Downfall

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Downfall across all tested resolutions and presets. The measured data shows a system that is never constrained by the 60 FPS playability threshold, with even the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K producing an average of 75.7 FPS. This combination of a mid-range 12th-generation CPU and a high-end Ada Lovelace GPU creates a substantial performance buffer, making the game feel fluid at every setting level tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for this combination provides a clear picture of performance scaling. At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates range from 75.7 FPS at Ultra settings to 179.1 FPS at Low settings. The intermediate presets show a logical progression: Medium delivers 144.8 FPS, and High reaches 116.4 FPS. No minimum or maximum frame rate data is available for any resolution, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS figures.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance headroom expands considerably. Low settings produce an average of 281.3 FPS, while Medium achieves 231.8 FPS and High reaches 187.5 FPS. The Ultra preset remains highly playable at 121 FPS, which is still double the 60 FPS threshold. The step from 4K to 1440p yields roughly a 60% increase in frame rate at Ultra settings, highlighting the resolution scaling efficiency.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system demonstrates its peak capability. Low settings hit 385.9 FPS, Medium delivers 325.6 FPS, and High reaches 264.4 FPS. The Ultra preset achieves 169.7 FPS, which is the lowest average at this resolution but still vastly exceeds any playability concern. The data shows that at 1080p, even the most demanding settings leave the GPU with significant unused capacity, suggesting the CPU or game engine limits become more relevant at these high frame rates.

The absence of min/max frame rate data means the analysis cannot assess frame time consistency or stuttering behavior. However, the average FPS figures are uniformly high enough that even substantial dips would likely remain above the playability threshold in most scenarios.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. Given the performance levels observed, the Ultra preset is achievable at every resolution tested.

At 3840x2160, Ultra settings run at an average of 75.7 FPS. This is the optimal choice for 4K users, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while keeping a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The next step down, High, offers 116.4 FPS for users who prefer higher frame rates, but Ultra remains fully viable.

For 2560x1440, Ultra settings deliver 121 FPS on average. This provides excellent visual quality with a frame rate that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors. The margin above 60 FPS is substantial, leaving room for demanding scenes or background tasks without dropping below playable levels.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings achieve 169.7 FPS. This is the clear recommendation for 1080p displays, as it combines maximum visual quality with frame rates that exceed the refresh rate of most monitors. Users with 144Hz or 165Hz displays will find this preset ideal, while those with 240Hz panels might prefer High settings at 264.4 FPS for even higher refresh rates.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling between resolutions and presets reveals which component plays the dominant role in Downfall. The RTX 4080 SUPER's workload increases significantly as resolution rises, while the i5-12400's contribution remains relatively constant. This is evidenced by the frame rate progression: at 4K Ultra, the system produces 75.7 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra it reaches 169.7 FPS. This 2.24x increase in frame rate from 4K to 1080p indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the CPU can feed frames faster than the GPU can render them at lower resolutions.

The preset scaling within each resolution further confirms GPU dominance. At 4K, dropping from Ultra to Low increases frame rates from 75.7 FPS to 179.1 FPS, a 2.37x improvement. This large scaling factor suggests that pixel throughput and shading complexity are the limiting factors, which are GPU-bound tasks. At 1080p, the same preset drop yields a smaller relative improvement (from 169.7 FPS to 385.9 FPS, a 2.27x increase), indicating that the CPU begins to exert more influence at lower resolutions where the GPU has spare capacity.

The i5-12400's benchmark scores support its role as a capable partner for this GPU. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 place it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. In Downfall, a horror title that likely relies on single-thread performance for game logic and physics, the CPU's single-thread capability appears sufficient to avoid becoming a limiting factor at 1440p and 4K. At 1080p with Low settings, the 385.9 FPS figure approaches the upper range where CPU limitations typically emerge, but the data shows no evidence of the CPU capping performance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the i5-12400 provide context for its role in this combination. The AMD EPYC 7643 has an average benchmark score of 18697, which is only 0.1% higher than the i5-12400's 18683. This enterprise-grade processor would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Downfall, though its platform costs and power requirements differ. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, a 0.3% advantage, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, a 0.7% edge. The Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% lower. All four rivals fall within a tight 1.6% performance band, meaning any of them would behave essentially identically to the i5-12400 in this game.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (non-SUPER) has an average score of 54247, just 0.1% below the RTX 4080 SUPER's 54209. This means the original RTX 4080 would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, a 1.1% difference, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698, a 2.7% difference, and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55757, a 2.8% difference. These rivals would deliver frame rates within a few percent of the RTX 4080 SUPER, making them viable alternatives if the exact model is unavailable, though their driver and feature-set differences are not captured in this data.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 315th out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the top 8.5% of all systems evaluated. This ranking reflects the strong performance of both components individually, as well as their effective pairing. The GPU's 86th percentile standing among all GPUs and the CPU's 72nd percentile among all CPUs combine to produce a system that excels in this title.

The rank of 315 suggests that while this is a high-performing combination, there are 314 other tested configurations that achieve higher average frame rates in Downfall. These would likely include systems with even more powerful GPUs, such as the RTX 4090 or newer generations, paired with similarly capable CPUs. However, the gap between this combo and the top performers is unlikely to be large, given that the RTX 4080 SUPER already delivers frame rates well beyond the playability threshold at all settings.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 4K with maximum settings?*

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 75.7 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 delivers 121 FPS on average, making it the best choice for visual quality while maintaining high frame rates.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 4K?

A: At Ultra settings, 1080p produces 169.7 FPS compared to 75.7 FPS at 4K, representing a 2.24x increase in average frame rate.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions, as shown by the large frame rate differences between 4K and 1080p. The CPU becomes relatively more relevant at 1080p with lower settings, where frame rates exceed 385 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: It ranks 315th out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the top 8.5% of all systems evaluated for Downfall.

Q: Would the non-SUPER RTX 4080 perform similarly?

A: Yes. The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score that is only 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080 SUPER, suggesting nearly identical performance in this game.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can definitively run Downfall with outstanding performance at every resolution and settings preset tested. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with Ultra achieving 75.7 FPS. At 2560x1440, all presets remain playable, with Ultra reaching 121 FPS. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with Ultra hitting 169.7 FPS.

The system never approaches the 60 FPS threshold, even under the most demanding conditions. The lowest average frame rate recorded is 75.7 FPS at 4K Ultra, which still provides a 26% margin above playability. For users seeking maximum visual fidelity, the Ultra preset is achievable at all resolutions. For competitive or high-refresh-rate play, the High and Medium presets offer substantially higher frame rates, reaching up to 385.9 FPS at 1080p Low settings.

The i5-12400 proves to be a well-matched partner for the RTX 4080 SUPER in this title, with no evidence of CPU bottlenecking at any tested configuration. The combination's 315th rank out of 3716 systems confirms its position as a high-end configuration capable of delivering a premium experience in Downfall. Users can confidently select the Ultra preset at any resolution without sacrificing playability.