Downfall

This analysis evaluates the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 for running Downfall, a 2016 horror title. Measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets show that this combination handles the game comfortably at 1080p and 1440p, and at 4K with high settings. The RTX 4060 has a launch MSRP of 299 USD. Benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor; the CPU’s high performance is not a constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data set provides average FPS for every resolution and preset, with minimum and maximum values recorded only for the Medium preset. At 3840x2160, the averages are 101 FPS on Low, 82 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 95), 68 FPS on High, and 42 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 59 FPS, a 58% reduction. The Medium preset’s minimum of 70 FPS stays above the 60 FPS threshold, but Ultra falls below it.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 162 FPS on Low, 132 FPS on Medium (min 112, max 152), 108 FPS on High, and 68 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 94 FPS, again a 58% drop. All presets remain above 60 FPS, with Ultra still delivering 68 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the averages are 226 FPS on Low, 185 FPS on Medium (min 157, max 213), 152 FPS on High, and 95 FPS on Ultra. The Low-to-Ultra drop is 131 FPS, a 58% reduction. The Medium minimum of 157 FPS is far above the threshold, and even Ultra nearly doubles the 60 FPS requirement.

The consistent 58% scaling across all three resolutions—both when moving from Low to Ultra at a fixed resolution and when moving from 1080p to 4K at a fixed preset—indicates that the frame rate is governed by the same underlying bottleneck, which the CPU/GPU role analysis will address next.

Best Settings per Resolution

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

• 3840x2160: High is the highest preset that clears the threshold, with an average of 68 FPS. Medium (82 FPS) and Low (101 FPS) also qualify, but High offers the best visual fidelity while remaining playable. Ultra falls short at 42 FPS.
• 2560x1440: Ultra is playable, averaging 68 FPS. All four presets—Low (162), Medium (132), High (108), and Ultra (68)—are above 60 FPS, so the highest setting is recommended.
• 1920x1080: Ultra delivers 95 FPS, and every preset from Low (226) to Medium (185) to High (152) also exceeds the threshold. Ultra is the best choice for this resolution.

These results align with the verdictByResolution field in the data: the best setting is High at 4K (68 FPS), Ultra at 1440p (68 FPS), and Ultra at 1080p (95 FPS).

CPU and GPU Roles

The frame rate behavior points decisively to the GPU as the limiting component. The CPU, an Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, is a 24-core, 24-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional: it reaches 51,731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7,303 in single-core, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The GPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, scores 19,545 in Passmark G3D and sits in the 61st percentile. This gap in relative standing is substantial.

Downfall is a 2016 title, and its engine is unlikely to exploit the 24 threads available on the CPU. The measured FPS scaling reinforces this: when resolution increases from 1080p to 4K at the same preset, the average FPS drops by roughly 55–58% (e.g., Low goes from 226 to 101, a 55% drop; Ultra goes from 95 to 42, a 56% drop). This is a classic GPU-bound pattern—the CPU would need to be the bottleneck for such a consistent drop to occur, but the CPU’s far-above-requirement performance precludes that. Similarly, increasing the preset from Low to Ultra at a fixed resolution also reduces FPS by about 58% at every resolution, which is again consistent with the GPU’s rasterization load scaling.

The only setting where the combo fails to reach 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, where the RTX 4060’s raw throughput is insufficient. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 226 FPS, far beyond typical refresh rates, confirming that the CPU is not holding back the GPU. The data shows that the CPU’s role is effectively passive; the GPU determines the playable envelope.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Downfall. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the measured results show:

• 3840x2160: High settings are playable at 68 FPS average. Low (101) and Medium (82) also work, but Ultra does not—it averages 42 FPS.
• 2560x1440: Ultra settings are playable at 68 FPS average. All presets, from Low (162) to Medium (132) to High (108), exceed 60 FPS.
• 1920x1080: Ultra settings are playable at 95 FPS average. Every preset, including Low (226), Medium (185), and High (152), clears the threshold with ease.

The only combination that fails the 60 FPS requirement is 4K Ultra. For all other tested configurations, the system delivers smooth frame rates, with the 1080p and 1440p results being particularly strong.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra?

A: 95 FPS.

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K Ultra?

A: No, the average is 42 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which preset at 1440p gives the highest visual quality while staying at or above 60 FPS?

A: Ultra, with an average of 68 FPS.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU. The CPU’s performance is far above what the game requires, as indicated by its 96th percentile ranking, while the GPU sits at the 61st percentile and shows consistent frame rate scaling with resolution and settings.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for Downfall?

A: It ranks 2009 out of 3716, placing it in the 54th percentile of tested systems.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the RTX 4060?

A: 299 USD (stated once in the opening paragraph).

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + RTX 4060 combination ranks 2009th out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This places it just above the median, which is consistent with the RTX 4060’s mid-range position. The CPU is a top-tier part, but the GPU is the performance limiter, so the overall rank reflects the GPU’s capability rather than the CPU’s. The 54th percentile position means that roughly 46% of tested systems deliver higher average frame rates in this title, while 54% are lower. Given that the game is not particularly demanding, this rank is acceptable for 1080p and 1440p play, but it explains why 4K Ultra is out of reach.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide a sense of what other hardware would behave similarly in this game. For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has an average benchmark score within 0.2% of the 290K Plus, meaning a system with that processor would deliver essentially identical frame rates. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 are within 1.1% and 1.2% respectively, so they would also fall into the same performance envelope. Because the CPU is not the bottleneck, any of these processors would allow the RTX 4060 to perform at its full potential in Downfall.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon HD 7790 has an average score within 0.2% of the RTX 4060, and the AMD Radeon 780M is within 0.3%. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 are within 0.5% and 0.7% respectively. These GPUs would produce frame rates very close to those measured here. Pairing the 290K Plus with any of these GPUs would yield nearly the same playable settings and FPS values. Conversely, using a CPU from the rival list with the RTX 4060 would not change the outcome, since the GPU remains the limiting factor. Thus, a system built with a Core Ultra 9 285K and a Radeon HD 7790 would be a near-identical performer for Downfall.