Radeon Game Guide – the best graphics cards for Doom: The Dark Ages

It’s been half a decade since we last ripped and tore through Doom Eternal, and now Doom: The Dark Ages is suiting up to give the franchise a new coat of blood-red paint.

Set long before the events of the modern reboot saga, Doom: The Dark Ages transports players to a world soaked in gothic horror, where the Slayer trades platforming acrobatics for the brutal stomp of a one-man war machine. The developers at id Software suitably call it a return to roots – a grounded, “stand and fight” shooter, reminiscent of classic Doom but layered with the intensity and spectacle expected of 2025’s most anticipated releases.

To complement this shift in combat philosophy, The Dark Ages introduces a visceral array of medieval weaponry. Alongside familiar firearms, players wield brutal melee instruments such as an iron flail, a spiked Dreadmace, and a devastating power gauntlet. Perhaps the most striking addition is a Shield Saw complete with chainsaw blades, promising both offensive and defensive capabilities, and you’re going to want to block and parry as often as you can.

Beyond core combat, The Dark Ages has large explorable environments, described as “Doom sandboxes” filled with secrets. Unique set pieces also feature prominently, including the ability to pilot a massive, 30-story mech called Atlan in battles against colossal demons and to take flight on a cybernetic dragon in sequences inspired by flight sim dogfights.

Notably, Doom: The Dark Ages does not include a multiplayer mode, allowing the development team to focus entirely on the single-player experience. While this is a departure from prior games in the series, it’s part and parcel with the developer’s intentions to go back to basics and follow the original formula.

System requirements

	Minimum 1080p / 60fps / Low	Recommended 1440p / 60fps / High	Ultra 4K 2160p / 60 FPS / Ultra
OS	Windows 10 64-bit Windows 11 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit Windows 11 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit Windows 11 64-bit
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Intel Core i7-10700K	AMD Ryzen 7 5700X Intel Core i7-12700K	AMD Ryzen 7 5700X Intel Core i7-12700K
RAM	16GB	32GB	32GB
GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6600 Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super	AMD Radeon RX 6800 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080	AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
VRAM	8GB	10GB	16GB
Storage	100GB SSD	100GB SSD	100GB SSD

A new direction in gameplay also means new expectations for your rig. If you’re hoping to slay at even the most basic settings, you’ll need more than an ageing budget graphics card. The minimum spec sets the standard at no less than an 8GB GPU with ray tracing capabilities, highlighting Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6600 as prime examples. This might sound steep, but considering previous id Tech 7 Engine games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle made similar demands in 2024, it’s clearly the new normal for id Tech 8.

Minimum CPUs are no slouches either, eyeing up six-core, 12-thread models at minimum to do the heavy lifting across all resolutions and settings. AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel’s Core i5-11600K, both mid-tier chips from the past six years, still pack enough punch to handle Argent D’Nur at 60fps on low settings. The game needs at least 16GB of RAM, and you’ll want to reserve a solid 100GB of SSD storage. If id’s track record is anything to go by, that number will only rise post-launch.

Bump the resolution up and the picture gets a lot more next-gen. No less than Ryzen 7 5700X or Core i7-12700K sits at the heart of the action for both, paired with 32GB. How much oomph your graphics card packs will determine whether you can crank it up to 1440p or 4K. You’ll need at least 10GB of VRAM for QHD with Bethesda pointing you in the direction of AMD Radeon RX 6800, while all-out UHD will push even 16GB models like Radeon RX 7800 XT to the brink.

The beauty is that Bethesda and id Software don’t once set the bar below silky-smooth 60fps no matter the resolution or settings, so you don’t miss a single bit of the gloriously gory action.

Game engine

id Tech 8 makes its grand debut here, promising to “usher in a new era of gameplay performance and visual fidelity.” Marketing fluff aside, it’s a serious upgrade. Fully dynamic lighting and ray traced global illumination are now a core part of the visual package, while environments scale significantly larger than anything seen in previous Doom entries.

Graphics

Visuals take a substantial leap forward. In keeping with the slightly more grounded, medieval aesthetic, everything from dungeon interiors to sprawling open fields gets a heavy touch of moody lighting and dense particle work. Ray tracing plays a central role this time, and it’s not just about prettier reflections. Lighting and shadows actively influence gameplay visibility and tone. Thankfully, upscalers like FSR help balance the cost, particularly at higher resolutions.

Movement

Whereas Doom Eternal was more “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” The Dark Ages follows more of a ‘when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object’ philosophy. The Slayer approaches enemies like a tank, slower and more deliberate, with no double jump or dashing abilities. Just simple boots on the ground. You’ll still hop like a bunny from time to time, but you’re far more dependent on decimating demons with your shield risen and weathering oncoming storms rather than avoiding them entirely.

Performance testing

The jump from id Tech 7 to id Tech 8 is significant, not just in graphical complexity but in how the engine interacts with your system resources. Dynamic ray traced lighting and shadows are mandatory, meaning even minimum spec GPUs need to support them at low settings. That’s a stark departure from previous Doom games where ray tracing was a bonus toggle, not a baked-in feature.

Such a high bar is naturally harder to hit, placing Sapphire’s RX 5700 XT (8GB) out of the running. The memory on Team Red’s first-gen RDNA graphics card already skirts a fine line with The Dark Ages, but it sadly doesn’t make the cut due to its lack of ray tracing capabilities, instead prompting an error (seen below) rather than booting.

Meanwhile, RX 6700 XT (12GB) chugs away right up until particle effects enter the mix at higher settings, causing a crash and forcing me to shut down the game from Task Manager. You’ll get away with the lowest settings, but it’s safe to say you’ll benefit far more from current or previous-gen Radeon cards.

Thus, digging deep into our repertoire of Sapphire Radeon graphics cards, the full lineup of benchmarked GPUs includes:

• Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
• Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070 16GB
• Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB
• Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB
• Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB
• Sapphire Pure Radeon RX 7700 XT 12GB
• Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7600 XT 16GB
• Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7600 8GB

Each card benefits from Adrenalin 25.5.1 WHQL, the latest driver available at the time of writing including official support for Doom: The Dark Ages rather than earlier beta versions. To keep latency as consistent as possible, in this section I’ve stuck to TAA rather than relying on upscalers and frame gen technology from FSR.

Accompanying the Radeons is our tried-and-trusted suite of test hardware, including a 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X3D at its heart. AMD’s 3D V-Cache is the natural fit for high-performance gaming, and Doom: The Dark Ages needs all the frames it can get without tarnishing its medieval flair.

To cover all bases, I’ve tested the brand-new boomer shooter across FHD, QHD, and UHD, but be forewarned, there’s a reason id Software calls the top preset Ultra Nightmare. Fortunately, PC gaming comes with a sense of comfort being able to customise your settings to your liking, so this is simply the pinnacle. That is, of course, until the developer introduces path tracing settings later down the line.

Benchmarks

Entry-level graphics cards struggle to hit that coveted 60fps marker at 1920×1080 when running the highest settings possible, but midrange alternatives sprint away with the baton.

Radeon RX 7700 XT currently occupies the mainstream space FHD gamers, rocking a $480 price tag. Saturating faster, triple-figure refresh rates nudges you towards the newer RX 9070, but with availability on the low end, the $549 Radeon RX 9070 XT offers impeccable value and a much higher performance ceiling. That’s a 14% jump in price compared to the midranger, while offering 88% more performance.

Radeon RX 7000 Series is comfortable for prospective upgraders who have The Dark Ages in their sights, but the value of the latest 9000 Series doesn’t just stop at raw performance. It has FSR 4 on its side, too.

As resolutions climb higher, so do the requirements to reach an acceptable frame rate using Ultra Nightmare quality. Only Radeon RX 9070 XT manages to hit over 100fps at 2560×1440, which will set you back $549.

Doomslayer isn’t exactly bouncing around everywhere like he was in Doom Eternal, making slower frame rates feel more acceptable here. Still, with current GPU prices, nothing quite topples the value proposition of AMD’s top dog.

To achieve 4K60 at UHD, you’ll need to dial things back a bit or employ FSR upscaling, as Ultra Nightmare puts that goal just out of reach. Still, you can spot the same trend no matter the resolution, allowing you to establish expectations.

You’ll need nothing short of AMD’s current best. Radeon RX 9070 XT usurps RX 7900 XTX in price, availability, and performance, making it tough to recommend the previous-gen king even if it does come out to play here, but it’s still well worth considering if you find one cheap enough.

AMD FSR

There’s a reason AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is built into id Tech 8 from day one, and Doom: The Dark Ages wastes no time putting it to work. Native rendering might showcase the new engine in all its glory, but even the beefiest cards can struggle to maintain that buttery-smooth 60fps once the blood starts flying. Enter upscaling and Frame Generation.

Switching from native to FSR Quality results in a staggering 63% uplift in performance on average. Activate Frame Generation on top, and you’re looking at a monstrous 165% increase overall.

What that means in-game is that not only does RX 9070 XT unlock 4K60 without so much as a droplet of sweat, but RX 9070 follows suit. Even RX 7800 XT becomes a viable option at a lush 3840×2160 with Frame Gen backing.

While RX 7700 XT also punches through the same barrier as its peers using FSR and FG, I’d recommend sticking in its FHD and QHD lane. Without a 60fps native base frame rate at either resolution, you risk going beyond a reasonable latency when upscaling to UHD.

The beauty of Doom: The Dark Ages is that it scales exceptionally well across most resolutions with FSR in play. For Team Red users, it’s a hell of a tool, and one that turns good frame rates into great ones. And with FSR 3.1 support baked in, you can Override to FSR 4 using Radeon 9000 GPUs, vastly improving visual quality.

Efficiency and value

The price of a graphics card doesn’t just come down to the upfront cost, but how much we pay over the course of its lifetime. After all, energy ain’t cheap nowadays. Packed with enthusiast hardware, our test build isn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill config, but some GPUs are certainly hungrier than others. Not only is Radeon RX 9070 XT kinder to your bank account at the counter than RX 7900 XTX, it’s easier on the monthly bills, too.

With energy prices rising to £0.28 per kWh in the UK during its April-June 2025 window, completing the 20-hour Doom: The Dark Ages campaign would cost £3 using RX 7900 XTX, but this falls to £2.72 with RX 9070 XT. By far and large, the standard Radeon RX 9070 offers exceptional savings in the long-run, with a leisurely stroll through the story costing you just £1.97. Just think of how many pennies this racks up throughout the year.

It’s no surprise, then, that Radeon RX 9070 also aces the Club386 Efficiency Rating, grabbing the gold medal. We assign this by taking the average UHD frame rate for each card and then divide it by system-wide power consumption. You really can’t go wrong with upgrading to RDNA 4, even if you’re coming from 7000 Series.

Using a similar formula, but this time replacing power consumption with MSRP, we get Club386’s Value Rating instead. Once again, AMD’s latest graphics cards have a stellar showing. RX 9070 XT is worth around 74% more than RX 7900 XTX and RX 9070 around 66% better off than RX 7900 XT.

Summary

Straight out of the gate, Doom: The Dark Ages asserts itself as one of the most technically ambitious shooters in recent memory. Powered by the all-new id Tech 8 engine, it marks a significant step forward not just for the series, but for first-person games in general. The scale is bigger, the lighting bolder, and the gore somehow gorier.

It’s a more grounded take on Doom’s famously frantic formula, yet it never sacrifices the series’ trademark savagery. This bodes well for my aging bones, as my twitch-shooting, trick-shot days are long behind me, but the change in pace will certainly rub some newer fans of the series the wrong way.

We’ve been running our tests straight from Xbox Game Pass, but you can get the FPS game from almost anywhere thanks to Bethesda’s liberal publishing strategy. It’s also on Steam, Battle.net, and consoles, although it’s curiously missing from Epic Games Store.

The main question is what GPU to upgrade to in order to be able to run it at a decent frame rate. The good news is that performance scales well on the current crop of Radeons, so long as you pick your resolution wisely.

For Full HD (1920×1080), Radeon RX 9070 would be our best-value pick but availability is on the lower side at the time of writing. Instead, Radeon RX 7700 XT emerges as a great stand-in. Averaging 80fps with minimums dipping no lower than 53fps on Ultra Nightmare settings, it delivers a fluid experience without breaking the bank.

At QHD (2560×1440), Radeon RX 9070 XT is in a league of its own. It breezes through the action at 102fps on average, with minimums rarely dipping below 72fps. That sort of consistency is hard to argue with.

UHD is where reality checks in. Only RX 9070 XT and RX 7900 XTX manage to hover around the 50fps mark, with 1% lows just shy of 40fps. Playable? Certainly – but not quite the plug-and-play 4K60 experience some might expect. Here is where the tough decisions are made, opting for lower settings or employing FSR upscaling until you hit that golden ratio.

All in all, AMD’s latest 9000 Series delivers in spades. Across every tested resolution, RDNA 4 shows up strong, balancing performance, power efficiency, and price with far more poise than the outgoing generation. Stick FSR 4 on top, even if it’s replacing native FSR 3.1, and there’s nothing quite like the latest generation.

Of course, that’s not forgetting that Radeon RX 9060 Series cards are just around the corner. I’ve a strong suspicion that they’ll make for a high value-pick for FHD gaming. We’ll learn more about these pixel pushers in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for in-depth Club386 reviews and a revisit of id’s FPS in due course.