Downfall

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination presents a study in contrasts for running the 2016 horror title Downfall. The processor is a modern 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake part, while the GPU is an older Turing-based entry-level card with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory. The recorded data shows that this pairing can achieve playable frame rates, but only under specific conditions. At 1080p, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on Low and Medium settings, while at 1440p, only the Low preset manages to stay above that mark. At 4K, none of the tested settings reach playable performance. The following analysis breaks down the measured results, compares the components to nearby hardware, and provides a clear path for optimal settings.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest setting at which this system can run Downfall at 1920x1080?*

A: The highest playable setting at 1920x1080 is Medium, which produces an average frame rate of 77.7 FPS. The High preset drops to 58.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

*Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 2560x1440?*

A: Yes, but only on the Low preset. The measured average at 1440p Low is 63.9 FPS. Medium falls to 51 FPS, and High drops further to 44.9 FPS, both below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is 4K resolution playable with this hardware?

A: No. The best result at 3840x2160 is 43.4 FPS on Low settings. Medium produces 33.5 FPS, High produces 24.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 14.5 FPS. None of these reach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The GTX 1650 scores 7472 on average in the database, with a 0.3% lead over the AMD Radeon HD 8850M and a 0.4% lead over the Intel UHD Graphics 750. It is 1% faster than the Intel Arc A310 and 0.6% faster than the AMD Radeon R7 350.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 91.4 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 38.3 FPS. This represents a drop of 53.1 FPS when moving from the least to the most demanding preset.

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F and GTX 1650 combination ranks 3623 out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall, placing it in the lower percentile of all tested configurations.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database's nearest rival data provides a useful context for what other hardware would behave similarly to this specific CPU and GPU pairing.

For the Intel Core i3-12100F, the closest alternatives are all within a 1.1% margin of its average benchmark score. The Intel Core 3 N355 has a near-identical score of 13492, effectively matching the i3-12100F's performance. The Intel Core i5-9500 is 0.3% slower, while the Intel Core 5 120UL is 0.7% faster. The Intel Core i7-1250U leads the group by 1.1%. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, since the game's demands are not heavily multi-threaded.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 sits in close company with several older or integrated solutions. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M is 0.3% slower, the Intel UHD Graphics 750 is 0.4% slower, and the AMD Radeon R7 350 is 0.6% slower. The Intel Arc A310 is the only rival that scores higher, with a 1% advantage. Systems built with any of these GPUs paired with a similar-generation CPU would likely produce frame rates within a few percentage points of the measurements recorded for this combination.

Users looking for a slightly stronger GPU without jumping to a completely different performance class might consider the Intel Arc A310, as its 1% lead suggests marginally better outcomes in GPU-bound scenarios. Conversely, the AMD Radeon HD 8850M represents the nearest lower-performing option, with results that would be nearly indistinguishable from the GTX 1650 in most titles.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured frame rates across resolutions and presets reveal how the workload shifts between the processor and the graphics card in Downfall. This is a horror title that places significant demands on the GPU, particularly as resolution increases.

At 1920x1080, the CPU has more headroom, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher presets. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p reduces the average frame rate from 91.4 FPS to 77.7 FPS, a drop of 13.7 FPS. Moving from Medium to High brings the average down to 58.7 FPS, and Ultra drops it to 38.3 FPS. The scaling suggests that the GTX 1650's 4 GB memory buffer and 128-bit bus are the primary constraints, as the pixel and texture rates are insufficient for the higher-quality settings.

At 2560x1440, the GPU workload increases substantially. Low settings produce 63.9 FPS, which is still above the playable threshold, but Medium drops to 51 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium at 1440p is 12.9 FPS, similar to the 1080p gap, indicating that the GPU is consistently the bottleneck. The High preset at 1440p yields 44.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 28.1 FPS. The i3-12100F's four cores and eight threads are sufficient to feed the GPU at these settings, as evidenced by the smooth scaling pattern.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmingly the limiting component. Even Low settings produce only 43.4 FPS, and the frame rates fall off rapidly with each preset increase. Medium produces 33.5 FPS, High produces 24.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 14.5 FPS. The CPU's role diminishes further at 4K, as the GTX 1650's compute throughput and memory bandwidth are far below what the resolution demands. The data indicates that the i3-12100F is rarely the bottleneck in this configuration; the GPU's performance ceiling is reached long before the processor's capabilities are exhausted.

The Verdict

This PC can run Downfall, but the playable resolutions are limited to 1080p and 1440p, and only with specific settings. The database's verdict confirms that at 1920x1080, the Low and Medium presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Medium being the best playable option at 77.7 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 63.9 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS line.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is clear: no settings are playable. The best result is 43.4 FPS on Low, which falls far short of the 60 FPS target. Users attempting to play at 4K would experience significant stutter and reduced responsiveness. The system is suitable for 1080p gaming with medium quality settings, and it can handle 1440p only with minimal graphical fidelity. For a horror game that relies on atmosphere and lighting, the Low preset at 1440p may be acceptable, but the visual compromise is substantial.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS represents the optimal configuration.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Medium. This preset achieves an average frame rate of 77.7 FPS, which provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. While Low produces a higher average of 91.4 FPS, the Medium preset offers better visual quality without sacrificing playability. The High preset falls to 58.7 FPS, which is below the target, so it should be avoided.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Low. This preset produces an average of 63.9 FPS, which is only 3.9 FPS above the playable threshold. The Medium preset drops to 51 FPS, so users who prioritize frame rate stability should stick with Low. The margin here is thin, and any in-game scenes with heavier effects could push the average below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, there is no playable setting. The highest average frame rate is 43.4 FPS on Low, which is far below the 60 FPS target. Users should not attempt to run the game at this resolution with this hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination ranks 3623 out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This places the system in the bottom 3% of all configurations in the database for this specific title. The low ranking reflects the GPU's limitations, particularly at higher resolutions and presets. While the CPU is a competent modern processor, the GTX 1650's 4 GB memory and modest compute performance hold the system back.

The rank is consistent with the GPU's overall percentile of 40, which indicates that it performs better than 40% of all GPUs in the database. However, Downfall appears to be a demanding title for this class of hardware, as the combination's rank in this game is significantly lower than the individual components' percentiles would suggest. The CPU's percentile of 68 is much higher, confirming that the processor is not the limiting factor in this pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded frame rates show a clear progression of performance as resolution and settings change.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below playable levels. Low settings average 43.4 FPS, Medium drops to 33.5 FPS, High falls to 24.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 14.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 28.9 FPS, indicating that the GPU struggles severely with the 4K resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates improve but remain limited. Low settings average 63.9 FPS, which is the only playable result at this resolution. Medium produces 51 FPS, High produces 44.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 28.1 FPS. The transition from Low to Medium represents a 12.9 FPS loss, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 16.8 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. Low settings average 91.4 FPS, Medium averages 77.7 FPS, High averages 58.7 FPS, and Ultra averages 38.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium is 13.7 FPS, while the difference between Medium and High is 19 FPS. The Ultra preset is 39.4 FPS slower than Low, demonstrating the significant cost of the highest quality settings on this hardware.

Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: the GTX 1650 delivers playable performance only at 1080p Medium or lower and 1440p Low. The i3-12100F provides sufficient CPU power throughout, as evidenced by the smooth frame rate scaling that tracks with GPU load rather than CPU limitations.