Downfall

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-9400 occupies a specific performance tier within the database. Its average benchmark score of 2254 places it at the 47th percentile among all tested CPUs, meaning just under half of all processors in the database outperform it. The nearest rivals in the recorded data show a remarkably tight cluster. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, which is 0.2% higher than the i5-9400. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, a 0.3% deficit. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% lower, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher. These four alternatives bracket the i5-9400 within a range of less than one percent, so any of these processors would deliver nearly indistinguishable CPU-bound performance in this game.

On the graphics side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 sits at the 92nd percentile across all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 79842. Its nearest recorded rivals are unusual in their composition. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB scores 79605, a 0.3% difference. The Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB scores 79396, 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT scores 78940, 1.1% lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X scores 80959, 1.4% higher. These are not direct gaming counterparts, but the data shows the RTX 5090's compute-level performance sits within a tight band of these workstation and mobile parts. For gaming specifically, the RTX 5090's measured FPS in this title far exceeds what any of these rivals would produce, given the GPU's 92nd percentile standing.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 achieves a rank of 407 out of 3716 tested combinations in Downfall. This places the combo in the top 11% of all recorded system configurations. The ranking reflects the dominant contribution of the RTX 5090, since the CPU sits only at the 47th percentile. A system with a more powerful processor would likely rank higher, but the GPU's immense headroom compensates substantially.

The rank also reveals that the game is not particularly CPU-sensitive at the tested settings. If the i5-9400 were a bottleneck, the combo would fall much lower in the rankings despite the RTX 5090. Instead, the data shows the six-core, six-thread processor keeps pace with the GPU across all resolutions and presets. The 407th position among 3716 combos indicates that most higher-ranked systems pair the RTX 5090 with stronger CPUs, but the practical difference in FPS is likely small given the measured results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains measured average FPS values for this combo at three resolutions and four settings levels. No minimum or maximum frame time data was recorded, so the analysis relies solely on averages.

At 1920x1080, the results are uniformly high. Low settings produce 271.6 FPS, Medium reaches 252.8 FPS, High drops to 234.5 FPS, and Ultra still holds 190.6 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 29.8% reduction in frame rate, which is moderate for a horror title with adjustable visual complexity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern shifts. Low settings deliver 241.6 FPS, Medium hits 223.3 FPS, High produces 209.9 FPS, and Ultra maintains 137.6 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 43.0%, noticeably steeper than at 1080p. The Ultra preset at this resolution shows the largest single-setting jump, falling 72.3 FPS below High.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits, though the frame rates remain far above playability thresholds. Low settings produce 201.9 FPS, Medium reaches 168.1 FPS, High delivers 136.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 86 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 115.9 FPS, a 57.4% reduction. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at Ultra costs 51.6 FPS, while at Low settings the same resolution increase costs only 39.7 FPS. This indicates that higher presets place progressively more load on the GPU, as expected.

The Verdict

This system can run Downfall at every resolution and preset combination recorded in the database. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and all twelve measured configurations exceed it by a substantial margin. At 3840x2160, the lowest recorded average is 86 FPS on Ultra settings. At 2560x1440, the lowest is 137.6 FPS on Ultra. At 1920x1080, the lowest is 190.6 FPS on Ultra. The verdict by resolution lists all four settings as playable at each resolution, which means there is no scenario in the recorded data where this combo falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

The RTX 5090 carries the system clearly. The i5-9400 does not present a measurable limitation in this title, as even the most demanding 4K Ultra configuration maintains 43% headroom above the playability threshold. For users seeking maximum visual fidelity at any resolution, the Ultra preset is viable everywhere. For those who prefer higher frame rates, the lower presets at 1080p approach 300 FPS territory, though the database only records averages.

FAQ

Q: What is the best recorded average FPS for this combo?

A: The highest measured average is 271.6 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain over 60 FPS at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes, the recorded average at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 86 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by 26 FPS.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from 1080p to 4K at the same settings?

A: At Low settings, the drop from 271.6 FPS to 201.9 FPS is 69.7 FPS. At Ultra settings, the drop from 190.6 FPS to 86 FPS is 104.6 FPS.

Q: Which preset shows the largest relative performance hit at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 drops to 137.6 FPS, which is 72.3 FPS below the High preset at the same resolution.

Q: Is the CPU a limiting factor in this game?

A: The CPU ranks at the 47th percentile, but the combo still ranks 407th out of 3716, and all recorded frame rates exceed 86 FPS, so the data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 compare to its nearest recorded rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 scores 79842 on average, which is 0.3% higher than the Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB and 1.4% lower than the Radeon Pro Vega 64X.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with a measured average of 190.6 FPS. This leaves 130.6 FPS of headroom above the playability threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also qualifies, delivering 137.6 FPS. The headroom is 77.6 FPS above the threshold.

At 3840x2160, Ultra remains the best choice, with 86 FPS average. The headroom is 26 FPS, which is the smallest margin across all resolutions but still comfortably playable.

In all three cases, the Ultra preset is the most demanding setting that maintains 60 FPS or higher. There is no resolution in the recorded data where the user must compromise on settings to achieve playable frame rates.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU as resolution and settings change. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are extremely high across all presets, ranging from 190.6 to 271.6 FPS. The relatively narrow spread between Low and Ultra at this resolution suggests the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU even at maximum settings. The i5-9400's six threads do not appear to constrain the RTX 5090 at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on more work. The drop from Low to Ultra is 104 FPS, compared to 81 FPS at 1080p. This widening gap indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiter as pixel count increases. The CPU's role diminishes because the rendering load grows faster than the CPU's ability to issue draw calls.

At 3840x2160, the GPU dominance is clear. The Ultra preset falls to 86 FPS, while Low still produces 201.9 FPS. The 115.9 FPS spread between the two extremes is the largest of any resolution. The resolution scaling from 1440p to 4K costs 51.6 FPS at Ultra but only 39.7 FPS at Low, confirming that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the decisive factors at 4K.

Across all resolutions, the RTX 5090's 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth provide ample resources for this game's textures and effects. The CPU's 42.7 GB/s dual-channel DDR4 memory bandwidth is far lower, but the game does not seem to stress it heavily. The combo ranking of 407 out of 3716 reflects a system where the GPU vastly outperforms the CPU, yet the CPU still keeps up sufficiently to avoid dragging down the overall result. For this specific title, the GPU is the dominant component at every resolution, with its influence growing as resolution increases.