Downfall

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a distinct performance profile in Downfall, a 2016 horror title. Measured data from the benchmark suite indicates that this combination is capable of high refresh rates at standard resolutions but faces significant challenges at 4K Ultra settings. The following analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, component roles, and comparative standing of this hardware pairing.

Best Settings per Resolution

The optimal settings for this system are determined by the most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system cannot handle the High or Ultra presets while maintaining playability. The most demanding playable setting is Medium, which delivers an average of 66 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. The Low preset runs faster at 80.8 FPS, but Medium is the highest quality option that clears the threshold.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance headroom expands considerably. The most demanding playable setting is High, achieving an average of 87.6 FPS. This is a substantial improvement over the 4K result and indicates that the CPU-GPU combination has ample capacity at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 55.5 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system achieves its best results. The most demanding playable setting is Ultra, which runs at an average of 76.8 FPS. This is the only resolution where the Ultra preset is playable. The High preset at 1080p runs at 124.7 FPS, Medium at 152.7 FPS, and Low at 182.1 FPS, all of which are well above the threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component bottleneck behavior across resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the high frame rates across all presets—from 182.1 FPS on Low to 76.8 FPS on Ultra—suggest that the Intel Core i7-14700KF, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is providing sufficient processing power to keep the Intel Arc B580 fed. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a frame rate reduction of roughly 58%, from 182.1 FPS down to 76.8 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter as settings increase, but the CPU is not holding back the lower settings.

At 1440p, the pattern shifts. The average frame rate at High settings (87.6 FPS) is significantly lower than at 1080p High (124.7 FPS), a reduction of approximately 30%. This scaling suggests that the GPU is becoming more stressed as pixel count increases. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is also wider in absolute terms (from 132.6 FPS to 55.5 FPS), further confirming the GPU's growing role as the limiting factor at this resolution.

At 4K, the GPU dominance is absolute. The difference between Low (80.8 FPS) and Ultra (33.4 FPS) is stark, with Ultra running at less than half the frame rate of Low. The High preset at 4K (54.6 FPS) is notably below the 60 FPS threshold, while Medium (66 FPS) barely clears it. This behavior indicates that the Intel Arc B580's rendering capacity, rather than the CPU's processing power, is the definitive constraint at 3840x2160. The i7-14700KF has sufficient headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck even at 4K Low, as evidenced by the 80.8 FPS result.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data presents the exact average frame rates recorded for each resolution and settings combination. Minimum and maximum frame rate values were not captured in the measurement set.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 182.1 FPS
• Medium: 152.7 FPS
• High: 124.7 FPS
• Ultra: 76.8 FPS

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 132.6 FPS
• Medium: 106.5 FPS
• High: 87.6 FPS
• Ultra: 55.5 FPS

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 80.8 FPS
• Medium: 66 FPS
• High: 54.6 FPS
• Ultra: 33.4 FPS

The progression across resolutions shows a consistent pattern. At each settings level, moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by roughly 28-30% (e.g., High from 124.7 FPS to 87.6 FPS; Ultra from 76.8 FPS to 55.5 FPS). Moving from 1440p to 4K results in a more severe drop, with High falling from 87.6 FPS to 54.6 FPS (a 38% reduction) and Ultra falling from 55.5 FPS to 33.4 FPS (a 40% reduction). This non-linear scaling underscores the memory bandwidth and fill rate demands at 4K resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-14700KF, based on average benchmark scores, include several AMD and Intel processors with very close performance deltas. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score of 69996, which is 0.2% lower than the i7-14700KF's average of 70163. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, a 0.4% difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, a 0.9% difference. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K scores 70879, which is 1% higher than the i7-14700KF. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Downfall when paired with the same GPU, as the game's performance at higher resolutions is GPU-bound.

For the Intel Arc B580, the nearest rivals are a mix of older and newer GPUs with similar average scores. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP has an average score of 23061, which is 0.2% higher than the Arc B580's 23021. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22895, a 0.6% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 scores 23172, a 0.7% difference. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, a 1% difference. These deltas are all within 1%, meaning that swapping the Arc B580 for any of these cards would produce nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Downfall across all tested resolutions and settings.

The Verdict

Based on the measured data, this PC can run Downfall at all three tested resolutions, but the playable settings vary significantly. The verdict by resolution is clear:

At 3840x2160, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at Low and Medium settings. The best playable setting is Medium at 66 FPS. High and Ultra are not playable, with frame rates of 54.6 FPS and 33.4 FPS respectively.

At 2560x1440, the system achieves playable frame rates at Low, Medium, and High settings. The best playable setting is High at 87.6 FPS. Ultra falls short at 55.5 FPS.

At 1920x1080, all four settings are playable. The best playable setting is Ultra at 76.8 FPS. This resolution offers the most flexibility, with even the most demanding preset maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and Intel Arc B580 combination ranks 2838 out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall. This places the system in the lower half of all tested hardware configurations. The rank reflects the Arc B580's position as a mid-range GPU rather than a high-end contender; the CPU's strong benchmark scores (94th percentile among all CPUs) do not compensate for the GPU's more modest 68th percentile standing among all GPUs. The measured frame rates confirm this ranking: the system is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but cannot sustain Ultra settings at 1440p or High settings at 4K.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 Ultra is 33.4 FPS, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming with this hardware?

A: The best playable setting at 2560x1440 is High, which delivers an average of 87.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution only reaches 55.5 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase. The frame rate drops from 182.1 FPS on Low to 76.8 FPS on Ultra, indicating the Arc B580's rendering load is the primary constraint, while the i7-14700KF provides sufficient headroom.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 in this game?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The RTX 3080 scores 23172 versus the Arc B580's 23021, a 0.7% difference. In Downfall, both cards would produce very similar frame rates.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 152.7 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience.

Q: Is the Core i7-14700KF a bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are consistently lower across all settings (from 80.8 FPS on Low to 33.4 FPS on Ultra), which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's performance is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at this resolution.