Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core, 24-thread mobile processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a 36 MB shared L3 cache. For a game like Doom, which is a fast-paced FPS, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 258 FPS, indicating that the CPU is capable of sustaining very high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck in less demanding scenarios. The processor's single-thread performance, as measured by benchmarks like Cinebench R23 single-core (2204) and Geekbench single-core (2458), is strong, which is crucial for games that rely heavily on a few main threads.

The Ultra 9 275HX scores in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, placing it in the top tier of processors. Its average benchmark score is 67469, which is nearly identical to its closest rivals. For instance, it is only 0.3% slower than the Intel Xeon w5-3525 and 0.5% slower than the AMD EPYC 4484PX. This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the performance will be on par with these workstation-class chips. However, in Doom, the game's engine is well-optimized to scale across many cores, so the 24 threads can be utilized effectively, though the high boost clock is likely the more significant factor for maintaining high average FPS. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s from dual-channel DDR5 support ensures that data can flow to the cores quickly, preventing stalls in frame rendering.

The CPU's multi-core prowess, demonstrated by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35589, ensures that background tasks and the game's audio/streaming systems won't cause frame hitches. Passmark's multithread score of 55759 further confirms its ability to handle parallel workloads. In the context of the measured FPS, the difference between 1080p Low (258 FPS) and 4K Ultra (54 FPS) is not due to CPU limits but rather the GPU's rendering load. The processor's 94th percentile ranking means that in the vast majority of gaming laptops, this CPU will not be the limiting factor, allowing the GPU to perform to its full potential.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900M is a high-end mobile GPU based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, featuring the Navi 31 chip. It comes equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has 4608 shading units and 192 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2090 MHz. In Doom, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate at higher resolutions and settings, as the game's graphical demands increase. The VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for Doom at any settings, even at 4K, where the game's textures and effects will not exceed 16 GB.

The GPU's raw compute power is substantial, with an FP32 performance of 38.52 TFLOPS. This translates directly to high fill rates, as seen in its pixel rate of 401.3 GPixel/s and texture rate of 601.9 GTexel/s. In the measured data, the GPU shows a clear scaling pattern with settings. At 4K, the average FPS drops from 90 on Low to 67 on High and further to 54 on Ultra. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution, as the workload increases with each preset. The RX 7900M scores in the 94th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 97487.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RX 7900M is 0.4% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro VII. It is 4.3% slower than the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000, but 5.4% faster than the AMD Radeon Instinct MI60 and 6.3% faster than the NVIDIA RTX A4500. This positions the 7900M as a top-tier mobile part, capable of competing with desktop workstation cards from previous generations. In Doom, which is known for its Vulkan API support, the GPU's Vulkan score of 158760 in Geekbench suggests strong API efficiency. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM and 256-bit bus are ideal for high-resolution gaming, and the memory clock of 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective) ensures that data transfer is not a bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 155 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that many gaming monitors offer. If a player has a 240 Hz monitor, the High preset at 190 FPS or the Medium preset at 225 FPS would be more appropriate to maximize the display's potential. The Low preset at 258 FPS is only useful for competitive play where every frame counts, but the visual fidelity loss is significant.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 100 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. The High preset at 123 FPS is a sweet spot for those with 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitors, offering a good balance between visual quality and speed. The Medium preset at 145 FPS is also viable, but the step down from High to Medium is less impactful than the step from High to Ultra. The Low preset at 167 FPS is likely unnecessary unless chasing maximum frame rates.

For 4K gaming, the data shows that the Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The High preset at 67 FPS is a better target, providing a smoother experience that approaches 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 79 FPS is the best choice for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, as it offers a significant improvement over High with a modest visual trade-off. The Low preset at 90 FPS is surprisingly playable and could be used if a player prioritizes frame rate over graphics, but the visual downgrade is noticeable.

Given these numbers, the recommended presets are: 1080p Ultra for the best visual experience, 1440p High for a balanced high-refresh-rate experience, and 4K Medium for a smooth 60+ FPS experience. The measured minimum FPS for Medium settings at 4K is 67, which ensures that even in intense scenes, the frame rate does not drop below the 60 FPS threshold, making it the most consistent choice for 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this laptop run Doom at 4K with a playable frame rate?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 67 FPS at 4K High settings and 79 FPS at 4K Medium settings. The Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, which is still playable but less smooth.

Q: What is the best setting for a 144 Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: The High preset at 1440p yields an average of 123 FPS, which is close to the 144 Hz refresh rate. The Medium preset at 145 FPS slightly exceeds it, but the High preset is recommended for better visual quality while maintaining a high frame rate.

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

A: At 1080p Low settings, the system reaches 258 FPS, showing the CPU is strong. However, at 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component, as frame rates scale directly with graphical settings (90 FPS on Low, 67 FPS on High, 54 FPS on Ultra), while the CPU workload remains relatively constant.

Q: How does the RX 7900M compare to other high-end GPUs in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RX 7900M has an average benchmark score of 97487, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro VII. It is 4.3% lower than the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000, but 5.4% higher than the AMD Radeon Instinct MI60 and 6.3% higher than the NVIDIA RTX A4500.

Q: Does the 16 GB VRAM provide enough memory for Doom at maximum settings?

A: Yes, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory is more than sufficient. Doom's requirements are well below this capacity, so there is no risk of running out of VRAM at any resolution or setting preset.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1080p with the Ultra preset?

A: The measured average is 155 FPS. This is well above the standard 60 FPS threshold and is suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors, though lower presets yield even higher frame rates (190 FPS on High, 225 FPS on Medium).

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of how performance scales with resolution. At 1080p High, the system averages 190 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 123 FPS, a reduction of 35%. At 4K High, the average falls to 67 FPS, a further reduction of 46% from 1440p. This scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution.

The trend is consistent across all settings. For the Ultra preset, the frame rates are 155 FPS at 1080p, 100 FPS at 1440p, and 54 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35%, and from 1440p to 4K is 46%, mirroring the High preset's scaling. This proportionate drop is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance, where the rendering resolution directly impacts the fill rate and pixel processing demands.

The data suggests that the RX 7900M is the bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU, with its high single-thread and multi-thread scores, maintains its ability to feed the GPU with data, but the GPU cannot keep up with the increased pixel count. At 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound in some scenarios, as evidenced by the 258 FPS on Low settings, which is an extremely high frame rate that requires significant CPU power to maintain.

Understanding this scaling is important for users. If a user is gaming at 1440p and wants to achieve 4K, they can expect a significant frame rate drop, roughly halving the FPS on the same settings. Conversely, moving from 4K down to 1440p will nearly double the frame rate. This makes the choice of resolution the most critical decision for achieving target frame rates, more so than the in-game settings preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination. The data is measured, not estimated, and provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 258 FPS average
• Medium: 225 FPS average (minimum 191, maximum 258)
• High: 190 FPS average
• Ultra: 155 FPS average

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 167 FPS average
• Medium: 145 FPS average (minimum 124, maximum 167)
• High: 123 FPS average
• Ultra: 100 FPS average

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 90 FPS average
• Medium: 79 FPS average (minimum 67, maximum 91)
• High: 67 FPS average
• Ultra: 54 FPS average

This breakdown shows a consistent pattern: the frame rate decreases as both resolution and graphical settings increase. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset shows a tight variance, with the 4K minimum at 67 FPS and the 1080p minimum at 191 FPS, indicating stable performance without major frame drops. The system is highly capable, even at 4K, where the Low preset reaches 90 FPS, which is a very playable frame rate for a demanding title like Doom. The overall combo rank for this CPU and GPU pairing in Doom is 1226 out of 2930 tested combinations, placing it in the 42nd percentile, which is a strong showing for a mobile platform.