Downfall

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 places at rank 1097 out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall, putting it in the upper third of all system configurations recorded in the database. This is a strong position, though not a top-tier one, indicating that the combo delivers high frame rates while leaving some performance on the table compared to the very fastest pairings. The data shows this setup is far more capable than the average machine tested, with the RTX 3080 doing the heavy lifting in a horror title that clearly responds well to GPU horsepower.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1097 out of 3716 means this system outperforms roughly 70% of all tested configurations in Downfall. That is a solid result for a pairing that mixes a mid-range Coffee Lake six-core processor with a high-end Ampere flagship. The ranking reflects the reality of this game: Downfall is not a CPU-bound title at most settings, so the i5-9400 does not drag the RTX 3080 down as much as it would in heavily threaded simulations or strategy games.

Benchmark results indicate the i5-9400 itself sits at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, a middling position that shows its age as an end-of-life product from 2018. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and single-core score of 935 are modest by current standards. However, the RTX 3080 ranks at the 68th percentile among all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 25086. The GPU is clearly the dominant component in this pairing, and the final combo rank reflects that the game leans heavily on the graphics card.

The gap between the CPU's 47th percentile and the GPU's 68th percentile is the defining characteristic of this build. In Downfall, the recorded data shows this imbalance works in the player's favor: the game's rendering demands are met by the RTX 3080, while the i5-9400's six cores and six threads are sufficient to feed frames without becoming a major bottleneck at the tested resolutions. The result is a system that ranks well above what the CPU alone would suggest, though not as high as a combo with a newer processor would achieve.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the i5-9400's average benchmark score of 2254 is nearly identical to several other processors. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, a 0.2% difference, meaning it would behave almost exactly the same in CPU-limited scenarios. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, also within 0.4% of the i5-9400, so it would present a very similar experience in Downfall. On the AMD side, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% gap, and the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, a 0.3% gap. Any of these processors would produce virtually identical frame pacing in this game, since the GPU will be the limiting factor at most settings.

For the GPU side, the RTX 3080's average score of 23172 is closely matched by a set of less famous cards. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, just 0.3% ahead, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 scores 23250, also 0.3% ahead. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23273, 0.4% ahead, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276, also 0.4% ahead. These deltas are tiny, so a system swapping the RTX 3080 for any of these would land within a fraction of a percent in overall GPU benchmark performance. In practice, that means frame rates in Downfall would be nearly indistinguishable between these cards, though real-world differences in drivers and thermal behavior could shift things slightly.

The practical takeaway is that this combo sits in a crowded performance band. If a builder already has a motherboard compatible with any of the rival CPUs listed, upgrading to the i5-9400 would yield no meaningful change in Downfall performance. Likewise, the RTX 3080's nearest rivals are not obvious upgrade or downgrade paths; they are simply comparable performers in the database's aggregate scoring.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded FPS data makes it clear that the GPU dominates performance in Downfall, but the CPU's role becomes more visible at lower resolutions and higher frame rates. At 3840x2160, the RTX 3080 is heavily loaded, and the CPU has more headroom. The frame rate scales from 57.4 FPS at Ultra to 135 FPS at Low, a 2.35x increase purely from lowering graphics settings. This scaling is almost entirely GPU-driven, as the i5-9400 can easily feed frames at these levels.

At 2560x1440, the pattern continues but the CPU begins to matter more. Average FPS ranges from 92.6 at Ultra to 216.6 at Low. The jump from Medium at 174.5 FPS to Low at 216.6 FPS is a 24% gain, which suggests the GPU is still the main constraint, but the CPU is starting to approach its limit at the very high frame rates. At 1920x1080, the CPU's influence becomes even more apparent. Low settings produce 270.4 FPS, while Medium drops to 246.6 FPS and High to 199 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 1080p is smaller than at higher resolutions, indicating that the i5-9400's six threads are nearing their ceiling around the 250 to 270 FPS range.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this. At Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 125.9 FPS at 1080p to 92.6 FPS at 1440p, then to 57.4 FPS at 4K. That is a 54% reduction from 1080p to 4K, a clear sign that GPU load is the primary factor at this preset. At Low settings, the drop is from 270.4 FPS at 1080p to 216.6 FPS at 1440p, then to 135 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop at Low is only 20%, which shows the CPU limiting the GPU's potential at lower resolutions. The 1440p to 4K drop at Low is 38%, which is back to GPU-bound behavior.

For a player targeting high refresh rates, the i5-9400 will cap performance around 270 FPS at 1080p Low, but that is far beyond what most displays can show. For typical 60 FPS or 144 FPS targets, the CPU is not a meaningful constraint at any resolution. The GPU is the component to adjust settings for, and the data shows that lowering settings from Ultra to High provides a large FPS boost without losing much visual quality in most scenes.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Downfall at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No, the recorded average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 57.4 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages 89.1 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: At 2560x1440, Ultra settings average 92.6 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra is the best setting for this resolution, and all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, while the nearest rivals score between 2246 and 2264. The largest difference is 0.4%, so these processors are effectively equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 much faster than its nearest rivals?

A: No, the RTX 3080's average score of 23172 is within 0.4% of its nearest rivals, which score between 23249 and 23276. The differences are negligible in aggregate benchmarks.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 High is 199 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a very smooth experience.

Q: At which resolution does the CPU become a limiting factor?

A: The data shows the CPU limits performance most at 1080p Low settings, where the average FPS is 270.4. At 1440p Low, the average drops to 216.6, showing the GPU is taking on more load. At 4K, the CPU is not a limiting factor at any preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the RTX 3080 with the i5-9400 delivers the following average frame rates: Low settings produce 135 FPS, Medium produces 110.7 FPS, High produces 89.1 FPS, and Ultra produces 57.4 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is 31.7 FPS, which is the largest drop between consecutive presets at this resolution. This suggests Ultra introduces a significant rendering cost that the GPU cannot fully absorb while maintaining 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 216.6 FPS for Low, 174.5 FPS for Medium, 142.3 FPS for High, and 92.6 FPS for Ultra. Every preset stays comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The step from High to Ultra is 49.7 FPS, a larger absolute drop than at 4K, because the GPU has more headroom at this resolution and the Ultra preset's extra effects have a proportional impact.

At 1920x1080, the averages are 270.4 FPS for Low, 246.6 FPS for Medium, 199 FPS for High, and 125.9 FPS for Ultra. The Low to Medium drop is only 23.8 FPS, indicating the CPU is starting to constrain the GPU at these high frame rates. The High to Ultra drop is 73.1 FPS, showing that Ultra's effects are heavy even for the RTX 3080.

The min and max FPS values were not recorded for any resolution or settings combination, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates. This is still sufficient to determine playability, as the average values are consistently either well above or slightly below the 60 FPS threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 89.1 FPS. Ultra falls short at 57.4 FPS, so players with a 4K display should use High settings for a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. Medium at 110.7 FPS and Low at 135 FPS are also options for players who prioritize higher frame rates over visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is the best settings preset, averaging 92.6 FPS. All four presets are playable, so players can choose based on their preference. Low at 216.6 FPS suits high refresh rate displays, while Medium at 174.5 FPS and High at 142.3 FPS offer balanced options.

At 1920x1080, Ultra is also the best settings preset, averaging 125.9 FPS. This leaves substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold. High at 199 FPS and Medium at 246.6 FPS are excellent choices for 144 Hz or 240 Hz displays, while Low at 270.4 FPS approaches the CPU's practical limit at this resolution.