Doom

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a formidable combination for Doom, placing in the 182nd position out of 2,930 tested combos. This ranking places the combo in the top 6.2% of all tested systems, indicating a high level of performance. The data shows that this pairing is exceptionally well-suited for the game’s engine, delivering frame rates that far exceed the requirements for smooth, competitive play. The combination of a high-core-count CPU and a top-tier GPU ensures that neither component becomes a significant bottleneck at standard gaming resolutions, resulting in a consistently high-performance experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 182 out of 2,930 tested configurations places it in the 94th percentile of all systems tested for this game. This is a strong indicator that the pairing is near the top of the performance hierarchy. With an average benchmark score of 84,003 for the CPU and 54,209 for the GPU, the system demonstrates a balanced profile where both major components are performing at a level that complements the other. This synergy is crucial in a fast-paced FPS like Doom, where a frame rate drop in either the CPU or GPU pipeline can result in a noticeable stutter. The data suggests that this combo is not just fast, but also consistent, which is a critical factor for a smooth gameplay experience.

When looking at the CPU’s nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus shows a 0.2% performance advantage over the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. This indicates that while the 290K Plus is the newer part, the performance difference in synthetic benchmarks is marginal. However, it also holds a 1.1% lead over the AMD EPYC 4584PX and a 1.2% lead over the AMD EPYC 9135, which are server-class processors. The data shows that in terms of raw processing power, this CPU is competitive with the best available, ensuring that it will not hold back the GPU in most scenarios. The close margins to its nearest rivals suggest that the CPU is near the peak of current desktop performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a key component in this combo, and its specifications are well-suited to Doom's demanding visuals. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This large memory pool and high bandwidth are crucial for handling the game's high-resolution textures and complex scenes at 4K without running into memory limitations. The GPU's base clock is 2295 MHz with a boost clock of 2550 MHz, which represents a solid factory-overclocked state. This core configuration is backed by 10,240 shading units and 320 texture mapping units, which are the primary workhorses for rendering the game's geometry and effects.

In terms of raw compute, the RTX 4080 SUPER delivers 52.22 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. This is a substantial amount of processing power that directly translates to high fill rates and pixel throughput. The GPU's performance is further highlighted by its benchmark scores, particularly a Passmark G3D score of 34,245. When compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4080 SUPER is essentially tied with the original RTX 4080, showing a negligible -0.1% difference in average score. It also sits close to other high-end cards like the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, with a -1.1% difference. This data indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is positioned at the top tier of graphics cards, providing the necessary power to push high frame rates in Doom.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 294 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 190 FPS, a significant 35% decrease. This substantial drop suggests that the GPU is becoming a more significant factor at higher resolutions, although the frame rates remain exceptionally high. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 103, another 46% reduction from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is typical for a modern game, where the GPU is the primary limiter as pixel count increases.

The data from the Low and Medium settings further illustrates this trend. At 1080p Low, the system hits 399 FPS, which suggests the CPU is still able to feed the GPU adequately, but the GPU is the main driver of performance. As resolution increases to 4K Low, the frame rate drops to 140 FPS. This demonstrates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU's workload at 4K is substantial. The fact that 4K Low (140 FPS) is higher than 4K High (103 FPS) shows that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution, as lowering the settings reduces the GPU load and increases the frame rate. The performance scaling indicates that this combo is highly capable at 1080p and 1440p, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K, especially with higher graphical presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a detailed look at performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo consistently delivers frame rates well above 200 FPS. The lowest average recorded is 240 FPS at Ultra settings, while the highest is 399 FPS at Low settings. The Medium preset shows an average of 348 FPS, with a minimum of 296 FPS and a maximum of 400 FPS. At High settings, the average is 294 FPS. This data indicates that at 1080p, the system is heavily GPU-bound, but the performance is so high that it is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor. The 1080p results show a clear hierarchy: Low (399) > Medium (348) > High (294) > Ultra (240).

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high. The Ultra preset yields an average of 155 FPS, which is still very smooth. The High preset averages 190 FPS, the Medium preset averages 225 FPS with a minimum of 191 FPS and a maximum of 259 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 259 FPS. The pattern is consistent, showing a performance drop of roughly 35-40% when moving from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings. This indicates that the GPU is the primary factor, as the workload scales with resolution.

At 4K (3840x2160), the performance is still very playable, but the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The High preset averages 103 FPS, which is excellent for 4K gaming. The Medium preset averages 122 FPS, with a minimum of 104 FPS and a maximum of 140 FPS. The Low preset averages 140 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 84 FPS. The gap between Low (140) and Ultra (84) is 56 FPS, which is significant. This shows that the Ultra preset is particularly demanding at 4K, and users may prefer to use High or Medium to achieve higher frame rates. Overall, the data shows a system that is capable of handling 4K gaming, but with a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus features 24 cores and 24 threads, a configuration that is overkill for most games, including Doom. The CPU has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, which are high frequencies that contribute to strong single-threaded performance. This is important for game engines that rely on a few primary threads for physics and game logic. The CPU's benchmark scores confirm its strength, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51,731 and a single-core score of 7,303. The Passmark multithread score is 60,860, and the single-thread score is 4,823. These scores indicate that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this system.

The data suggests that the CPU is more than capable of keeping up with the GPU. In Doom, the high core count and high clock speeds ensure that frame times remain consistent, preventing stutters that can occur when the CPU is overloaded. The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache is also beneficial for game performance, as it allows for faster access to frequently used data. While the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate at higher resolutions, the CPU ensures that the system can deliver its maximum performance without being held back by processor limitations. The 8.2% performance difference between the CPU and its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 9135, underscores its position as a top-tier gaming processor.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Doom with this combo for the highest frame rates?

A: The data shows the highest frame rates are achieved at 1920x1080, with an average of 399 FPS at Low settings and 294 FPS at High settings. This is the best resolution for maximum performance.

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

A: Yes, the system is capable of 4K gaming. At 3840x2160, it achieves an average of 103 FPS on High settings and 140 FPS on Low settings, which is very smooth for 4K.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the original RTX 4080?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER is essentially tied with the original RTX 4080, showing a negligible -0.1% difference in average benchmark score, indicating similar performance levels.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this GPU in Doom?

A: No, the CPU is not a bottleneck. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has high benchmark scores and a 96th percentile ranking, ensuring it can keep up with the GPU's performance.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 155 FPS, while the High preset averages 190 FPS. This is a difference of 35 FPS in favor of the High preset.

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

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 104, with an average of 122 FPS and a maximum of 140 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's priority for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For users with a 1080p high-refresh-rate monitor (240Hz or higher), the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 294 FPS. This provides a great balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p still delivers a very high 240 FPS, so it is also a viable option for those who want maximum visual detail without sacrificing smoothness. At this resolution, the system is so powerful that even the most demanding preset yields frame rates that are more than sufficient for competitive play.

For 1440p gaming, a popular resolution for high-end systems, the High preset offers an average of 190 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz monitors. The Medium preset is also a strong contender, with an average of 225 FPS and a minimum of 191 FPS, making it the best option for those seeking the highest possible frame rates while still maintaining good image quality. The Ultra preset, while still smooth at 155 FPS, represents a step down in performance that may not be worth the visual gain for some players. The data suggests that High or Medium are the sweet spots at this resolution.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor. The High preset delivers an average of 103 FPS, which is perfect for a 100Hz+ 4K display. This is the recommended preset for a premium 4K experience. The Medium preset is a better choice for those who want to ensure a higher frame rate, averaging 122 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 84 FPS, is playable but may not feel as smooth, especially in fast-paced action. The Low preset at 140 FPS is the best for performance but sacrifices significant visual quality. For the best overall experience at 4K, the High preset is the recommended choice due to its balanced performance and visual fidelity.