Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core, 24-thread mobile processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture. Its configuration is unusual: it offers 24 cores but only 24 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading is present, and every core is a physical core. The base clock is 2.70 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz available under load. These specifications matter for Doom because the game’s engine, while primarily GPU-bound, still requires solid single-thread performance for draw calls and physics. The 275HX’s single-core benchmark scores reflect this capability; it scores 334 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 2809 in R20, and 2204 in R23. In the broader CPU landscape, this processor sits at the 94th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 67469. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon w5-3525, which is 0.3% faster, and the AMD EPYC 4484PX, which is 0.5% faster, placing the 275HX in rarefied company. For Doom specifically, the high boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures that the CPU does not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions, where the GPU has headroom to push more frames. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache also helps, as it keeps frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency in fast-paced combat scenarios.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35589 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20795. This suggests that even if Doom were to spawn background threads for asset streaming or AI, the 275HX would handle it without impacting frame pacing. The processor also demonstrates strong data throughput in Passmark tests, scoring 608381 in data compression and 155218 in integer math. These scores are more than adequate for a game like Doom, which is not known for heavy processing demands beyond the main render thread. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is effectively a non-issue in this configuration; it is the GPU that dictates the frame rates observed in the measured data. The 24 threads, while not offering simultaneous multi-threading, still provide ample parallel processing power for modern game engines that may spawn multiple worker threads. Overall, the CPU’s role in Doom is to supply data to the GPU as fast as possible, and the 5.40 GHz boost clock ensures that it does so without introducing stutter or frame drops, even at the highest settings where the GPU is saturated.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is the primary driver of performance in Doom. This GPU, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD106 chip, features 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It has a base clock of 1395 MHz and a boost clock of 1695 MHz. The memory subsystem consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. This memory bandwidth is a critical factor at higher resolutions; the data shows that at 4K, the average FPS is significantly lower than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and raw compute are being taxed. The RTX 4070 Mobile’s FP32 performance is 15.62 TFLOPS, which is substantial for a mobile part. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 109197 in Geekbench OpenCL and 108367 in Geekbench Vulkan, demonstrating strong compute and API efficiency. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score is 19587, placing it at the 73rd percentile against all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, which has an identical average score of 27425, a delta of 0%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 is 0.5% faster, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is 1.1% slower. This places the RTX 4070 Mobile in a performance tier that is competitive with desktop mid-range cards from the previous generation.

In Doom, the GPU’s role is to render the fast-paced environments and effects. The game is known for its heavy use of particles and lighting, which the RTX 4070 Mobile handles with its 36 RT cores and 144 tensor cores, though the game does not heavily utilize ray tracing. The 8 GB VRAM is a potential limitation; at 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 48, which is below the 60 FPS target. The GPU’s texture rate of 244.1 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 81.36 GPixel/s are high enough to fill the screen at 4K, but the memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s appears to be the limiting factor. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. At 1080p Low settings, the average FPS is 227, which is well beyond the refresh rate of most displays. However, at 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 48, a 79% reduction from the 1080p Low score. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where the compute and memory resources are fully utilized. The RTX 4070 Mobile’s closest rival, the RX 6700 XT, has a similar average score, suggesting that the performance in Doom would be comparable, though the NVIDIA driver and Vulkan support may give it a slight edge in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling across resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 227. Moving to 2560x1440 Low, the average drops to 147, a 35% reduction. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls to 80, a 65% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance is constant across resolutions. The data shows a similar trend for High settings: 167 FPS at 1080p, 108 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 65%, which is consistent across settings, confirming that the GPU’s rendering pipeline is the bottleneck. The 4K High score of 59 FPS is just below the 60 FPS threshold, meaning that users with a 60 Hz display would notice occasional dips. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 48, which is a 79% reduction from the 1080p Low score. This is a significant drop, and it suggests that the RTX 4070 Mobile’s memory bandwidth and shader throughput are insufficient for the highest quality settings at 4K.

The scaling pattern also reveals the effectiveness of the CPU at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the FPS of 227 is likely close to the CPU’s maximum frame output, but the GPU still maintains a high enough frame rate to avoid CPU bottlenecking. At 1440p Medium, the average FPS is 128, with a minimum of 109 and a maximum of 148. The range between min and max is 39 FPS, which is smaller than the 60 FPS range at 1080p Medium (168 to 228). This tighter range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is more consistently loaded, reducing frame time variance. At 4K Medium, the average is 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80, showing a 21 FPS range. The data indicates that the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K. At 1080p, the CPU’s 5.40 GHz boost clock allows the GPU to run at its maximum potential, but at 4K, the GPU’s compute and memory resources are saturated. The 4K Ultra score of 48 FPS is the lowest in the dataset, and it highlights that the RTX 4070 Mobile is not a 4K Ultra-capable GPU for this title. The 1440p High score of 108 FPS is the sweet spot, providing smooth gameplay without the heavy performance penalty of 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this configuration in Doom?

A: The highest average FPS is 227, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the configuration fail to maintain 60 FPS on average?

A: At 3840x2160 (4K) with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 48. Additionally, at 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 59, which is just below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p Medium compare to 1080p Medium?

A: At 1440p Medium, the average FPS is 128, with a minimum of 109 and a maximum of 148. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 198, with a minimum of 168 and a maximum of 228. This represents a 35% reduction in average FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: What is the FPS range at 4K Medium settings?

A: At 4K Medium settings, the average FPS is 69, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80. This range of 21 FPS indicates a moderate level of frame time variance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, as the FPS of 227 at 1080p Low is high but not limited by the CPU’s 24-core configuration. The CPU’s 5.40 GHz boost clock is sufficient to feed the GPU, but the GPU’s rendering capabilities cap the frame rate.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 Mobile compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4070 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 27435, which is identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (27425), a delta of 0%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 is 0.5% faster, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is 1.1% slower.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, but the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. The average FPS at 1080p Medium is 198, with a minimum of 168 and a maximum of 228. This ensures that even on a 144 Hz display, the frame rate stays above the refresh rate, providing a smooth experience. The High preset at 1080p yields 167 FPS, which is still excellent, but the Medium preset provides a 19% performance boost with only a marginal visual difference in a fast-paced game like Doom. The Low preset at 1080p achieves 227 FPS, but the visual quality is significantly reduced, which is not recommended for a game that relies on visual feedback for enemy identification. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 137 FPS, which is still smooth, but the performance gain from Medium is not worth the visual fidelity loss in the heat of combat.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice. The average FPS is 108, which is sufficient for a 60 Hz display and provides a comfortable margin above the minimum threshold. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 128 FPS, which is better for higher refresh rate monitors, but the High preset offers improved visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 89 FPS, which is still playable, but the High preset is a safer choice for maintaining consistent frame times. The Low preset at 1440p achieves 147 FPS, but the visual compromise is too great for a game that benefits from high-quality textures to spot enemies in dark corridors. For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the best option. The average FPS is 69, with a minimum of 59, which nearly hits the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 4K yields 59 FPS, which is just below the target, and the Ultra preset drops to 48 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 4K provides the best playable experience, balancing visual fidelity with performance. Overall, the data suggests that Medium settings at 1440p or High settings at 1080p are the sweet spots for this configuration, depending on the display’s resolution and refresh rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the configuration demonstrates exceptional performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 227, with no recorded minimum or maximum, indicating a stable frame rate. At Medium settings, the average FPS is 198, with a minimum of 168 and a maximum of 228. This 60 FPS range suggests some frame time variance, but the average remains high. At High settings, the average FPS is 167, with no min or max recorded. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 137, with no min or max. This represents a 40% reduction from the Low preset, showing the impact of higher quality textures and effects.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings yield an average FPS of 147, with no min or max. Medium settings produce an average FPS of 128, with a minimum of 109 and a maximum of 148. This 39 FPS range is tighter than at 1080p, indicating more consistent GPU load. High settings average 108 FPS, with no min or max. Ultra settings average 89 FPS, with no min or max. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 39%, which is consistent with the 1080p scaling. At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings average 80 FPS, with no min or max. Medium settings average 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80, showing a 21 FPS range. High settings average 59 FPS, with no min or max, which is just below the 60 FPS target. Ultra settings average 48 FPS, with no min or max, which is the lowest score in the dataset. The data shows a consistent pattern: the GPU is the limiting factor, and the CPU’s 24 cores and 5.40 GHz boost clock are sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at any resolution. The 4K Ultra score of 48 FPS is 79% lower than the 1080p Low score, highlighting the significant performance cost of high-resolution rendering on this mobile GPU.