Downfall

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 delivers a strong performance profile in Downfall, with the recorded data showing that this combination clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution and preset except for one specific case. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 53.7 FPS, which sits below the playable line, but every other tested configuration at 4K, 1440p, and 1080p stays comfortably above 60 FPS. The data indicates that this system is well suited for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K remains viable for High and Medium settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination covers three resolutions and four quality presets, with average frame rates recorded for each configuration. The database does not include minimum or maximum frame rate values for any of the tested scenarios, so the analysis relies on the average FPS figures.

At 1920x1080, the results show a clear scaling pattern across presets. Low settings produce an average of 269.2 FPS, which is the highest recorded value for this combination. Medium settings deliver 238.7 FPS, High settings reach 196.1 FPS, and Ultra settings still manage a very strong 122.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, with Ultra being roughly 55% slower than Low, but even the most demanding preset at 1080p far exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot for maximum frame rates, as the CPU and GPU combination has enough headroom to push well beyond typical display refresh rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a steeper drop as settings increase. Low settings average 209.5 FPS, Medium settings produce 172.8 FPS, High settings deliver 138.8 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 86.1 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is still well above the 60 FPS playable mark, with about 43% headroom over the threshold. The transition from High to Ultra at this resolution costs roughly 38% of the frame rate, which is a significant penalty but one that still leaves the system in a playable range. The data shows that 1440p Ultra is a viable option for players who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales with resolution pressure. Low settings average 130.3 FPS, Medium settings produce 110.2 FPS, and High settings deliver 88.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 53.7 FPS, which is the only recorded configuration below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This represents a drop of about 39% from High to Ultra at 4K, and the result is clearly not playable by the database's standard. The other three presets at 4K all remain playable, with Medium offering a comfortable margin over the threshold and High providing solid performance for a 60 Hz display.

The overall pattern across resolutions shows that the GPU scales well with increasing resolution, but the Ultra preset at 4K pushes the hardware past its limits. The difference between Medium and High at 4K is about 20%, while the difference between High and Ultra is about 39%, indicating that the Ultra preset carries a disproportionately heavy load. At 1080p and 1440p, the system has enough headroom that even Ultra settings stay far above the playable line, making this combination a strong choice for those resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database provides nearest rival comparisons for both the CPU and GPU, which helps contextualize how this combination behaves relative to other hardware. For the Intel Core i5-9400, the closest matches in average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, Intel Core i7-10710U, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, and Intel Core i3-10305.

The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, which is 0.2% higher than the i5-9400's average of 2254. This puts the two processors effectively at parity, meaning gameplay performance in Downfall would be nearly identical when paired with the same GPU. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, which is 0.3% lower than the i5-9400, again an extremely small difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, representing a 0.4% deficit, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, which is 0.4% higher. All four rivals fall within a range of roughly 0.8% of the i5-9400's average score, so the CPU is essentially interchangeable with these alternatives in terms of overall compute performance.

For the AMD Radeon RX 9070, the nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, AMD Radeon RX 6800S, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER. The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23877, while the GTX TITAN Z scores 23736, which is 0.6% lower. The Radeon RX 6800S scores 24063, or 0.8% higher than the RX 9070. The RTX 3080 Mobile scores 23628, which is 1.1% lower, and the RTX 2080 SUPER scores 24170, or 1.2% higher. These deltas are all within a narrow band of about 2%, indicating that these GPUs would produce very similar frame rates in Downfall at the same settings and resolution.

In practical terms, a system built with an i5-9400 and any of these rival GPUs would likely produce FPS numbers within a few percentage points of the measurements recorded for this combination. The RTX 2080 SUPER might edge out the RX 9070 by roughly 1% on average, while the RTX 3080 Mobile might fall slightly behind. The same logic applies to the CPU: swapping the i5-9400 for an i3-10305 would not materially change the frame rates in Downfall, since the benchmark scores are so close. This means that the performance profile described in the measured FPS section is representative of a broader set of hardware combinations, not just this exact pairing.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the recorded average frame rate at 3840x2160 with High settings is 88.1 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains 60 FPS at 4K?

A: High settings are the most demanding preset that stays playable at 4K, with an average of 88.1 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K drop to 53.7 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the system perform at 1440p Ultra?

A: At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 86.1 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS playable line.

Q: Is 1080p Ultra playable with this combination?

A: Yes, 1920x1080 with Ultra settings produces an average of 122.5 FPS, leaving substantial headroom above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the fastest recorded configuration for this system?

A: The highest average frame rate in the data is 269.2 FPS, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Which resolution offers the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with Ultra settings delivers 86.1 FPS, which is both visually demanding and well above the playable threshold, making it a strong candidate for the best overall experience.

The Verdict

The database verdict by resolution confirms that this PC can run Downfall effectively across most configurations. At 3840x2160, the playable settings include High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best playable option at 88.1 FPS. Ultra at 4K is not playable, as the 53.7 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, with Ultra being the best settings option at 86.1 FPS. At 1920x1080, all four presets are also playable, with Ultra delivering 122.5 FPS as the best settings choice.

In short, this system clears 60 FPS at every resolution except for 4K Ultra. For players using a 4K display, High settings provide a smooth experience with 88.1 FPS, while Medium and Low offer even higher frame rates. For 1440p and 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is fully playable, and the frame rates are high enough to take advantage of 120 Hz or even 144 Hz monitors at 1080p. The only configuration to avoid is 4K Ultra, which falls short of the playable threshold by about 6 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks at position 1204 out of 3716 tested combos in the database for Downfall. This places the system in the upper third of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms roughly two-thirds of the hardware combinations that have been measured for this game. The rank reflects the overall capability of the pairing across all recorded resolutions and settings, not just a single scenario.

The percentile position for the CPU is 47, which means the i5-9400 sits near the midpoint of all CPUs in the database. The GPU, however, has a percentile of 69, indicating that the RX 9070 performs better relative to other GPUs than the CPU does relative to other CPUs. This imbalance suggests that the GPU is the stronger component in this pairing, and the measured frame rates in Downfall are likely GPU-limited in most scenarios, particularly at 4K and with higher presets. The CPU provides enough compute power to avoid becoming a major bottleneck, but the RX 9070 is clearly the driver of the high FPS numbers.

The rank of 1204 out of 3716 shows that this combination is competitive but not top-tier. Many systems with newer or higher-end CPUs and GPUs will outperform it, but the measured data confirms that this pairing delivers a very playable experience in Downfall at nearly all settings. The combination's strength lies in its ability to handle 1440p Ultra and 1080p Ultra with high frame rates, which makes it a solid choice for gamers who prioritize smooth gameplay over absolute maximum fidelity at 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the database identifies the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS, along with the exact average frame rate at that setting.

At 3840x2160, the best playable settings are High, with an average FPS of 88.1. This is the highest quality preset that stays above the 60 FPS threshold at 4K. Medium settings would also be playable at 110.2 FPS, and Low at 130.3 FPS, but High offers the best visual quality without sacrificing playability. Ultra is the only preset at this resolution that fails to reach 60 FPS, so players with 4K displays should stick to High or lower.

At 2560x1440, the best playable settings are Ultra, with an average FPS of 86.1. This means the system can run the maximum quality preset at 1440p while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS line. The other presets, High at 138.8 FPS, Medium at 172.8 FPS, and Low at 209.5 FPS, all exceed the threshold by even larger margins, but Ultra is the recommended choice for maximum visual fidelity.

At 1920x1080, the best playable settings are also Ultra, with an average FPS of 122.5. This is the highest preset available, and the frame rate is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. The system has so much headroom at 1080p that even the most demanding settings leave plenty of room for high-refresh-rate displays. Low settings reach 269.2 FPS, Medium hits 238.7 FPS, and High delivers 196.1 FPS, but Ultra remains the best choice for players who want the full visual experience without worrying about frame rate drops.

In summary, the optimal settings for this system are High at 4K, Ultra at 1440p, and Ultra at 1080p. Each of these configurations delivers an average frame rate well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, making this combination a reliable performer for Downfall across a wide range of display resolutions and quality preferences.