Downfall

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a remarkably strong performance profile in Downfall, with benchmark results indicating the combination is capable of high refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, while also maintaining playability at 4K with adjusted settings. The measured data shows a system that scales predictably with resolution and preset levels, with the most demanding 4K Ultra setting being the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold. This analysis breaks down the specific frame rates, optimal settings, and component roles based on the measured data.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combination in Downfall reveal a clear hierarchy across resolutions and presets. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 56 at Ultra to 133 at Low. The High preset delivers an average of 89 FPS, while Medium produces an average of 109 FPS with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 125. The Ultra preset at this resolution is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, with an average of 56 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance improves substantially. The Low preset achieves an average of 214 FPS, while High reaches 143 FPS. Medium produces an average of 175 FPS with a minimum of 149 and a maximum of 201. Even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 90 FPS at this resolution, comfortably above the playability threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 299 FPS, approaching the typical refresh rate ceiling of high-end monitors. High produces 201 FPS, while Medium delivers 245 FPS with a minimum of 208 and a maximum of 282. The Ultra preset still manages an impressive 125 FPS average, showing that the combination has substantial headroom even at maximum graphical fidelity.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS varies by resolution, according to the verdict data. At 3840x2160, the best settings that remain playable are High, which produces an average of 89 FPS. This is notably below the 56 FPS average of Ultra, indicating that the jump from High to Ultra at 4K is particularly demanding. The Medium preset at 4K also clears the threshold with 109 FPS, but High represents the highest quality option that maintains playability.

For 2560x1440, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 90 FPS. This is significant because it means the system can run Downfall at maximum settings on a 1440p display while maintaining a smooth experience. The gap between Ultra at 1440p (90 FPS) and Ultra at 4K (56 FPS) highlights the substantial rendering cost of 4K resolution.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are also Ultra, delivering an average of 125 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, and the data shows that even the most demanding preset at 1080p is far from stressing the hardware. The progression from 1080p Ultra at 125 FPS to 1440p Ultra at 90 FPS to 4K Ultra at 56 FPS illustrates the expected scaling curve across resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 1057 out of 3716 tested combinations in Downfall. This places the system in roughly the 28th percentile of all tested combos, meaning approximately 72 percent of tested configurations rank higher. The CPU itself sits in the 90th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 68th percentile against all GPUs, suggesting that the processor is a stronger relative performer than the graphics card in this pairing.

The benchmark results indicate that this combo sits slightly above the midpoint of tested configurations, which is notable given the high absolute frame rates measured. This suggests that many of the higher-ranked combinations likely feature more recent or higher-tier GPUs, as the game’s performance at lower resolutions appears to be heavily influenced by graphics processing power. The gap between the combo rank and the individual component percentiles implies that the GPU, while strong, is the limiting factor in this pairing.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rivals data for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600KF performs very similarly to several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has an average score that is 0.3 percent higher, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is 0.4 percent higher. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8 percent higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8 percent lower. These deltas are all within one percentage point, indicating that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would produce virtually identical frame rates in Downfall.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals show an interesting mix of much older and newer hardware. The NVIDIA P106-100 has an average score that is 0.3 percent lower than the RTX 3080, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 is also 0.3 percent lower. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M is 0.4 percent lower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X is 0.4 percent lower. These rival GPUs span different generations and market segments, yet they all cluster within a narrow performance band around the RTX 3080. This suggests that in Downfall, a system using any of these GPUs with a comparable CPU would exhibit similar frame rates.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU workload shifts across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the performance is extremely high, with the Low preset reaching 299 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as the frame rates are high enough that CPU limitations could start to emerge. The jump from 1080p Low at 299 FPS to 1080p Ultra at 125 FPS shows a 174 FPS difference driven entirely by GPU load, indicating that the graphics card is responsible for the majority of performance scaling with preset changes.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern continues but with a sharper GPU impact. The Low preset drops to 214 FPS, while Ultra drops to 90 FPS, a 124 FPS difference. The transition from 1440p to 4K at the same preset shows the resolution scaling effect. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 143 at 1440p to 89 at 4K, a 54 FPS reduction. This 37.8 percent decrease is substantial and points to the GPU becoming increasingly dominant as pixel count rises.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Ultra preset drops to 56 FPS, below the playable threshold, while even the High preset produces 89 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 77 FPS, from 133 to 56, which is a 57.9 percent reduction. The data indicates that the CPU is less relevant at higher resolutions, as the RTX 3080’s rendering workload dominates the frame time budget. The CPU’s strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4594, is sufficient to keep up with the GPU at all tested resolutions.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this PC can run Downfall with playable performance across most tested configurations. At 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with the best being High at an average of 89 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K falls short of the 60 FPS threshold, so users at this resolution should stick to High or lower settings for a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, with Ultra delivering an average of 90 FPS. This makes the system fully capable of maximum settings at 1440p. At 1920x1080, all presets are also playable, and Ultra runs at 125 FPS average, providing a high-refresh-rate experience. The verdict is that this combination is a strong performer for Downfall, with the only notable limitation being 4K Ultra settings. The system clears 60 FPS at every resolution except 4K Ultra, and even that setting is close at 56 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 125.

*Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K with High settings?*

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 89, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which resolution and preset combination produces the highest average FPS?

A: The highest average FPS is 299, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 2560x1440?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 2560x1440 produces an average FPS of 90, which is above the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 4K with Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 92 and the maximum FPS is 125, with an average of 109.

*Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested combinations in Downfall?*

A: This combo ranks 1057 out of 3716 tested combinations, which places it in the upper portion of the tested field.