Downfall

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 delivers playable frame rates in Downfall at every tested resolution, provided the right settings are chosen. At 4K, the combo holds 60 FPS on High settings; at 1440p and 1080p, it reaches Ultra at 60 FPS or higher. The measured data shows a clear GPU-bound workload, with the CPU sitting in the 96th percentile of all processors while the GPU sits in the 66th percentile.

How This Combo Ranks

Among 3,716 tested CPU-GPU combinations for Downfall, this pairing ranks 2,281st. That places it in the lower-middle portion of the field, meaning a majority of tested combos achieve higher average frame rates. The ranking reflects the GPU’s modest standing rather than the CPU’s strength. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84,003. In contrast, the RTX 5050 lands in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 21,035. The wide gap between the two components suggests the GPU is the limiting factor in this horror title, which is consistent with the frame rate scaling observed across resolutions.

The combo’s rank also sits below what the CPU alone would imply. A top-tier processor cannot compensate for a mid-range graphics card in a scene-heavy game like Downfall. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 37 FPS, well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is 84 FPS, which is comfortable but not exceptional for a CPU of this class. The rank of 2,281 out of 3,716 is a direct consequence of the GPU’s 66th-percentile performance, and any improvement in GPU choice would shift the combo upward substantially.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide a sense of what hardware would behave similarly in this game. For the processor, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is essentially identical, with an average benchmark score of 83,807 and a delta of 0.2% relative to the 290K Plus. The AMD EPYC 4584PX (83,090, +1.1%) and EPYC 9135 (82,980, +1.2%) are also within a couple of percent, while the EPYC 7F72 (85,072, -1.3%) is slightly slower. None of these differences would meaningfully change frame rates in a GPU-bound scenario.

On the graphics side, the RTX 5050’s nearest rivals are a mix of older mobile and desktop parts. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% faster (20,713 vs. 21,035), which would yield a marginal FPS increase in Downfall. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (21,153, -0.6%), AMD Radeon HD 8970M (21,237, -1%), and NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (21,379, -1.6%) are all slightly slower. In practice, swapping the RTX 5050 for any of these would produce frame rates within a few percent of the measured values. The CPU’s rivals are all within 1.3%, so the overall performance envelope of this combo is very tightly defined.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured frame rates reveal a consistent pattern: the GPU dominates performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1080p, raising the preset from Low to Ultra cuts the average FPS from 201 to 84, a 58% reduction. At 1440p, the same preset change drops the average from 144 to 60, also a 58% reduction. At 4K, the drop is from 89 to 37, again about 58%. This uniform scaling with settings indicates that the GPU’s shading, texture, and memory throughput are the primary bottlenecks; the CPU’s role is secondary.

Resolution scaling tells the same story. Moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings reduces the average FPS from 135 to 60, a 56% decrease. The RTX 5050’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are taxed heavily at 4K, while the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its 24 cores and 5.80 GHz boost clock, is never the limiting factor. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 and single-core score of 7,303 are far above what Downfall requires, and its 96th-percentile standing confirms that it is not holding back the GPU. In short, this game is GPU-bound at every tested configuration, and the CPU’s influence is negligible.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Downfall. According to the verdict by resolution, the combo clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at all three tested resolutions, but with important caveats. At 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best (most demanding) preset that stays at 60 FPS. Ultra at 4K falls to 37 FPS, so it is not playable. At 2560x1440, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with Ultra hitting exactly 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, every preset is playable, and Ultra reaches 84 FPS. Thus, for a smooth experience, 4K users should stick to High or lower, while 1440p and 1080p users can max out the game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists the exact average, minimum, and maximum frame rates recorded for each resolution and preset. Only the Medium preset includes min/max data; the other presets report only averages.

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

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

| 3840x2160 | High | 60 | – | – |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 89 | – | – |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 73 | 62 | 84 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 37 | – | – |

| 2560x1440 | High | 96 | – | – |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 144 | – | – |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 118 | 100 | 135 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 60 | – | – |

| 1920x1080 | High | 135 | – | – |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 201 | – | – |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 165 | 140 | 189 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 84 | – | – |

The Medium preset at 4K shows a min of 62 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold, and a max of 84 FPS, indicating some variability but no severe dips. At 1440p Medium, the min is 100 FPS, well above the threshold. At 1080p Medium, the min is 140 FPS, making it an exceptionally smooth experience. The absence of min/max data for other presets means those averages are the only reference points, but they align with the overall trend.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K on this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 60 FPS. Medium averages 73 FPS, and Low averages 89 FPS, but Ultra drops to 37 FPS.

Q: Can this system run Downfall at Ultra settings in 1440p?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages exactly 60 FPS, which meets the playable threshold. All other presets at this resolution exceed 60 FPS.

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

A: It ranks 2,281 out of 3,716 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle range. The GPU’s 66th-percentile performance is the main reason for this position.

Q: Which component is more responsible for frame rates in Downfall?

A: The GPU. The RTX 5050 sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 96th percentile. The consistent frame rate drops across resolution and preset changes indicate a GPU-bound workload.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the RTX 5050?

A: The launch MSRP is 249 USD. This is the only pricing information available; no other cost details are provided.

Q: Are the measured frame rates based on actual testing or estimates?

A: The data is marked as measured (dataIsMeasured is true), meaning the frame rates were recorded from real hardware, not simulated.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows:

• 3840x2160: High — average 60 FPS. This is the highest playable setting; Ultra is not playable.
• 2560x1440: Ultra — average 60 FPS. This is the maximum preset available and just meets the threshold.
• 1920x1080: Ultra — average 84 FPS. This is the maximum preset and provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

These settings represent the best visual quality without dropping below the playable threshold. For users who prefer higher frame rates, lower presets at each resolution yield correspondingly higher averages, as shown in the measured FPS breakdown.