Downfall

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B370 ranks 3429 out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall. This places the combination in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, a position driven almost entirely by the GPU rather than the CPU. The Arc B370 sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. By contrast, the i5-14600K ranks at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48618. The data indicates a heavily GPU-bound pairing: the processor is far more capable than what the graphics solution can deliver in this title.

The rank itself, 3429 of 3716, means roughly 287 tested combinations perform worse than this pairing in Downfall. While that may sound like a moderate position, the context matters. Many of the combos below this rank likely use older or weaker integrated graphics or entry-level discrete parts. The Arc B370's nearest rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, are legacy parts that would struggle with modern horror titles. The i5-14600K's own nearest rivals, including the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and AMD EPYC 4345P, are server and workstation processors that would not typically appear in a gaming rig. The CPU's performance is not the limiting factor here; the recorded FPS numbers across all resolutions and presets reflect the GPU's modest capabilities.

CPU and GPU Roles

Benchmark results indicate that the GPU dominates performance in Downfall at every resolution tested. The CPU, a 14-core, 20-thread Raptor Lake part with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, offers ample headroom. However, the recorded FPS scaling shows that resolution changes affect performance far more than preset changes at the same resolution, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

At 3840x2160, dropping from High to Low settings improves average FPS from 29 to 43, a gain of 14 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same preset change moves from 46 to 68 FPS, a gain of 22 FPS. At 1920x1080, the change is from 64 to 96 FPS, a gain of 32 FPS. The absolute gains from lowering settings grow as resolution decreases, but the relative gains are consistent. More telling is the resolution scaling at the same preset. At High settings, moving from 1920x1080 (64 FPS) to 2560x1440 (46 FPS) to 3840x2160 (29 FPS) shows a steady drop. The 1080p to 1440p transition costs 18 FPS, and the 1440p to 2160p transition costs another 17 FPS. This linear decline points to pixel throughput as the bottleneck, which is the GPU's responsibility.

The CPU's role becomes visible only in the minimum FPS figures at Medium settings. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 67 FPS with an average of 78. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 48 FPS with an average of 56. At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum is 30 FPS with an average of 35. The minimum FPS values stay proportionally close to the averages, indicating that frame time consistency is not a CPU-driven problem. If the i5-14600K were causing stutter or hitches, the minimums would deviate much further from the averages. The data shows no such pattern. The Arc B370, with only 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, is simply overwhelmed at higher resolutions regardless of the CPU's strength.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the results are as follows:

• Low: average 43 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.
• Medium: average 35 FPS, minimum 30 FPS, maximum 40 FPS.
• High: average 29 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.
• Ultra: average 18 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.

The 4K data shows that even the lowest preset cannot sustain 60 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 8 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 6 FPS, and the gap between High and Ultra is 11 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below 20 FPS, which would be a poor experience for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and reaction time.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: average 68 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.
• Medium: average 56 FPS, minimum 48 FPS, maximum 64 FPS.
• High: average 46 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.
• Ultra: average 29 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.

1440p is the first resolution where a preset crosses the 60 FPS threshold, but only at Low. Medium sits 4 FPS below the threshold, and High falls to 46 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p matches the High preset at 4K in terms of average FPS, both at 29. This suggests that the GPU's performance ceiling is around that level for demanding settings regardless of resolution.

At 1920x1080, the results are:

• Low: average 96 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.
• Medium: average 78 FPS, minimum 67 FPS, maximum 90 FPS.
• High: average 64 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.
• Ultra: average 40 FPS, no minimum or maximum recorded.

1080p is where the combo shows its best behavior. Low and Medium both clear 60 FPS comfortably, with Medium maintaining a minimum of 67 FPS, which is above the playable threshold. High sits exactly at 64 FPS average, which is playable but leaves little headroom for dips. Ultra drops to 40 FPS, which is a significant falloff from High, a 24 FPS penalty. The maximum FPS at 1080p Medium is 90, indicating that the GPU can burst well above its average when the scene allows.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Downfall at 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Yes, at Low, Medium, and High presets. Low averages 96 FPS, Medium averages 78 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, and High averages 64 FPS. Ultra falls short at 40 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this pairing?

A: 1920x1080 is the only resolution where multiple presets clear 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low reaches 68 FPS. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS; the best is Low at 43 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, which is 0.2% higher. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, which is 0.5% higher. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, which is 0.7% higher. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower.

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in this game?

A: No. The i5-14600K ranks at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the Arc B370 ranks at the 5th percentile among GPUs. The FPS scaling across resolutions and presets follows a GPU-bound pattern. The CPU has no difficulty feeding the GPU in Downfall.

Q: What happens to performance when going from 1080p to 1440p at Medium settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 78 to 56, a reduction of 22 FPS. The minimum FPS drops from 67 to 48, a reduction of 19 FPS. The maximum FPS drops from 90 to 64, a reduction of 26 FPS.

Q: Does the Ultra preset ever reach 60 FPS at any resolution?

A: No. The best Ultra result is 40 FPS at 1920x1080. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 29 FPS, and at 3840x2160, Ultra averages 18 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48618. Nearby alternatives include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H at 48698, which is 0.2% faster, and the AMD EPYC 4345P at 48470, which is 0.3% slower. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, which is 0.7% slower, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, which is 0.8% faster. These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-side performance in Downfall. None of these differences would meaningfully change the FPS results, given that the GPU is the bottleneck.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B370 has an average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. The closest matches are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 at 1186 (0.2% faster), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 1190 (0.5% faster), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M at 1192 (0.7% faster), and the AMD FirePro M2000 at 1168 (1.4% slower). These are all legacy mobile or low-end desktop parts. Users seeking similar frame rates in Downfall would need a GPU in this performance class. Any modern discrete GPU would be substantially faster, which underscores how limited the Arc B370 is. The pairing of a high-end CPU with this GPU class creates a system where the graphics card determines the playable settings in every scenario.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The best average is Low at 43 FPS, followed by Medium at 35 FPS, High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 18 FPS. Since even the lowest settings fall short of the playable threshold, there is no recommended preset for 4K.

At 2560x1440, the only playable preset is Low, which averages 68 FPS. Medium averages 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. High averages 46 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. Users at 1440p should select Low to maintain smooth gameplay.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages 64 FPS. Medium averages 78 FPS and Low averages 96 FPS, both also playable. Ultra averages 40 FPS, which is not playable. The data supports High as the best visual quality option that still clears the threshold, though it has only 4 FPS of headroom above 60.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-14600K with Intel Arc B370 can run Downfall, but only under specific conditions. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers playable performance at High (64 FPS), Medium (78 FPS), and Low (96 FPS). The High preset is the best visual option that stays above 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low reaches 68 FPS, meaning users must sacrifice visual quality to play at this resolution. At 3840x2160, no settings produce playable frame rates; the best average is 43 FPS at Low, which is well below the 60 FPS threshold.

The verdict by resolution is clear: 1080p High is the sweet spot, 1440p Low is acceptable but limited, and 4K is not viable. The CPU is not the issue; it ranks in the 90th percentile and provides more than enough processing power. The GPU is the constraint, ranking in the 5th percentile with performance close to legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. For users with this specific combination, the practical takeaway is to run Downfall at 1080p with High settings. Pushing to 1440p requires dropping to Low, and 4K is out of reach. The i5-14600K has substantial headroom for a future GPU upgrade, but with the Arc B370, the system's gaming performance in Downfall is defined by the graphics side of the equation.