Doom

The data for Doom with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7600 reveals a fascinating performance profile, one where the GPU is clearly the primary driver of frame rates across all tested settings. This pairing produces a wide range of results, from highly playable 1080p experiences to more demanding 4K scenarios, and the measured FPS data provides a clear picture of where each component's strengths and limitations lie.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable but steep decline in performance as resolution increases, which strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the limiting component in this configuration. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 142 FPS. Moving to 1440p with the same settings, the average drops to 92 FPS, a reduction of 50 FPS. The jump to 4K is even more dramatic, with the average falling to 50 FPS, which is just over a third of the 1080p performance. This pattern of diminishing returns at higher resolutions is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance, as the workload on the graphics card increases exponentially with pixel count.

The scaling becomes even more telling when examining the Low settings preset. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves a very high 193 FPS average. This drops to 125 FPS at 1440p and then to 68 FPS at 4K. The fact that even at the lowest settings, the 4K frame rate is less than half of the 1080p rate suggests that the RX 7600's raw pixel-pushing capabilities are the bottleneck, regardless of the graphical complexity. The CPU, with its 24 cores and high clock speeds, is clearly not the limiting factor here; otherwise, we would see more consistent frame rates across resolutions.

The data implies that the Radeon RX 7600 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Doom. The 4K results, while playable at Low and Medium settings, show that the GPU is struggling to maintain high frame rates at this resolution. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is significant, but the gap between 1440p and 4K is where the GPU's limitations become most apparent. This is a strong indicator that for a 4K experience, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the current combo's performance is heavily dependent on resolution scaling.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a formidable processor, and its specifications suggest it should have no trouble keeping up with the demands of a game like Doom. With 24 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 3.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, its raw processing power is substantial. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 51731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7303 in single-core, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, is only 0.2% behind in average benchmark score, showing just how competitive this processor is.

Given this immense CPU power, it is unsurprising that the measured FPS data shows the CPU is not a bottleneck in Doom. The frame rate differences between resolutions are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. For example, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 193 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that a less capable CPU might struggle to feed. However, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus handles this with ease, allowing the GPU to work to its full potential. The CPU's high single-core performance, as evidenced by its 7303 Cinebench R23 score, is particularly important for gaming, as many game engines rely heavily on a few fast cores.

The CPU's role in this combo is to be a stable, high-performance foundation that does not interfere with the GPU's output. The data shows that the bottleneck is consistently on the graphics side, and the CPU's 24 cores and high clock speeds ensure that it is never the reason for a frame rate drop. The core count is likely overkill for Doom specifically, but it ensures that the system is future-proof and capable of handling more multi-threaded titles. The processor's performance in the Passmark multi-thread test, with a score of 60860, further confirms its ability to handle any background tasks while gaming without impacting performance.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p is the optimal resolution for high frame rates. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 142 FPS, and at Low settings, it reaches 193 FPS, both of which are well-suited for high refresh rate monitors.

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

A: Yes, 4K is playable, but with compromises. The measured data shows an average of 50 FPS at High settings and 68 FPS at Low settings. For a smoother experience, you would need to use the Low or Medium presets, as the Ultra preset only yields 41 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15171. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, has a score of 15199, which is a 0.2% difference. This indicates they are virtually identical in overall performance.

Q: Is the CPU powerful enough for this game?

A: Absolutely. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with a high single-core score of 7303 in Cinebench R23. The measured FPS data shows no signs of CPU bottlenecking, as the frame rates are consistently limited by the GPU.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset averages 125 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 75 FPS. This is a 50 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra settings are significantly more demanding on the GPU.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003. Its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83807, meaning the 290K Plus is only 0.2% faster. This shows they are nearly identical in performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Doom, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7600 holds a rank of 1991 out of 2930. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum, which is a direct reflection of the GPU's mid-range standing. The CPU is a top-tier component, but the overall combo ranking is dragged down by the RX 7600, which only sits in the 57th percentile of all GPUs.

The ranking suggests that there are many more powerful combinations available, particularly those with higher-end graphics cards. The fact that the CPU is so powerful but the combo ranks in the 68th percentile (1991/2930) indicates a significant imbalance in this pairing. Users looking for higher rankings would need to pair the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with a more powerful GPU to take full advantage of the CPU's capabilities. The data shows that this combo is not designed for top-tier performance but rather for a balanced 1080p and 1440p gaming experience.

The rank also implies that while the CPU is a strong performer, its contribution to the gaming experience is limited by the GPU. The CPU's high benchmark scores do not translate directly into a high combo rank for this specific game, as the GPU's performance is the determining factor. This is an important consideration for users who prioritize gaming performance over synthetic CPU benchmarks. The combo's rank of 1991 out of 2930 is a clear indicator that the RX 7600 is the performance ceiling for this system.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the definitive performance limiter in this configuration. Its specifications, including 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus and a boost clock of 2655 MHz, are solid for 1080p gaming but show their limits at higher resolutions. The GPU's average benchmark score of 15171 places it in the 57th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, is only 0.2% faster, showing it is a mid-range performer.

The GPU's role in Doom is clearly defined by the measured FPS data. At 1080p, it can push frame rates well above 100 FPS on all settings, even reaching 193 FPS at Low. This indicates that it has enough raw power and memory bandwidth for 1080p gaming. However, as the resolution increases, the demands on the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become more apparent. At 4K, the performance drops significantly, with the Ultra preset only hitting 41 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is running out of both computational and memory resources at this resolution.

The GPU's 32 ray-tracing cores and 2048 shading units provide a good amount of processing power for a mid-range card, but they are not sufficient for 4K gaming at high settings. The 288.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth is also a limiting factor at higher resolutions, where the GPU needs to access textures and geometry data more quickly. The data confirms that the RX 7600 is best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where its performance is strong, and it is not suitable for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. The GPU's role is to provide a good 1080p and 1440p experience, and it does so effectively, but it cannot overcome the pixel count demands of 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combination in Doom is detailed across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. The Low preset yields the highest average frame rate at 193 FPS. The Medium preset averages 168 FPS, with a minimum of 143 and a maximum of 193. The High preset averages 142 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 116 FPS. All of these results are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p an excellent resolution for this combo.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 125 FPS. The Medium preset averages 109 FPS, with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 125. The High preset averages 92 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 75 FPS. These frame rates are still very playable, but the gap between the Low and Ultra presets widens, showing the GPU is working harder.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become clear. The Low preset averages 68 FPS. The Medium preset averages 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68. The High preset averages 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS. These results show that 4K is only playable at Low and Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset is not recommended at this resolution due to the low average FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth and responsive experience, the Medium preset at 1080p is a strong choice, as it delivers an average of 168 FPS with a minimum of 143 FPS. This provides a significant visual improvement over Low while maintaining frame rates well above 144 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate displays.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the High preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, averaging 92 FPS. This is a very playable frame rate for a single-player game like Doom. The Ultra preset at 1440p also works, averaging 75 FPS, but the visual difference may not justify the 17 FPS drop in performance.

At 4K, the options are more limited. The Low preset, which averages 68 FPS, is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset, at 59 FPS, is playable but may feel less responsive in intense moments. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended at 4K due to their low average frame rates of 50 and 41 FPS, respectively. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the Low preset is the clear recommendation to maintain a playable frame rate.

Overall, the data suggests that this combo shines at 1080p and 1440p. For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1080p offers the highest frame rates with good visual quality. For 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot, balancing performance and fidelity. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option for a consistently smooth experience.