Downfall

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a playable experience in Downfall at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 4K on higher presets. Benchmark data shows this combination ranks 2988 out of 3716 tested combos for this game, placing it in the lower-mid tier of performance. The system's GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom even at maximum settings. Below is a detailed breakdown of measured performance, component roles, and actionable settings recommendations.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 68 FPS. This is the highest settings tier available, and the system clears the playable threshold with an 8 FPS margin. Lower presets push performance much higher: High averages 109 FPS, Medium 133 FPS, and Low 163 FPS. For players prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, Ultra is viable, but those seeking smoother motion on high-refresh-rate monitors can drop to High for a substantial 41 FPS gain.

At 2560x1440, the best playable settings are High, with an average of 78 FPS. This preset clears the 60 FPS threshold comfortably. Medium also remains playable at 95 FPS, while Low reaches 116 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below the threshold at 49 FPS average, making it unsuitable for 1440p play. The 29 FPS drop from High to Ultra indicates a steep scaling cost that the Arc B570 cannot absorb at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings maintain playability, averaging 72 FPS. Medium drops to 59 FPS average with a minimum of 50 FPS, just under the threshold. High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra falls to 30 FPS. The data is clear: 4K requires significant settings reductions, and even then, the margin above 60 FPS is only 12 FPS at Low. This resolution is best reserved for less demanding titles or for players willing to accept frame rates below the playable benchmark.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals that the GPU is the dominant constraint in Downfall. At 1080p, the system delivers 163 FPS at Low and 68 FPS at Ultra—a 95 FPS spread driven entirely by graphical settings. At 1440p, the same spread is 67 FPS (116 to 49), and at 4K it narrows to 42 FPS (72 to 30). This pattern shows that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, compressing the performance difference between presets because the graphics card becomes saturated even at Low settings.

The CPU's role is secondary at all resolutions. The Core i7-12700KF, with a 12-core/20-thread configuration and a 5.00 GHz boost clock, provides far more processing power than this horror title requires. Its 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, combined with an average benchmark score of 35365, indicates substantial headroom. In contrast, the Arc B570 sits at the 65th percentile for GPUs with an average score of 20556. The gap between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's mid-tier percentile confirms that the graphics card is the limiting factor.

Resolution scaling amplifies this imbalance. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings reduces average FPS from 109 to 78—a 28% drop. Going from 1440p to 4K at High settings falls further from 78 to 49 FPS, a 37% decline. These reductions are far larger than what CPU-bound scenarios would produce; they are characteristic of a GPU operating near its limits. The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 28838 and a single-core score of 4071, show no signs of bottlenecking at any tested resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080: The system performs best at this resolution across all settings. Low settings average 163 FPS, with no min/max data recorded. Medium averages 133 FPS with a minimum of 113 and maximum of 153 FPS, showing consistent frame delivery. High averages 109 FPS. Ultra averages 68 FPS, maintaining the playable threshold with a comfortable margin. The 95 FPS difference between Low and Ultra highlights the GPU's sensitivity to preset changes at this resolution.

2560x1440: Performance remains strong but begins to show GPU strain. Low averages 116 FPS. Medium averages 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 and maximum of 110 FPS, indicating stable frame pacing. High averages 78 FPS, still above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra drops to 49 FPS average, falling below playable standards. The transition from High to Ultra represents a 29 FPS loss, the largest single-preset drop at this resolution, suggesting that the Ultra preset's additional effects (likely shadows, reflections, and post-processing) overwhelm the Arc B570.

3840x2160: This resolution tests the GPU's limits. Low averages 72 FPS, barely clearing the threshold. Medium averages 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 and maximum of 68 FPS, showing noticeable frame dips below 60. High averages 49 FPS. Ultra averages 30 FPS, effectively halving the Low preset's performance. The spread from Low to Ultra is 42 FPS, narrower than at lower resolutions, confirming that even Low settings at 4K push the GPU hard. Players at 4K must accept either Low settings for 72 FPS or risk sub-60 FPS experiences at Medium.

The Verdict

This PC can run Downfall at playable frame rates, but with important caveats based on resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS at every preset, including Ultra at 68 FPS average. This is the ideal resolution for this combination, offering full graphical fidelity. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High (78 FPS), Medium (95 FPS), and Low (116 FPS), but Ultra falls to 49 FPS and should be avoided. At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve playable performance at 72 FPS; Medium sits at 59 FPS average with 50 FPS minimums, making it borderline, while High and Ultra are not viable.

The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: 1080p supports all presets, 1440p supports up to High, and 4K supports only Low. Users targeting 60 FPS should treat the Arc B570 as a 1080p-to-1440p class GPU for this title. The 68 FPS result at 1080p Ultra and 78 FPS at 1440p High are the recommended targets for balanced visual quality and smooth gameplay. At 4K, the 72 FPS at Low is technically playable, but the visual compromise may not be worth the resolution upgrade for most users.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i7-12700KF has four nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores. The Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, a delta of -0.1% relative to the 12700KF's 35365 average, making it virtually identical in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, just 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, 0.2% lower. The Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35287, also 0.2% lower. Any of these CPUs would yield near-identical frame rates in Downfall, as the game is GPU-bound at all tested resolutions. The 12700K is the most direct substitute, sharing the same Alder Lake architecture and performance profile.

The Intel Arc B570 has four nearest GPU rivals. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, a 0.1% delta, meaning it would perform nearly indistinguishably. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, 0.1% higher, offering a slightly faster alternative from the same manufacturer. The AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662, 0.5% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 20480, 0.4% lower. These rivals bracket the B570's performance closely, so swapping to any of them would produce similar FPS results—within a margin that would not change the playable settings or resolutions identified above. The Arc A750 is the most relevant comparison, as it represents a direct Intel alternative with slightly better average scores.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 60 FPS in 4K?

A: Only at Low settings, which average 72 FPS. Medium settings fall to 59 FPS average with a 50 FPS minimum, so they do not reliably clear the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system?

A: 1920x1080 is the strongest resolution, supporting Ultra settings at 68 FPS average. 2560x1440 is also viable up to High settings at 78 FPS, but 4K is limited to Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at every resolution. The Arc B570's 65th percentile ranking and the steep FPS drops at higher resolutions indicate GPU saturation, while the Core i7-12700KF's 85th percentile provides ample headroom.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 0.1% lower, the Intel Arc A750 scores 0.1% higher, the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 0.5% higher, and the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 0.4% lower in average benchmark scores.

Q: What settings should I use at 1440p?

A: High settings average 78 FPS and are the most demanding playable option. Medium averages 95 FPS, and Low averages 116 FPS. Ultra averages 49 FPS and is not recommended.

Q: Does the system maintain stable frame rates?

A: Where min/max data is available, the system shows consistent performance. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 113 FPS against a 133 FPS average. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 81 FPS against a 95 FPS average. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 50 FPS against a 59 FPS average, showing some dips below the threshold.