Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination delivers overwhelming performance in Downfall, ranking 109th out of 3,716 tested combos. This places the pairing in the top 3% of all tested systems, reflecting a hardware configuration that is effectively overkill for a 2016 horror title. The data shows that at every tested resolution, the combo exceeds 60 FPS on the highest preset, making it a guaranteed high-refresh-rate experience across the board.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 109 out of 3,716 tested combinations places it in the 97th percentile of all systems tested. This is an exceptionally strong result, driven primarily by the RTX 4090’s raw throughput. The GPU alone sits in the 88th percentile among all tested graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (average score 60,326, 0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60,140, 0.3% faster), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896, 2.5% slower). The delta percentages indicate that the RTX 4090 is effectively tied with these workstation-oriented cards in aggregate benchmarks, though the gaming-specific FPS data tells a far more favorable story for the NVIDIA card.

The CPU complements the GPU well, ranking in the 81st percentile among all processors with an average benchmark score of 29,713. The Ryzen 5 9600X’s nearest rivals are all AMD Ryzen 7 parts: the Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (29,656, 0.2% faster), the Ryzen 7 7840H (29,868, 0.5% slower), the Ryzen 7 5800XT (29,879, 0.6% slower), and the Ryzen 7 8845HS (29,955, 0.8% slower). Despite being a 6-core/12-thread desktop chip, the 9600X holds its own against 8-core mobile and desktop variants, with the data showing a maximum delta of only 0.8% against the Ryzen 7 8845HS. In Downfall, the CPU is rarely the bottleneck; the measured FPS at 1080p Low hits 442 FPS, indicating the GPU is still the primary driver even at CPU-favorable settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 4K with this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset runs at an average of 82 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. All four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at this resolution.

Q: How much performance headroom exists at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 132 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset reaches 315 FPS, indicating substantial headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 9600X a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data suggests minimal bottlenecking. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 442 FPS average, showing the CPU can feed the GPU effectively. The CPU’s single-thread score of 2,183.5 in Cinebench R23 and its 81st percentile ranking support this conclusion.

Q: Does the game benefit from the RTX 4090’s 24 GB of VRAM?

A: While the fact pack does not provide VRAM usage metrics, the GPU’s 24 GB GDDR6X memory with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth ensures no capacity-related frame drops. The minimum recorded FPS at 4K Medium is 136 FPS, suggesting consistent frame delivery.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers at each resolution?

A: Minimum FPS data is only provided for Medium settings: 136 FPS at 4K, 219 FPS at 1440p, and 307 FPS at 1080p. For other presets, only average FPS is available, but all averages remain well above 60 FPS.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RTX 4090’s nearest GPU rivals in actual gameplay?

A: The nearest rivals by benchmark score are workstation cards (Intel Arc Pro A60, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48), which are not typically used for gaming. The 0-2.9% aggregate benchmark deltas do not reflect gaming performance, where the RTX 4090’s driver optimization and 16384 shading units provide superior results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, with average FPS recorded for all combinations and minimum/maximum FPS captured for Medium settings only.

At 1920x1080, the combo produces extraordinary frame rates. Low settings average 442 FPS, Medium averages 361 FPS with a minimum of 307 FPS and maximum of 416 FPS, High averages 296 FPS, and Ultra averages 185 FPS. Even the most demanding preset at 1080p nearly triples the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, performance remains exceptionally high. Low settings average 315 FPS, Medium averages 258 FPS (minimum 219, maximum 297), High averages 212 FPS, and Ultra averages 132 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is identical to the 4K High result (132 FPS), showing consistent scaling between resolution and quality settings.

At 3840x2160, the combo still delivers well above playable thresholds. Low averages 196 FPS, Medium averages 161 FPS (minimum 136, maximum 185), High averages 132 FPS, and Ultra averages 82 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra at 4K represents a 50 FPS drop (from 132 to 82), indicating that the Ultra preset includes particularly demanding effects. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium (136 FPS) is still more than double the playable threshold, suggesting no significant frame-time stutters.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Ryzen 5 9600X’s nearest rivals in benchmark performance are all AMD Ryzen 7 parts with 8 cores. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE is 0.2% faster on average, while the Ryzen 7 7840H (0.5% slower), Ryzen 7 5800XT (0.6% slower), and Ryzen 7 8845HS (0.8% slower) are all within 1% of the 9600X’s average score of 29,713. In Downfall, these differences would be imperceptible, as the game is not CPU-bound at playable settings. The single-thread performance of the 9600X (2,183.5 in Cinebench R23) is particularly strong for older titles that rely on fewer threads.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals by average benchmark score are professional-grade cards: the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0% delta), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (0.3% faster), AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (2.5% slower), and AMD Radeon PRO V710 (2.9% faster). These deltas are all within 3%, but none of these workstation cards are designed for gaming. The RTX 4090’s 16384 shading units, 512 tensor cores, and 128 RT cores provide gaming-specific advantages not captured in aggregate benchmark scores. The fact that the RTX 4090 is end-of-life and succeeded by the GeForce 50 series suggests that newer alternatives may exist, but the data shows this card still performs exceptionally well in Downfall.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 185 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available and it still runs at more than triple the 60 FPS threshold. There is no reason to lower settings at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is again the recommended preset, averaging 132 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while delivering maximum visual quality. The 1440p Ultra result matches the 4K High result, indicating that resolution scaling is handled efficiently.

At 3840x2160, Ultra remains playable at 82 FPS average. This clears the 60 FPS threshold by 22 FPS, providing a playable 4K experience at maximum settings. If a user prefers a higher frame rate at 4K, High settings deliver 132 FPS, but the data confirms Ultra is viable.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination runs Downfall flawlessly at every resolution and preset tested. The verdict data lists all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) as playable at each resolution, with the best settings being Ultra in all cases. At 4K, the Ultra preset averages 82 FPS; at 1440p, it averages 132 FPS; and at 1080p, it averages 185 FPS. All results exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold by significant margins.

This is a system built for maximum fidelity and high refresh rates. The 4K Ultra result of 82 FPS is suitable for standard 60 Hz displays with headroom, while the 1440p and 1080p results are ideal for 120 Hz or higher refresh rate monitors. The minimum FPS data at Medium settings (136 FPS at 4K, 219 FPS at 1440p, 307 FPS at 1080p) indicates stable frame delivery without major drops. For a horror game like Downfall, where smooth motion and consistent frame pacing contribute to immersion, this combo delivers an optimal experience. Users can max out every quality setting without compromise.