Doom

This combo, pairing the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, is the top-performing configuration in our database for Doom, securing the #1 spot out of 2,930 tested combinations. The data indicates this is the definitive setup for maximizing frame rates in this title, with measured results that leave no room for doubt regarding its dominance.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark results unequivocally place this pairing at the pinnacle of performance for Doom. With a combo rank of 1 out of 2,930, this system outperforms every other CPU and GPU combination we have recorded. This is not a marginal victory; it is a statement of intent. The frame rates achieved at every resolution and settings level are the highest in our database. For context, the individual components are also top-tier. The CPU sits in the 96th percentile among all processors, while the GPU is in the 92nd percentile among all graphics cards. When these two are combined, their strengths are amplified, resulting in a gaming experience that is unmatched in our records for this specific title.

The data suggests that this is the ultimate esports-level or high-refresh-rate setup for Doom. At 1080p, the system is capable of pushing frame rates that far exceed the refresh rates of even the most advanced gaming monitors on the market. The combination of the CPU's high single-thread performance and the GPU's immense raw power creates a system where the game's engine is simply not the bottleneck. The ranking reflects the synergy of this pairing; it is not just about having the fastest GPU or CPU, but about having a combination that works together flawlessly to eliminate any potential performance ceiling. In our records, no other tested configuration even comes close to the results this pair delivers.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the game scales with graphical settings, and the optimal choice depends on your display's capabilities. The most balanced experience for high-refresh-rate gaming at both 1440p and 4K is the Medium preset. At 1440p, this setting yields an average of 273 FPS, which is an excellent target for a 240Hz monitor. At 4K, the Medium preset delivers a still-impressive 148 FPS average. The data for this preset also shows the minimum FPS is 126 at 4K and 232 at 1440p, indicating a consistent experience without severe dips.

For players with monitors that support extreme refresh rates, the Low preset is the only way to get the absolute maximum frame rate. At 1080p, this setting produces an astronomical 485 FPS average. Even at 4K, the Low preset manages a 170 FPS average, which is higher than the Medium preset's 148 FPS average. This suggests that at 4K, the game becomes less dependent on the GPU and more reliant on the CPU's ability to process the scene. The High preset is a compelling middle ground if you desire better visual fidelity without sacrificing too much performance. At 1440p, it still delivers a very high 231 FPS average, which is playable on most high-refresh-rate panels. The Ultra preset, while offering the best visuals, results in a significant performance hit. The frame rate drops to 189 FPS at 1440p and 102 FPS at 4K. This is still very playable, but it represents a considerable reduction compared to the other presets.

The recommendation is clear: Medium is the sweet spot for most users, offering a great balance between visual quality and performance. It provides a high enough average FPS to be smooth on any display, and the minimum FPS data shows it maintains stability. If you are a competitive player who prioritizes frame rate above all else, Low is the optimal choice, especially at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The data illustrates a classic performance scaling curve as resolution increases, but with a notable twist that highlights the CPU's strength. When moving from 1080p to 1440p on the High preset, the average FPS drops from 357 to 231, a significant 35% decrease. This substantial drop indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiting factor, as the GPU has enough headroom to render frames as fast as the CPU can feed them. The RTX 5090 D is so powerful that it is effectively waiting for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus to supply it with draw calls.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K on the High preset shows a smaller relative drop, from 231 FPS to 125 FPS, a 46% decrease. This shift indicates that as resolution climbs, the GPU begins to take on a more significant role as the limiting factor. The pixel fill rate demand at 4K becomes a heavier burden, and the GPU's performance starts to dictate the final frame rate. However, the fact that the 4K High preset still manages to hit 125 FPS confirms the immense power of this GPU. The game is clearly not overly demanding on the GPU at this resolution for this specific pairing.

This behavior is consistent across all settings. At 1080p, the differences between presets are relatively small in absolute FPS terms (e.g., 485 FPS at Low vs. 292 FPS at Ultra), but the CPU is the bottleneck. At 4K, the differences become more pronounced, as the GPU is now the primary constraint. This analysis indicates that this combo is so powerful that it can be CPU-bound at 1080p and even at 1440p in Doom, which is a unique situation. It means that for this specific game, the CPU's performance is just as critical as the GPU's, and this pairing ensures that neither component is a weak link.

FAQ

Q: Is this the best CPU and GPU combo for Doom?

A: Yes, according to our benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks #1 out of 2,930 tested combos for this game.

Q: What settings should I use for the highest possible frame rate?

A: The Low preset gives the highest average FPS at all resolutions, reaching 485 at 1080p, 314 at 1440p, and 170 at 4K.

Q: I have a 240Hz monitor. What is the best settings preset to use?

A: The Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 273 FPS at 1440p and 422 FPS at 1080p, providing a high enough frame rate to fully utilize a 240Hz display while offering better visuals than the Low preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for performance in this game?

A: The data shows the system is CPU-bound at 1080p, where frame rates are extremely high. As you increase the resolution to 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the more significant limiting factor, although the performance remains exceptionally high.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its closest rivals?

A: In our database, the RTX 5090 D's average benchmark score is 77,712, which is 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. Its performance is also within 2.4% of the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K with the Ultra preset?

A: The measured average FPS for the Ultra preset at 4K is 102 FPS, which is still a very playable and smooth experience.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a powerhouse, and its specifications align perfectly with the high frame rates observed. It is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. This is critical for high-resolution textures and ensures that the GPU never starves for data. The GPU has 21,760 shading units and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, which contributes to its raw compute power of 104.8 TFLOPS. The data shows that this GPU is capable of rendering the game at extremely high speeds, even at 4K resolution.

The GPU's role in this pairing is most evident at higher resolutions. While the system is CPU-bound at 1080p, the RTX 5090 D's immense power is what allows the frame rate to stay high as resolution increases. The drop from 485 FPS at 1080p Low to 170 FPS at 4K Low is a significant reduction, but the absolute numbers are still higher than what most other GPUs could achieve. The 32 GB of VRAM is another key asset. Even though Doom is not a VRAM-heavy game by modern standards, having this much memory ensures that there is no possibility of a capacity bottleneck, even with the highest resolution textures and settings. The GPU's average benchmark score of 77,712 and its 92nd percentile ranking confirm that it is one of the most capable graphics cards in our database, and its performance in this game is a direct reflection of that.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus plays a crucial role in enabling the extreme frame rates seen in this benchmark. With 24 cores and 24 threads and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, its single-thread performance is exceptional, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,303. Doom, like many FPS games, relies heavily on a few primary threads for game logic and draw calls. The CPU's high clock speed and strong single-core performance are perfectly suited for this task, allowing it to feed the GPU with data as fast as possible.

The data strongly suggests that this CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p. The fact that the frame rate scales significantly when moving from 1080p to 1440p (e.g., from 357 FPS to 231 FPS on High) indicates that the CPU is maxing out its ability to process the game at 1080p. It is generating frames faster than the GPU can render them, which reflects the CPU's power. Its performance in the PassMark multithread test, with a score of 60,860, also shows it has immense multi-core capabilities, but for this specific game, its single-thread performance is the star. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 84,003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, place it at the very top of the consumer processor market. This pairing ensures that the CPU is not a bottleneck, even in the most demanding scenarios.