Downfall

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Cache allocation includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB shared L3 cache.

In the context of Downfall, a horror title released in 2016, the CPU's role is primarily to maintain a consistent frame pacing floor, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the limiting factor. Benchmark results indicate that at 1080p Low settings, the combination achieves 312 FPS average, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. This suggests that the Ryzen 5 5600F's 6-core/12-thread configuration is more than sufficient to feed the Radeon RX 9070 XT at this resolution, as the frame rate climbs well beyond typical display refresh rates.

The PassMark multithread score for this CPU is 19236, with a single-thread score of 2872. These figures place the processor at the 85th percentile among all CPUs tested. When compared to its nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmark suite, the Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945 on average, which is essentially identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0% delta). The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37018, a delta of -0.2%, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093 (-0.4%) and the Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112 (-0.5%). These minuscule deltas indicate that the 5600F sits in a tightly clustered performance band, where no single rival holds a meaningful advantage in general compute workloads.

For Downfall specifically, the CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache is relevant because horror games often load many small assets and scripts dynamically. The cache size helps reduce memory latency, which can smooth out frame time spikes during sudden scene changes or enemy spawns. The 4.00 GHz boost clock ensures that single-threaded game logic, which often dominates in older titles like Downfall, receives adequate processing power. The measured FPS at 1080p Ultra drops to 131 FPS, which is still high but notably lower than the Low preset's 312 FPS, indicating a shift in bottleneck behavior as settings increase.

FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600F compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600F has an average benchmark score of 36945, placing it at the 85th percentile. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, scores 36938 with a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is 0.2% higher, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 0.4% higher, and the Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.5% higher. These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, showing that the 5600F is statistically tied with these processors.

Q: What is the highest measured FPS for this combo in Downfall?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 312, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the dataset that exceeds 300 FPS. The next highest is 255 FPS at 1080p Medium, followed by 223 FPS at 1440p Low.

Q: Does the combo maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 58. This is technically playable but sits at the edge of what most users would consider smooth for a horror game, where responsiveness matters. The minimum FPS for this configuration was not recorded in the dataset, so there is no data on worst-case drops.

Q: How does resolution scaling affect the frame rate from 1080p to 4K?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 312 at 1080p to 223 at 1440p (a 28.5% decrease) and then to 139 at 4K (a 55.4% decrease from 1080p). At Ultra settings, the drop is from 131 at 1080p to 93 at 1440p (a 29.0% decrease) and then to 58 at 4K (a 55.7% decrease from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings suggests a uniform scaling pattern.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Downfall?

A: The combo ranks 667th out of 2928 tested combinations, placing it in the top 22.8% of all combos. This rank reflects the overall performance across all resolutions and settings tested.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 312 FPS, which is the highest in the dataset. Given that the CPU's single-thread score is 2872 and the game is from 2016, the data suggests the CPU is capable of driving frame rates well beyond what the GPU can render at higher settings. The fact that 1080p Low is the only configuration above 300 FPS indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor as soon as settings or resolution increase.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling, with the frame rate decreasing as pixel count increases. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 312 at 1920x1080 to 223 at 2560x1440, a drop of 89 FPS. Moving further to 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 139, another 84 FPS decrease. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 173 FPS, representing a 55.4% reduction.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is similar in percentage terms. The average FPS goes from 131 at 1080p to 93 at 1440p, a 38 FPS drop, and then to 58 at 4K, a 35 FPS drop. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 73 FPS, which is a 55.7% decrease. This near-identical percentage reduction between Low and Ultra settings indicates that the scaling behavior is consistent regardless of the preset, suggesting a uniform GPU-bound workload as resolution increases.

The Medium preset provides the most complete data, with both minimum and maximum FPS recorded. At 1080p Medium, the average is 255 FPS with a minimum of 217 and a maximum of 294. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 182 FPS with a minimum of 155 and a maximum of 210. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 and a maximum of 131. The spread between minimum and maximum FPS narrows as resolution increases: 77 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K. This narrowing spread indicates that at higher resolutions, the frame delivery becomes more consistent, likely because the GPU is more uniformly saturated.

The resolution scaling data points to the GPU as the primary limiting factor when resolution increases. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough (209-312 FPS depending on settings) that the CPU's 6-core/12-thread configuration is likely not the bottleneck. As resolution rises to 1440p and 4K, the FPS drops in a manner consistent with the increasing pixel count, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The horror genre's typically dark scenes and limited draw distances in Downfall do not appear to create unusual CPU demands, as evidenced by the smooth scaling pattern.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Starting with 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 312 FPS, the highest in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 255 FPS with a minimum of 217 and a maximum of 294. High settings average 209 FPS, while Ultra drops to 131 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 181 FPS reduction, with each step up in settings costing roughly 40-60 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is particularly notable, with a 78 FPS difference, suggesting that Ultra settings introduce a significant rendering load.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 223 FPS. Medium averages 182 FPS with a minimum of 155 and a maximum of 210. High settings average 150 FPS, and Ultra drops to 93 FPS. The reduction from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 130 FPS. Compared to 1080p, each settings tier at 1440p is lower by a consistent margin: Low is 89 FPS lower, Medium is 73 FPS lower, High is 59 FPS lower, and Ultra is 38 FPS lower. The diminishing absolute differences suggest that at higher resolutions, the settings have less relative impact because the GPU is already under heavier load.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 139 FPS. Medium averages 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 and a maximum of 131. High settings average 93 FPS, and Ultra drops to 58 FPS. The reduction from Low to Ultra at 4K is 81 FPS. The data shows that even at 4K Low, the combo maintains over 139 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is the only configuration in the dataset that falls below 60 FPS, indicating that this is the most demanding scenario tested.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently provides the most complete data with minimum and maximum values. At 1080p Medium, the spread is 77 FPS (217-294). At 1440p Medium, the spread narrows to 55 FPS (155-210). At 4K Medium, the spread narrows further to 35 FPS (96-131). This trend suggests that as the GPU becomes more saturated at higher resolutions, the frame delivery becomes more stable, with fewer extreme spikes in either direction.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT ranks 667th out of 2928 tested combinations in Downfall. This places the combo in the top 22.8% of all tested systems. The rank reflects the combined performance across all resolutions and settings, giving a holistic view of how this pairing compares to others in the database.

Given that the GPU has a PassMark G3D score of 26795 and the CPU has a PassMark multithread score of 19236, the combo's rank of 667 suggests that while both components are individually capable, the pairing does not reach the top tier of performance in this specific game. The horror genre often has less demanding graphics than AAA action titles, so the rank likely reflects that many higher-ranked combos use more powerful CPUs or GPUs that excel in other workloads.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 55th among all GPUs, combined with its average benchmark score of 13543, puts it in the middle of the pack. The nearest rivals for the GPU include the AMD Radeon HD 7770M with a score of 13536 (0.1% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 at 13515 (0.2% delta), the NVIDIA P106-090 at 13470 (0.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro 555 at 13407 (1% delta). These deltas are small, but they show that the RX 9070 XT's average benchmark score is slightly higher than these older or lower-tier GPUs.

The combo's rank of 667 out of 2928 indicates that there are 2261 other combos that rank lower, meaning the 5600F + RX 9070 XT outperforms the majority of tested systems in Downfall. However, it also means there are 666 combos that rank higher, which likely include more balanced pairings or systems with higher-end CPUs that can better keep up with the GPU at 1080p. The data suggests that this combo is solidly mid-to-upper range for this game, with the GPU providing the bulk of the performance while the CPU ensures the frame rate does not collapse at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 255 FPS average with a minimum of 217 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenes. The minimum FPS of 217 is well above the 60 FPS threshold for playability, and the 77 FPS spread between minimum and maximum indicates some variability but nothing that would cause noticeable stuttering.

At 1440p Medium, the average is 182 FPS with a minimum of 155 FPS. This configuration still provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, and the narrower spread of 55 FPS suggests more consistent frame delivery than at 1080p. For users with 1440p displays running at 144 Hz or 165 Hz, this preset would deliver frame rates that fully utilize the display's refresh rate in most scenarios.

At 4K Medium, the average drops to 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS. The minimum of 96 FPS is still well above 60 FPS, making this a viable option for 4K gaming on displays with up to 120 Hz refresh rate. The spread of 35 FPS is the tightest across all resolutions, indicating that the frame delivery at 4K Medium is the most consistent in the dataset.

The High preset is a reasonable alternative for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate. At 1080p High, the average is 209 FPS, which is still very high. At 1440p High, the average is 150 FPS, and at 4K High, it drops to 93 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended for 4K, as the average of 58 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold, which could result in perceived stuttering in a horror game where smoothness is critical for immersion.

The Low preset, while offering the highest frame rates (312 FPS at 1080p, 223 FPS at 1440p, 139 FPS at 4K), sacrifices too much visual quality for a marginal benefit. The data shows that Medium provides a 43 FPS reduction from Low at 1080p (312 to 255), but the visual improvement is likely substantial given the setting tier difference. For most users, Medium at the native resolution of their display will provide the best experience, with High being a viable upgrade if the display refresh rate allows for it.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 48 chip, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It features 4096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, with 64 ray tracing cores. The GPU has a base clock of 1660 MHz, a boost clock of 2970 MHz, and a game clock of 2400 MHz. Memory is configured as 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 2518 MHz, which translates to 20.1 Gbps effective.

In Downfall, the GPU's role is dominant, as evidenced by the resolution scaling data. The GPU has a PassMark G3D score of 26795 and a PassMark GPU compute score of 15864. The GPU's percentile ranking of 55th among all GPUs indicates that it sits slightly above the median in the database. The average benchmark score of 13543 places it just above the AMD Radeon HD 7770M (13536, 0.1% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (13515, 0.2% delta), the NVIDIA P106-090 (13470, 0.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro 555 (13407, 1% delta).

The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Downfall, a game from 2016 that was released well before the era of 8 GB minimum VRAM requirements. The 644.6 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and asset loading do not become bottlenecks, even at 4K resolution. The GPU's boost clock of 2970 MHz is high, and the measured FPS data suggests that it scales well with resolution, maintaining over 58 FPS even at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's FP32 performance of 48.66 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 380.2 GPixel/s provide ample compute headroom for the game's rendering demands. The texture rate of 760.3 GTexel/s ensures that texture-heavy scenes, common in horror games with detailed environments, are processed without frame rate drops. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which covers all rendering APIs that Downfall might use, given its 2016 release date.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance differences between settings. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 312 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 131 FPS, a 58% reduction. This indicates that the GPU's rendering load increases significantly with settings, while the CPU maintains a consistent frame delivery. At 4K, the GPU becomes even more central, with the Low preset achieving 139 FPS and the Ultra preset dropping to 58 FPS. The GPU's 16 GB VRAM and 256-bit memory bus are well-suited for 4K rendering, as the 4K Medium preset maintains a minimum of 96 FPS, which is smooth for most users.