Downfall

Downfall, the 2016 horror title, behaves predictably with the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions but reveals impressive CPU headroom at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to help you decide where to set your expectations and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, indicating that the RTX 4070 SUPER becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel count rises. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 232.1 at 1920x1080 to 169.1 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 63 frames. Scaling further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 102.2, which is a 44% decrease from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is typical for a GPU-heavy workload; the 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB of VRAM and 192-bit memory bus are sufficient, but the sheer pixel throughput at 4K taxes the 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens dramatically as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (345.8 FPS) and Ultra (146.3 FPS) is 199.5 frames. At 4K, that same difference shrinks to 89.5 frames (153.9 vs 64.4). This is a clear sign that at lower resolutions, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU far more frames than the GPU can render at Ultra, while at 4K, both the CPU and GPU are working closer to their limits, but the GPU’s rendering cost per frame dominates the performance curve. The 4K Ultra result of 64.4 FPS is the only sub-60 result in the entire dataset, making 4K Ultra the first setting where the system struggles to maintain high refresh rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the star of this show, and its specifications back up the measured results. With a boost clock of 2475 MHz and a base clock of 1980 MHz, the card is running hot out of the box, but the 220 W TDP is well within the suggested 550 W PSU rating. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus delivers 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than adequate for Downfall’s textures at 1440p and even 4K, as evidenced by the playable frame rates at 4K High.

The card’s benchmark scores place it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 42576. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A6000, scores 42653, a delta of -0.2%, meaning the 4070 SUPER is effectively tied with a workstation card in raw compute. The data shows that the 4070 SUPER is a balanced performer; it is not a niche card but a well-rounded solution that provides strong 1440p performance and acceptable 4K performance in this horror title. The 56 RT cores and 224 Tensor cores are present, but Downfall, being a 2016 game, likely does not utilize them heavily, so the raw FP32 and texture fill rates (554.4 GTexel/s) are the key drivers of the FPS numbers.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, at High settings the average FPS is 102.2, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. Even at Medium, you get 123.4 FPS. However, Ultra settings drop to 64.4 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: No. At 1080p Ultra, the system hits 146.3 FPS, while at 1080p Low it reaches 345.8 FPS. The massive difference between settings suggests the GPU is rendering frames quickly, but the CPU is not the bottleneck either, as the Ryzen 5 7600X can push well beyond 300 FPS in this title.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 7600X compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 7600X has an average benchmark score of 26272, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, scores 26214, a delta of 0.2%, meaning the 7600X is slightly faster. The gap is negligible, so performance is essentially identical.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Downfall for a competitive edge?

A: If you have a high-refresh-rate monitor, 1080p is the clear winner. At Medium settings, you get 283.6 FPS, and even at High, 232.1 FPS. This provides a significant advantage in a horror game where reaction time matters, and the frame rates are high enough to eliminate any perceived input lag.

Q: Does the 12 GB VRAM cause any issues at 4K?

A: The data does not indicate any VRAM-related stuttering or performance drops. The 4K High result of 102.2 FPS and 4K Medium of 123.4 FPS show consistent performance, suggesting the 12 GB buffer is sufficient for Downfall’s visual assets at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in this game?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor when settings are set to Low, as the 345.8 FPS result is high but not unlimited. However, at 1440p and 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide ample single-thread performance for this older title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080

• Low: 345.8 FPS
• Medium: 283.6 FPS
• High: 232.1 FPS
• Ultra: 146.3 FPS

At 1080p, the system is a monster. The jump from Low to Ultra is a 199.5 FPS drop, but even the lowest result of 146.3 FPS is exceptionally smooth. This resolution is where the Ryzen 5 7600X’s strong single-core performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3406) shines, allowing the GPU to stretch its legs.

2560x1440

• Low: 247.2 FPS
• Medium: 203 FPS
• High: 169.1 FPS
• Ultra: 101.8 FPS

1440p is the sweet spot for this combo. The drop from Low to Ultra is 145.4 FPS, and all settings remain above 100 FPS. The 169.1 FPS at High is excellent for a 1440p monitor, and Ultra’s 101.8 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS standard. This resolution balances visual fidelity with high refresh rates.

3840x2160

• Low: 153.9 FPS
• Medium: 123.4 FPS
• High: 102.2 FPS
• Ultra: 64.4 FPS

4K is playable, but the margin for error shrinks. Low settings give you 153.9 FPS, which is a great result, but Ultra drops to 64.4 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra here is 89.5 FPS, showing that the GPU is heavily taxed by the higher pixel count. High settings at 102.2 FPS is the recommended target for 4K, as it provides 60+ FPS with better visuals than Medium.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, based on the Zen 4 architecture, is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. For a game like Downfall, which is not known for heavy multi-threading, the single-thread performance is king. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3406 and 3DMark single-thread score of 1060 indicate it can handle the game logic and draw calls without breaking a sweat.

The benchmark data supports this. At 1080p Low, the system hits 345.8 FPS, which is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame output for this game. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth ensure that data is fed to the GPU quickly. The 7600X’s average benchmark score of 26272 puts it in the 83rd percentile, and it is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (delta of 0.2%). This means that even with a more powerful GPU, the 7600X would not be a significant bottleneck at 1080p in this title. However, at 4K, the CPU’s role diminishes, and the GPU takes over as the sole limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, prioritize frame rate over visual flourishes. Downfall is a horror game, and smooth motion is crucial for immersion and reaction time.

• 1080p Users: If you have a 144Hz or higher monitor, use High settings. The 232.1 FPS result is perfect for high refresh rates. If you want maximum eye candy, Ultra at 146.3 FPS is still excellent. Avoid Low unless you are chasing every last frame, as the visual hit is not worth the extra 113.7 FPS over High.

• 1440p Users: This is the optimal resolution for this setup. Choose High for a great balance of visuals and speed (169.1 FPS). Ultra is also viable at 101.8 FPS, but the 67.3 FPS drop from High suggests that the graphical improvements are not worth the performance cost. Medium at 203 FPS is a good choice for competitive play, but High is the recommended default.

• 4K Users: High settings is the clear winner here. At 102.2 FPS, it provides a smooth experience that is 37.8 FPS faster than Ultra (64.4 FPS). Medium is a solid fallback if you want extra headroom, but the visual difference between Medium and High is more substantial than the 21.2 FPS difference. Avoid Ultra unless you are playing on a slow-paced, story-driven section and can tolerate the lower frame rate.

The data indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is a strong 1440p card that can handle 4K with a modest settings adjustment. The Ryzen 5 7600X provides ample CPU support, making this a balanced pairing for Downfall across all resolutions.