capability of the CPU and GPU, and it is a strong indicator that this system is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while still being viable for 4K at adjusted settings.

The CPU’s individual standing is robust; it sits in the 94th percentile when compared to all other CPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score of 70879 is nearly identical to that of the Intel Xeon 6511P, which scores 71051 (a 0.2% delta). This suggests that the processor is not a bottleneck in most scenarios. The GPU, meanwhile, sits in the 71st percentile compared to all other GPUs. Its performance is closely matched with the AMD Radeon R9 M395X, which is only 0.5% behind. The combination of a top-tier CPU and a mid-to-high-tier GPU creates a system where the graphics card is the more likely performance delimiter, especially at higher resolutions. The final rank of 1696 reflects this balance, showing the system performs admirably but is not at the very top of the charts, where more powerful GPUs would be paired with similar processors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset yields an average of 242 FPS, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 210 FPS (with a min of 179 and max of 242), while High produces 178 FPS. Even at the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, the system maintains an average of 145 FPS. This performance profile makes 1080p ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, as even the most demanding settings remain well above the 144 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the system continues to deliver high frame rates, though the scaling is more pronounced. The Low preset averages 156 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 136 FPS (with a min of 116 and max of 157), and High drops to 115 FPS. The Ultra preset still manages a respectable 94 FPS average, confirming that 1440p is a sweet spot for this hardware, offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while retaining smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay on High settings.

The jump to 3840x2160 reveals the hardware's boundaries. The Low preset is still playable, with an average of 85 FPS. Medium settings average 74 FPS (with a min of 63 and max of 85), and High drops to 62 FPS. However, the Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS playability standard, averaging only 51 FPS. This indicates that while 4K is possible, it requires a compromise on visual fidelity to maintain a smooth experience, and the Ultra preset is not viable for competitive or fast-paced play at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data offers clear guidance for optimal settings based on the target resolution and desired performance. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. With an average of 145 FPS, it provides the highest visual quality while still delivering frame rates that exceed the refresh rate of most standard 144Hz monitors. Players with 240Hz displays could opt for High or Medium settings to push frame rates to 178 or 210 FPS, respectively, but the visual difference between High and Ultra is often less significant than the frame rate gain.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the optimal balance. The 115 FPS average provides a fluid experience on 144Hz monitors, and the visual fidelity is excellent. The Ultra preset, at 94 FPS, is also a strong option for players who prioritize image quality over a slight reduction in frame rate. The Medium preset, while offering 136 FPS, is unnecessary for most users as the High preset still provides a frame rate high enough for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the recommendations become more conditional. The High preset, with an average of 62 FPS, is the ceiling for a 60 FPS experience. Players who own 60Hz 4K monitors will find this preset ideal. The Medium preset, averaging 74 FPS, offers a buffer above 60 FPS and is a safer choice for ensuring minimal frame drops, as the minimum recorded was 63 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended for 4K, as the 51 FPS average is below the standard refresh rate and would result in a less smooth experience. For a competitive edge at 4K, the Low preset provides 85 FPS, but this sacrifices most of the visual enhancements that define the game's aesthetic.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, supported by a 30 MB shared L3 cache. This high core count and rapid clock speed provide substantial computational headroom, ensuring that the CPU does not become a bottleneck in Doom, a game which is often considered to be more GPU-dependent. The CPU’s robust single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2020 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2713, is crucial for maintaining high frame rates, particularly at 1080p where the GPU is less stressed.

The data supports this analysis. While the GPU is the primary factor in the frame rate differences between resolutions, the CPU's capability is what allows the system to achieve those high 1080p numbers. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system reaches 242 FPS, a figure that would be unattainable with a weaker processor struggling to issue draw calls and process game logic. The processor’s 20 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient for the game’s multi-threaded engine, but its high single-thread performance is what ensures that the game loop runs efficiently. The CPU’s performance is also competitive, ranking in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 70879 is within 1% of the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70163), confirming its place as a high-end processor that complements the Radeon RX 6750 XT effectively. In this configuration, the CPU provides the foundation for the GPU to deliver its full potential, ensuring that the measured frame rates are a true reflection of the graphics card's capabilities.