Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 pairs a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 layout with a 3.60 GHz base clock and a 4.20 GHz boost clock. In synthetic workloads, this configuration produces a single-thread score of 836 in 3DMark and a multi-thread score of 5411 in the max-threads test, while Cinebench R23 yields 2319 points single-core and 16429 points multi-core. The processor’s average benchmark score of 20875 places it at the 79th percentile among all CPUs, with its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-12500, scoring 20897—a negligible delta of -0.1%. This near-parity indicates that the Ryzen 5 5500 provides a balanced baseline for gaming, though the data suggests its multi-threaded headroom is modest relative to its single-thread capabilities.

For a horror title like Downfall, the CPU’s role is primarily to maintain consistent frame pacing and feed the GPU without stalling. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5386 and the PassMark multi-thread score of 19330 indicate that the processor can handle multiple background threads typical of modern game engines, but the single-thread score of 836 and PassMark single-thread of 3058 reveal that its per-core performance is not exceptional. This becomes relevant at higher resolutions where the GPU is stressed; however, at 1080p, the CPU’s ability to process game logic and draw calls will be the limiting factor. The L3 cache of 16 MB and dual-channel DDR4 memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s are adequate but not extraordinary, meaning the CPU will keep pace with mid-range expectations but will not boost performance beyond what the GPU dictates in heavier settings.

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

The Ryzen 5 5500’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for Downfall’s threading model, which does not appear to be heavily multi-threaded based on the measured frame rates. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 343.3, which is well above any display refresh rate, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution and settings combination. The boost clock of 4.20 GHz helps drive these high frame rates, as single-thread performance is often critical for game logic. The PassMark integer math score of 65001 and floating point math score of 36815 suggest that the CPU can handle the arithmetic operations required by the game’s physics and AI without introducing significant frame time spikes.

However, as settings rise to Ultra at 1080p, the average FPS drops to 152.8, which is still high but shows a 55% reduction from Low. This reduction is primarily attributable to the GPU handling more complex shading and lighting, but the CPU’s role becomes more pronounced in maintaining frame pacing. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 6900 and single-core score of 973 indicate that the processor’s multi-threaded headroom is not a limiting factor at these frame rates. The data shows that the Ryzen 5 5500 can deliver frame rates above 300 FPS at 1080p Low, which means that for most gaming scenarios, the CPU will not be the primary constraint. The percentile ranking of 79% and the near-identical performance to the Intel Core i5-12500 (deltaPct -0.1%) reinforce that this is a competent mid-range CPU, but its performance ceiling is defined by its 6-core design rather than any extreme clock speed.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 7680 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output pipelines. Its base clock of 2310 MHz and boost clock of 2610 MHz, combined with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 31624 and its 85th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate strong overall performance, with its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, scoring 45152 (deltaPct -0.6%). This places the RTX 4070 Ti in a competitive position, though its performance relative to mobile variants suggests that its desktop-specific advantages are modest in synthetic tests.

In Downfall, the GPU’s memory capacity and bandwidth become critical at higher resolutions. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 68.9, which is a significant reduction from the 110.8 FPS at High settings. This 38% performance penalty from High to Ultra suggests that the Ultra preset imposes substantial memory and shading demands, likely exceeding the 12 GB VRAM capacity in certain scenes or requiring higher memory bandwidth. The 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1440p gaming, as evidenced by the 260.2 FPS at Low settings, but the 4K Ultra result indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution and settings combination. The FP32 throughput of 40.09 TFLOPS and texture rate of 626.4 GTexel/s provide ample compute for the game’s horror visuals, but the data shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with resolution and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this CPU and GPU combination in Downfall?

A: The highest average FPS is 343.3, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 has an average score of 20897, which is only 0.1% higher than the Ryzen 5 5500’s average score of 20875, indicating essentially identical performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1440p High and 4K High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 178.3, while at 3840x2160 with High settings, it drops to 110.8, representing a 38% reduction in frame rate.

Q: Does the RTX 4070 Ti maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra in Downfall?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 68.9, which is above the typical 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ranks at the 85th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 44900.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance compare to its multi-thread performance in 3DMark?

A: The single-thread score is 836, while the max-threads score is 5411, showing that multi-threaded performance is approximately 6.5 times higher than single-threaded performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Downfall with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti spans three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 343.3 at Low settings to 152.8 at Ultra settings, with Medium at 301.7 and High at 248.4. This represents a 55% drop from Low to Ultra, which is substantial but still leaves the frame rate well above 144 Hz monitors. At 2560x1440, the same settings produce 260.2 FPS at Low, 212.8 at Medium, 178.3 at High, and 109.0 at Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 58%, slightly larger than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases.

At 3840x2160, the performance envelope tightens considerably. Low settings yield 165.4 FPS, Medium drops to 131.3, High falls to 110.8, and Ultra bottoms out at 68.9 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration below 100 FPS, and it represents a 58% reduction from 4K Low. Across all resolutions, the scaling from Low to Ultra is consistent, with the 4K Ultra configuration showing the most significant performance penalty. The data shows that the RTX 4070 Ti can handle 4K High at over 110 FPS, but Ultra settings at 4K push the GPU to its limits, producing frame rates that are still playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K provides clear evidence of where the bottleneck lies in this combination. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 343.3 at 1080p to 260.2 at 1440p (a 24% reduction) and then to 165.4 at 4K (a 36% further reduction from 1440p). This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames but the GPU’s rendering workload increases with pixel count. At Ultra settings, the drop from 1080p (152.8 FPS) to 1440p (109.0 FPS) is 29%, and from 1440p to 4K (68.9 FPS) is 37%. The similar percentage drops across settings suggest that the GPU is the primary limiting component at all resolutions, as the CPU’s performance is consistent.

However, the data also reveals that the CPU is not entirely irrelevant. At 1080p Low, the 343.3 FPS result is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame output capability, given its single-thread score of 836 in 3DMark. As resolution increases, the GPU takes over as the limiting factor, which is why the frame rate drops are more pronounced at higher settings. The fact that 4K Low (165.4 FPS) is higher than 1080p Ultra (152.8 FPS) indicates that settings have a more significant impact on performance than resolution alone, but both factors contribute to the overall scaling. The data suggests that for this game, the RTX 4070 Ti is the dominant bottleneck at 4K, while the Ryzen 5 5500 can keep up at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, every preset delivers frame rates above 150 FPS, so the recommendation is to use Ultra settings for the best visual quality, as the 152.8 FPS average is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many monitors. For players with 240 Hz displays, High settings at 248.4 FPS or Medium at 301.7 FPS provide a better balance of visual fidelity and frame rate. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings produce 109.0 FPS, which is suitable for 100 Hz or 120 Hz displays, while High settings at 178.3 FPS are ideal for 165 Hz monitors. The data indicates that High settings at 1440p offer the best combination of visual quality and performance, with a 63% improvement over Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the choice becomes more constrained. Ultra settings at 68.9 FPS are playable but leave little margin for frame rate drops in intense scenes. Medium settings at 131.3 FPS provide a 90% improvement over Ultra and are recommended for 4K gaming, as the visual difference between Medium and High is often less noticeable in a horror game where atmospheric lighting and shadows are key. High settings at 110.8 FPS are also viable for 4K displays with 120 Hz refresh rates, but the jump from High to Ultra costs 38% of the frame rate for marginal visual gains. The data shows that Medium settings at 4K deliver the best overall experience, balancing the GPU’s workload with a smooth frame rate, while Ultra is reserved for players who prioritize image quality over performance.