Downfall

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Downfall, a 2016 horror title. Across all tested resolutions and presets, the combination never drops below the 60 FPS playability threshold, with performance scaling predictably from 1080p to 4K. The data shows a system that is not merely playable but overwhelmingly overqualified for this title, maintaining triple-digit averages even at demanding 4K Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system operates at extraordinary speeds. The Low preset produces an average of 339.7 FPS, while Medium yields 277 FPS. High settings still deliver 226.4 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a 141.6 FPS average. These figures indicate that the CPU-GPU combination is barely challenged at this resolution, with the frame rates suggesting headroom far beyond what any display could reasonably use.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains exceptionally high. The Low preset averages 242.7 FPS, Medium achieves 196.1 FPS, and High reaches 162 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding configuration at this resolution, still produces a 104.1 FPS average. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent reduction of roughly 30-40% across presets, which is typical for a GPU-bound workload as pixel count increases by 77%.

At 3840x2160, the system continues to perform admirably. The Low preset averages 148.7 FPS, Medium delivers 121 FPS, and High manages 101.4 FPS. The Ultra preset, which demands the most from the hardware, still produces a 65.6 FPS average—comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The drop from 1440p to 4K represents a further 35-40% reduction in frame rates, consistent with the 2.25x increase in pixel count.

Notably, the measured data includes no minimum or maximum frame rate values. The absence of these figures means the analysis relies solely on average FPS, which can mask occasional stutters or frame-time spikes. However, given the high averages across all settings, even a significant drop from the average would likely keep the experience smooth.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Ultra, delivering a 141.6 FPS average. This is the highest quality preset available, and the system exceeds the 60 FPS target by more than double. The data indicates no reason to compromise on visual fidelity at this resolution.

For 2560x1440, Ultra also stands as the best setting, with a 104.1 FPS average. This comfortably clears the 60 FPS threshold, providing a large margin for demanding scenes or future patches. The system maintains high frame rates even with all visual features enabled.

At 3840x2160, Ultra remains the recommended setting, achieving a 65.6 FPS average. While this is the lowest margin of any resolution, it still exceeds the playability threshold by 5.6 FPS. The data suggests that 4K Ultra is playable, though the margin is narrower than at lower resolutions. For users seeking more headroom, High at 101.4 FPS offers a substantial safety buffer, but the verdict confirms Ultra is viable.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, show that the Core i7-14700KF is closely matched with several AMD and Intel parts. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, a mere 0.2% behind the i7-14700KF's average. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 0.4% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X trails by 0.9%. On the Intel side, the Core Ultra 7 265K leads by 1%. These deltas are within noise, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, particularly given the game's age and the GPU-heavy nature of 4K rendering.

For the GPU, the RTX 5070's nearest rivals present a more varied picture. The AMD Radeon Pro 580 scores 40318, just 0.1% behind, while the Radeon Pro WX 7100 is 0.8% behind. The Radeon Pro 5300 leads by 1.2%, and the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile is 2% ahead. It is important to note that these are professional workstation cards, not consumer gaming GPUs. Their similar average benchmark scores suggest comparable raw compute performance, but real-world gaming results may differ due to driver optimizations and feature support. In Downfall, a 2016 title, these differences are unlikely to manifest significantly.

The Verdict

This PC can run Downfall at every resolution and preset combination tested. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS with massive headroom, achieving 141.6 FPS on Ultra. The 2560x1440 resolution is equally impressive, with Ultra settings producing 104.1 FPS. Even at 3840x2160, the most demanding configuration, Ultra settings maintain a 65.6 FPS average, which is above the playability threshold.

The verdict by resolution confirms that all four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at all three resolutions. The best settings are Ultra everywhere, with the lowest margin at 4K (65.6 FPS). The data shows a system that can handle the game's maximum visual quality without any compromises, even at 4K. For users with high-refresh-rate displays at 1080p or 1440p, the frame rates are high enough to take full advantage of 144Hz or even 240Hz monitors.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 3840x2160?

A: Ultra is playable at 4K, with an average of 65.6 FPS. This is the most demanding preset, and it still clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much slower is 4K Ultra compared to 1080p Ultra?

A: The 4K Ultra average is 65.6 FPS, while 1080p Ultra delivers 141.6 FPS. This represents a 54% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in the measured data?

A: No. Every tested resolution and preset combination produces an average FPS above 60. The lowest recorded average is 65.6 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Q: What is the best setting for 2560x1440 if I want maximum quality?

A: Ultra is the best setting at 1440p, delivering a 104.1 FPS average. This provides both maximum visual quality and a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 580?

A: The Radeon Pro 580 has an average benchmark score of 40318, which is 0.1% below the RTX 5070's score of 40377. This difference is negligible, suggesting near-identical raw performance.

Q: Is 1080p Low significantly faster than 1080p Ultra?

A: Yes. Low at 1080p averages 339.7 FPS, while Ultra averages 141.6 FPS. The Low preset is about 2.4x faster, though both are far beyond playable.

How This Combo Ranks

Among 3716 tested combinations in Downfall, this specific CPU-GPU pair ranks 680th. This places it in the top 18.3% of all tested configurations, indicating that it outperforms the vast majority of systems in this game. The rank reflects the combination's ability to deliver high frame rates at demanding settings, particularly at 4K where the GPU's 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth prove sufficient.

The rank of 680 is notable given the game's age and the hardware's recency. The i7-14700KF and RTX 5070 are both modern components, but Downfall's 2016 release means it does not utilize newer features like ray tracing or DLSS. The system's high rank is therefore primarily a function of raw rasterization performance. The 20-core, 28-thread CPU provides ample processing power, while the GPU's 6144 shading units and 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 compute ensure that even 4K Ultra is manageable.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals which component dominates in Downfall. At 1080p, the gap between Low (339.7 FPS) and Ultra (141.6 FPS) is 198.1 FPS, indicating significant GPU sensitivity. However, the sheer magnitude of these numbers suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution—the frame rates are far higher than what the game's logical thread demands.

At 1440p, the spread narrows slightly: Low averages 242.7 FPS while Ultra averages 104.1 FPS, a difference of 138.6 FPS. The reduction in frame rates from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 30%, which aligns with the increased pixel count. This trend continues at 4K, where Low drops to 148.7 FPS and Ultra falls to 65.6 FPS. The consistent scaling with resolution indicates the GPU is the primary performance driver, as expected for a horror game with heavy visual effects.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the 339.7 FPS average tests the CPU's ability to feed the GPU rapidly. The i7-14700KF's high single-thread performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2578 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6235, ensures it can sustain these frame rates. However, the data does not show any resolution or setting where the CPU becomes the limiting factor, as even the most CPU-intensive scenario (1080p Low) maintains high averages.

The GPU's importance is most pronounced at 4K Ultra, where the 65.6 FPS average is just above the playability threshold. The RTX 5070's 80 ROPs and 201.0 GPixel/s pixel rate are critical for handling the 8.3 million pixels at 4K. The 12 GB memory capacity is sufficient for this title, even at Ultra settings, as the game's 2016 release likely does not require more than 8 GB even at maximum quality. Overall, the data shows a balanced system where the GPU scales with resolution, while the CPU provides consistent high frame rates without bottlenecking.