Downfall

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is an exceptionally strong configuration for running Downfall, delivering well above the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested setting and resolution. Benchmark data shows this combo ranks 714th out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the top percentile of systems for this horror title. The measured performance reveals that even the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K maintains an average of 64.7 FPS, while lower resolutions push frame rates into the triple digits with ease. This system is not merely capable; it is overqualified for the game's demands, offering headroom for high-refresh-rate displays at 1440p and 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data for Downfall across all resolutions and settings shows a consistent pattern of high performance, with the RTX 5070 and Core i7-13700K rarely breaking a sweat. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves exceptional frame rates that far exceed any display's refresh rate. The Low preset produces an average of 335.4 FPS, which drops to 273.4 FPS at Medium and 228.4 FPS at High. Even the Ultra preset, which typically represents the heaviest graphical load, maintains an average of 139.5 FPS at 1080p. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is almost certainly bound by CPU or engine limitations rather than GPU throughput, as the scaling between Low and Ultra shows only a 58% reduction in frame rate despite the significant increase in graphical fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains extraordinarily high, though the gap between presets widens slightly. The Low preset delivers 240.2 FPS average, Medium drops to 195.5 FPS, and High settles at 164.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p produces an average of 102 FPS, which is still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate QHD monitors. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows roughly a 28-29% reduction in frame rate across most presets, which is consistent with the increased pixel count and suggests the GPU is becoming more relevant at this resolution, though the CPU still has ample headroom.

At 3840x2160, the system finally begins to show some strain, but the results remain impressive. The Low preset at 4K averages 147.4 FPS, Medium drops to 124.5 FPS, and High delivers 101.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the only configuration that approaches the 60 FPS line, averaging 64.7 FPS. This represents a 55% reduction from the 1080p Ultra score, demonstrating that 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario the game can present. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a 36-38% performance drop across presets, indicating that the GPU is now the primary bottleneck at this resolution, though the combination still manages to exceed the playable threshold. The data shows no min or max FPS values were recorded, so all analysis relies on average frame rates, which are consistently high across the board.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU in this configuration provide context for how other hardware might behave in Downfall. The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971, a negligible 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022, also 0.3% behind the i7-13700K, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654, just 0.5% ahead. The Intel Xeon w3-2535 matches the Ryzen 9 7845HX at 46653, also 0.5% ahead. In practical terms, any of these four CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, as the 0.2-0.5% deltaPct values are well within measurement noise and would translate to less than a 1 FPS difference in the game's measured performance.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 40377, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon Pro 580, which scores 40318, a 0.1% difference that is effectively identical. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 scores 40063, 0.8% behind, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870, 1.2% ahead. The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile scores 39568, 2% behind the RTX 5070. For Downfall, these GPU alternatives would produce frame rates within a few FPS of the RTX 5070, though the professional-grade nature of the Radeon Pro cards and the mobile RTX A500 suggests they may have different driver optimizations for gaming workloads. The data indicates that a system with any of these rival GPUs paired with the i7-13700K would behave similarly, with the most significant differences appearing only at 4K Ultra where the 2% gap could translate to roughly 1-2 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the Core i7-13700K and the RTX 5070 across Downfall's resolution and preset range. At 1080p, the system's frame rates are exceptionally high, with the Low preset hitting 335.4 FPS. The relatively small performance gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution, a 58% reduction, suggests that the CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p, as the GPU has enough headroom to render frames faster than the CPU can feed it. The i7-13700K's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 1136 and passmark_single_thread score of 4333, ensures that even at these high frame rates, the system remains responsive, but the game's engine likely caps out around 335 FPS regardless of GPU power.

As resolution increases to 1440p, the GPU begins to take on a more significant role. The frame rate scaling from 1080p shows a consistent 28-29% drop across all presets, which aligns with the 78% increase in pixel count from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440. This indicates that the RTX 5070 is becoming the bottleneck, though the system still maintains over 100 FPS at Ultra settings. The CPU's role diminishes at this resolution, as the higher pixel count gives the GPU more work to do, but the i7-13700K's 16 cores and 24 threads ensure it never becomes a limiting factor, even with the game's horror genre likely featuring complex AI and physics calculations.

At 4K, the GPU's dominance becomes absolute. The 36-38% performance drop from 1440p to 4K across presets shows that the RTX 5070 is now fully saturated, with the CPU having negligible impact on frame rates. The 4K Ultra result of 64.7 FPS represents the system's most demanding scenario, and the fact that it still clears the 60 FPS threshold demonstrates that the GPU has sufficient headroom for this game. The scaling between resolutions and presets confirms that Downfall is not a particularly demanding title, allowing this high-end configuration to maintain playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra, whereas less capable systems would likely struggle at this resolution.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can absolutely run Downfall, and it does so with substantial margin above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict by resolution data confirms that all four settings — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable at every resolution tested. At 1080p, the system averages between 139.5 FPS (Ultra) and 335.4 FPS (Low), providing an exceptionally smooth experience on any monitor. At 1440p, the range is 102 FPS (Ultra) to 240.2 FPS (Low), which is still far above the threshold and ideal for high-refresh-rate QHD displays. Even at 4K, the system maintains playable frame rates across all presets, with Ultra averaging 64.7 FPS, High at 101.5 FPS, Medium at 124.5 FPS, and Low at 147.4 FPS.

The data makes it clear that this system is not just playable but overkill for Downfall. The game, released in 2016, does not appear to place extreme demands on modern hardware, as evidenced by the fact that even the most demanding configuration (4K Ultra) stays above 60 FPS. The i7-13700K, with its 24 threads and high single-thread performance, combined with the RTX 5070's 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth, provides a balanced platform that excels across all resolutions. Users with 4K displays can confidently enable Ultra settings without worrying about frame rate drops, while those with 1440p or 1080p high-refresh-rate monitors will find the system capable of pushing well beyond 144 FPS at lower presets.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is the Ultra setting, and the data shows this holds true across all three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 139.5 FPS, which is more than double the playable threshold, making it the clear choice for maximum visual fidelity without any performance concerns. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 102 FPS, still providing a substantial buffer above 60 FPS and enabling smooth gameplay on 144Hz QHD monitors. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 64.7 FPS, which barely clears the 60 FPS line but is still considered playable according to the data.

The recommendation is straightforward: enable Ultra settings at any resolution. At 1080p and 1440p, the frame rates are high enough that users could even consider additional supersampling or higher refresh rates, though the data does not test such configurations. At 4K, the 64.7 FPS average at Ultra is sufficient, but users who prefer a more substantial frame rate buffer could drop to High settings, which deliver 101.5 FPS — a 57% improvement over Ultra. The data suggests that High at 4K is the sweet spot for those who want both high visual quality and frame rates well above the threshold, while Ultra at 4K is viable for those who prioritize image quality over frame rate headroom.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 64.7 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution and preset combination for the highest frame rate?

A: The highest measured frame rate is 335.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The best combination for high visual quality and frame rate is 2560x1440 Ultra, which averages 102 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900?

A: The Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, a difference of only 0.2%. This means the two CPUs would perform nearly identically in Downfall.

Q: Is the RTX 5070's 12 GB of memory sufficient for this game?

A: The data does not track memory usage, but the benchmark results show playable frame rates at all settings and resolutions, including 4K Ultra, indicating that 12 GB of GDDR7 memory is sufficient for Downfall.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 195.5, which provides a very smooth experience and is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU matter more for performance in Downfall?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter, as frame rates are extremely high. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant factor, with the RTX 5070 being the bottleneck at higher resolutions, especially at 4K Ultra where the average FPS drops to 64.7.