Downfall

Can Intel Core i7-14700KF + Intel Arc B390 run Downfall? The database ranks this combination at 3303 out of 3716 tested combos for this title, placing it in the lower tier of systems. The Intel Arc B390, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, and this component dominates the experience. While the Core i7-14700KF is a top-tier processor at the 94th percentile, the GPU's limited performance keeps the overall system from reaching smooth frame rates at higher resolutions. The recorded data indicates that this combo is only viable for playable performance at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K proving to be too demanding.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 3303 out of 3716 in the database places it firmly in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations for Downfall. This ranking is primarily a reflection of the graphics card's position in the performance hierarchy. The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 3 nm Panther Lake chip, and its benchmark data is sparse, with only one recorded test: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This score places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, indicating that it is a low-end graphics solution.

This is starkly contrasted by the CPU. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 28 threads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 44167 and Geekbench single-core score of 2578 are both strong, placing it at the 94th percentile among all CPUs. The processor is clearly not the bottleneck in this system; it has more than enough compute headroom to feed a much more powerful graphics card. The pairing of a top-tier CPU with a low-tier GPU creates a significant imbalance, and the final rank reflects the GPU's limitations in a graphics-intensive game like Downfall.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: the CPU is a champion, but the GPU is a limiting factor. In the context of this game, the GPU's 3DMark score is the single best predictor of performance, and its low percentile rank drags the entire combo down. The system's 3DMark score of 1482 is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460), and 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446). These rival GPUs are all from a much older generation, which underscores how far behind the Arc B390 is for this workload.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 1080p with playable frame rates?

A: Yes. The measured FPS data shows that at 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS on Low settings, 87 FPS on Medium, and 71 FPS on High. All of these exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdictByResolution confirms that High, Low, and Medium are all playable settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the best playable settings preset for this system at 1440p?

A: The best playable settings at 2560x1440 are Medium, according to the verdictByResolution data. At this preset, the system achieves an average of 62 FPS, which just clears the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset also works, delivering 76 FPS on average, but Medium is the recommended choice for a better balance between visual quality and performance.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware combination in Downfall?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the system does not reach playable frame rates on any settings preset. The average FPS ranges from 20 FPS on Ultra to 47 FPS on Low, all of which fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The verdictByResolution lists no playable settings for this resolution.

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

A: The Arc B390's average 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1482. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7% slower). This means the Arc B390 is only marginally faster than these older, entry-level discrete GPUs.

Q: Which component is more important for performance in Downfall with this combo?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a powerful processor, but the Arc B390's low percentile rank (9th) and weak 3DMark score restrict the system's overall capability. The CPU's high rank (94th percentile) does not translate into higher frame rates because the graphics card cannot keep up with the processor's output.

Q: What are the measured frame times for the Medium preset across different resolutions?

A: The database records specific average, minimum, and maximum FPS for the Medium preset. At 3840x2160, the average is 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 44. At 2560x1440, the average is 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 71. At 1920x1080, the average is 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor in this system. At every resolution, the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rate. The Intel Arc B390 has a TDP of 80 W and is an IGP, meaning it shares system memory and its performance is fundamentally limited. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is a strong indicator of its gaming capability, and it is this score, not the CPU's power, that correlates with the measured FPS.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on High settings, the average FPS drops from 71 to 51, a reduction of roughly 28%. Moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 on High settings, the average FPS drops from 51 to 32, a further reduction of about 37%. This steep decline with increasing resolution is a classic sign of a GPU-bound system, as the graphics card must render more pixels and its limited shading units (1536) and ROPs (24) become the bottleneck.

The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, and the Core i7-14700KF is more than capable of this task. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6235 and multi-core score of 44167 are well above what a game like Downfall requires. The CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution. This is evident because if the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would not drop as dramatically with increased resolution; they would remain relatively flat. Instead, the consistent and large drops in FPS from 1080p to 4K show that the GPU is saturated and cannot handle the increased workload.

The preset scaling further illustrates the GPU's dominance. At 1920x1080, the average FPS goes from 106 on Low to 44 on Ultra. This 62 FPS spread is entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The CPU has to do less work at lower settings, but even at Ultra, it is unlikely to be the limiting factor given its high benchmark scores. The conclusion is simple: this is a GPU-limited system, and the processor's power is largely untapped in this game.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering this specific combo, the nearest rivals for the GPU provide a good reference point for expected performance. The Intel Arc B390's average 3DMark score of 1482 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), which is only 1.3% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460) is 1.5% slower, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446) is 2.5% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443) is 2.7% slower. This means that any system with these older NVIDIA GPUs would behave similarly in Downfall, producing comparable frame rates. The data suggests that a system with a GeForce GT 710, for example, would be nearly indistinguishable from this Intel Arc B390 configuration in terms of gaming performance, despite the massive difference in CPU power.

On the CPU side, the Core i7-14700KF's nearest rivals offer similar processing headroom. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69996, which is only 0.2% lower than the Core i7-14700KF's 70163. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (69875) is 0.4% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515) is 0.9% slower. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (70879) is 1.0% faster. In a system paired with the same Arc B390 GPU, these processors would yield nearly identical frame rates, as the GPU would remain the bottleneck. The choice of CPU among these alternatives would have no measurable impact on the gaming experience in Downfall.

Therefore, a user looking at this combo should expect performance that is characteristic of a very low-end GPU. The CPU's power is essentially irrelevant for this game. Swapping the i7-14700KF for any of its rivals would not change the outcome. The limiting factor is always the Arc B390, and its performance class is shared by a range of entry-level NVIDIA GPUs from over a decade ago.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database provides a complete set of measured FPS for this combo across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data shows a consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution and settings increase.

At 3840x2160, the system is not playable on any preset, as all average FPS values are below the 60 FPS threshold. On Low settings, the average FPS is 47. On Medium settings, the average FPS is 39, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 44. On High settings, the average FPS drops to 32. On Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 20.

At 2560x1440, the system becomes playable on two presets. On Low settings, the average FPS is 76, which is comfortably above the threshold. On Medium settings, the average FPS is 62, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 71, barely clearing the 60 FPS bar. On High settings, the average FPS is 51, which is not playable. On Ultra settings, the average FPS is 32.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable on three presets. On Low settings, the average FPS is 106. On Medium settings, the average FPS is 87, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100. On High settings, the average FPS is 71. On Ultra settings, the average FPS is 44, which is the only preset at this resolution that fails to meet the 60 FPS threshold.

The frame time data for the Medium preset is particularly informative. At 4K, the minimum FPS of 33 and maximum of 44 show significant frame pacing issues, with an average of 39. At 1440p, the minimum of 53 and maximum of 71 show a wider spread, but the average of 62 is just above the playable line. At 1080p, the minimum of 74 and maximum of 100 show a stable and smooth experience, with an average of 87. This breakdown confirms that the system's performance is heavily dependent on resolution, and only at 1080p does it provide a consistently smooth experience.

The Verdict

The verdict from the database is clear: this system can run Downfall, but only under specific conditions. According to the verdictByResolution data, the system is not playable at 3840x2160 on any settings preset. All average FPS measurements at this resolution, from 20 FPS on Ultra to 47 FPS on Low, fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable on Low and Medium settings. The best playable setting is Medium, with an average FPS of 62. This is a marginal pass, and players may experience occasional dips below 60 FPS, as indicated by the minimum FPS of 53. Low settings are also viable, offering a higher average of 76 FPS, but with lower visual quality.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable on High, Low, and Medium settings. The best playable setting is High, with an average FPS of 71. This is the optimal configuration for this system, providing a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The average FPS of 71 is above the threshold, and the experience should be smooth. The Low preset (106 FPS) and Medium preset (87 FPS) also offer excellent performance for players who prefer higher frame rates over visual detail.

In summary, the Intel Core i7-14700KF and Intel Arc B390 combination is a viable entry-level gaming system for Downfall, but only at 1080p and 1440p. The GPU's limitations prevent any playable performance at 4K. For the best experience, users should target 1080p with High settings, which delivers an average of 71 FPS. The system's high-end CPU is wasted in this title, as the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, but the overall package can still deliver a playable horror experience at mainstream resolutions.