Downfall

This analysis evaluates whether the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 can run Downfall, a horror title released in 2016. Based on measured frame-rate data, the combination delivers playable performance across most settings and resolutions. The combo ranks 1592nd out of 3716 tested configurations, placing it in the upper half of the database. The CPU sits at the 96th percentile among all processors, while the GPU is at the 61st percentile, indicating a strong processor paired with a mid-range graphics card.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1592 out of 3716 means it outperforms roughly 57% of all tested CPU-GPU pairings for Downfall. This is a solidly above-average result, but not exceptional. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor, with an average benchmark score of 84003 and a 96th percentile rank among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83807, a mere 0.2% lower. The GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, has an average benchmark score of 17208 and a 61st percentile rank among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, scores 17083, just 0.7% lower. The gap between the CPU’s and GPU’s percentile positions explains why the combo ranks in the upper half but not near the top: the processor is capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but the graphics card limits performance at higher settings and resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations for Downfall?

A: The combo ranks 1592nd out of 3716 tested combinations, which means it is faster than approximately 57% of all tested pairings.

Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K resolution?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, the High, Low, and Medium presets all achieve average frame rates above 60 FPS (77, 114, and 93 respectively). The Ultra preset drops to 48 FPS, so it is not playable at 4K Ultra.

Q: What is the best setting at 1440p that stays above 60 FPS?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset runs at an average of 77 FPS, making it the most demanding playable setting. All four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) exceed the 60 FPS threshold at this resolution.

Q: What is the GPU’s launch MSRP?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has a launch MSRP of 499 USD.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in raw benchmark performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores 84003 on average, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K’s score of 83807.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking among all processors?

A: The CPU is in the 96th percentile, meaning it outperforms 96% of all CPUs in the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists the measured average frame rates for each resolution and preset combination. For the Medium preset, minimum and maximum frame rates are also available.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 77 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 114 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 93 | 79 | 107 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 48 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 123 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 183 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 150 | 127 | 172 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 77 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 172 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 257 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 210 | 179 | 242 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 108 | - | - |

The data shows a clear progression: as resolution increases, frame rates drop consistently across all presets. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset maintains an average of 108 FPS, while at 4K the Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset provides the only min/max data, showing that at 1080p Medium, frame rates range from 179 to 242, indicating a stable experience with no severe drops.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Downfall. The verdict is clear from the measured data: at 3840x2160, the High, Low, and Medium presets all clear the 60 FPS threshold, with High being the most demanding playable preset at an average of 77 FPS. At 2560x1440, every preset including Ultra stays above 60 FPS; Ultra averages 77 FPS. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 108 FPS. The only combination that fails to reach 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, which averages 48 FPS. For users targeting 4K, the High preset is the optimal choice, delivering 77 FPS. For 1440p and 1080p, the Ultra preset can be enabled without sacrificing smoothness.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals are all within 1.3% of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus in average benchmark score. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is 0.2% slower, the AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% slower, the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% faster. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Downfall when paired with the same GPU, as the game is not highly CPU-bound at typical settings.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (0.7% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (1.0% slower), the AMD Radeon HD 7970M (1.1% slower), and the NVIDIA Tesla K40c (1.5% faster). These GPUs would produce very similar performance in Downfall, though the RTX 3070’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth give it a slight edge in texture-heavy scenes. Users with these alternatives should expect frame rates within a few percent of the numbers reported here.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is High, with an average of 77 FPS. The Medium preset runs faster (93 FPS) but is less demanding, so High is the recommended maximum for visual quality while staying smooth.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 77 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, Ultra is the best setting at this resolution, providing the highest visual fidelity without compromising playability.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 108 FPS, so it is the clear choice. All presets at 1080p exceed 60 FPS, but Ultra offers the best graphics while still delivering a high frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the system produces very high frame rates even on Low (257 FPS), indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck; the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus’s strong multi-core performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731) and single-core score of 7303 allow the GPU to run near its limits. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 108 FPS, a 58% reduction from Low, which shows the GPU becoming more influential as settings increase.

As resolution rises to 1440p, the Ultra preset falls to 77 FPS, a 28.7% drop from 1080p Ultra. At 4K Ultra, the average is 48 FPS, another 37.7% drop from 1440p Ultra. This steep decline across resolutions points to the GPU as the primary limiter at higher pixel counts. The RTX 3070’s 8 GB memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1440p Ultra, but at 4K the GPU’s compute throughput (20.31 TFLOPS FP32) and memory capacity become insufficient for the Ultra preset.

Conversely, the CPU’s influence is most visible at low resolutions and low settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits 257 FPS, a value that far exceeds typical display refresh rates, confirming that the CPU can feed the GPU with ease. At 4K Low, the frame rate is 114 FPS, still well above 60, showing that even at high resolutions the CPU is not the limiting factor until the GPU is pushed to Ultra. In summary, for Downfall, the RTX 3070 dictates playability at 4K and at high presets, while the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus provides ample headroom to avoid CPU bottlenecks at any resolution.