Downfall

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an extreme high-end combination, and the benchmark data for Downfall confirms that this hardware is overwhelmingly powerful for this 2016 horror title. Across every resolution and preset tested, the average frame rates are exceptionally high, often exceeding the refresh rates of typical monitors. The data shows a system that is not merely playable but operates with a massive performance headroom, making it capable of driving the game at maximum settings with frame rates that far surpass the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination reveals that the RTX 4090 is heavily underutilized in Downfall. At 1080p, the frame rates are astronomically high. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 441.5. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 364.6 FPS, and at High settings, it is still a staggering 296.4 FPS. Pushing the preset to Ultra, the average FPS remains incredibly high at 188.2. These numbers indicate that the game is almost certainly bottlenecked by the CPU or game engine at this resolution, as the GPU is capable of far more.

At 1440p, the performance scales as expected, but remains far beyond what is needed for smooth gameplay. The Low preset delivers an average of 313.9 FPS. This is followed by Medium at 259.4 FPS, and High at 212.9 FPS. Even with the Ultra preset, the average FPS is a very high 135.5. The substantial gap between the 1080p and 1440p results suggests that the GPU is beginning to take on more of the workload, but it is still not being pushed to its limits.

The 4K results are where the RTX 4090's power becomes more apparent. At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields an average of 195.9 FPS. The Medium preset averages 163.6 FPS, and the High preset averages 131 FPS. The Ultra preset, the most demanding configuration, still produces an average of 84.7 FPS. This is the only configuration where the average FPS drops below the 100 FPS mark, yet it is still well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows a clear, consistent scaling between presets and resolutions, with no anomalous dips.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific combination at rank 98 out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This puts it in the top 2.6% of all systems tested, which is a reflection of its raw hardware strength. While it is not the absolute top performer, its ranking is extremely high, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of other hardware configurations in this game. The combination of the Core i9-14900K and the RTX 4090 places it firmly in the enthusiast tier, with only a handful of more exotic or newer setups likely to exceed its frame rates. The percentile rankings for the individual components support this: the CPU sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. This high combo rank is a direct result of both components being top-tier performers in their respective categories.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K with the Ultra preset?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 84.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average FPS is 441.5, which was measured at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is there any resolution or preset where this combo fails to hit 60 FPS?

A: No. Every single combination of the tested resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) results in an average frame rate above 60 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1440p and 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At 2560x1440 Ultra, the average FPS is 135.5. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 84.7. This represents a performance drop of 50.8 FPS when moving from 1440p to 4K at the Ultra preset.

Q: The RTX 4090's nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, has a similar average benchmark score. Would that GPU be a good choice for this game?

A: The database shows the Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average benchmark score only 0.0% different from the RTX 4090, meaning their general compute scores are similar. However, this does not guarantee identical gaming performance. The measured FPS data for this specific game and the RTX 4090 combination shows very high frame rates, but there is no measured FPS data for the Arc Pro A60 in Downfall to make a direct comparison.

Q: Which is more demanding for this system: 4K High or 1440p Ultra?

A: 4K High is more demanding. The 4K High preset produces an average of 131 FPS, while the 1440p Ultra preset produces a higher average of 135.5 FPS. This indicates that the higher resolution at High settings places a greater load on the system than the lower resolution at Ultra settings.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally shows that this PC can run Downfall exceptionally well. According to the verdict by resolution, all tested settings presets are playable at every resolution. The system clears the 60 FPS threshold with significant margin in all scenarios. At 1920x1080, the best settings preset is Ultra, with an average FPS of 188.2. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the best, delivering an average of 135.5 FPS. Even at the most demanding 3840x2160 resolution, the Ultra preset is the recommended best setting, maintaining a solid average of 84.7 FPS. This hardware combination offers a flawless experience, allowing users to max out the game's graphical options at any resolution without concern for performance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data for the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware might perform similarly. For the processor, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-14900KF and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The i9-14900KF has an average score that is 0.3% lower than the i9-14900K, indicating effectively identical performance. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 0.6% lower, showing it is also a very close match. The AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% lower, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% higher. These CPUs would all deliver a very similar level of performance in a gaming workload like Downfall.

On the graphics side, the nearest rival to the RTX 4090 by average benchmark score is the Intel Arc Pro A60, with a delta of 0.0%. This suggests their overall compute performance is statistically tied. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% lower. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% lower. While these GPUs are the closest in the database by average score, it is important to note that these are professional workstation cards, and their gaming performance may differ from their compute scores. A system with any of these GPUs paired with a top-tier CPU would likely produce frame rates in Downfall that are in the same high-performance ballpark, though the specific measured FPS for these combinations is not available.

Best Settings per Resolution

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

• 1920x1080: The Ultra preset is the most demanding option and it achieves an average FPS of 188.2. This allows for the maximum visual quality with an exceptionally high frame rate.
• 2560x1440: The Ultra preset is also the best choice here, delivering an average FPS of 135.5. This provides a perfect balance of high resolution and maximum graphical fidelity.
• 3840x2160: At 4K, the Ultra preset remains the best option, with an average FPS of 84.7. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, allowing for a fully maxed-out visual experience at 4K resolution.