Downfall

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 in Downfall show a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combination produces 90.6 FPS, which drops to 67.9 FPS at 1440p and further to 42.0 FPS at 4K. This represents a 25% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 38% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, indicating that the graphics card is becoming progressively more saturated as pixel count rises.

Moving to Medium settings, the same trend holds: 76.5 FPS at 1080p, 51.0 FPS at 1440p, and 35.3 FPS at 4K. The 1440p result is exactly two-thirds of the 1080p figure, while the 4K result is roughly 46% of the 1080p figure. This steepening decline is a hallmark of a GPU that is running out of pixel throughput, not a CPU bottleneck. If the processor were the limiting factor, the frame rates would cluster closer together across resolutions because the CPU workload does not scale with pixel count the way the GPU workload does.

High settings reinforce this interpretation. The 1080p High result of 60.5 FPS falls to 44.8 FPS at 1440p and 27.3 FPS at 4K. The proportional gaps here are slightly smaller than at Low settings, suggesting that the additional shading work at High settings is already pushing the GTX 1650 toward its ceiling even at 1080p. At Ultra settings, the pattern becomes extreme: 39.8 FPS at 1080p, 27.9 FPS at 1440p, and 19.3 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than half of the 1080p Ultra result, and all three Ultra figures are below the 60 FPS threshold that many displays target.

The data shows that the GTX 1650 is the primary constraint across all resolutions. The Ryzen 5 5500, with its six cores and twelve threads, has ample headroom for this horror title, which is not known for heavy multi-threaded physics or simulation workloads. The consistent downward slope of FPS as resolution climbs is the signature of a graphics-limited system. At 4K Ultra, the combination manages only 19.3 FPS, which is effectively unplayable for a genre that relies on smooth camera movement and responsive controls.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture part built on a 12 nm process with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. Its memory bandwidth is rated at 128.1 GB/s, and its boost clock reaches 1665 MHz. The card has 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. These specifications position the GTX 1650 in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 8713. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, which scores 8746 (0.4% higher), and the AMD Radeon 550X, which scores 8749 (0.4% higher). The NVIDIA Quadro P2200 trails slightly at 8671, a 0.5% deficit.

The 4 GB VRAM capacity is a notable factor in Downfall's results. At 1080p, the card delivers playable frame rates on Low through High settings, suggesting that 4 GB is sufficient for the game's texture and geometry demands at that resolution. However, the steep drop at 4K Ultra — down to 19.3 FPS — likely reflects both raw compute limits and memory pressure. The 128-bit bus and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are modest by modern standards, and at 4K the card must move significantly more pixel data across that bus. The measured FPS at 4K Low is 42.0, which is a playable frame rate for a slow-paced horror game, but the Ultra preset collapses to less than half of that.

The GTX 1650's FP32 throughput is rated at 2.984 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 53.28 GPixel/s. These figures align with the observed scaling: the card can handle 1080p with relative ease, but 4K requires four times the pixel throughput, and the hardware simply does not have the fill rate to maintain high frame rates. The texture rate of 93.24 GTexel/s also becomes a limiting factor at higher settings, where anisotropic filtering and detailed surfaces increase texture fetch demands. The card's DirectX 12 score in Passmark is 35, which is lower than its DirectX 11 score of 58, indicating that the architecture is more comfortable with older API workloads — relevant for a 2016 release like Downfall.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a Zen 3 architecture processor built on TSMC's 7 nm process, featuring six cores and twelve threads. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The CPU has a 16 MB L3 cache, with 512 KB L2 and 64 KB L1 per core. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The processor sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20875. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-12500, scores 20897, a negligible 0.1% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE also matches closely at 20900, again 0.1% ahead.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 5 5500 demonstrates strong performance for its class. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 16429, while the single-core score is 2319. The 3DMark results show a scaling pattern: 1645 for 2 threads, 3151 for 4 threads, 4593 for 8 threads, and 5411 for max threads. This indicates that the processor benefits from additional threads but reaches diminishing returns beyond eight threads, which is typical for six-core parts with simultaneous multithreading. The Passmark multi-thread score is 19330, and the single-thread score is 3058.

For Downfall, the CPU is unlikely to be the bottleneck. The game's genre — horror — typically involves limited on-screen agents and simple physics, placing the load primarily on the GPU. The measured FPS scaling across resolutions confirms this: if the CPU were the constraint, the 1080p and 4K results would be much closer together. Instead, the frame rates drop substantially as resolution rises, which is the behavior of a GPU-limited system. The Ryzen 5 5500's 12 threads provide ample headroom for the game's threading model, and its single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core of 2319) is more than sufficient for the game's main thread. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking suggests it is a capable partner for the GTX 1650, which sits much lower at the 43rd percentile.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combination produces its best results. Low settings yield 90.6 FPS, Medium settings yield 76.5 FPS, High settings yield 60.5 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 39.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 50.8 FPS, or roughly 56%. This shows that the GTX 1650 has significant headroom at 1080p for the lower presets, but Ultra settings push it below the 40 FPS mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop across all settings. Low delivers 67.9 FPS, Medium delivers 51.0 FPS, High delivers 44.8 FPS, and Ultra delivers 27.9 FPS. The Low preset remains playable, but Ultra falls below 30 FPS. The relative drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25% for Low, 33% for Medium, 26% for High, and 30% for Ultra. The Medium preset shows the largest proportional decline, suggesting that the combination of increased pixel count and moderate shader complexity stresses the GPU disproportionately.

At 3840x2160, the results are mostly marginal. Low settings deliver 42.0 FPS, which is playable for a horror title. Medium delivers 35.3 FPS, High delivers 27.3 FPS, and Ultra delivers 19.3 FPS. The Ultra preset is effectively unplayable, and even High is below 30 FPS. The 4K results show that the GTX 1650 is simply outmatched at this resolution unless the user is willing to compromise on visual quality. The 1080p Low result of 90.6 FPS is the only configuration that approaches a high-refresh experience, while 1080p High at 60.5 FPS is the sweet spot for standard 60 Hz displays.

The data includes 12 measured rows in total, covering four settings at three resolutions. No minimum or maximum FPS values are provided, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates. The combination ranks 1644 out of 1741 possible combinations in Downfall, placing it in the bottom 6% of all tested hardware pairings for this game.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware combination in Downfall?*

A: The 1920x1080 resolution provides the most consistently playable results, with all settings above 39 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium settings exceed 50 FPS, while at 3840x2160, even Low settings deliver only 42.0 FPS.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 or the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 the limiting factor?

A: The GTX 1650 is the limiting factor. The frame rates drop sharply as resolution increases (from 90.6 FPS at 1080p Low to 42.0 FPS at 4K Low), which indicates a GPU bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 79th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 43rd percentile.

*Q: Can this system run Downfall at 60 FPS?*

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, which produce 90.6 FPS and 76.5 FPS respectively. The High preset at 1080p achieves 60.5 FPS, which barely meets the 60 FPS threshold. No other resolution and setting combination reaches 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 8713. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile scores 8746, which is 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon 550X scores 8749, also 0.4% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro P2200 scores 8671, a 0.5% deficit.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: Only with significant compromises. At 4K Low, the system delivers 42.0 FPS, which is playable for a slow-paced horror game. Medium settings drop to 35.3 FPS, and High falls to 27.3 FPS. Ultra is not viable at 19.3 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 67.9 FPS and Medium delivers 51.0 FPS. High achieves 44.8 FPS, which is playable but below 60 FPS. Ultra at 27.9 FPS is borderline for a horror game.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data supports a clear hierarchy of playable configurations for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 in Downfall. For users with a 1080p display, the High preset at 60.5 FPS offers the best balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. The Medium preset at 76.5 FPS provides additional headroom for frame rate fluctuations, while the Low preset at 90.6 FPS is the choice for those who prioritize maximum smoothness. The Ultra preset at 39.8 FPS should be avoided unless the user is willing to accept a sub-40 FPS experience.

For 1440p displays, the Low preset at 67.9 FPS is the only configuration that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. Medium at 51.0 FPS is acceptable for a horror title, where movement is often slow and deliberate. High at 44.8 FPS is playable but requires tolerance for occasional frame rate dips, and Ultra at 27.9 FPS is not recommended. For 4K displays, the Low preset at 42.0 FPS is the only viable option, and even this may feel sluggish during fast camera pans. Medium at 35.3 FPS is marginal, while High and Ultra fall below 30 FPS and should be avoided.

The overall recommendation is to run Downfall at 1080p with High settings, as this delivers a locked 60 FPS experience with respectable visual quality. If the user prefers higher resolution, 1440p Low is the next best option, sacrificing shadows and effects for a smoother frame rate. The 4K Low preset is a last resort for users with 4K panels who cannot reduce resolution in the game's display settings. Given that the combination ranks 1644 out of 1741 in this game, the hardware is clearly at the lower end of the performance spectrum for Downfall, and settings should be chosen accordingly.