Downfall

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 is a lopsided combination: a modern 20-core desktop processor driving a graphics card from 2017. Benchmark results for Downfall, a horror title from 2016, show that this pairing produces a wide range of frame rates depending on resolution and quality preset. The recorded data reveals a system that can handle the game at 1080p with room to spare, becomes marginal at 1440p, and falls short of playable performance at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, examines the balance between CPU and GPU workload, and determines the best settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains measured average frame rates for four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) across three resolutions. Minimum and maximum FPS values are only recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution, so the analysis relies primarily on average FPS for the other presets.

At 1920x1080, the combination delivers its strongest results. The Low preset averages 92 FPS. The Medium preset averages 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS. The High preset averages 62 FPS, which sits just above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 39 FPS, a significant step down from High.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance declines across all presets. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, still above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. The High preset averages 44 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to an average of 28 FPS, which is barely a third of the 1080p Low result.

At 3840x2160, the RX 570 is clearly overmatched. The Low preset averages 41 FPS. The Medium preset averages 33 FPS, with a minimum of 28 FPS and a maximum of 38 FPS. The High preset averages 27 FPS. The Ultra preset averages only 17 FPS, the lowest recorded value in the entire dataset.

The pattern is consistent: each step up in resolution costs a substantial number of frames, and each step up in settings within a resolution also reduces performance. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 53 FPS (92 down to 39). At 1440p the gap is 38 FPS (66 down to 28). At 4K the gap is 24 FPS (41 down to 17). The absolute performance loss from raising settings is smaller at higher resolutions because the baseline frame rate is already low.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data suggests that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck in this pairing for Downfall, especially at higher resolutions. The Intel Core i7-14700F is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122. Its single-core performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4958. This CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in a game from 2016, even at lower resolutions.

The AMD Radeon RX 570, by contrast, is an older mid-range GPU with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, a 256-bit memory bus, and 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its FP32 compute is 5.095 TFLOPS, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 880. The GPU's age and memory capacity are more likely to constrain frame rates, particularly when resolution increases demand on the render pipeline.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. At 1080p Low, the combination averages 92 FPS. At 1440p Low, it averages 66 FPS, a 28% reduction. At 4K Low, it averages 41 FPS, a 55% reduction from 1080p. These large drops are characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, where the number of pixels to process grows faster than the GPU can handle. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions, since the CPU workload is largely independent of pixel count.

The preset scaling also points to GPU limitation. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium reduces average FPS from 92 to 75, a drop of 17 FPS. Moving from Medium to High reduces it to 62, another 13 FPS drop. The CPU could easily handle these settings, but the GPU's shading units and texture units are saturated by the increased visual complexity. The RX 570 has 2048 shading units and 128 texture mapping units, which are modest by modern standards.

At 4K, the GPU's limits are even more apparent. The Ultra preset averages only 17 FPS, while the Low preset averages 41 FPS. Even the Low preset at 4K fails to reach 60 FPS, meaning the GPU cannot fill the frame buffer fast enough regardless of settings. The 4 GB memory capacity may also contribute to stutter or texture thrashing, although the measured data does not include separate frame time metrics.

The CPU's role is more relevant at 1080p, where the GPU is less strained. At 1080p Low, the 92 FPS average suggests the CPU can feed the GPU with draw calls and physics updates without issue. The i7-14700F's Passmark multi-thread score of 41317 and single-thread score of 4257 indicate ample headroom for the game's logic. However, even at 1080p, the Ultra preset drops to 39 FPS, which cannot be explained by CPU limits. The GPU simply lacks the fill rate for the highest quality settings.

The verdict is clear: for this game and this combo, the RX 570 is the primary performance limiter. The i7-14700F is far more capable than the GPU needs, and the frame rates are dictated by the graphics card's ability to render each frame.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this combination at rank 3547 out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This means it sits in the bottom 5% of all tested systems, despite having a very strong CPU. The rank reflects the GPU's age and its performance relative to other graphics cards in the database.

The CPU itself is well-regarded. The i7-14700F has a percentile rank of 91 against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 91% of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6505P (average score 53701, delta of -0.2%), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (53469, delta of 0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53288, delta of 0.6%), and the AMD EPYC 7313P (53206, delta of 0.8%). These deltas are all within 1% of the i7-14700F's average benchmark score of 53620, suggesting that the CPU's performance is essentially tied with these other high-end processors.

The GPU, however, is a different story. The RX 570 has a percentile rank of 74 against all GPUs, meaning it outperforms 74% of graphics cards. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (average score 28874, delta of -0.4%), the AMD Radeon R9 M295X (28580, delta of 0.7%), the AMD Radeon RX 470 (28996, delta of -0.8%), and the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 (28421, delta of 1.2%). The RX 570's average benchmark score is 28766, which is very close to these rivals. The RX 470 is particularly notable as a near-identical sibling, with a delta of only -0.8%.

The low combo rank is not surprising given the GPU's modest benchmark scores. A 4 GB GPU with a 256-bit bus can handle many games at 1080p, but Downfall's horror visuals, which likely include complex lighting and shadow effects, push the RX 570 to its limits. The i7-14700F contributes nothing to the rank because it is never the bottleneck; the GPU's frame rate ceiling is what determines the combo's position.

The data implies that this combo would perform similarly to other systems with a high-end CPU and a mid-range GPU from the same era. The RX 570's nearest rival, the RX 470, would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, given their delta of -0.8% in average benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear from the measured data. At 1920x1080, the combination achieves playable performance (defined as 60 FPS or higher) on three presets: Low (92 FPS), Medium (75 FPS), and High (62 FPS). The best playable setting is High, with an average FPS of 62. The Ultra preset falls short at 39 FPS.

At 2560x1440, only the Low preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, which is below playable. The High preset averages 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 28 FPS. The best playable setting is Low, with an average FPS of 66.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The Low preset averages 41 FPS, the Medium preset averages 33 FPS, the High preset averages 27 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 17 FPS. The database lists no playable settings for this resolution.

In practical terms, this PC can run Downfall smoothly at 1080p on High settings, which is likely the intended experience for a game from 2016. At 1440p, users must drop to Low settings to maintain 60 FPS, which may compromise visual quality. At 4K, the game is not playable at any preset, and users should either lower the resolution or consider a different GPU.

The minimum FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution provide additional context. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 64 FPS, which stays above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 46 FPS, indicating noticeable dips during intense scenes. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 28 FPS, which would feel stuttery. These minimums suggest that even when the average is playable, the frame pacing may vary, especially at higher resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 1080p with High settings?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 62 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the best playable setting at this resolution.

Q: What is the highest setting that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: The Low preset at 2560x1440 averages 66 FPS, which is the only playable setting at that resolution. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, which falls short of the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable anywhere?

A: No. The Ultra preset averages 39 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K. None of these reach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6505P, scores 53701, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X scores 53288, which is 0.6% lower. All rivals are within 1% of the i7-14700F.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570 has an average benchmark score of 28766. The AMD Radeon RX 470 scores 28996, which is 0.8% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 6800M scores 28874, which is 0.4% higher. The AMD Radeon R9 M295X scores 28580, which is 0.7% lower.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The measured minimum FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 64 FPS. This means the frame rate stays above 60 FPS even during the most demanding moments.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average FPS of 62. The Medium preset also clears the threshold with 75 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 92 FPS, but High offers the best visual quality while remaining playable. The Ultra preset, at 39 FPS, is not recommended.

For 2560x1440, the only preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average FPS of 66. The Medium preset drops to 54 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. Users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity should use Low settings at this resolution.

For 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The best average FPS is 41 on Low settings, which is still below the playable threshold. The database does not list a best playable setting for 4K, as all presets fail to meet the 60 FPS requirement.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU each have nearby hardware that would behave similarly in this game. For the Intel Core i7-14700F, the nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Xeon 6505P, the Intel Xeon Phi 7290, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, and the AMD EPYC 7313P. All of these processors have average benchmark scores within 1% of the i7-14700F, so they would produce nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Downfall. Since the GPU is the bottleneck in this combo, swapping the CPU for any of these rivals would not meaningfully change the frame rates.

For the AMD Radeon RX 570, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, the AMD Radeon R9 M295X, the AMD Radeon RX 470, and the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000. The RX 470 is the most relevant comparison, as it is also a Polaris-based GPU with a similar architecture and benchmark score (28996 vs. 28766, a delta of -0.8%). A system with an RX 470 would likely produce almost identical FPS in Downfall at all resolutions and settings. The RX 6800M, despite being a laptop GPU, has a score of 28874, which is also very close. The Quadro RTX 8000, a workstation card, scores 28421, slightly lower.

The data implies that any of these GPU alternatives would land the combo in the same performance tier for Downfall. The frame rates would remain GPU-limited, and the i7-14700F would still have plenty of headroom. Users with any of these GPU options should expect similar results: playable at 1080p on High, playable at 1440p on Low, and not playable at 4K.