Downfall

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a robust gaming experience in Downfall, but the data reveals a clear ceiling at 4K Ultra settings. At 1920x1080, this combination is exceptionally fast, delivering an average of 95.6 FPS even at the highest preset. Moving to 2560x1440, the system remains highly capable, with all four settings presets clearing the 60 FPS playability threshold. The primary caveat appears at 3840x2160, where the Ultra preset drops to an average of 43 FPS, making it unplayable by the 60 FPS standard, while High, Medium, and Low settings all remain comfortably playable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this configuration shows a clear pattern of performance scaling across resolutions and presets. At the native 1920x1080 resolution, the system produces its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 226.1, which is the peak performance recorded for this combo. Medium settings yield an average of 183.1 FPS, while High settings produce 152.2 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p still maintains a strong average of 95.6 FPS, indicating that the CPU and GPU combination has substantial headroom at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains impressive but shows the expected impact of increased pixel count. The Low preset averages 160.1 FPS, Medium settings average 132.4 FPS, and High settings average 112 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p delivers an average of 68.8 FPS, which is the lowest figure at this resolution but still exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance reduction of roughly 28-30% across most presets, with the Ultra preset experiencing a slightly larger drop of about 28%.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve becomes more demanding. The Low preset averages 100.2 FPS, which is still highly playable. Medium settings average 80 FPS, and High settings average 66.9 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls to an average of 43 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and represents a significant performance cliff. The transition from 1440p to 4K shows a more pronounced penalty, with the High preset dropping from 112 FPS to 66.9 FPS, and the Ultra preset dropping from 68.8 FPS to 43 FPS. The data indicates that the Ultra preset at 4K is the only configuration in the entire measured set that fails to meet the playability standard.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of all tested hardware combinations for Downfall, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks at position 2033 out of 3716 total combos. This places the system in the 54th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of the tested setups. The ranking reflects a mid-to-upper tier position, which is consistent with the measured FPS results showing strong 1080p and 1440p performance but limitations at 4K Ultra.

The combo's rank suggests that while the RTX 4060 is not a top-tier GPU for this game, the i7-13700K's strong CPU performance helps lift the overall system ranking. The data indicates that this combination is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it ranks more favorably relative to other combos that might struggle to maintain high frame rates at those resolutions. At 4K, the system's ranking would likely be lower due to the GPU becoming the limiting factor, particularly at the Ultra preset where the average FPS falls to 43.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals distinct roles for the CPU and GPU at different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system's frame rates are exceptionally high, with the Low preset hitting 226.1 FPS. These high numbers suggest that the GPU is not fully saturated at this resolution, and the Intel Core i7-13700K's single-thread and multi-thread capabilities are sufficient to feed the RTX 4060 effectively. The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and 16-thread score of 10717 indicate strong processing power that prevents bottlenecks at lower resolutions.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on a more significant role. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all presets, indicating that the RTX 4060's rendering workload is scaling with pixel count. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for this resolution, as evidenced by the Ultra preset still maintaining 68.8 FPS. The CPU's role diminishes slightly, but the i7-13700K's high boost clock of 5.40 GHz and 24 threads ensure that frame pacing remains stable.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. The dramatic drop in performance at Ultra settings, from 68.8 FPS at 1440p to 43 FPS at 4K, indicates that the RTX 4060's 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 48 ROPs are insufficient for the highest settings at this resolution. The CPU's performance is less relevant here, as the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The fact that High settings at 4K still achieve 66.9 FPS suggests that the GPU can handle the workload with reduced graphical demands, but the Ultra preset's additional effects and shading requirements push it below the playability threshold.

The Verdict

The data provides a clear verdict for this system's ability to run Downfall. At 1920x1080, the combination is fully playable at all settings, with the Ultra preset achieving an average of 95.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The best settings for this resolution are Ultra, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining strong performance. At 2560x1440, the system also clears the 60 FPS threshold at all settings, with the Ultra preset averaging 68.8 FPS. The best settings for 1440p are Ultra, since it remains playable and offers the best visual experience.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The playable settings include High, Low, and Medium, with average FPS of 66.9, 100.2, and 80, respectively. The best settings for 4K are High, as it delivers the highest visual quality among the playable options while maintaining an average of 66.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is not playable, with an average of 43 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold. Overall, this PC can run Downfall at all three tested resolutions, but users targeting 4K should stick to High settings or lower to maintain smooth gameplay.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Examining the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly. For the Intel Core i7-13700K, the closest alternatives based on average benchmark scores include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971 and is 0.2% slower, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, which scores 47022 and is 0.3% slower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654 and is 0.5% faster, while the Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46653 and is also 0.5% faster. These processors would provide nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Downfall, meaning the frame rates at lower resolutions and settings would be virtually indistinguishable.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666 and is 0.2% slower, and the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores 17588 and is 0.3% faster. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 17551 and is 0.5% faster, while the AMD Radeon Pro 460 scores 17509 and is 0.7% faster. These GPUs would produce similar frame rates in Downfall, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where the RTX 4060's performance characteristics are most relevant. At 4K Ultra, these alternatives would likely also struggle to maintain 60 FPS, given the RTX 4060's own limitations at that setting.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is an average of 66.9 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold. This is the best playable setting at 4K, as the Ultra preset only achieves 43 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice at 1440p, as it delivers an average of 68.8 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets (Low, Medium, High) also maintain playable frame rates, with averages ranging from 112 to 160.1 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 2033 out of 3716 total tested combos for Downfall, placing it in the 54th percentile. This indicates it outperforms slightly more than half of all tested configurations.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. The RTX 4060's performance drops to an average of 43 FPS at this configuration, while the CPU's strong benchmark scores suggest it is not the primary constraint.

Q: Is the RTX 4060 similar in performance to any AMD GPUs for this game?

A: The AMD Radeon 780M scores 0.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 0.5% higher in average benchmarks. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 is 0.2% slower, indicating these GPUs would produce comparable frame rates in Downfall.

Q: What is the lowest playable setting at 1920x1080?

A: All settings are playable at 1080p. The Ultra preset maintains an average of 95.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset achieves the highest average at 226.1 FPS.