DOOM: The Dark Ages - PC performance graphics benchmarks of Graphics Cards and Processors
We have updated the NVIDIA driver to version 560.40 which provided a performance boost on RTX 50 series graphics cards. At the same time, the version of DOOM: The Dark Ages remained the same at release review version — 1.0.1. Tested DOOM: The Dark Ages at the highest level of quality Ultra Nightmare with activated DLSS, FSR и Generation of frames. Testing was carried out on video cards GeForce RTX 20, 30, 40 и 50 seriesand Radeon RX 6000, 7000 и 9000.
| THE GRAFICAL PART |
This subsection of our review highlights the main graphical aspects of this game. Particular attention is paid to the version of the graphics engine used, the version of the API used, graphic settings and the quality of development of the main visual aspects.
| Supported OS and Graphics API |
DOOM: The Dark Ages — a new project from id Software, built on a modified id Tech 8 engine. The game requires modern hardware with support for hardware ray tracing and only runs on NVIDIA RTX and AMD RX 6000/7000/9000 series video cards. DirectX 12 is used and an NVMe SSD is strictly required — both for the speed of loading levels and for stable streaming of textures and geometry.
System Requirements
The minimum
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X / Intel Core i7-10700K or better
• RAM: 16 GB
• Video card: NVIDIA RTX 2060 SUPER / AMD RX 6600 (only GPU with Ray Tracing support)
• Storage: 100GB NVMe SSD
• Settings: Low, 1080p, 60 FPS
Recommended
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X / Intel Core i7-12700K or better
• RAM: 32 GB
• Video card: NVIDIA RTX 3080 / AMD RX 6800 (10+ GB VRAM)
• Storage: 100GB NVMe SSD
• Settings: High, 1440p, 60 FPS
| DEVELOPMENT HISTORY |
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a prequel to id Software's rebooted DOOM series, set before DOOM (2016). The game's development history is closely tied to the success of DOOM Eternal and its expansions, as well as the studio's desire to expand the universe beyond the techno-hell and sci-fi of its previous installments.
After finishing DOOM Eternal and its expansions, the id Software team began conceptual design of a new game, aiming to rethink the familiar shooter formula. The main task of the developers was to create a project that would allow to reveal the mythology of the Slayer in greater depth. The developers were inspired by medieval aesthetics, dark fantasy and themes of chivalry, trying to convey the feeling of primal rage and ancient war. According to the idea, DOOM: The Dark Ages was supposed to be the antithesis of the sci-fi setting of Eternal: the emphasis is on rough armor, melee weapons and architecture inspired by Gothic and early Middle Ages.
Pre-production work continued throughout 2021, after which the active prototyping phase began. The studio experimented with gameplay mechanics, narrative approaches, and visual style, including new weapons like the combat shield and chain hammer. Also new are massive siege enemies that will require a tactical approach and interaction with the environment. The team also aimed to move away from a linear narrative towards a more cinematic style, while maintaining the franchise's signature rhythm and aggression.
Much attention was paid to the staging of scenes, costume design, and the cultural validity of the world. id Software collaborated with artists and historical consultants to achieve a believable visual atmosphere. A separate area was the design of the musical accompaniment, which was to combine elements of ethnic percussion, chorales, and heavy guitar riffs.
The story was created in parallel with the technology development: the team of narrative designers worked closely with the gameplay and environment artists. The script went through several revision phases, especially after the decision was made to shift the focus from science fiction to heroic mythology. A lot of time was spent integrating the story scenes into the gameplay without losing the dynamics.
The 2022 internal prototype focused on melee and mobility mechanics, testing how medieval weapons fit into the traditional DOOM tempo without losing the hardcore aggression. Testing showed that players responded positively to the change of setting, especially the dark, gothic settings and siege warfare elements.
The game's development was formally confirmed during a Microsoft leak in 2023. Later, at a 2024 presentation, the game received its final title - DOOM: The Dark Ages. Development has entered its final phase, with the team focusing on polishing content, optimization, and final testing. The release is scheduled for May 15, 2025.
| GRAPHICS |
The graphics of DOOM: The Dark Ages represent a significant step up from previous installments in the series. The game was developed with an emphasis on realism, dark aesthetics, and medieval flavor, which required serious technological and artistic efforts. The team's main goal was to create the atmosphere of an ancient, brutal world, in which every texture and particle emphasizes the aggressive and heavy nature of the environment.
The game's visual style is built on a dark palette inspired by Gothic architecture, plague chronicles, and illustrations from the Bible. The architecture of castles, ruins of civilization, and fantasy locations was recreated using high-poly models and procedural destruction. Environment artists worked to create a space that was both repulsive and attractive - with charred walls, ornate arches, demonic symbols, and the remains of a once great empire.
One of the main requirements when creating the visuals was the integration of hardware ray tracing (DXR). Unlike DOOM Eternal, the entire lighting system in the new game works exclusively through ray tracing: light from torches, splashes of fire, metallic highlights on the helmet, and even diffused glow from magical artifacts are calculated in real time. DOOM: The Dark Ages does not run on video cards without hardware ray tracing support, since the entire visual stack is tied to RT-accelerated calculations. This was an important technical decision that allowed developers to use global illumination without compromise.
Path tracing will be added after the release — in one of the future patches. At the time of release, hybrid tracing is used: global illumination, shadows and reflections are built in real time using DXR, but without full path tracing, which maintains a balance between quality and performance. This architecture allows you to create an atmosphere in which darkness literally "lives" — it moves, penetrates, distorts with the slightest fluctuations in light sources.
Each scene in the game is filled with dynamic effects: waving flags, smoke from fires, rain that reflects on armor, and particles that move depending on the direction of light and wind. The textures used are made in 4K resolution and supplied with PBR metadata, which allows the materials to look realistic at any lighting angle. The skin of demons shines with sweat and blood, shields reflect flames, and destroyed walls crumble and disintegrate depending on physical impact.
The interface has been redesigned: it has become minimalistic and context-sensitive. The HUD adapts to the situation, disappears outside of combat, and elements appear depending on the environment, for example, when approaching an enemy or discovering secrets. This allows you to not clutter the screen and leave the visual component of the world in the center of attention.
The enemy design is also subordinated to the general philosophy of the visuals. Each creature was reworked taking into account the new standards of detail: skin textures consist of layers, including a venous mesh, burns, and mucus. Enemy animations are built based on photorealistic motion-capture, supplemented by procedural deformations from damage. Sword strikes or plasma explosions leave real damage on the enemy, reflected in the geometry of the model.
The game's landscape and environment support a weather system and dynamic time of day, within the framework of scripted events. For example, an eclipse occurring during a boss fight is accompanied by changing lighting, changing weather effects, and dynamically loading backgrounds. Night levels actively use fog, shadows from the moon, and weak lighting from magical artifacts.
Finally, the music and visuals are synchronized: bass bursts are illuminated by post-effects, drum hits can cause on-screen particles to vibrate. This creates a cohesive, immersive experience in which the graphics become more than just a visual shell, but part of the gameplay.
| GAME ENGINE |
DOOM: The Dark Ages is being created on the basis of id Tech 8, a new evolution of id Software's proprietary engine. This is not just an updated version of the previous toolkit, but a completely redesigned architecture designed to use all the advantages of modern hardware with hardware support for ray tracing. Unlike previous games in the series, the engine does not support launching on video cards without ray tracing - the absence of RT blocks in GPU makes it impossible to even load the entry level.
The id Tech 8 architecture is built on a modular principle: each element of the engine - from lighting to animation - is an independent subsystem that interacts through a unified memory and event exchange system. This has allowed for incredible flexibility and scalability, especially in terms of rendering and simulation.
At the lighting level, the engine provides full support for DXR 1.1 with dynamic ray casting and real-time reflection integration. Global illumination is calculated via cascaded RT primitives, providing realistic light transitions and soft shadows. In addition, the engine tracks secondary reflections and color re-rendering, allowing for accurate, visually rich scenes even in dark, poorly lit rooms. Lighting is calculated not only based on geometry, but also taking into account materials: metallic, wet, rough surfaces reflect light differently, and fire and magical light sources generate thermal distortion.
Path tracing in DOOM: The Dark Ages is not used at launch, but is planned as a key innovation in one of the major updates. Its integration will require adaptation to the RTX 30/40 and RDNA 3 architectures, which is already in testing. Before the release, the game uses hybrid tracing - the implementation of RT processes with pre-calculated secondary effects.
The engine's animation system has also been completely rewritten. Instead of using fixed skeletons, id Tech 8 works with procedural animation tied to a physical body model. This means that each time an enemy or object collides with a surface, it reacts uniquely — the calculation is done in real time, taking into account momentum, resistance, and material type. To achieve a cinematic look, a blend zone system is used that smoothly adapts animations to conditions: changing gait on an uneven surface, changing the center of gravity upon impact or rebound.
The damage model has also been updated: now it is not just visual effects, but real deformation of geometry. Enemies react to hits depending on the area of the body, armor density and weapon caliber. Some elements - for example, sagging skin, armor, bone plates - have their own physical parameters and are destroyed gradually. This is done not only for the sake of spectacle, but also for tactical depth - some vulnerabilities can be exposed with skillful shooting.
The AI system uses multi-threaded behavior processing: each enemy not only receives signals about the player, but also exchanges information with other AI, coordinating actions. This allows for more complex attack patterns, flanking, retreat or aggression depending on damage. Enemies can change target priorities, use cover or even lure the player into a trap.
The engine also supports procedural particle generation, volumetric fluid effects, and micro-detailed environmental destructibility. If you shoot a column, it won't just be texture fragments flying off, but entire physical elements that can hit other objects or enemies.
For large-scale scenes, multi-layer geometry and content streaming support are provided. This allows the environment to be loaded as the player moves, reducing the load on the system. Even when there are dozens of enemies, destruction and special effects on the screen, the game maintains a stable frame rate due to optimized RT processes.
The id Tech 8 toolkit includes a visual scripting system that allows designers to create complex gameplay situations without having to write code. This speeds up development and allows for multiple branching paths, secrets, and unique scenes that change with repeated playthroughs.
Overall, DOOM: The Dark Ages was the first project where the entire gameplay — from light control to enemy behavior — is tied to the power of modern RTX cards. This allowed the team to abandon simplifications and deliver the most technically advanced DOOM to date. The id Tech 8 engine not only demonstrates the power of modern rendering, but also sets the standard for future projects from the studio.
| QUALITY |
At minimum settings Simplified anti-aliasing is used, textures are loaded at medium resolution, and the draw distance of particles and small elements of the environment is reduced. Lighting maintains the general atmosphere, but in some scenes, simplification of shadows and reflections on surfaces is visible. Explosions and dust effects are reduced, but the readability of combat scenes remains high.
At maximum settings High-resolution textures are active, post-processing is advanced, particle density and rendering distance are increased. Object surfaces look deeper due to higher-quality normals and materials. However, the overall picture retains a recognizable style: sharp, contrasting and aggressive - as in previous games in the series. The differences between the modes concern mainly the density of details and the stability of visual effects, and not the overall artistic level.
With DLSS, gamers can expect the best combination of performance and image quality, especially on RTX 50-series graphics cards. FSR offers good performance on a wider range of hardware, but may not provide the same level of image clarity. TAA provides consistent quality without additional hardware requirements, but may not reach the level of detail offered by DLSS and FSR.
Thus, the choice of upscaling technology in DOOM: The Dark Ages depends on the available hardware and the player's preference regarding the balance between image quality and performance.
| TEST PART |
Below you will find a table of equipment that was kindly provided by our sponsors: GIGABYTE, ASUS, Kingston и Deep Cool. It reflects the list of motherboards, video cards, memory modules and cooling systems used in the tests, and also indicates the current configuration of the operating system and drivers.
| Test configuration | |
| GIGABYTE | |
| motherboards | |
| ASUS | |
| motherboards | |
| Video Cards |
Asus GeForce RTX 5060 Ti TUF Gaming OC Edition 16 GB Asus GeForce RTX 5070 TUF Gaming OC ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti OC |
| KINGSTON | |
| RAM |
16 GB DDR4 4600 CL19 Kingston FURY Renegade 32 GB DDR4 3600 CL16 Kingston FURY Renegade 32 GB DDR4 4000 CL18 Kingston FURY Renegade 32 GB DDR5 5600 CL40 Kingston Fury Beast 32 GB DDR5 6000 CL30 Kingston FURY Renegade 32 GB DDR5 7200 CL36 Kingston FURY Renegade |
| Storage devices |
Kingston FURY Renegade PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Deep Cool | |
|
Cases and cooling |
|
| Software configuration |
|
| Operating system | Windows 11 24H2 |
| Graphics driver |
Nvidia GeForce/ION Driver Release 576.40 WHQL |
| Monitoring programs | MSI Afterburner 4.6.6 Beta 5 Build 16555 |
All video cards were tested at maximum graphics quality using MSI Afterburner. The purpose of the test is to determine how video cards from different manufacturers behave under the same conditions. Below is a video of a test segment from the game:
Our video cards were tested at different screen sizes 1920x1080, 2560x1440 и 3840x2160 with maximum graphics quality settings.
We have updated the NVIDIA driver to version 560.40, which provided a performance boost on RTX 50 series graphics cards. At the same time, the version DOOM: The Dark Ages the review version remained the same for the release - 1.0.1
Frame generation в DOOM: The Dark Ages tested on various series of video cards using the corresponding scaling technologies. On graphic accelerators RTX 50 DLSS was used in 4x mode, which ensured maximum performance while maintaining visual quality. On the series RTX 40 testing was carried out in DLSS mode 2x, also using frame generation. Video cards of the series RTX 20 и RTX 30, as well as all tested models AMD, used exclusively FSR for frame generation.
It is worth emphasizing the importance of updating drivers on video cards. AMD. At the time of testing, launching the game on Radeon RX 6000 and RX 7000 series without installing the latest driver was accompanied by crashes when loading levels. For the game to work, It is necessary to update the driver to the AMD Software version: Adrenalin Edition 25.5.1. Only with this version the game becomes stable on these models and loads without failures.
Upscaling DLSS on video cards RTX 20 not supported yet, when enabled the game crashes - the only available scaling option for RTX launches remains FSR.
| TEST GPU |
In the video card test, the default resolution is 1920x1080; other resolutions are added and removed manually. You can also remove and add any positions of video cards. You can also select any of our test processors from the list in the drop-down menu, comparing its performance with the given video card tests (by default, the most productive solution is selected). The test is carried out on the most powerful CPU in this game and is scaled to other processors, taking into account their testing on NVIDIA and AMD video cards.
- Ultra Nightmare
- Ultra Nightmare + Frame Generation 2X / 4X
When resolved 1920x1080:
- Average FPS (25 frames): Reached on video cards of the level of Radeon RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 3060.
- Minimum FPS (25 frames): Provided by video cards of the Radeon RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 3060 level.
- Comfortable average FPS (60 frames): Possible with video cards of the Radeon RX 6800 or GeForce RTX 4060 Ti level.
When resolved 2560x1440:
- Average FPS (25 frames): Reached on video cards of the level of Radeon RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 3060.
- Minimum FPS (25 frames): Provided by video cards of the Radeon RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 2080 Ti level.
- Comfortable average FPS (60 frames): Possible with video cards of the Radeon RX 7800 XT or GeForce RTX 3080 Ti level.
When resolved 3840x2160:
- Average FPS (25 frames): Reached on video cards of the level of Radeon RX 6000 XT or GeForce RTX 4070.
- Minimum FPS (25 frames): Provided by video cards of the Radeon RX 6950 XT or GeForce RTX 5070 level.
- Comfortable average FPS (60 frames): Possible with video cards of the level of Radeon RX 7900 XT FSR or GeForce RTX 4090.
Frame Generation 2X / 4X
When resolved 1920x1080:
- Minimum FPS (60 frames): Reached on video cards of the level of Radeon RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.
- Minimum FPS (90 frames): Provided by video cards of the Radeon RX 6800 or GeForce RTX 4060 Ti level.
- Minimum FPS (120 frames): Possible with video cards of the Radeon RX 7700 XT or GeForce RTX 3080 Ti level.
When resolved 2560x1440:
- Minimum FPS (60 frames): Reached on video cards of the level of Radeon RX 6800 or GeForce RTX 4070.
- Minimum FPS (90 frames): Provided by video cards of the Radeon RX 7900 or GeForce RTX 3080 Ti level.
- Minimum FPS (120 frames): Possible with Radeon-level video cards RX 7900 XTX or GeForce RTX 5070.
When resolved 3840x2160:
- Minimum FPS (60 frames): Reached on video cards of the level of Radeon RX 9070 or GeForce RTX 4080.
- Minimum FPS (90 frames): Provided by video cards of the Radeon RX 7900 FSR or GeForce RTX 5070 Ti level.
- Minimum FPS (120 frames): Possible with Radeon-level video cards RX 7900 XTX FSR or GeForce RTX 5090.
| VIDEO MEMORY CONSUMPTION |
Testing of video memory consumed by the game was carried out by the program MSI Afterburner. The indicator was based on the results on video cards from AMD and NVIDIA with separate screen sizes 1920x1080, 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 with various anti-aliasing settings. By default, the graph displays the most current solutions. Other video cards are added and removed from the chart at the request of the reader.
- Ultra Nightmare
- Ultra Nightmare + Frame Generation 2X / 4X
GameGPU
Resolution 1920x1080:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
Resolution 2560x1440:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
Resolution 3840x2160:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB
Frame Generation
Resolution 1920x1080:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 10 GB
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
Resolution 2560x1440:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 11 GB
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB
Resolution 3840x2160:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 14 GB
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 14 GB
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 15 GB
| CPU TEST |
Testing was carried out at a resolution of 1920x1080. In the processor test, you can remove or add any processor positions. You can also select any tested video card from the list in the drop-down menu, comparing its performance with the given processor test results (by default, the most productive solution from NVIDIA is selected). Testing takes place on the most powerful NVIDIA and AMD video cards and scales to low-end models.
- Ultra Nightmare
- Ultra Nightmare + Frame Generation 2X / 4X
When using NVIDIA video cards:
- Processors for acceptable FPS (not lower than 25 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
- Processors for comfortable FPS (at least 60 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
When using AMD video cards:
- Processors for acceptable FPS (not lower than 25 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
- Processors for comfortable FPS (at least 60 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
When using NVIDIA graphics cards Frame Generation 4X:
- Processors for acceptable FPS (not lower than 120 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
- Processors for comfortable FPS (at least 240 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Intel Core i5-10600
When using AMD graphics cards Frame Generation 2X:
- Processors for acceptable FPS (not lower than 60 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
- Processors for comfortable FPS (at least 120 frames per second):
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100
- Intel Core i3-10100
- Ultra Nightmare
Loading and using streams:
- Maximum load: The game can load up to 24 streams.
- Optimal loading: Uses up to 16 threads as efficiently as possible.
| RAM TEST |
The indicator was taken as all used RAM. The RAM test on the all system was conducted on various video cards without launching third-party applications (browsers, etc.). In the graphics, you can add and remove any resolutions and video cards as desired.
- Ultra Nightmare
- Ultra Nightmare + Frame Generation 2X / 4X
GameGPU
Resolution 1920x1080:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
Resolution 2560x1440:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
Resolution 3840x2160:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 15 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
Frame Generation
Resolution 1920x1080:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 14 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
Resolution 2560x1440:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 14 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
Resolution 3840x2160:
- Video cards with 12 GB of video memory: consume 16 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 16 GB of video memory: consume 14 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 24 GB of video memory: consume 12 GB of RAM
- Video cards with 32 GB of video memory: consume 13 GB of RAM
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