Downfall

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a compelling mid-range setup for Downfall, a 2016 horror title. This combination delivers a wide range of performance across resolutions, from fully playable 4K at lower settings to extremely high frame rates at 1080p. The data indicates that this is a balanced pairing where neither component creates a severe bottleneck, allowing the GPU's capabilities to scale predictably with resolution changes. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, answers common questions, and provides a verdict on what settings you can realistically expect to use.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data for this combo reveals a clear hierarchy across the three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally capable, with all settings presets delivering an average FPS well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Low preset hits an average of 163 FPS, while High reaches 109 FPS, and Medium lands at 133 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p maintains a strong average of 68 FPS, making this resolution entirely flexible for the user.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains robust, though the Ultra preset begins to strain. The Low preset still provides a high average of 116 FPS, with Medium at 95 FPS and High at 78 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to an average of 49 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data includes min/max figures only for the Medium preset at this resolution, showing a range of 81 FPS minimum to 110 FPS maximum, indicating a stable frame pacing window within that preset.

At 3840x2160, the demands of 4K resolution become apparent. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding an average of just 30 FPS, which is not playable. The High preset averages 49 FPS, also below the threshold. Medium settings at 4K produce an average of 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS, placing it just at the edge of playability. Only the Low preset at 4K achieves a comfortable average of 72 FPS, making it the sole viable option for smooth gameplay at this resolution.

The data pattern suggests that the Arc B570 has ample headroom at 1080p and 1440p, but the transition to 4K significantly increases the load on the GPU, causing a sharp drop in performance for the higher-quality presets. The i5-12400F's six cores and 12 threads appear sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only with the Low settings preset. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 on Low is 72 FPS. The Medium preset averages 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS, while High and Ultra presets fall short at 49 FPS and 30 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gameplay to stay above 60 FPS?

A: The High preset is the most demanding option that maintains an average above 60 FPS at 2560x1440. It achieves an average of 78 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 49 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to its closest competitors in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047, a negligible 0% delta. The Intel Core 3 201E is 0.1% behind with a score of 19056, while the Intel Core i5-1335U and AMD EPYC 7773X are both 0.3% behind, scoring 18982 and 18979 respectively.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570's GPU performance similar to any other cards?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the Arc B570 (score of 20556) is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (score of 20534), which is 0.1% ahead. The Intel Arc A750 is 0.1% behind with a score of 20582. The AMD Radeon R9 M390X is 0.5% behind, and the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M is 0.4% ahead.

Q: What is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset is the most demanding and still achieves an average of 68 FPS at 1920x1080, making it fully playable. This is the highest quality option available for this resolution.

Q: How does this specific combo rank among all tested combinations for Downfall?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2988 out of 3716 total tested combos for this game. This places it in the lower portion of the rankings, though the in-game FPS data shows it is still capable of delivering a smooth experience at several settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that remains at or above the 60 FPS playable threshold, with an average of 68 FPS. This provides the maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the best choice for staying above 60 FPS. It delivers an average of 78 FPS, offering a good balance of visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset falls to 49 FPS, so it is not recommended for a consistent experience.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only configuration that clears the 60 FPS mark, achieving an average of 72 FPS. While this requires a significant reduction in visual quality, it is the sole way to achieve playable performance at 4K with this hardware.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400F's average benchmark score of 19039 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which scores 19047. A user with this AMD chip would see virtually the same processor-bound performance. The Intel Core 3 201E is also a close match, with a score of 19056, putting it just 0.1% behind. These alternatives represent a negligible performance difference in synthetic workloads.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc B570's average score of 20556 is closely aligned with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20534 and is 0.1% faster. The Intel Arc A750 is the direct competitor within Intel's own lineup, scoring 20582, which is just 0.1% slower. For users considering alternatives, these cards would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, given the minimal delta in their average benchmark scores.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2988 out of 3716 tested combinations for Downfall. This places the system in the bottom 20% of all tested hardware pairings. Despite this low overall rank, the measured FPS data shows the hardware is more than adequate for this specific game. The rank likely reflects the fact that many of the 3716 combos include much higher-end components, but for a mainstream mid-range build, the actual gameplay experience is solid. The percentile rankings for the individual components support this: the CPU sits in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, indicating they are above-average parts individually.

The Verdict

This PC can run Downfall, and it can do so with high fidelity at most resolutions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, all presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 68 FPS. At 2560x1440, the High preset is the best playable option, averaging 78 FPS, while Low and Medium also exceed 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system is limited to the Low preset, which averages 72 FPS, to maintain a smooth experience. The data shows that for users with a 1080p or 1440p monitor, this combo provides a great experience with high visual settings. For 4K, the hardware is sufficient only for lower quality settings, making it a less ideal choice for users who prioritize resolution over detail. Overall, the i5-12400F and Arc B570 are a well-matched pair for this horror title, offering playable performance across the board, with the strongest results at lower resolutions.