Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X combined with the Intel Arc B370 presents an unusual pairing in the database, with the CPU sitting in the 92nd percentile among all tested processors while the GPU lands in the 5th percentile. This massive imbalance shapes every frame rate recorded for Downfall, a horror game released in 2016 that relies more on atmospheric tension than raw graphical spectacle. The recorded measurements show a system that can handle 1080p gaming comfortably but struggles as resolution climbs, with the GPU clearly acting as the limiting factor across all tested presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below the playable threshold. The High preset averages 29 FPS, which falls just short of the 60 FPS target and even dips below the 30 FPS minimum for smooth motion. The Low preset improves things to 43 FPS on average, still far from playable but showing that reducing graphical load helps. Medium settings produce 35 FPS average with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS, indicating some frame pacing consistency but at an unacceptably low performance level. The Ultra preset drops to 18 FPS average, making the game effectively unresponsive at this resolution. None of these settings clear the 60 FPS playable threshold, and the data shows that 4K is simply out of reach for this combination.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains limited. The High preset averages 46 FPS, which is closer to playable but still below the 60 FPS line. Low settings reach 68 FPS average, crossing the playable threshold and providing a viable option for 1440p gaming. Medium settings sit at 56 FPS average with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS, which means the game runs but with noticeable dips below 60 FPS during intense scenes. Ultra settings collapse to 29 FPS average, mirroring the 4K High result and confirming that high-end presets are not feasible at this resolution. The verdict data confirms that only Low settings are playable at 1440p, with an average of 68 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system finally shows its strengths. The High preset averages 64 FPS, just clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold and representing the best quality-to-performance balance. Low settings reach 96 FPS average, providing a very smooth experience for players who prioritize frame rate over visuals. Medium settings average 78 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS, meaning the game stays above 60 FPS throughout most of the experience. Ultra settings drop to 40 FPS average, which is playable in a technical sense but falls below the 60 FPS standard and would feel noticeably less fluid. The verdict data lists High, Low, and Medium as playable at 1080p, with High being the best settings at 64 FPS average.

The frame time data shows a consistent pattern: the gap between Low and Medium presets is relatively small at each resolution, while the jump from Medium to High costs roughly 20-25% of the frame rate, and High to Ultra costs another 30-40%. This suggests the GPU hits a hard ceiling when more complex shading and post-processing effects are enabled.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 60 FPS on a 4K monitor?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 43 FPS on Low settings, with High at 29 FPS, Medium at 35 FPS, and Ultra at 18 FPS. The verdict data shows no playable settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The High preset at 1920x1080 averages 64 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data lists High as the best playable settings at this resolution, with Low at 96 FPS and Medium at 78 FPS also being viable options.

Q: How does the GPU compare to similar hardware in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186 (0.2% ahead), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1190 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M with 1192 (0.7% ahead). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% behind.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this game?

A: The data suggests no. The Ryzen 9 9900X scores 57498 on average in the database, ranking in the 92nd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9015 at 57555 (0.1% ahead), the AMD EPYC 7313 at 57399 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-14900 at 58115 (1.1% ahead), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M at 58323 (1.4% ahead). The CPU clearly has ample headroom, and the frame rates are limited by the GPU.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS. This falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold on average, so Low settings at 68 FPS would be the safer choice for consistent performance.

Q: Is the Ultra preset ever playable?

A: No. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 40 FPS; at 2560x1440, it averages 29 FPS; and at 3840x2160, it averages 18 FPS. All three resolutions show Ultra far below the 60 FPS threshold, with the 4K result being particularly unplayable.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals a clear division of labor between the Ryzen 9 9900X and the Arc B370. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 24 threads based on Zen 5 architecture, delivers single-thread performance that ranks in the 92nd percentile of all processors. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2253 and 3DMark single-thread score of 1286 indicate it can feed frame data rapidly without creating a bottleneck. However, the GPU's 5th percentile ranking and 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 compute capability mean it cannot translate that CPU power into high frame rates at demanding settings.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. Dropping from 3840x2160 to 2560x1440 on High settings improves the average FPS from 29 to 46, a 59% increase. Dropping further to 1920x1080 on High brings the average to 64, another 39% increase from 1440p. This linear scaling with pixel count indicates the GPU is the primary constraint, as the CPU would show diminishing returns at lower resolutions if it were the limiting factor. The same pattern appears across presets: at 1080p, Low hits 96 FPS while Ultra drops to 40 FPS, a 58% reduction that reflects the GPU's limited shading units and texture mapping capabilities.

At 4K, the GPU's 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs cannot keep up with the pixel and texture throughput required. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are modest figures that explain why the Medium preset at 4K only reaches 35 FPS. The CPU, meanwhile, has memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and dual-channel DDR5 support, which is more than sufficient for a game from 2016. The data indicates that any attempt to raise settings at any resolution will hit the GPU ceiling long before the CPU becomes relevant.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places the Arc B370 in the same performance tier as integrated graphics from over a decade ago, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570. This explains why the Ultra preset at 1080p cannot hold 60 FPS, as the GPU simply lacks the raw compute power for advanced effects like ray tracing or high-resolution shadows. The CPU's role becomes almost irrelevant at Ultra settings, where the GPU's 1280 shading units are overwhelmed.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Ryzen 9 9900X's nearest rivals in the database provide context for its capabilities. The AMD EPYC 9015 scores 57555 on average, which is 0.1% ahead of the 9900X's 57498. The AMD EPYC 7313 scores 57399, sitting 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, leading by 1.1%, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M scores 58323, leading by 1.4%. These differences are minimal, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall when paired with the same GPU. The choice between them would not change the gaming experience, as the GPU remains the binding constraint.

For the Intel Arc B370, the nearest rivals are all older or lower-end graphics solutions. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 0.2% ahead of the Arc B370's 1184. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, 0.5% ahead, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, 0.7% ahead. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% behind. These deltas are so small that in practical terms, all five GPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Downfall. A user with any of these alternatives would see the same pattern: playable 1080p at Low through High settings, marginal 1440p at Low only, and no viable 4K options.

The database also shows that the Arc B370's 5th percentile ranking means it sits below 95% of all tested GPUs. This is a stark contrast to the CPU's 92nd percentile ranking, reinforcing that the pairing is heavily skewed toward CPU capability. For users considering upgrades, the data suggests that swapping the GPU for something higher in the percentile rankings would yield larger FPS gains than changing the CPU, since the current GPU is the clear performance ceiling.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves 60 FPS. The verdict data lists no playable settings, with the closest being Low at 43 FPS average. Even the lowest settings cannot reach the playable threshold, so 4K gaming is not viable for this combination.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 68 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold with some headroom, but Medium settings at 56 FPS fall short. The verdict data confirms Low as the best settings at 1440p, with an average of 68 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 64 FPS and represents the best visual quality that remains playable. The verdict data lists High as the best settings at this resolution. Medium is also playable at 78 FPS, and Low reaches 96 FPS, but High offers the optimal balance of visual fidelity and frame rate. Ultra at 40 FPS is not recommended despite being technically above the 30 FPS minimum, as it fails the 60 FPS playable standard.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: the playable preset tier drops as resolution increases. At 1080p, three presets are playable; at 1440p, only one; at 4K, none. This aligns with the GPU's limited pixel throughput and confirms that users should prioritize resolution over settings when using this hardware.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Downfall has a nuanced answer depending on the target resolution. At 3840x2160, the answer is no. No settings preset reaches 60 FPS, with the best case being Low at 43 FPS average. The game would run but feel sluggish and prone to stuttering during horror sequences that demand smooth motion.

At 2560x1440, the answer is yes, but only with significant compromises. The Low preset averages 68 FPS, which clears the playable threshold. Players can enjoy the game at 1440p with reduced visual detail, but Medium settings at 56 FPS and High at 46 FPS are both below the 60 FPS line. The verdict data confirms this, listing Low as the only playable setting.

At 1920x1080, the answer is a clear yes. The High preset averages 64 FPS, providing a solid experience with good visual quality. Medium at 78 FPS and Low at 96 FPS are also viable for players who prefer higher frame rates or need extra headroom. The verdict data lists High, Low, and Medium as playable, making 1080p the sweet spot for this combination.

The overall verdict is that this system can run Downfall, but only at 1080p with High or lower settings, or at 1440p with Low settings. The GPU's 5th percentile ranking severely limits the experience, while the CPU's 92nd percentile ranking goes largely unused. Players seeking a smooth 60 FPS experience should target 1080p and avoid Ultra settings, which drop to 40 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this combination at position 3429 out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, which aligns with the GPU's low percentile ranking. The rank reflects the overall gaming experience across all resolutions and settings, and the data shows that most other combinations in the database would deliver higher frame rates.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU, as the CPU alone would merit a much higher position. The Ryzen 9 9900X sits in the 92nd percentile of CPUs, but when paired with a GPU in the 5th percentile, the combination falls far down the list. This suggests that users with this CPU should consider pairing it with a more capable GPU to unlock its potential, as the current setup leaves significant performance on the table.

The rank also highlights that Downfall, being a horror game from 2016, is not particularly demanding by modern standards. Yet even with a modest workload, the Arc B370 cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K or at high presets. The 3429th rank out of 3716 combos indicates that this hardware pairing is among the weakest for this game, and users should set expectations accordingly. For those targeting 1080p gaming, the experience is acceptable, but for higher resolutions, a different GPU would be necessary to achieve the playable threshold.