Doom

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Doom with the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile reveals a clear pattern of scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 309 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 200 FPS, a reduction of 109 FPS or roughly 35%. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 108 FPS, which is about 46% lower than the 1440p result. This steep decline suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as pixel count grows.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings tells a similar story. The 1080p High average of 227 FPS drops to 147 FPS at 1440p, then to 80 FPS at 4K. That is a total reduction of 147 FPS from 1080p to 4K, representing a 65% performance loss. The data implies that while the CPU has headroom at lower resolutions, the RTX 5080 Mobile cannot maintain those high frame rates when asked to render four times the pixels.

The Medium settings row provides the only complete min/max data across all resolutions, offering additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the average is 269 FPS with a minimum of 229 and maximum of 310. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 174 FPS with a minimum of 148 and maximum of 200. At 4K Medium, the average is 94 FPS with a minimum of 80 and maximum of 109. The spread between min and max FPS narrows as resolution increases, which indicates that frame pacing becomes more consistent when the GPU is more heavily loaded.

Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling penalty. The 1080p Ultra average of 186 FPS falls to 120 FPS at 1440p and then to 65 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than one-third of the 1080p Low figure, underscoring how much the RTX 5080 Mobile is stretched at the highest settings and resolution combination.

The data suggests that resolution scaling is not linear. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is larger than the drop from 1440p to 4K in relative terms for Low settings, but the absolute FPS loss increases with each step. This behavior is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where memory bandwidth and shading throughput become increasingly critical.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile is the dominant component in this combo for Doom, and the benchmark results reflect its capabilities. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is substantial for a 2016 title, but the high resolution and settings tested here still show measurable performance scaling.

The RTX 5080 Mobile operates at a base clock of 975 MHz and a boost clock of 1500 MHz. These clocks are relatively modest for a flagship mobile GPU, but the architecture compensates with 7680 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The FP32 throughput of 23.04 TFLOPS indicates significant raw compute capability, which Doom's engine can leverage at lower resolutions.

The GPU's percentile ranking versus all GPUs is 81, placing it in the upper quintile. Its average benchmark score is 38349, and the nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 with an average score of 38299, a delta of just 0.1%. This close margin is surprising given the architectural differences, but the RTX 5080 Mobile also sits just 0.6% ahead of the RTX 4080 Mobile (38135 average). These results suggest that in synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5080 Mobile is not dramatically faster than its predecessor, yet the measured FPS in Doom indicates strong real-world performance.

The 4K results clarify the GPU's role. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS of 65 is the lowest measured across all settings, and this is where the 16 GB VRAM capacity and 896.0 GB/s bandwidth are most relevant. Doom at 4K with high settings can consume significant memory, and the RTX 5080 Mobile has ample headroom in that regard. The drop from 108 FPS at 4K Low to 65 FPS at 4K Ultra (a 40% reduction) is attributable to the GPU's shading and texture throughput rather than memory limitations.

The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) aligns well with Doom's Vulkan-based rendering, though the game also runs on older APIs. The passmark DirectX 12 score of 116 is lower than the DirectX 11 score of 253, which is counterintuitive but may reflect specific workload characteristics. The GPU's compute capability is evidenced by a passmark GPU compute score of 12134, which supports the heavy post-processing effects in Doom's Ultra preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Doom?

A: The highest measured average is 309 FPS at 1080p with Low settings. This is the peak across all tested resolutions and settings combinations.

Q: How does the RTX 5080 Mobile compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5080 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 38349, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 (38299) and 0.6% higher than the RTX 4080 Mobile (38135). It is 0.9% behind the MX570 A (38691) and AMD Radeon Pro 580X (38706).

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p Low and 4K Ultra?

A: The average FPS drops from 309 at 1080p Low to 65 at 4K Ultra, a reduction of 244 FPS or approximately 79%. This represents the full range of tested settings.

Q: Which settings preset offers the highest minimum FPS at 1440p?

A: At 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS is 148, which is the only min/max data available for that resolution. The average is 174 FPS with a maximum of 200.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: The data suggests the CPU has adequate headroom even at 1080p, where the average of 309 FPS on Low indicates the GPU is still the limiter. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H ranks at the 88th percentile versus all CPUs, supporting this interpretation.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations in Doom?

A: The combo ranks 1006 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 27% of all tested systems for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured results show a clear hierarchy across settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 309, which is the highest figure in the entire dataset. Medium settings reduce the average to 269 FPS, with a minimum of 229 and maximum of 310. High settings lower the average further to 227 FPS. Ultra settings produce an average of 186 FPS, which is still well above 144 Hz refresh rates. The step from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 123 FPS, a 40% reduction in average frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings yield an average of 200 FPS, which is a 109 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 174 FPS, with a minimum of 148 and maximum of 200. High settings average 147 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 120 FPS. The 1440p Ultra average of 120 FPS is exactly half of the 1080p Ultra figure, demonstrating a consistent scaling factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly working harder. Low settings average 108 FPS, which is just above the 100 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium settings average 94 FPS, with a minimum of 80 and maximum of 109. High settings produce 80 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 65 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured average below 70 FPS across the entire dataset, indicating that this configuration is at the edge of playable performance for demanding users.

The Medium settings row at each resolution is the only one with complete min/max data, which allows for frame consistency analysis. At 1080p, the range from min to max is 81 FPS (229 to 310). At 1440p, the range narrows to 52 FPS (148 to 200). At 4K, the range is 29 FPS (80 to 109). This tightening range suggests that as resolution increases, frame times become more uniform, likely due to the GPU being consistently saturated.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which settings presets offer the best experience. At 1080p, all settings presets deliver averages above 186 FPS, meaning even Ultra settings will exceed the refresh rate of most high-end displays. The data indicates that 1080p Ultra at 186 FPS is a viable option for competitive play, as the high minimum frame rate ensures no dips below playable levels.

At 1440p, the choice becomes more nuanced. Low settings at 200 FPS and Medium at 174 FPS both provide excellent headroom for high-refresh monitors. High settings at 147 FPS are still above 144 Hz, making this a good balance between visual quality and performance. Ultra settings at 120 FPS are playable but leave less margin for demanding scenes. The data suggests that 1440p High is the sweet spot for this resolution, as it offers a substantial visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining a 147 FPS average.

At 4K, the trade-off is most pronounced. Low settings at 108 FPS are smooth, but the visual downgrade is significant. Medium settings at 94 FPS with a minimum of 80 FPS provide a reasonable experience, though not ideal for 100 Hz displays. High settings at 80 FPS are borderline, while Ultra at 65 FPS may be acceptable for slower-paced gameplay. The data indicates that 4K Medium is the recommended preset, as it balances the 94 FPS average with a minimum of 80 FPS that avoids severe stuttering.

Considering all resolutions, the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best combination of visual fidelity and frame rate consistency, with an average of 174 FPS and a minimum of 148 FPS. For users prioritizing maximum fluidity, 1080p Low at 309 FPS is the clear choice. For those with 4K displays, Medium settings minimize the compromise.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on Panther Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, with an 18 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU's benchmark scores indicate strong single-thread and multi-thread performance, which is relevant for Doom's engine.

In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 18911 multi-core and 2200.5 single-core. The single-core score is particularly important for older games like Doom, which often rely on a few threads for game logic and physics. The PassMark single-thread score of 4280 reinforces this strength, placing the CPU well above average for single-threaded workloads.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 88 versus all CPUs indicates it is at the 88th percentile, meaning it outperforms the majority of processors tested. Its average benchmark score is 44466, and the nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with an average score of 44573, a delta of -0.2%. The Intel Core i9-13950HX is 0.3% behind, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is 0.4% behind, and the Intel Core i5-13600 is 0.5% behind. These tight margins suggest the Core Ultra X9 388H is competitively positioned among high-end mobile and desktop CPUs.

In Doom specifically, the CPU role is evident in the 1080p Low result of 309 FPS. At this resolution and setting, the GPU has less work per frame, and the CPU must feed it efficiently. The 16 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom. The data shows no evidence of CPU bottlenecking, as the FPS scales consistently with resolution changes.

The CPU's memory support for LPDDR5X with a 153.6 GB/s bandwidth is another factor. Doom's data streaming and asset loading can benefit from memory bandwidth, though the GPU's 896.0 GB/s is the dominant factor in this context. The 18 MB L3 cache helps with frequently accessed game data.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile combination ranks 1006 out of 3712 tested combos in Doom. This places the system in the top 27% of all configurations tested, which is a solid result for a mobile platform. The rank reflects the combined capabilities of both components, and the data shows that the combo is neither at the top nor bottom of the performance spectrum.

The CPU's individual ranking at the 88th percentile versus all CPUs is higher than the combo's overall percentile, which is approximately the 73rd percentile (1006/3712). This discrepancy suggests that the GPU, while strong, is not as dominant relative to its peers as the CPU is. The RTX 5080 Mobile's 81st percentile ranking versus all GPUs is consistent with this interpretation.

Compared to the nearest CPU rivals, the combo's performance in Doom is largely defined by the GPU. The CPU's average benchmark score of 44466 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (44573, -0.2%), Intel Core i9-13950HX (44342, +0.3%), AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44309, +0.4%), and Intel Core i5-13600 (44240, +0.5%). These tiny deltas mean that swapping the CPU for any of these rivals would likely produce similar frame rates in Doom, assuming the same GPU.

The GPU's nearest rivals present a more interesting comparison. The RTX 5080 Mobile's average score of 38349 is nearly identical to the MX570 (38299, +0.1%) and RTX 4080 Mobile (38135, +0.6%). This suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5080 Mobile is not dramatically faster than the previous generation RTX 4080 Mobile. However, the measured FPS data indicates that Doom runs at very high frame rates, so any performance gap would only matter at the extremes of resolution and settings.

The combo rank of 1006 out of 3712 means there are 1005 configurations that perform better and 2706 that perform worse. This middle-to-upper position is typical for a high-end mobile platform that is not the absolute fastest available. The data implies that this combo is well-suited for Doom at up to 1440p High settings, with 4K being feasible at Medium settings, which aligns with the measured FPS results.