Downfall

Intel Core i5-12400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 can run Downfall, a 2016 horror title, with substantial performance headroom at most settings. The measured data shows the combination delivers playable frame rates across all tested resolutions, though the Ultra preset at 4K falls below the 60 FPS threshold. This analysis breaks down the exact FPS figures, compares nearby hardware alternatives, and provides specific settings recommendations based on the benchmark results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for this combination shows a clear performance curve that scales predictably with resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, the system produces very high frame rates across all settings. The Low preset averages 257 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS with a minimum of 179 FPS and maximum of 242 FPS, High averages 172 FPS, and Ultra averages 108 FPS. Every preset at 1080p clears the 60 FPS playable threshold by a wide margin, making this resolution the most comfortable environment for the hardware.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the expected cost of additional pixels. The Low preset averages 183 FPS, Medium averages 150 FPS with a minimum of 127 FPS and maximum of 172 FPS, High averages 123 FPS, and Ultra drops to 77 FPS. The gap between Medium and Ultra at this resolution is 73 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset imposes a significant rendering load. Still, even the most demanding setting at 1440p stays above the 60 FPS mark, leaving room for high refresh rate displays.

At 3840x2160, the 4K resolution reveals the limits of this configuration. The Low preset averages 114 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS and maximum of 107 FPS, and High averages 77 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 48 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The step from High to Ultra at 4K costs 29 FPS, a substantial drop that pushes the system into non-playable territory. For 4K gaming, the data indicates High is the ceiling for smooth performance.

The measured FPS values also show consistent minimum and maximum figures only for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the range spans 179 to 242 FPS, a 63 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 127 to 172 FPS, a 45 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range tightens further to 79 to 107 FPS, a 28 FPS spread. This pattern suggests that as resolution increases, the frame time consistency improves relative to the average, likely due to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck and reducing CPU-driven variance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12400F indicate that its average benchmark score of 19039 places it within a narrow performance band of comparable processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS scores 19047, a delta of 0% from the i5-12400F, meaning these two CPUs deliver effectively identical average performance. The Intel Core 3 201E scores 19056, which is 0.1% higher, while the Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18982, 0.3% lower. The AMD EPYC 7773X also scores 18979, 0.3% lower. For Downfall, swapping the i5-12400F for any of these processors would yield nearly indistinguishable frame rates, as the CPU-side differences are within a fraction of a percent.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, placing its nearest rivals in a similarly tight cluster. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT scores 17083, which is 0.7% lower, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, 1% lower. The AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019, 1.1% lower, and the NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, 1.5% higher. None of these alternatives deviate by more than 1.5% from the RTX 3070's average score, so in practice, any of them would produce nearly identical FPS results in Downfall. The practical takeaway is that this combo sits in a well-populated performance tier where small benchmark deltas translate to imperceptible gameplay differences.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 73 against all CPUs and the GPU's percentile ranking of 61 against all GPUs further contextualize this pairing. The processor outperforms the graphics card relative to their respective pools, suggesting that the RTX 3070 is the more limiting component in this system for Downfall. However, the measured FPS data shows the GPU still handles the game comfortably at most settings, so this imbalance only manifests at the highest preset and resolution combination.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but not at the Ultra preset. The measured data shows playable average FPS at 4K for Low (114 FPS), Medium (93 FPS), and High (77 FPS) settings, while Ultra drops to 48 FPS, below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 77 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. This is the most demanding setting that remains playable at this resolution, making it the best choice for visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest alternatives?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047 with a 0% delta, meaning performance is virtually identical. Other rivals like the Intel Core 3 201E and Intel Core i5-1335U differ by only 0.1% and 0.3%, respectively.

Q: Is the Ultra preset ever playable with this combination?

A: Yes, at both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 108, and at 1440p Ultra, it is 77 FPS. Only at 3840x2160 does Ultra fall below 60 FPS, averaging 48 FPS.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 210 FPS at 1080p Medium, with a minimum of 179 FPS and a maximum of 242 FPS. This provides a smooth experience even on high refresh rate monitors.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 scores 17208 on average. The closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, scores 17083 with a 0.7% delta. Other rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M are 1% and 1.1% lower, respectively, while the NVIDIA Tesla K40c is 1.5% higher.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database for Downfall, this combination of Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1592 out of 3716 tested combos. This places the system in the upper half of all tested configurations, roughly in the 57th percentile of the combo pool. The rank reflects the measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings, which shows strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, with a notable weakness only at 4K Ultra.

The rank of 1592 indicates that while this combo is not at the top tier of hardware, it outperforms a majority of tested systems for this specific game. The data supports this position: the system clears 60 FPS at every resolution when using appropriate presets, and even at 4K, three of the four settings remain playable. The combination's standing suggests it is a well-balanced pairing for Downfall, with the GPU providing sufficient rasterization power and the CPU offering enough single-thread performance for the horror genre's typically modest physics and AI demands.

Compared to the full field of 3716 combos, the 1592 rank means roughly 2124 configurations perform worse in this game. The gap to the top tier is likely dominated by systems with newer or higher-end GPUs that can sustain 4K Ultra frame rates, but for the vast majority of gaming scenarios, this combo delivers a smooth experience. The rank also implies that users of this hardware can confidently run Downfall without needing to upgrade, as the measured performance already exceeds the playable threshold in most cases.

The Verdict

Based on the measured FPS data and the 60 FPS playable threshold, this PC can run Downfall at all three tested resolutions, but with specific preset limitations. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears 60 FPS, with the lowest average being 108 FPS at Ultra. This makes 1080p fully playable at maximum settings. At 2560x1440, all four presets also clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 77 FPS, so 1440p is playable at the highest quality settings. At 3840x2160, the Low, Medium, and High presets clear 60 FPS, with High averaging 77 FPS, but Ultra falls to 48 FPS, which fails the playability threshold.

The verdict by resolution confirms this assessment: at 4K, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best at 77 FPS average. At 1440p, all settings including Ultra are playable, with Ultra at 77 FPS. At 1080p, all settings including Ultra are playable, with Ultra at 108 FPS. For users prioritizing visual fidelity, 1080p Ultra or 1440p Ultra provide the best experience without frame rate compromises. For 4K users, High settings offer the best balance, delivering 77 FPS while avoiding the sub-60 FPS drop seen at Ultra.

This system is therefore well-suited for Downfall across common gaming setups. The only scenario where it fails to maintain smooth performance is 4K Ultra, which is an expected outcome given the RTX 3070's 8 GB memory capacity and the demanding nature of Ultra presets at high resolutions. For all other combinations, the hardware provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages 77 FPS. Medium averages 93 FPS and Low averages 114 FPS, but High offers the best visual quality while maintaining playability. The Ultra preset at 48 FPS is not viable for smooth gameplay, so users at 4K should select High to maximize fidelity without dropping below 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the best preset is Ultra, which averages 77 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold with a 17 FPS margin. Lower presets like High (123 FPS), Medium (150 FPS), and Low (183 FPS) offer more headroom but sacrifice visual detail. For users with 1440p displays, Ultra provides the ideal combination of image quality and smoothness.

At 1920x1080, the best preset is also Ultra, which averages 108 FPS. This provides a substantial 48 FPS margin above the playable threshold, ensuring smooth performance even during demanding scenes. The High preset averages 172 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS, and Low averages 257 FPS, but none of these higher-frame options justify reducing visual quality given that Ultra already performs well. At 1080p, this combo can run the game at maximum settings without any frame rate concerns.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows that the GPU is the dominant factor in Downfall's performance across resolutions, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high, ranging from 108 FPS at Ultra to 257 FPS at Low. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 149 FPS drop, which is a 58% reduction in performance. This large drop indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed by the Ultra preset's rendering features, while the CPU maintains consistent frame delivery even at the highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the resolution increase from 1080p results in a performance cost that is consistent across presets. Comparing Low settings, 1440p averages 183 FPS versus 257 FPS at 1080p, a 74 FPS reduction. For Ultra, 1440p averages 77 FPS versus 108 FPS at 1080p, a 31 FPS reduction. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 29% for Low and 29% for Ultra, showing that the GPU's workload scales similarly across presets when resolution changes. The CPU's role remains stable, as the frame rates at 1440p are still high enough to avoid CPU limitation.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The performance drop from 1440p to 4K is substantial: Low falls from 183 FPS to 114 FPS (38% drop), Medium falls from 150 FPS to 93 FPS (38% drop), High falls from 123 FPS to 77 FPS (37% drop), and Ultra falls from 77 FPS to 48 FPS (38% drop). This consistent 37-38% reduction across all presets indicates that the RTX 3070's rendering throughput is the limiting factor, as the pixel count quadruples from 1440p to 4K but the frame rates drop by roughly one-third, not one-quarter. The CPU's influence is minimal at 4K, as even the most demanding preset's failure to reach 60 FPS is purely a GPU limitation. The data suggests that for Downfall, users should prioritize GPU performance for higher resolutions, while the i5-12400F is more than adequate for all tested settings.