Downfall

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the Intel Arc B570 is a combination that lands in the lower half of the performance hierarchy for Downfall, ranking 2988 out of 3716 tested combos. Despite the CPU's top-tier status, the Arc B570's 65th percentile standing among all GPUs anchors this combo's overall capability, resulting in a system that is fully playable at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K with higher visual fidelity. The data shows a clear performance ceiling dictated by the GPU, making this a capable 1080p and 1440p gaming setup rather than a 4K powerhouse.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2988 out of 3716 tested combinations places it in the bottom 20% of all pairings benchmarked for Downfall. This positioning is directly explained by the GPU's benchmark percentile of 65 against all GPUs, which is a moderate score, while the CPU sits in the 95th percentile against all CPUs. In practical terms, this means the i9-14900K is far more powerful than what the Arc B570 can utilize in this title, making the graphics card the definitive bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate that while the CPU is among the elite, the overall combo's ranking is dragged down by the GPU's mid-range performance tier.

This dynamic is critical for understanding the measured frame rates. The i9-14900K's immense compute power, demonstrated by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and PassMark multi-thread score of 58674, is largely irrelevant in a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. Conversely, the Arc B570's PassMark G3D score of 14195 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2649 are more indicative of the actual frame rates observed. The combo's rank suggests that users should not expect a high-refresh-rate experience at 4K, but rather a stable experience at lower resolutions where the GPU's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Downfall at 60 FPS on a 4K monitor?*

A: Yes, but only with Low settings. The measured data shows an average of 72 FPS at 3840x2160 on Low. Higher settings at 4K drop below the 60 FPS threshold, with Medium averaging 59 FPS and High averaging 49 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The highest playable preset at 2560x1440 is High, which achieves an average of 78 FPS. While Low and Medium also clear the 60 FPS mark, with averages of 116 and 95 FPS respectively, High offers the best visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo produces an average of 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the only resolution where Ultra settings are viable.

Q: How much faster is the 1080p Low preset compared to 4K Ultra?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 163, which is more than five times higher than the 30 FPS average observed at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This highlights the extreme performance cost of 4K Ultra.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers for Medium settings?

A: The data provides min FPS only for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the min is 113 FPS; at 2560x1440, the min is 81 FPS; and at 3840x2160, the min is 50 FPS. These figures show that even the lowest dips remain smooth at 1080p and 1440p.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark performance relate to its real-world FPS?

A: The Arc B570's 65th percentile rank and PassMark G3D score of 14195 align with its mid-range standing. This is reflected in the observed FPS, where it delivers strong 1080p performance but begins to falter at 4K, showing a clear correlation between synthetic benchmarks and in-game results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Downfall reveals a performance curve that scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally strong across all presets. The Low preset delivers an average of 163 FPS, which is substantially higher than High at 109 FPS. The Medium preset provides a balanced experience with an average of 133 FPS, alongside a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 153 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 68 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains solid but the impact of higher resolution is clear. The Low preset still produces a high average of 116 FPS, while High drops to 78 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 95 FPS, with a min of 81 FPS and a max of 110 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. Ultra settings, however, fall below the playable threshold with an average of 49 FPS, showing that 1440p Ultra is too demanding for this GPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become pronounced. The Low preset is the only playable option, achieving an average of 72 FPS. Medium settings barely miss the 60 FPS target with an average of 59 FPS, and its minimum of 50 FPS suggests noticeable stuttering. High settings drop to an average of 49 FPS, while Ultra is nearly unplayable at just 30 FPS. The data shows a steep decline in performance as the pixel count increases, confirming that 4K gaming is only viable with the lowest settings.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate that this PC can indeed run Downfall, but the playable experience is heavily dependent on resolution. The verdict is clear: at 1920x1080, the combo clears the 60 FPS threshold on all four presets, including Ultra with an average of 68 FPS. At 2560x1440, the system maintains 60 FPS on High, Medium, and Low settings, with High being the most demanding playable option at 78 FPS. However, at 3840x2160, only the Low preset achieves a playable average of 72 FPS; Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the 60 FPS line.

For users prioritizing visual fidelity, 1080p Ultra is the recommended target, as it is the only resolution where the highest settings are playable. At 1440p, High settings offer the best balance of quality and performance. 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this combo beyond the most minimal settings. The i9-14900K's raw power ensures that the CPU will never be the limiting factor in this game, but the Arc B570's mid-range performance dictates that users should temper their expectations at higher resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the Intel Core i9-14900K, the nearest rivals in benchmark scores are all incredibly close in performance. The Intel Core i9-14900KF has an average score that is 0.3% lower, making it virtually identical in performance for this game. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is also nearly equivalent, with a score 0.6% lower. On the other side, the AMD EPYC 7413 scores 1.2% higher, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 1.7% higher. These differences are negligible, meaning any of these CPUs would yield the same frame rates when paired with the Arc B570, as the GPU remains the primary bottleneck.

The Intel Arc B570's nearest rivals are equally tightly clustered. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile has an average score that is 0.1% higher, making it a direct performance equivalent. The Intel Arc A750 is a near-perfect match, with a score just 0.1% lower. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 0.5% lower. In practical terms, swapping the Arc B570 for any of these alternatives would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, ensuring a similar experience across all resolutions and settings. This data suggests that the combo's performance profile is well-established and consistent with a specific mid-range GPU tier.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows:

• 1920x1080: Ultra settings, with an average FPS of 68.
• 2560x1440: High settings, with an average FPS of 78.
• 3840x2160: Low settings, with an average FPS of 72.

These settings represent the optimal balance between visual quality and performance, as confirmed by the measured data. At 1080p, the combo has enough headroom to run the highest preset smoothly. At 1440p, High is the ceiling, as Ultra drops to an average of 49 FPS. At 4K, the GPU can only handle the lowest settings to maintain playability, with Medium averaging 59 FPS, just shy of the target. Users seeking the best experience should follow these guidelines to ensure a consistent 60 FPS or higher.