Downfall

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and preset combination for this PC in Downfall?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 71 FPS average, which is the most demanding playable setting. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 62 FPS average. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14600KF compare to its nearest rivals in overall CPU performance?

A: The CPU holds a 0.3% advantage over the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, a 0.4% advantage over the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, and a 0.8% advantage over the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. It trails the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 by 0.8%. Its average benchmark score is 49394, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the GPU performance ranking for the Intel Arc B390?

A: The GPU scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, meaning the Arc B390 is 1.3% ahead.

Q: Does the game run at 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: Yes, but only on Medium settings. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. The Low preset reaches 76 FPS, while High and Ultra both fall below 60 FPS.

Q: What happens to performance when switching from Low to Ultra at 1920x1080?

A: The average frame rate drops from 106 FPS at Low to 44 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 62 FPS. Medium sits at 87 FPS and High at 71 FPS, showing a steep scaling curve as settings increase.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Downfall?

A: The data indicates the GPU is heavily limiting. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only reach 47 FPS, while the CPU is a 90th percentile part. The GPU's 9th percentile ranking and the sharp FPS drops with resolution scaling point to the graphics card as the primary bottleneck.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the Intel Arc B390 in Downfall is stark. The CPU is a high-end desktop part with a 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs, capable of handling the game's logic and physics without breaking a sweat. The GPU, however, sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a massive gap that defines the system's overall performance envelope.

At 1920x1080, the CPU has enough headroom to push the GPU to its limits. The Low preset averages 106 FPS, which suggests the CPU can feed frames well above the 60 FPS target. But as settings climb, the GPU load increases and frame rates drop: Medium at 87 FPS, High at 71 FPS, and Ultra at 44 FPS. The CPU is not the constraint here; the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth are.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU's limitations become more pronounced. Low settings drop to 76 FPS, Medium to 62 FPS, and High to 51 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at the same preset shows a clear GPU-bound pattern: High loses 20 FPS, Low loses 30 FPS, and Medium loses 25 FPS. The CPU's role remains constant, but the GPU cannot maintain the same output at higher pixel counts.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmed. Even Low settings only produce 47 FPS, and Ultra drops to 20 FPS. The resolution scaling from 1440p to 4K at Low (76 to 47 FPS) and Medium (62 to 39 FPS) demonstrates that the GPU's fill rate and memory system are the decisive factors. The CPU, with its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 20 threads, has no trouble keeping up with the game's demands at any resolution.

In summary, the CPU is more than adequate for Downfall, while the GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution above 1080p Low. The recorded data shows a system where the processor's headroom is never fully utilized because the graphics card cannot translate that potential into higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for Downfall covers three resolutions and four presets per resolution. Some entries lack minimum and maximum values, but the available figures provide a complete picture of performance.

1920x1080:

• Low: 106 FPS average, no min/max recorded
• Medium: 87 FPS average, 74 FPS minimum, 100 FPS maximum
• High: 71 FPS average, no min/max recorded
• Ultra: 44 FPS average, no min/max recorded

The 1080p results show a smooth progression from Low to High, with each step costing roughly 15 to 20 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra is steeper, costing 27 FPS, which indicates a significant increase in GPU workload at the highest preset.

2560x1440:

• Low: 76 FPS average, no min/max recorded
• Medium: 62 FPS average, 53 FPS minimum, 71 FPS maximum
• High: 51 FPS average, no min/max recorded
• Ultra: 32 FPS average, no min/max recorded

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS, but its minimum of 53 FPS shows that frame times can dip below the target. Low is comfortably above the threshold at 76 FPS, while High and Ultra fall short.

3840x2160:

• Low: 47 FPS average, no min/max recorded
• Medium: 39 FPS average, 33 FPS minimum, 44 FPS maximum
• High: 32 FPS average, no min/max recorded
• Ultra: 20 FPS average, no min/max recorded

At 4K, none of the presets reach 60 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 33 FPS and maximum of 44 FPS indicate that even the most stable setting cannot hold a playable frame rate. The Ultra preset at 20 FPS is effectively a slideshow.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step down from 1080p to 4K costs roughly 30 to 40% of the frame rate at the same preset. The GPU's memory bandwidth, listed as "System Dependent," is likely the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU have distinct competitive landscapes based on the nearest rivals in the database.

For the Intel Core i5-14600KF, the closest alternatives are all within 1% of its average benchmark score of 49394. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, a 0.3% deficit. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, a 0.4% deficit. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, a 0.8% deficit. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 49796, a 0.8% advantage. Any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical results in Downfall, since the game is not CPU-bound at any tested setting.

For the Intel Arc B390, the nearest rivals are all low-end discrete GPUs from NVIDIA. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% behind the Arc B390's 1482. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, a 1.5% deficit. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% deficit. The GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, a 2.7% deficit. These differences are within the margin of measurement error, meaning any of these GPUs would perform almost identically in Downfall.

The practical implication is that this system's gaming performance is entirely defined by the GPU tier. Swapping the CPU for any of its nearest rivals would change nothing in Downfall, while swapping the GPU for any of its nearest rivals would also produce near-identical frame rates. The combo's rank of 3303 out of 3716 tested combinations reflects this, placing it in the bottom 11% of all systems.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold for Downfall is 60 FPS average. Based on the measured data, each resolution has a specific preset that maximizes visual quality while staying at or above that threshold.

1920x1080: The High preset is the best choice. It averages 71 FPS, which is 11 FPS above the threshold. The Medium preset also clears the bar at 87 FPS, but High offers better visuals for only a 16 FPS cost. Ultra falls to 44 FPS and is not playable.

2560x1440: The Medium preset is the best option. It averages 62 FPS, just 2 FPS above the threshold. The Low preset averages 76 FPS and is also playable, but Medium provides a better balance of quality and performance. High averages 51 FPS and Ultra drops to 32 FPS, both below the playable line.

3840x2160: No preset reaches 60 FPS. The best recorded result is Low at 47 FPS, followed by Medium at 39 FPS, High at 32 FPS, and Ultra at 20 FPS. The database records no playable settings at this resolution.

The verdict data confirms these findings: at 2560x1440, the playable settings are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best at 62 FPS. At 1920x1080, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best at 71 FPS. At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Downfall? The answer depends entirely on the resolution and preset.

1920x1080: Yes. Three presets clear the 60 FPS threshold. High runs at 71 FPS, Medium at 87 FPS, and Low at 106 FPS. Ultra does not meet the requirement at 44 FPS. For the best visual experience, use High.

2560x1440: Yes, with restrictions. Low runs at 76 FPS and Medium at 62 FPS, both above the threshold. High averages 51 FPS and Ultra 32 FPS, both below it. Medium is the highest quality playable setting at this resolution.

3840x2160: No. All four presets fall below 60 FPS. The best result is Low at 47 FPS, which is 13 FPS short of the playable threshold. This resolution is not viable with this hardware combo.

The overall picture is that this system is a 1080p and 1440p machine for Downfall, with no headroom for 4K gaming. The GPU's 9th percentile ranking is the binding constraint, and the CPU's 90th percentile ranking cannot compensate for the graphics card's limitations. The minimum recorded FPS values at Medium presets (74 at 1080p, 53 at 1440p, 33 at 4K) suggest that even playable settings may experience occasional dips below the average.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Downfall, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 3303 out of 3716 total combinations. This places it in the bottom 11.1% of all tested systems.

The rank reflects the severe imbalance between the components. The CPU is a top-tier part, but the GPU is near the bottom of the performance ladder. The 90th percentile CPU ranking and 9th percentile GPU ranking create a system that underperforms relative to what the processor alone would suggest.

The nearest rival GPUs, all scoring within 2.7% of the Arc B390, would likely produce similar ranks if paired with the same CPU. The nearest rival CPUs, all within 1% of the 14600KF's score, would not meaningfully change the combo's position in the ranking.

For context, the combo's average FPS at 1080p High (71) is below the 60 FPS threshold at 4K, and no setting at 4K reaches a playable level. The system occupies a niche where it can handle the game at lower resolutions and mid-range presets, but it cannot compete with higher-end GPU pairings in the database. The rank of 3303 is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited shading units (1536), texture mapping units (48), and raster operation units (24), all of which are small numbers for a modern game.