Downfall

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark contrast in performance tiers. The processor is a high-end desktop part, sitting in the 94th percentile among all CPUs tested in the database, while the graphics solution is an integrated-class unit that ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs. For a horror title like Downfall, the recorded measurements show that this combination produces a playable experience only at lower resolutions and settings, with a hard ceiling at 1440p Medium. The data below breaks down exactly what frame rates this pairing delivers across the tested resolution and preset matrix.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Downfall was recorded at three resolutions (3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080) and four quality presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). The playable threshold for this analysis is 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below the 60 FPS target. The Low preset delivers an average of 47 FPS, which is the highest average recorded at this resolution. Medium drops to 39 FPS average, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS. High falls further to 32 FPS average, and Ultra bottoms out at 20 FPS average. No preset at 4K clears the 60 FPS bar, and even the strongest result, Low at 47 FPS, leaves a noticeable gap to playability.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves. Low settings produce an average of 76 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS, which also stays above the target on average. High settings drop to 51 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 32 FPS average. The data shows that 1440p offers two viable presets: Low and Medium, with Medium being the highest quality option that maintains an average above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the combination performs best overall. Low settings reach an average of 106 FPS. Medium averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High settings average 71 FPS, which still clears the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra is the only preset that fails, averaging 44 FPS. This means that at 1080p, three presets (Low, Medium, High) are playable, with High being the best quality option that stays above 60 FPS.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: the Arc B390's integrated memory architecture and modest compute resources scale predictably as resolution and quality demands increase. The 4K results show a steep drop-off, with even Low settings failing to reach 60 FPS. The 1440p results are borderline, with Medium just barely crossing the line. The 1080p results are the only ones where the pairing feels fluid across multiple presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700K sits at an average benchmark score of 69355, which places it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are all AMD parts with very small score deltas. The AMD EPYC 9115 scores 69288, a delta of 0.1% (essentially identical). The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, a delta of -0.2% (the 14700K is slightly behind). The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, a delta of -0.7%. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, a delta of -0.9%. These four CPUs are within roughly one percent of the 14700K's average score, meaning that in synthetic benchmarks, any of them would behave nearly identically. For Downfall specifically, the CPU is not the bottleneck in this pairing, as the GPU limits performance at all tested settings.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, ranking in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA discrete parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, a delta of 1.3% (the Arc is slightly ahead). The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, a delta of 1.5%. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a delta of 2.5%. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, a delta of 2.7%. These four GPUs are within roughly three percent of the Arc B390's average score, meaning that in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, they would produce nearly identical results. In Downfall, users with any of these GPUs would see similar frame rates to the ones recorded for the Arc B390, assuming the rest of the system is comparable.

The practical implication is that if someone is considering a build with the 14700K, swapping the Arc B390 for one of these NVIDIA parts would not meaningfully change Downfall's performance. Conversely, if someone already owns one of these older GPUs, the 14700K would not unlock additional frame rates in this game, since the GPU is the limiting factor across all measured resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The recorded data shows an average of 71 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best quality preset that stays above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Medium settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that clears the 60 FPS average at that resolution.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combination?

A: No. At 3840x2160, even the Low preset averages only 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset averages just 20 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% slower), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% slower), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% slower), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7% slower). All are within a few percent of each other.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The data shows an average of 106 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the highest average recorded across all tested configurations.

Q: Does the 14700K's CPU performance matter for Downfall?

A: The 14700K ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 69355, but the GPU is the bottleneck in this pairing. The Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, so CPU performance does not limit frame rates in Downfall.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's collection of tested combinations for Downfall, this specific pairing of Intel Core i7-14700K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3303 out of 3716 combos. This places it in the lower portion of all tested systems, specifically around the 89th percentile from the bottom (or the 11th percentile from the top). The rank reflects the GPU's limited capability relative to the rest of the test pool, despite the CPU being a strong performer.

To contextualize this rank, consider that the 14700K alone sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly 94% of processors in the database. The Arc B390, however, sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it outperforms only about 9% of graphics cards. The combination's rank of 3303 out of 3716 shows that the GPU drags the overall system down significantly, as would be expected when pairing a top-tier CPU with an integrated-class GPU.

In practical terms, this rank means that most other tested combinations in the database will deliver higher frame rates in Downfall. The only systems that rank lower are those with even weaker GPUs, which would include the Arc B390's nearest GPU rivals (the GT 520MX, 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710). If the goal is to play Downfall at high settings or high resolutions, this combination is not competitive with the majority of tested systems.

The rank also indicates that the system is heavily imbalanced. The CPU is capable of far more than the GPU can deliver, and in Downfall, the frame rates are entirely dictated by the GPU's output. Users looking at this rank should understand that upgrading the GPU alone would dramatically improve the system's standing, while upgrading the CPU would have no measurable effect on this game's performance.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Downfall depends entirely on the resolution and quality target. Based on the recorded data and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the answer is qualified.

At 3840x2160, the answer is no. None of the four tested presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) reach an average of 60 FPS. The best case is Low at 47 FPS, which is playable in a technical sense but falls short of the smoothness target. The verdictByResolution data confirms this, listing no playable settings at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the answer is yes, but only for two presets. Low settings average 76 FPS, and Medium settings average 62 FPS. Both are above the 60 FPS threshold. High and Ultra fail, averaging 51 FPS and 32 FPS respectively. The best playable setting at 1440p is Medium, with an average of 62 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the answer is yes for three presets. Low averages 106 FPS, Medium averages 87 FPS, and High averages 71 FPS. All three clear the 60 FPS bar. Ultra is the only failure, averaging 44 FPS. The best playable setting at 1080p is High, with an average of 71 FPS.

So, this PC can run Downfall, but with significant caveats. For a smooth experience, users should target 1080p with High settings or 1440p with Medium settings. At 4K, the system is not capable of maintaining 60 FPS on any preset. The data indicates that the Arc B390 is the limiting factor, as its 9th percentile GPU ranking constrains the system to lower resolutions and presets despite the 14700K's 94th percentile CPU ranking.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS average at each resolution, based on the measured data, is as follows.

At 3840x2160, there is no playable preset. The lowest tested preset, Low, averages 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The verdictByResolution data confirms this, listing no playable settings and no best settings for 4K. Users who insist on 4K would need to accept sub-60 FPS performance, with Low being the least demanding option at 47 FPS average.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Medium. This preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. It is the highest quality option that maintains an average above 60 FPS. Low is also playable at 76 FPS average, but Medium offers better visual quality while still clearing the threshold. High (51 FPS) and Ultra (32 FPS) are not playable.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is High. This preset averages 71 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 87 FPS and Low averages 106 FPS, both of which are also playable, but High provides the best visual fidelity among the playable options. Ultra averages 44 FPS and is not playable.

In summary, the optimal configuration for this system in Downfall is 1080p High for the best balance of quality and performance, with 1440p Medium as a viable alternative for users who prefer higher resolution over higher detail. The 4K resolution is not recommended, as no preset achieves the 60 FPS target.