Downfall

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an overwhelmingly powerful combination for Downfall, delivering playable frame rates at every tested setting and resolution. The data confirms that this combo does not merely meet the 60 FPS threshold; it shatters it, with the most demanding Ultra preset achieving 82 FPS at 4K, 132 FPS at 1440p, and 185 FPS at 1080p. Given these results, the RTX 4090 is the dominant performance driver, while the i7-12700KF provides ample headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck, even at lower resolutions where CPU load typically increases.

Best Settings per Resolution

The benchmark data indicates that the most demanding preset available, Ultra, remains comfortably playable across all three tested resolutions. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers an average frame rate of 82 FPS, which is 22 FPS above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This makes Ultra the best setting for 4K, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while maintaining smooth gameplay. There is no need to compromise on settings at this resolution, as even the next step down, High, runs at 132 FPS, but Ultra offers the full experience without sacrificing playability.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 132 FPS. This is more than double the playable threshold and represents the best choice for users with high-refresh-rate monitors. The performance headroom here is substantial; the data shows that dropping to High yields an even higher 212 FPS, but the Ultra setting still provides an exceptionally smooth experience. Similarly, at 1920x1080, the Ultra preset runs at 185 FPS on average, making it the clear recommendation for maximum settings. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p shows a 40% increase in frame rate at Ultra, from 132 to 185 FPS, indicating that the combo has significant reserve power even at the highest settings.

For all resolutions, the verdict is unequivocal: Ultra is the best settings preset. The data shows no scenario where the 60 FPS threshold is challenged, as the lowest average frame rate recorded across any setting and resolution combination is 82 FPS at 4K Ultra. This means users can prioritize visual quality without any concern for performance dips.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i7-12700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 in Downfall. The GPU is the primary performance arbiter, as evidenced by the significant frame rate scaling with resolution changes. For instance, at the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 296 FPS at 1080p to 212 FPS at 1440p, and further to 132 FPS at 4K. This 55% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at the same settings highlights the increasing GPU workload at higher pixel counts.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU has less work to do. At 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the combo achieves 442 FPS, which is a 124% increase over the 196 FPS seen at 4K Low. This dramatic scaling suggests that at 1080p, the system is closer to being CPU-limited, though the i7-12700KF's strong multi-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838, ensures it can maintain high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU's 12 cores and 20 threads, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, provide sufficient processing power for the game's logic and physics at these high frame rates.

The data also shows that the CPU's influence is consistent across presets. At 1440p, the gap between Low and Ultra settings is 183 FPS (315 FPS vs. 132 FPS), while at 1080p, the gap is 257 FPS (442 FPS vs. 185 FPS). This widening gap at lower resolutions indicates that the CPU is better able to feed the GPU when the resolution is lower, but the RTX 4090's raw power still dictates the overall performance ceiling. In practical terms, the i7-12700KF is more than adequate for this pairing, as it never appears to constrain the GPU in the tested scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Downfall, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks at position 109 out of 3716 tested combos. This places it in the top 3% of all configurations, underscoring its elite performance status. The percentile rankings for the individual components support this: the CPU sits at the 85th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 88th percentile against all GPUs. The combo's rank reflects the synergy of two top-tier parts.

The rank is particularly notable given the game's age and genre. As a horror title from 2016, Downfall is not a modern graphical showcase, which means even less powerful hardware can run it well. That this combo still ranks 109th suggests that the benchmark database includes many other powerful modern configurations, but the i7-12700KF + RTX 4090 combination is clearly among the best for achieving maximum frame rates. The high rank also indicates that there are only 108 other combos that outperform it, which likely consist of newer, more expensive CPUs paired with the same or similar GPUs. For users with this setup, the data confirms they have a top-tier system for this game.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering this combo, the nearestRivals data provides insight into components that would yield similar performance. On the CPU side, the Intel Core i7-13700T is the closest match, with an average benchmark score of 35403, which is a mere 0.1% lower than the i7-12700KF's average score of 35365. This means a system with an i7-13700T would behave nearly identically in Downfall, offering virtually the same frame rates. Similarly, the Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, just 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, 0.2% lower, both of which are statistically equivalent in performance.

On the GPU side, the nearest rival is the Intel Arc Pro A60, which has an average score of 60326, essentially a 0% difference from the RTX 4090's 60347. However, this is a professional workstation card, so in a gaming context, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48, with a score of 60140 (0.3% higher), or the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M, with a score of 61896 (2.5% higher), would be the closest alternatives in terms of raw compute. The AMD Radeon PRO V710, scoring 58657, is 2.9% lower and would produce slightly lower frame rates. While these rivals are professional or workstation GPUs, the scores indicate that they would deliver comparable performance in Downfall, though the RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth provide an edge in memory-intensive scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 82 FPS, while High jumps to 132 FPS, Medium to 161 FPS, and Low to 196 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has the only complete min/max data, showing a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS, which indicates stable frame pacing. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 132 FPS, High 212 FPS, Medium 258 FPS, and Low 315 FPS. The Medium preset here shows a minimum of 219 FPS and a maximum of 297 FPS, demonstrating consistent performance. At 1920x1080, the numbers are exceptional: Ultra at 185 FPS, High at 296 FPS, Medium at 361 FPS, and Low at 442 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p has a minimum of 307 FPS and a maximum of 416 FPS.

The scaling between resolutions is linear and predictable. For example, at the High preset, the frame rates are 296 FPS at 1080p, 212 FPS at 1440p, and 132 FPS at 4K, showing a consistent drop of roughly 28-38% per resolution step up. At the Low preset, the drop is from 442 FPS at 1080p to 315 FPS at 1440p (a 29% decrease) and then to 196 FPS at 4K (a 38% decrease from 1440p). This pattern confirms that the RTX 4090 is scaling as expected, with the CPU maintaining its end of the bargain. The only missing data points are the min and max FPS for most presets, but the available data for Medium settings shows that frame times are stable, with the gap between min and max being around 36-49% of the average, which is normal for a game without V-Sync enabled.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming with this combo?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 delivers an average of 82 FPS, making it the best choice. It is the most demanding preset and stays well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p with maximum settings?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 132 FPS. This is more than double the 60 FPS threshold, providing a very smooth experience even on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 4K at the same settings?

A: At the Ultra preset, 1080p delivers 185 FPS while 4K delivers 82 FPS, making 1080p about 2.3 times faster. The difference is more pronounced at lower settings, where 1080p Low runs at 442 FPS versus 196 FPS at 4K Low.

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

A: The GPU is the dominant factor, as frame rates scale significantly with resolution. However, the CPU is also crucial at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 442 FPS at 1080p Low, which shows the i7-12700KF can keep up with the GPU's high output.

Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 109th out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall, placing it in the top 3% of all systems. The CPU is in the 85th percentile and the GPU in the 88th percentile of their respective categories.

Q: Are there any settings where this combo drops below 60 FPS?

A: No. The lowest average frame rate recorded across all tested settings and resolutions is 82 FPS at 4K Ultra. Every other configuration runs at 132 FPS or higher, so the 60 FPS threshold is never approached.