Downfall

Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and Intel Arc B390 deliver a highly resolution-dependent experience in Downfall. The measured data shows the combo can handle 1080p and 1440p with playable frame rates, but 4K remains out of reach across all tested presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded results show a system under heavy load. The Ultra preset averages 20 FPS, while High settings produce 32 FPS. Medium improves to 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS. Low settings reach 47 FPS, which is the best result at this resolution, yet still falls short of the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data indicates that 4K gaming is not viable with this combination, regardless of the quality preset selected.

Dropping to 2560x1440 brings substantial gains. Low settings average 76 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS target. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. High settings produce 51 FPS, which dips below the playable mark, and Ultra averages 32 FPS. The pattern is clear: 1440p works, but only with Low or Medium settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strongest performance. Low settings average 106 FPS. Medium settings deliver 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High settings average 71 FPS, still above the threshold. Ultra drops to 44 FPS. The frame rate scaling across resolutions follows a consistent trend, with each step down in resolution yielding significant improvements.

The data contains no min or max values for several configurations, including 4K High, 4K Low, 4K Ultra, 1440p High, 1440p Low, 1440p Ultra, 1080p High, 1080p Low, and 1080p Ultra. Only the Medium presets at each resolution include full minimum and maximum readings. The recorded minimums suggest that 1440p Medium can dip to 53 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target and indicates some frame-time variance, while 1080p Medium holds a stronger floor at 74 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this CPU and GPU pairing at rank 3303 out of 3716 tested combinations for Downfall. That position places it in the lower portion of the ranking table, roughly in the 11th percentile of all recorded configurations. The rank reflects the combined performance of both components, and the GPU is the primary constraint in this pairing.

The Intel Arc B390 sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its single recorded benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, yields a score of 1482. The nearest rivals for this GPU are all legacy NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, the GeForce 800M scores 1460, the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443. The Arc B390 leads this group by margins of 1.3% to 2.7%, which is a narrow gap and explains why the measured FPS numbers are modest.

The CPU, on the other hand, is a strong performer. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 ranks at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 64640. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4464P at 64823 (0.3% faster), the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F at 64438 (0.3% slower), the AMD EPYC 7343 at 64202 (0.7% slower), and the AMD EPYC 9124 at 65104 (0.7% faster). The processor is not the limiting factor in this system; the recorded FPS values reflect GPU-bound scenarios.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher. The verdict data lists no playable settings for this resolution, and the best achievable average remains 47 FPS on Low. The combination of the Arc B390's integrated graphics architecture and the demands of 4K rendering prevents any playable configuration.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 62 FPS. Low also clears the threshold at 76 FPS, but Medium is the highest quality option that maintains playability. High falls to 51 FPS and Ultra drops to 32 FPS, so those presets are not viable at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding playable preset is High, averaging 71 FPS. Medium averages 87 FPS and Low averages 106 FPS, but High represents the best visual quality that still holds above the 60 FPS line. Ultra averages 44 FPS and is not recommended based on the measured data.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 show that CPU-side alternatives would not meaningfully change the outcome in Downfall. The AMD EPYC 4464P scores 0.3% higher, the AMD EPYC 9124 scores 0.7% higher, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F scores 0.3% lower, and the AMD EPYC 7343 scores 0.7% lower. These deltas are minor, so swapping the processor for any of these parts would produce nearly identical frame rates in this game, given that the GPU remains the bottleneck.

The GPU's nearest rivals tell a different story. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GeForce GT 625 OEM, and GeForce GT 710 all score within 1.3% to 2.7% of the Intel Arc B390. Hardware from this performance tier would behave similarly in Downfall. The recorded FPS values for the Arc B390, such as 71 FPS at 1080p High and 62 FPS at 1440p Medium, represent what these comparable GPUs would likely achieve as well. The narrow score gaps mean a user moving among these parts should expect broadly consistent frame rates, with only single-digit percentage differences.

The comparison highlights an imbalance in this pairing. The CPU ranks near the top of the database, while the GPU sits near the bottom. In a game like Downfall, which relies heavily on GPU throughput, the processor's headroom goes unused. The measured results reflect this: the frame rates align closely with what the GPU's benchmark percentile suggests, not the CPU's.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Downfall at 60 FPS on a 4K display?

A: No. The best recorded result at 3840x2160 is 47 FPS on Low settings. Medium averages 39 FPS, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 20 FPS. No preset at 4K reaches the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the highest quality setting that maintains 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Medium is the most demanding playable preset at 2560x1440, with an average of 62 FPS. Low also exceeds the threshold at 76 FPS, while High and Ultra fall below at 51 FPS and 32 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It leads the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX by 1.3%, the GeForce 800M by 1.5%, the GeForce GT 625 OEM by 2.5%, and the GeForce GT 710 by 2.7%. These are all closely matched parts.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 the limiting factor in this system?

A: No. The CPU ranks at the 93rd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 9th percentile. The measured frame rates are consistent with GPU-bound performance, so the processor is not the constraint.

Q: What average FPS does this combo achieve at 1080p with High settings?

A: The recorded average is 71 FPS. Medium averages 87 FPS, Low averages 106 FPS, and Ultra drops to 44 FPS.

Q: What is the best 1440p preset in terms of both quality and playability?

A: Medium at 2560x1440 delivers 62 FPS average with a 53 FPS minimum and 71 FPS maximum. It is the only preset above Low that stays at or above 60 FPS at this resolution.

The Verdict

The data shows a system that can run Downfall, but only under specific conditions. At 1920x1080, the combo clears the 60 FPS threshold on High, Low, and Medium settings, with High being the best playable option at 71 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low and Medium are playable, and Medium is the top choice at 62 FPS. At 3840x2160, no settings achieve playable performance; the best average is 47 FPS on Low.

The verdict by resolution confirms this split. The database lists 1920x1080 as playable on High, Low, and Medium, with High at 71 FPS. 2560x1440 is playable on Low and Medium, with Medium at 62 FPS. 3840x2160 has no playable settings. Users targeting 4K would need different hardware, while those on 1080p or 1440p displays can play with moderate quality settings. The GPU's low percentile ranking and the CPU's high percentile ranking indicate that any future upgrade path should focus on the graphics side first.