Doom

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a highly playable experience in Doom across most settings, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary limiter at higher resolutions. The dataset provides a clear picture of how this combination handles the 2016 FPS title, showing a significant drop in frame rates as pixel count increases, a pattern consistent with GPU-bound scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a pronounced and consistent decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the Low preset, the average frame rate falls from 203 FPS at 1080p to 131 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 71 FPS at 4K. This represents a 65% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, a steep curve that indicates the rendering pipeline is heavily dependent on the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth at higher resolutions. The RTX 4060, with its 128-bit memory bus and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth, faces increasing pressure as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The scaling pattern across all presets follows a similar trajectory. For the High preset, the average FPS drops from 149 at 1080p to 97 at 1440p and further to 52 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic decline, starting at 122 FPS at 1080p, falling to 79 FPS at 1440p, and collapsing to just 43 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is roughly 30-35% across presets, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is approximately 45-50%, showing that the scaling is not linear but accelerates at higher resolutions.

This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU's memory subsystem becomes a bottleneck at 4K. The 8 GB GDDR6 frame buffer, while adequate for 1080p and 1440p in this title, must work harder at 4K to manage the larger textures and higher memory pressure. The data indicates that the CPU, with its 16 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock, is not the limiting factor at any resolution, as the frame rate drops are consistent with what would be expected from GPU-bound performance scaling.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 serves as the clear performance driver in this configuration. Its specifications include a boost clock of 2460 MHz and a base clock of 1830 MHz, built on the AD107 chip using the Ada Lovelace architecture. The GPU features 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, with a pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is rated at 15.11 TFLOPS, which is substantial for a mobile-oriented GPU.

The memory configuration is 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This bandwidth figure is modest by modern standards, and the benchmark results reflect this limitation at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU's compute capabilities shine through, producing 203 FPS at Low settings and 149 FPS at High settings. The Ultra preset at 1080p still manages 122 FPS, showing that the GPU has ample compute headroom at this resolution.

However, at 4K, the GPU's memory bandwidth becomes the constraining factor. The difference between Low (71 FPS) and Ultra (43 FPS) at 4K is 28 FPS, a 65% reduction, which is larger than the 81 FPS difference at 1080p between the same presets (203 vs 122). This widening gap indicates that at lower resolutions, the GPU's compute units are the primary resource being utilized, while at 4K, the memory subsystem and ROP throughput become more critical. The 48 ROPs, while adequate for 1080p, struggle to fill the 8.3 million pixels of a 4K frame at high detail settings.

The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support, with a Passmark DirectX 12 score of 76, does not appear to be a limiting factor in this title, as Doom's Vulkan-based engine leverages the GPU's capabilities well. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302 and the Geekbench Vulkan score of 48643 indicate solid API performance, which translates to the smooth frame rates observed at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1755 out of 2930 tested combos in Doom, placing it in the 40th percentile of all tested configurations. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the strong 1080p numbers, but it reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions where many competing combos with more powerful GPUs pull ahead.

The CPU alone ranks in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44466. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (44573, -0.2% delta), the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44342, +0.3%), the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44309, +0.4%), and the Intel Core i5-13600 (44240, +0.5%). These deltas are all within 0.5% of each other, indicating that the CPU's performance is essentially equivalent to these competitors in synthetic benchmarks. The CPU's single-thread score of 4280 in Passmark and its 18 MB of shared L3 cache provide strong gaming fundamentals.

The GPU, however, ranks in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666, -0.2%), the AMD Radeon 780M (17588, +0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551, +0.5%), and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (17509, +0.7%). These are all older or integrated graphics solutions, which suggests that the RTX 4060's raw compute is competitive with these parts, but its memory bandwidth and ROP count limit its gaming performance at higher resolutions compared to more modern discrete GPUs.

The combo's rank of 1755 out of 2930 indicates that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the GPU holds the overall combination back. Many combos with weaker CPUs but stronger GPUs will outperform this pairing in Doom at 4K, where the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck. At 1080p, however, this combo would likely rank much higher, as the CPU's strong single-thread performance can keep up with the GPU's output.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 203 FPS, with the Medium preset at 177 FPS (min 150, max 203), High at 149 FPS, and Ultra at 122 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 81 FPS, with each step up in quality costing roughly 25-30 FPS. The Medium preset's min FPS of 150 indicates that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above 144 FPS, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 131 FPS, Medium at 114 FPS (min 97, max 132), High at 97 FPS, and Ultra at 79 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 52 FPS, showing that the quality settings have a smaller absolute impact at this resolution. The Medium preset's min FPS of 97 ensures that the experience remains smooth on a 100 Hz or 120 Hz monitor, though the Ultra preset's 79 FPS average may dip below 60 in heavy combat sequences.

At 3840x2160, performance becomes marginal for demanding settings. The Low preset averages 71 FPS, Medium at 62 FPS (min 53, max 71), High at 52 FPS, and Ultra at 43 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 28 FPS, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiter and quality settings have a reduced impact on the final frame rate. The Medium preset's min FPS of 53 is below the 60 FPS threshold, meaning that even Medium settings may experience occasional stutters on a standard 60 Hz display.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Doom?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the most headroom, with all presets exceeding 122 FPS on average. At 2560x1440, the Low and Medium presets stay above 114 FPS, while High and Ultra remain above 79 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset averages above 70 FPS, with Medium at 62 FPS and Ultra at 43 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has an average benchmark score of 44466, placing it in the 88th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, scores 44573, which is only 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i9-13950HX scores 44342 (0.3% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 44309 (0.4% lower).

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and how does it compare to rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks in the 61st percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, scores 17666, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588 (0.3% lower), and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 17551 (0.5% lower).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions. The CPU's strong performance, evidenced by its 88th percentile ranking, does not show signs of bottlenecking. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s and 48 ROPs are the key constraints, particularly at 3840x2160 where performance drops significantly.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 203 FPS while the Ultra preset averages 122 FPS. This represents a 81 FPS difference, or roughly 40% lower performance at Ultra compared to Low, which is a significant quality-to-performance trade-off.

Q: What launch MSRP does the GPU have?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has a launch MSRP of 299 USD.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 offers the best balance of performance and visual quality. This combination delivers an average of 177 FPS with a minimum of 150 FPS, ensuring that the frame rate never drops below the 144 Hz refresh rate threshold common on gaming monitors. The Medium preset at this resolution uses the GPU's resources efficiently, as the min FPS of 150 indicates stable frame pacing even during intense combat sequences.

For users with 1440p displays, the Medium preset is also the recommended choice, providing an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS. This keeps the experience smooth on 100 Hz monitors, though the minimum of 97 FPS means that a 120 Hz display may not be fully saturated in all scenes. The High preset at 1440p, with an average of 97 FPS, is a viable alternative for those prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate consistency.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only setting that consistently exceeds 60 FPS, averaging 71 FPS. The Medium preset dips to a minimum of 53 FPS, which may cause perceptible stuttering on a 60 Hz display. For 4K gaming, the Low preset provides the most stable experience, while the Medium preset is acceptable for users who can tolerate occasional frame rate drops below 60 FPS.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution above 1080p, as its 79 FPS average at 1440p and 43 FPS at 4K do not provide a smooth experience. At 1080p, the Ultra preset's 122 FPS average is playable but offers diminishing returns over the Medium preset's 177 FPS, given the visual differences between these settings in a fast-paced FPS title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H plays a supporting role in this configuration, providing ample processing power that never becomes a bottleneck in Doom. The CPU features 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This high boost clock, combined with the Panther Lake architecture and 3 nm process node, delivers strong single-thread performance that is essential for game logic and draw call processing.

The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration provides fast access to frequently used data, reducing latency in game workloads. The memory support for LPDDR5X over a dual-channel interface delivers 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient to feed the CPU's cores without creating a memory bottleneck.

Synthetic benchmarks show the CPU's capabilities: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 18911 and single-core scores 2200.5, while Cinebench R20 scores 13101 multi-core and 1849 single-core. The Passmark single-thread score of 4280 places the CPU in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.5% of its average benchmark score of 44466. This indicates that the CPU's performance is well-balanced and competitive with other high-end mobile and desktop parts.

In Doom specifically, the CPU's role is to maintain consistent frame delivery, which it does effectively. The fact that the frame rate drops consistently from 1080p to 4K, regardless of settings, confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's 16 threads are more than sufficient for Doom's engine, which is optimized for Vulkan and can leverage multiple cores for rendering tasks. The CPU's 5.10 GHz boost clock ensures that even single-threaded game logic runs at peak efficiency, preventing any CPU-induced frame rate drops that could compromise the GPU's output.