Downfall

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a decisive performance class for Downfall, clearing the 60 FPS threshold across nearly every configuration tested. The data indicates that this combination is heavily overqualified for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while 4K Ultra is the only setting that dips below the playable line. The measured results show a system that is GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but still capable of exceptional frame rates that favor high-refresh-rate displays.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for this configuration reveals consistent, high-performance metrics across all three primary resolutions. At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates scale from 139 FPS on Low settings down to 58 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset, which is the only one with complete min/max data at this resolution, shows an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. The High preset delivers a robust 93 FPS average, while the Ultra preset falls just short of the playable threshold at 58 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance headroom expands significantly. The Low preset reaches an average of 223 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 182 FPS with a minimum of 155 FPS and a maximum of 210 FPS. High settings produce a 150 FPS average, and even the demanding Ultra preset maintains a solid 94 FPS, ensuring all settings at this resolution remain well above the 60 FPS playable line.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system exhibits its peak performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 312 FPS, the Medium preset averages 256 FPS with a minimum of 217 FPS and a maximum of 294 FPS, and the High preset delivers 210 FPS. The Ultra preset still produces an impressive 131 FPS average, demonstrating that the CPU and GPU combination is far from being taxed at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS for each resolution. At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is High, which yields an average of 93 FPS. This provides a substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold while allowing for improved visual fidelity over the Medium preset.

For 2560x1440, the best setting is Ultra, achieving an average of 94 FPS. This is a significant finding, as it indicates that the hardware can max out the game’s visual options at this resolution without dropping below the playable threshold.

At 1920x1080, the best setting is also Ultra, with an average of 131 FPS. This performance level is nearly double the playable threshold, offering headroom for future demanding scenes or high refresh rate monitors.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on aggregate benchmark scores, the CPU and GPU in this configuration have close rivals that would deliver comparable frame rates in Downfall. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, which places it within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093). The Intel Core i9-12900T (37112) is also a near-identical match, with a delta of -0.5%. Systems built with any of these CPUs should exhibit nearly identical CPU-bound behavior in this game.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 has an average score of 37648, sitting close to the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (37628), the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (37157). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38135) is 1.3% higher. For users considering alternative hardware, these GPUs would produce very similar frame rates, though the RTX 4070’s specific architectural features may influence ray tracing or DLSS performance in ways not captured by synthetic averages.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Downfall, and it does so with substantial authority. The verdict data confirms that the configuration is fully playable at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 across all presets, including Ultra. At 3840x2160, the High, Low, and Medium presets all clear the 60 FPS threshold, with High being the recommended maximum for a stable experience.

The only configuration that fails to meet the playable threshold is 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which averages 58 FPS. This is a marginal miss, and users prioritizing 4K resolution would need to select High settings to guarantee smooth gameplay. For the vast majority of gaming scenarios, this system provides an overwhelming performance surplus, making it suitable for high refresh rate displays at 1440p and 1080p without compromise.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets indicates a clear shift in workload balance. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high, ranging from 131 FPS on Ultra to 312 FPS on Low. The gap between Low and Ultra is roughly 181 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is being utilized heavily but is not the limiting factor; the CPU’s strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655, is sufficient to feed the GPU at these rates.

At 2560x1440, the performance drop from 1080p is noticeable but modest. The Low preset falls from 312 FPS to 223 FPS, and Ultra falls from 131 FPS to 94 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is beginning to take on a more significant role, as the higher pixel count increases the rendering workload. The CPU still provides adequate headroom, as the scaling between settings remains consistent.

The most telling data appears at 3840x2160. Here, the Ultra preset drops to 58 FPS, while the Low preset remains at 139 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 81 FPS, which is a larger relative drop than at lower resolutions. This points to the GPU being the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are taxed by the extreme pixel workload. The CPU’s role diminishes at 4K, as the frame rate is more tightly coupled to the GPU’s fill rate and shader throughput.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 4K resolution?

A: The High preset is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS, averaging 93 FPS at 3840x2160. The Ultra preset falls below the threshold at 58 FPS.

Q: Can this PC handle Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 94 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting for a smooth experience at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 131 FPS, making it the best choice for maximizing visual quality while maintaining high frame rates.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in this game?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU handles the majority of the workload, but the CPU’s strong single-thread performance prevents bottlenecks. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor, as the Ultra preset drops below 60 FPS.

Q: How much headroom is there above the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p?

A: The lowest average frame rate at 1080p is 131 FPS on Ultra, which is more than 70 FPS above the playable threshold, indicating significant headroom for demanding scenes.

Q: Are there any resolutions where this PC cannot maintain 60 FPS?

A: The only configuration that fails to reach 60 FPS is 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which averages 58 FPS. All other tested presets and resolutions exceed the threshold.