Downfall

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for Downfall show a clear and predictable progression as resolution increases, but the rate of decline reveals important information about where the bottleneck sits in this system. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER delivers 147 FPS on average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 105 FPS, a reduction of 42 frames. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls further to 65 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p represents a 28.6% performance loss, while the jump from 1440p to 4K costs another 38.1% of the frame rate.

This pattern of diminishing returns per added pixel is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The GTX 1660 SUPER, with its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width, is being pushed progressively harder as the pixel count increases. The fact that frame rates do not collapse entirely at 4K indicates that the CPU is keeping pace, but the GPU is clearly the limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the system has enough headroom that the CPU's contribution is more visible; at 4K, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the dominant factors.

Looking at the Medium settings row provides additional insight. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 and maximum of 138. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average falls to 86 FPS with a range of 73 to 99. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average is 54 FPS with a minimum of 45 and maximum of 62. The minimum-to-maximum spread narrows as resolution increases, going from 36 frames at 1080p to 26 frames at 1440p to 17 frames at 4K. This tightening of the frame time distribution suggests that at higher resolutions, the workload becomes more consistent, with the GPU operating at a steadier saturation point rather than experiencing the bursty loads that occur at lower resolutions.

The High preset tells a similar story. At 1080p High, the system averages 99 FPS. At 1440p High, it averages 71 FPS. At 4K High, it averages 44 FPS. The step from 1080p to 1440p costs 28 frames, while the step from 1440p to 4K costs 27 frames. This nearly linear drop in absolute terms, but nonlinear in percentage terms, reinforces that the GPU is the primary constraint. The Ultra preset, meanwhile, shows the steepest decline: 62 FPS at 1080p, 44 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that dips below 30 FPS, which is a critical threshold for playability in a horror title where smooth motion is essential for atmosphere.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture using the TU116 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 1530 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz. The memory runs at 1750 MHz, which translates to 14 Gbps effective, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth across a 192-bit bus. The 6 GB GDDR6 frame buffer is a defining characteristic of this card; in Downfall, the measured results suggest that this capacity is adequate at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K with higher presets, the combination of memory pressure and compute load begins to show strain.

The GPU's compute resources include 1408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. The pixel rate is 85.68 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 157.1 GTexel/s. Floating point performance is rated at 5.027 TFLOPS for FP32 and 10.05 TFLOPS for FP16 with a 2:1 ratio. These specifications place the GTX 1660 SUPER in a mid-range position relative to the broader GPU market, and the percentileVsAllGpus of 53 confirms that it sits near the median of all tested GPUs.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the GTX 1660 SUPER's average benchmark score of 12986 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, which scores 12940 for a delta of 0.4%. The AMD Radeon RX 580 is similarly close at 12928, also a 0.4% delta. The NVIDIA Tesla M2090 scores 13075, putting it 0.7% ahead, while the AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870, 0.9% behind. This tight cluster indicates that the GTX 1660 SUPER is operating in a well-populated performance tier, and its behavior in Downfall is consistent with that positioning.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU's role becomes more pronounced as settings increase. At Low settings, the difference between 1080p and 4K is 82 FPS (147 to 65). At Ultra settings, the same resolution span shows only a 35 FPS difference (62 to 27). This compression at higher settings indicates that the GPU is hitting its architectural limits, particularly in terms of shading throughput and memory bandwidth. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is not explicitly tested in the measured rows, but the fact that the system can run 4K Ultra at all suggests that the memory is sufficient for this game's demands at the tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system in Downfall?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all presets achieve at least 62 FPS on average. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to 44 FPS, and at 3840x2160, Ultra falls to 27 FPS. The 1080p resolution provides the most consistent playable experience across all settings.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The loss varies by preset. At Low settings, the average drops from 147 FPS to 65 FPS, a reduction of 82 FPS. At Medium, it drops from 120 FPS to 54 FPS, a loss of 66 FPS. At High, it drops from 99 FPS to 44 FPS, a loss of 55 FPS. At Ultra, it drops from 62 FPS to 27 FPS, a loss of 35 FPS.

Q: Is the GTX 1660 SUPER the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data indicates yes. The frame rate scaling from 1440p to 4K shows percentage losses of 38.1% at Low, 37.2% at Medium, 38.0% at High, and 38.6% at Ultra. These consistent reductions across all presets point to the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth as the primary constraints, rather than any CPU limitation.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The only preset with a recorded minimum FPS is Medium. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 102 FPS. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 73 FPS. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 45 FPS. Other presets do not have minimum FPS values in the measured data.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 12986. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile is 0.4% ahead at 12940, the AMD Radeon RX 580 is 0.4% ahead at 12928, the NVIDIA Tesla M2090 is 0.7% ahead at 13075, and the AMD Radeon 740M is 0.9% behind at 12870. The differences are minimal, placing all five in the same performance tier.

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

A: It depends on the preset. At 4K Low, the average is 65 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 54 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS. At 4K High, the average is 44 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 27 FPS, which is below the typical 30 FPS playability threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 2505 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall. This places the system in the 85.5th percentile of all combinations, meaning that roughly 14.5% of tested setups perform worse. The ranking reflects a pairing that is heavily weighted by the GPU's mid-range positioning; the CPU is capable of much higher performance, but the GTX 1660 SUPER constrains the overall result.

The CPU's individual benchmark scores show a strong processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44573 and a percentileVsAllCpus of 89, meaning it outperforms 89% of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 44466 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i9-13950HX scores 44342 (0.5% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 44309 (0.6% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 44889 (0.7% behind). The CPU is clearly not the limiting factor in this pairing.

The GPU, by contrast, has a percentileVsAllGpus of 53 and an average benchmark score of 12986. Its nearest rivals are within 0.9% in either direction, confirming that it sits in a dense performance band. The gap between the CPU's 89th percentile and the GPU's 53rd percentile explains why the combo ranks where it does: the system is effectively GPU-limited in Downfall, and the ranking reflects the GPU's position rather than the CPU's potential.

Within the context of the 2928 combos, a rank of 2505 means that the system is closer to the bottom than the top, but this is not a negative judgment on the CPU. Rather, it indicates that most higher-ranked combos likely pair stronger GPUs with comparable or better CPUs. For a horror game like Downfall, where atmospheric tension relies on consistent frame delivery, the ranking suggests that this combo is serviceable but not exceptional, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest results across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 147 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 and a maximum of 138. High settings produce an average of 99 FPS. Ultra settings produce an average of 62 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 85 FPS, indicating that the settings menu has a substantial impact on performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the averages shift downward across the board. Low settings produce 105 FPS. Medium settings produce 86 FPS, with a minimum of 73 and a maximum of 99. High settings produce 71 FPS. Ultra settings produce 44 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 61 FPS, narrowing from the 1080p spread. The Medium preset's minimum of 73 FPS remains comfortably above playability thresholds, while the Ultra preset's 44 FPS average is still viable for most players.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show strain. Low settings produce 65 FPS. Medium settings produce 54 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 62. High settings produce 44 FPS. Ultra settings produce 27 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 38 FPS, the narrowest of the three resolutions. The Ultra preset's 27 FPS average is the only measured value below 30 FPS, making it the sole configuration that compromises smoothness in a meaningful way.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data at all three resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 102 to 138 FPS, a span of 36 frames. At 1440p, the range is 73 to 99 FPS, a span of 26 frames. At 4K, the range is 45 to 62 FPS, a span of 17 frames. This progressive narrowing of the frame range suggests that as resolution increases, the system becomes more consistently loaded, with fewer transient spikes and dips.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of frame rate and visual quality for this system. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, providing a large cushion above the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average is 86 FPS with a minimum of 73 FPS, still comfortably playable. Even at 3840x2160 Medium, the average is 54 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS, which is acceptable for a slower-paced horror title.

The High preset is a viable alternative for users who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate. At 1080p High, the average is 99 FPS, which is still smooth. At 1440p High, the average drops to 71 FPS, which is fine for most displays. At 4K High, the average is 44 FPS, which may be acceptable for players who value resolution over fluidity, though the margin for error is thinner.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for 4K use, as the 27 FPS average falls below the standard playability threshold. At 1440p Ultra, the 44 FPS average is workable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. At 1080p Ultra, the 62 FPS average is the minimum recommended target, and it holds up adequately.

The Low preset is best reserved for competitive play or for users who prioritize maximum frame rates. At 1080p Low, the 147 FPS average is well above any display refresh rate commonly in use. At 1440p Low, the 105 FPS average is still very high. At 4K Low, the 65 FPS average is the best 4K result available in the measured data.

For most players, the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p represents the optimal configuration. It provides a minimum FPS that stays above 70 at both resolutions, ensuring consistent frame delivery during the tense, dark sequences that define the horror genre. The 4K Medium option, with a minimum of 45 FPS, is a reasonable compromise for users with 4K displays who want better visual detail than Low provides.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 7000 series, built on the Raphael codename using Zen 4 architecture. It is manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 71 mm² and 11,270 million transistors. The base clock is 4.00 GHz and the boost clock is 4.50 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts, which is notably modest for a desktop CPU with this level of performance.

The cache hierarchy is substantial: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 pool is a defining feature of the 3D V-Cache line, and it benefits workloads that exhibit high cache locality. The memory support includes DDR5 with dual-channel access, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, and the CPU connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes. The integrated Radeon Graphics provide a fallback display output, though in this configuration, the dedicated GTX 1660 SUPER handles all rendering.

The CPU's benchmark scores reflect its strengths. The passmark single-thread score is 3494, and the passmark multithread score is 25047. Integer math scores 70774, floating-point math scores 43594, and extended instructions score 20455. Data compression scores 271649, data encryption scores 15797, and random string sorting scores 32999. The physics score is 2779, and find prime numbers scores 221. The average benchmark score is 44573, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs.

In Downfall, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics calculations, and game logic updates. The measured frame rates at 1080p, particularly the 147 FPS result at Low settings, suggest that the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck. The consistent scaling of FPS across resolutions, with similar percentage drops regardless of settings, further indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor; if it were, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at higher resolutions rather than decline linearly.

The nearest rival comparisons show that the 7500X3D is in a tightly contested performance tier. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is 0.2% ahead, the Intel Core i9-13950HX is 0.5% ahead, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is 0.6% ahead, and the Intel Core i5-14600 is 0.7% behind. These deltas are within noise, meaning the 7500X3D's performance is essentially equivalent to its closest competitors. In a GPU-limited scenario like Downfall at 4K, the CPU's exact position within this cluster has minimal impact on the final frame rate; the GTX 1660 SUPER determines the outcome.