Doom

Doom is an exceptionally well-optimized title, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 reflects this, showing a system that scales cleanly from high-refresh 1080p gaming down to a playable 4K experience. The measured frames per second (FPS) across all settings and resolutions indicate a balanced platform where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance keeps minimum frame rates stable at lower resolutions. This is a mobile combo that punches above its weight, but the trade-offs between visual fidelity and frame rate are clear and require careful selection of presets.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, which is typical for a GPU-bound title like Doom. At the Low preset, the average FPS falls from 227 at 1920x1080 to 147 at 2560x1440, a 35% reduction, and then further to 80 at 3840x2160, which is a 65% reduction from the 1080p figure. This dramatic scaling shows that the RTX 4070’s pixel-pushing capabilities are the limiting factor at 4K, even on the least demanding settings, as the frame rate nearly halves when moving from 1440p to 4K.

The data indicates that the most significant drop occurs between 1440p and 4K across all presets. For instance, on the High preset, the average FPS goes from 108 at 2560x1440 to 59 at 3840x2160, a 45% decrease. This suggests that the 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and the 192-bit memory bus, while sufficient for 1440p, become strained at 4K due to the increased pixel count and texture data. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more gradual, with the High preset dropping from 167 to 108 FPS, indicating that the GPU still has headroom at 1080p and is not yet fully saturated.

At 1080p, the system is clearly not GPU-bound, as evidenced by the high frame rates. The jump from 137 FPS at Ultra to 227 FPS at Low shows that the CPU and the game engine are capable of feeding the GPU well beyond 200 FPS. However, the real story is the consistency of the frame pacing at lower resolutions. The Medium preset at 1080p shows a minimum FPS of 168 and a maximum of 228, a narrow band that suggests stable performance without major hitches, which is critical for a fast-paced FPS. The 4K Medium preset shows a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80, indicating that while playable, the system is right on the edge of maintaining a locked 60 FPS, and any demanding scene could cause a noticeable dip.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of presets, and the choice between them depends entirely on your target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is the most sensible choice, as it delivers an average of 137 FPS, which is well above the 120Hz threshold and provides the best visual quality without sacrificing responsiveness. The High preset at 167 FPS is also viable for 144Hz displays, but the visual uplift from High to Ultra is usually worth the 30 FPS cost in a game like Doom where the action is fast.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the sweet spot, delivering an average of 108 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and allows for high refresh rate gaming on 120Hz monitors. While the Ultra preset at 89 FPS is still playable, the drop below 90 FPS can be noticeable in intense firefights, making High the more competitive choice. The Medium preset at 128 FPS is also excellent, but the jump from Medium to High is relatively small in terms of visual impact, so High is recommended for the best balance.

For 4K gaming, the situation is more constrained. The Ultra preset at 48 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience, as it falls below the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 59 FPS is borderline, but the average being just under 60 FPS means you will experience frequent dips below that threshold. The Medium preset at 69 FPS is the recommended starting point for 4K, as it provides a playable frame rate with a minimum of 59 FPS, ensuring that the game remains smooth in most scenarios. If you want to push higher frame rates at 4K, the Low preset at 80 FPS is an option, but it significantly degrades the visual experience, making Medium the best compromise for a stable 4K session.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. In Doom, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, and the data shows that it performs this task admirably, particularly in single-threaded workloads. The processor’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3984 is a strong indicator of its ability to handle the game’s main thread, which is crucial for maintaining high minimum FPS.

The benchmark results show that the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p, as the system is able to push over 200 FPS on the Low preset. This is supported by the Passmark single-thread score of 4005, which places it in the top percentile for desktop and mobile processors. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz is likely the key factor here, as Doom benefits from high single-core frequency. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with data locality, reducing latency for frequently accessed game assets.

Interestingly, the CPU’s multi-threaded performance is less critical for this game. While the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28221 is excellent, Doom’s engine does not scale perfectly across all 16 cores. The data suggests that the game is more reliant on the GPU, as the frame rate drops significantly when resolution increases, even when the CPU has headroom. This is not to say the CPU is irrelevant; a weaker processor would likely show lower minimum FPS in complex scenes, but the Core Ultra X7 368H’s strong single-core performance ensures that the GPU is never starved of data, even at 1080p with the Low preset where the frame rate peaks at 227 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks at 1554 out of 2930 combos for Doom, placing it in the 47th percentile of all tested systems. This mid-pack ranking is surprising given the high frame rates measured, but it reflects the fact that many other combos in the database include more powerful desktop GPUs or newer generation parts that push higher absolute FPS numbers. The rank is a relative measure against a wide field of hardware, and the fact that this is a mobile CPU (with a 25W TDP) paired with a mobile-class RTX 4070 means it is competing against systems with higher power budgets.

The ranking data suggests that while this combo is capable of delivering a great experience, it is not at the extreme top end of performance. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core 7 253PE and AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, have very similar average benchmark scores (40557 and 40431, respectively), with a delta of -0.1% and 0.2%. This indicates that the processor is sitting in a performance tier with other high-end mobile chips, and the differences in gaming FPS are likely negligible. The GPU also has close rivals, with the RTX 4080 Mobile being 1.3% faster in average benchmarks, which could translate to a few extra FPS in Doom.

For practical purposes, the combo rank is a useful indicator but not the whole story. The measured FPS shows that this system is more than capable of providing a high-refresh 1080p and solid 1440p experience. The rank is dragged down by the fact that many combos in the database are tested with lower graphical settings or at lower resolutions, which inflates their average FPS. When considering the actual playable resolutions and settings, this combo performs admirably and offers a balanced experience that should satisfy most gamers.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the driving force behind the visual performance in this combo. Based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 5888 shading units, it boasts a boost clock of 2475 MHz and 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. In Doom, the GPU’s role is to render the fast-paced action, and its capabilities are clearly demonstrated by the scaling of FPS across resolutions.

The GPU’s performance is strong enough to deliver 137 FPS at 1080p Ultra, but the data shows that it is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The 4K Ultra preset yields only 48 FPS, which is a 65% drop from the 1080p Ultra figure. This is a clear indication that the GPU’s raw pixel throughput is insufficient for 4K at the highest settings. The 12 GB of VRAM is adequate for 4K, as the High preset uses less memory and still hits 59 FPS, but the memory bus width and bandwidth become limiting factors at this resolution.

The RTX 4070’s benchmark scores support its mid-to-high-end positioning. Its Passmark G3D score of 26927 places it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 shows solid DirectX 12 performance. The nearest rival, the RTX 4080 Mobile, is only 1.3% faster in average benchmarks, suggesting that this mobile implementation of the RTX 4070 is very close to the performance of a higher-tier mobile part. In practical terms, the GPU is best utilized at 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates with the High preset, or at 4K with the Medium preset, where it provides a stable 69 FPS.

The GPU’s power consumption of 200W is a consideration for thermal management, but the data shows that it does not throttle under load, as the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 109, which is close to the average. This indicates that the cooling solution is adequate for sustained gaming sessions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a stable 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with the High preset is the best balance, delivering an average of 108 FPS. For 4K, the Medium preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS, at 69 FPS.

Q: Can I play Doom at 4K Ultra with this hardware?

A: No, the measured 4K Ultra average FPS is 48, which is below the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience. You should use the Medium or High preset at 4K for playable frame rates.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at 1080p, as the frame rate scales with the preset level (from 227 FPS at Low to 137 FPS at Ultra). The CPU’s strong single-core performance ensures it is not a bottleneck, with the high boost clock of 5.00 GHz providing ample headroom.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its direct rivals in terms of overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H has an average benchmark score of 40518, which is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE at 40557, a difference of just -0.1%. It also edges out the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H by 0.2%.

Q: What is the minimum FPS I can expect at 1440p with the Medium preset?

A: The measured minimum FPS at 2560x1440 with the Medium preset is 109, with a maximum of 148 and an average of 128. This indicates stable performance without significant frame drops.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 in this combo more powerful than a desktop RTX 4070?

A: The data does not include a direct comparison to a desktop RTX 4070. However, the GPU’s nearest rival is the RTX 4080 Mobile, which is 1.3% faster in average benchmarks, suggesting this mobile part is close to that level of performance.