Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers high refresh-rate performance in Downfall, a 2016 horror title that is far less demanding than modern releases. Benchmark data shows the pairing is capable of 60 FPS or higher at every tested resolution and preset, with the most demanding 4K Ultra setting being the only exception, dipping to 58 FPS. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and optimal settings for this configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K resolution (3840x2160)?

A: The High preset provides the best balance, delivering an average of 93 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold with an average of 58 FPS, while Medium runs at 114 FPS and Low at 139 FPS.

Q: Can this combo hit 60 FPS at 1440p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 94 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. High, Medium, and Low presets run at 150 FPS, 182 FPS, and 223 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1080p?

A: Every preset at 1920x1080 exceeds 60 FPS by a wide margin. The most demanding Ultra preset averages 131 FPS, while High runs at 210 FPS, Medium at 256 FPS, and Low at 312 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 58, which is below the playable threshold. This suggests the RTX 4070's rendering load at 4K is the primary constraint, as the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's multi-threaded benchmark score of 47737 in Cinebench R23 indicates substantial headroom for CPU-bound tasks.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 862nd out of 3716 tested combinations for Downfall, placing it in the top 23% of systems. This high percentile reflects its ability to maintain high frame rates across most settings.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only minimum FPS data provided is for the Medium preset. At 4K, the minimum is 97 FPS; at 1440p, it is 155 FPS; and at 1080p, it is 217 FPS. These figures are all comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution changes. At 1080p, the system operates in a heavily GPU-bound state. The CPU's high single-thread performance (a Geekbench single-core score of 3041) is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 4070, allowing the GPU to push frame rates from 210 FPS on High to 312 FPS on Low. The scaling between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p (from 312 FPS to 131 FPS) is a 58% performance drop, which is a direct consequence of the increased GPU workload.

At 1440p, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced. The average FPS drops from 223 on Low to 94 on Ultra, a 58% reduction. This scaling is similar to 1080p, indicating that the CPU is still keeping pace, but the absolute frame rates show the GPU is working harder. The RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are likely being utilized more effectively at this resolution.

The 4K results definitively show the GPU as the bottleneck. The Ultra preset averages only 58 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The scaling from Low (139 FPS) to Ultra (58 FPS) represents a 58% performance reduction, consistent with the other resolutions. However, the fact that the system cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra indicates that the RTX 4070's pixel throughput (158.4 GPixel/s) is the limiting factor. The CPU, with its high multi-threaded scores (e.g., 22884 in Geekbench multicore), is not the constraint here.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which achieves an average of 93 FPS. This provides a substantial margin above the playable threshold. The Medium preset (114 FPS) and Low preset (139 FPS) also qualify, but High offers the best visual quality while maintaining smooth performance. The Ultra preset falls short at 58 FPS, making it unsuitable for a locked 60 FPS experience.

At 2560x1440, all four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 94 FPS. This allows for maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing playability. For players prioritizing higher frame rates, the High preset at 150 FPS or the Medium preset at 182 FPS are viable alternatives.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that remains well above the playable threshold, averaging 131 FPS. This provides a high-refresh-rate experience on capable monitors. The Medium preset (256 FPS) and Low preset (312 FPS) offer even higher frame rates for competitive play or extremely high refresh rate displays, but Ultra provides the best visual experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which scores 55093 points and is 0.6% faster than the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's average score of 54762. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is 1.3% slower with a score of 54053. The Intel Xeon 6505P (53701 points, 2% slower) and the Intel Core i7-14700F (53620 points, 2.1% slower) are also close in performance. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall due to the game's relatively low CPU demands.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA Tesla P4 has an average score of 37628, which is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4070's 37648. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507 points) is 0.4% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38135 points) is 1.3% faster, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (37157 points) is 1.3% slower. These alternatives would deliver very similar performance in Downfall, with the RTX 4080 Mobile offering a marginal improvement and the others being virtually indistinguishable in gameplay.

It is important to note that these rivals are determined by overall benchmark averages, not game-specific performance. The deltaPct values are small, suggesting that swapping the CPU or GPU for one of these alternatives would not meaningfully change the gaming experience in Downfall.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 862nd out of 3716 tested configurations for Downfall. This places it in the top 23.2% of all tested systems. This is a strong result, reflecting the high performance of both the Ryzen 9 9900X3D and the RTX 4070. The CPU's 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs contribute to this high overall placement.

The ranking indicates that this combination is well-suited for Downfall and most other games of its era. The system is not at the very top of the chart, which would likely be occupied by combinations with newer, higher-tier GPUs, but its position in the 862nd spot suggests it outperforms the vast majority of systems that would be used to play this title. The data shows that this combo is capable of delivering high frame rates across all tested resolutions, which is a key factor in its favorable ranking.

The Verdict

This PC can run Downfall exceptionally well. Based on the measured FPS data, the combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at all three tested resolutions with most settings.

At 3840x2160, the system is playable on the High, Medium, and Low presets, with the High preset being the recommended maximum for a stable 60 FPS experience (93 FPS average). The Ultra preset is not playable, averaging 58 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable on all four presets. The Ultra preset delivers 94 FPS average, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality. This resolution offers the best balance of image quality and performance.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable on all presets with high frame rates. The Ultra preset averages 131 FPS, providing a smooth and responsive experience. For players with high refresh rate monitors, the Low preset at 312 FPS offers the highest possible frame rates.

The verdict is clear: this hardware combination is more than capable of delivering a smooth and enjoyable experience for Downfall at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, and at 4K with High settings. Only the most demanding 4K Ultra preset falls short of the 60 FPS target. The data supports the conclusion that this is a well-balanced pairing for this game, with the GPU being the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions.