Doom

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2 family, built on a 3 nm TSMC process. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The CPU sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 93,785, placing it directly alongside server-class parts like the Intel Xeon 6520P (delta 0%) and the AMD EPYC 4564P (1.5% lower). For a game like Doom, which launched in 2016 and is heavily GPU-bound at high settings, this processor’s multithreaded muscle is largely underutilized. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the average FPS reaches 236, indicating the CPU can feed frames far beyond what most displays can show. In contrast, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 50 FPS, which is a clear sign that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution and settings climb.

The CPU’s single-core performance, measured at 5,068 in Passmark single-thread, is strong enough to avoid bottlenecking in Doom’s older id Tech 6 engine. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s provide ample headroom for game logic and asset streaming. The CPU’s 125 W TDP and active production status indicate it is a current-generation part designed for high-end desktops, but its impact on this specific game’s frame rates is minimal once the resolution exceeds 1440p. Benchmark results show that moving from 1080p Medium (206 FPS) to 1440p Medium (133 FPS) is a 35% drop, which correlates with the GPU’s pixel throughput rather than any CPU limitation. The processor’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,253 is exceptional, but Doom’s frame pacing does not benefit from 24 threads; the game’s engine scales well on fewer cores, so the CPU’s advantage is more theoretical than practical in this title.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, based on the GA104 chip and Ampere architecture, features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1410 MHz with a boost of 1665 MHz, and it has 4,864 shading units, 152 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs. The GPU’s 16.20 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is respectable for a card that launched in late 2020, and it sits in the 59th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 16,129. Nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (0.7% higher) and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (1.4% lower), indicating the 3060 Ti remains competitive in raw compute. For Doom, a game known for its Vulkan API support, the RTX 3060 Ti’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient at all tested settings, as the game’s texture requirements are modest by modern standards.

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: the RTX 3060 Ti delivers playable frame rates at 4K Ultra (50 FPS average), but the performance curve is steep. At 4K High, the average rises to 61 FPS, and at 4K Medium it reaches 72 FPS with a minimum of 61. The GPU’s memory bandwidth becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the 17% drop from 4K Medium to 4K High. At 1440p, the card shows its strength, with Ultra averaging 92 FPS and High reaching 113 FPS. The 1080p results are impressive, with Low hitting 236 FPS and Medium at 206 FPS, but these numbers exceed most high-refresh monitors’ capabilities. The GPU’s Vulkan support (version 1.4) and DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) ensure full compatibility with Doom’s rendering paths. The pixel rate of 133.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 253.1 GTexel/s directly influence how quickly the card can fill frames, which is evident in the scaling from 1080p to 4K. The data shows that the 3060 Ti is a capable 1440p-class card for this title, with 4K being achievable only at Medium settings for a consistent 60+ FPS experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Doom at 4K with a smooth frame rate?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, where the average FPS is 72 with a minimum of 61. At High settings, the average drops to 61 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 50 FPS, which may feel less smooth for fast-paced gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The data shows 1440p as the sweet spot, with High settings achieving 113 FPS average and Ultra reaching 92 FPS. This resolution balances visual fidelity with frame rates well above 60 FPS, making it ideal for competitive play.

Q: How does the RTX 3060 Ti compare to its nearest GPU rivals in Doom?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 16,129, which is 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 9060 and 1.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT. In Doom’s measured FPS, this translates to playable frame rates across all settings, with the card performing within a few percentage points of its direct competitors.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus overkill for this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the limiting factor in Doom. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 236 FPS, which suggests the processor can handle far more demanding workloads. Its 96th percentile ranking and high multithreaded scores are wasted on this title, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher settings.

Q: What is the impact of VRAM capacity in Doom at 4K?

A: The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient, as the highest tested setting (Ultra) at 4K averages 50 FPS without any indication of memory-related stutter. The game’s 2016 release date means texture sizes are modest, so the 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is more relevant than capacity.

Q: Does the CPU’s integrated graphics affect performance in this game?

A: No, the integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU is not used when the discrete RTX 3060 Ti is active. The measured FPS data comes from the discrete GPU, and the CPU’s integrated graphics have no bearing on the results presented here.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to 1440p Medium as the optimal balance of visual quality and performance. At this setting, the combo averages 133 FPS with a minimum of 113 and a maximum of 153, ensuring smooth gameplay on standard 144Hz monitors. While 1440p High offers 113 FPS, the jump to Medium provides an 18% performance increase with only a minor visual compromise, which is preferable for a fast-paced shooter. At 1080p, Medium is also a strong choice, averaging 206 FPS with a minimum of 175, but the visual gains from 1440p are worth the frame rate trade-off for most users. For those with 4K displays, Medium is the only viable preset, delivering 72 FPS average, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. High at 4K is borderline at 61 FPS, while Ultra drops to 50 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth motion in a twitch-based game.

The measured data shows that Low settings are not recommended for any resolution above 1080p, as the performance gains are marginal compared to Medium. At 4K, Low averages 83 FPS versus 72 FPS on Medium, a difference of only 13%, while the visual degradation is substantial. Similarly, at 1440p, Low hits 153 FPS versus 133 FPS on Medium, which is a 15% improvement but not worth the loss of shadows and textures. Ultra settings are only recommended for users with high-refresh 1080p displays who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, as the 142 FPS average is still smooth. The data suggests that Medium is the “best experience” preset across all resolutions, offering the highest minimum frame rates and consistent performance without excessive GPU strain.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1,839 out of 3,712 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the middle of the pack. This ranking reflects the GPU’s mid-range status (59th percentile) rather than the CPU’s high-end positioning (96th percentile), as the game is primarily GPU-limited. The rank suggests that while the CPU is overqualified for this title, the overall system performance is constrained by the RTX 3060 Ti’s capabilities. In comparison to lower-ranked combos, this pairing offers significantly better 4K performance due to the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU efficiently, but it lags behind combos with higher-tier GPUs that dominate in Doom’s frame rate benchmarks. The 1,839 position out of 3,712 indicates that roughly half of tested systems outperform this setup in Doom, which aligns with the GPU’s mid-pack benchmark percentile. However, the data shows that the combo still delivers playable frame rates at all tested settings, making it a viable option for 1440p gaming and acceptable for 4K at reduced presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the combo delivers an average of 61 FPS on High settings, 83 FPS on Low, 72 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 61 and maximum of 83), and 50 FPS on Ultra. The 4K results show a clear scaling pattern: dropping from Ultra to Medium yields a 44% performance increase, while moving from Medium to Low adds only 15% more frame rate. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 61, which matches the average at High, indicating that Medium provides the most stable experience at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS is 113 on High, 153 on Low, 133 on Medium (minimum 113, maximum 153), and 92 on Ultra. The 1440p results demonstrate a more linear scaling, with each settings tier providing roughly a 15-20% difference in frame rate. The minimum at Medium (113 FPS) is identical to the average at High, showing that Medium offers consistent performance without the peaks and valleys seen at higher settings. The Ultra preset’s 92 FPS average is still well above 60, making it a viable option for users with G-Sync or FreeSync displays.

At 1920x1080, the average FPS reaches 174 on High, 236 on Low, 206 on Medium (minimum 175, maximum 237), and 142 on Ultra. The 1080p results show the GPU’s peak performance, with Low settings approaching the CPU’s capability ceiling. The Medium preset’s minimum of 175 FPS is higher than the High setting’s average of 174, which suggests that Medium is the most stable preset at this resolution. The Ultra setting’s 142 FPS average is still excellent, but the 33% drop from Medium indicates that the game’s higher settings begin to tax the GPU’s shading units more heavily. Overall, the measured data shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 3060 Ti is most comfortable at 1440p Medium, where it delivers a 133 FPS average with a floor of 113, ensuring smooth gameplay across all scenes.