Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination delivers a remarkably strong experience in Downfall, placing in the top 16.4% of all tested configurations (rank 286 out of 1,741). The data shows this pairing is capable of high refresh rates even at 4K, though the Ultra preset demands careful consideration. The benchmark results indicate a system that is well-balanced at 1440p, but becomes increasingly GPU-bound as resolution rises.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 9600X provides the computational foundation with 6 cores and 12 threads, running at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and boosting up to 5.40 GHz. This Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) on a 4 nm process gives the chip a strong single-threaded profile, which is crucial for a horror title like Downfall where frame pacing and consistency matter for atmosphere.

The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 3,603 points in single-core and 25,525 in multi-core. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4,570 and multi-thread score of 30,027 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 9600X is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-13490F (0.3% ahead) and AMD Ryzen 5 230 (0.3% ahead), while sitting 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS and 0.5% behind the Intel Core i5-14500T.

In Downfall, this CPU headroom means that at 1080p and 1440p, the processor can keep feeding frames to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (349 FPS) versus 1440p Low (247.7 FPS) shows a scaling pattern largely dictated by the GPU, but the CPU's 12 threads and high boost clock ensure that even the most demanding physics or AI-driven scenes in the horror genre don't cause stutter. The 65W TDP and DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth further solidify this as a modern platform that won't hold back the graphics card.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary driver of Downfall's visual output. It packs 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU runs at a base clock of 1980 MHz with a boost of 2475 MHz, and its memory operates at an effective 21 Gbps. With 7,168 shading units and 56 RT cores, it is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture at 5 nm.

The GPU's benchmark positioning is solid, sitting in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. Its PassMark G3D score of 29,995 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,627 show strong raw performance. The nearest rivals are tightly grouped: the RTX 4070 SUPER is 0.2% behind the NVIDIA RTX A6000 and 0.3% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE, while leading the AMD Radeon Pro 580X by 1.4% and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 by 1.6%.

In Downfall, the 12 GB VRAM capacity proves sufficient across all tested settings. The data shows the GPU handling 4K Ultra at 62.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a smooth horror experience. The 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is the key enabler for high-resolution textures; at 4K Medium the card delivers 126.7 FPS, indicating that the memory subsystem is not a limiting factor. The 220W TDP and 1x 16-pin power connector suggest a power delivery system that is robust enough for sustained loads without throttling.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to Medium as the optimal preset for a balance of visual fidelity and performance across resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 282.4 FPS, which is 82% of the Low preset's 349 FPS but with significantly better visuals. At 1440p, Medium hits 205 FPS, still well above high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 4K, Medium maintains 126.7 FPS, which is more than double the Ultra preset's 62.5 FPS.

The High preset offers a compelling alternative for 1440p users. At 2560x1440, High achieves 169.1 FPS, which is a 17.5% drop from Medium but provides richer detail. However, at 4K, High drops to 105 FPS, which is still smooth but shows a 39% reduction from Medium. The Ultra preset is only recommended for 1080p, where it hits 148.9 FPS. At 1440p Ultra (105.6 FPS) and 4K Ultra (62.5 FPS), the frame rates fall below the thresholds that most competitive or immersion-focused players would prefer for a horror game.

The data indicates that the jump from Medium to High costs roughly 17-21% performance at all resolutions, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 35-40%. For players prioritizing a consistently high frame rate, Medium is the clear choice. For those with 1440p high-refresh displays who want extra detail, High is viable. Ultra should be reserved for 1080p or for players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate stability.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific configuration—AMD Ryzen 5 9600X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER—ranks 286th out of 1,741 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the 83.6th percentile of all systems, meaning it outperforms roughly 84% of the tested combinations. This is an excellent result for a mainstream 6-core CPU paired with a mid-to-high-end GPU.

The ranking reflects the balanced nature of this pairing. The CPU's 85th percentile standing and the GPU's 84th percentile standing are closely matched, which typically translates to fewer bottlenecks. In Downfall's measured data, this balance is evident: the system can push 4K High at 105 FPS, which is a strong result for a game that likely has heavy atmospheric effects and dynamic lighting. The combo outperforms many systems with higher-end CPUs but weaker GPUs, and also surpasses configurations with stronger GPUs but less capable processors.

The deltaPct values from the nearest rivals suggest this combo is competitive with systems using the RTX A6000 or RX 7650 GRE, which are typically paired with more powerful CPUs. This indicates that the Ryzen 5 9600X is not leaving performance on the table in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear GPU-bound profile once the resolution increases. At Low settings, the system goes from 349 FPS at 1080p to 247.7 FPS at 1440p (a 29% drop), and then to 154.1 FPS at 4K (a 56% drop from 1080p). This pattern is consistent with the GPU becoming the primary limiter as pixel count grows.

At Medium settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 27.4% (282.4 to 205 FPS), and from 1080p to 4K is 55.1% (282.4 to 126.7 FPS). The High preset shows similar scaling: a 26.7% drop from 1080p to 1440p (230.6 to 169.1 FPS) and a 54.5% drop from 1080p to 4K (230.6 to 105 FPS).

The Ultra preset exhibits the most dramatic scaling. From 1080p to 1440p, FPS drops 29.1% (148.9 to 105.6 FPS), and from 1080p to 4K, it drops 58.0% (148.9 to 62.5 FPS). This steeper decline at Ultra suggests that the 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are being stressed by the highest settings, likely due to more demanding texture and shader workloads. Overall, the resolution scaling data indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the limiting component at 4K, while the CPU maintains sufficient headroom to avoid becoming a constraint even at 1080p.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K smoothly?*

A: Yes, but not on the Ultra preset. The measured data shows 105 FPS at 4K High, 126.7 FPS at 4K Medium, and 154.1 FPS at 4K Low. The Ultra preset drops to 62.5 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

Q: What is the ideal resolution for this combo?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution provides the best balance. At Medium settings, the system achieves 205 FPS, and at High it delivers 169.1 FPS. Both are well above high-refresh-rate monitor capabilities, and the visual quality is significantly better than 1080p.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 9600X compare to its direct rivals?

A: The CPU is statistically tied with the Intel Core i5-13490F and AMD Ryzen 5 230 (both 0.3% ahead), and sits just behind the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (0.4%) and Intel Core i5-14500T (0.5%) in average benchmark scores.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM enough for this game?

A: Yes, the measured results show no VRAM-related performance collapse. The GPU maintains playable frame rates at 4K across all settings, with the Ultra preset being the only one that dips below 100 FPS, which is more likely due to raw compute load than memory capacity.

Q: How much performance is lost moving from High to Ultra settings?

A: The data shows a substantial drop. At 1080p, High produces 230.6 FPS while Ultra produces 148.9 FPS, a 35.4% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is 37.5% (169.1 to 105.6 FPS), and at 4K, it is 40.5% (105 to 62.5 FPS).

Q: What is the biggest bottleneck for this system at 4K?

A: The GPU. The resolution scaling data shows that FPS drops by roughly 55% from 1080p to 4K across Low, Medium, and High settings, which is consistent with GPU-bound performance. The CPU does not exhibit signs of limiting, as the 1080p scores are exceptionally high.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (Full HD):

• Low: 349.0 FPS
• Medium: 282.4 FPS
• High: 230.6 FPS
• Ultra: 148.9 FPS

2560x1440 (Quad HD):

• Low: 247.7 FPS
• Medium: 205.0 FPS
• High: 169.1 FPS
• Ultra: 105.6 FPS

3840x2160 (4K Ultra HD):

• Low: 154.1 FPS
• Medium: 126.7 FPS
• High: 105.0 FPS
• Ultra: 62.5 FPS

The full data set shows a consistent hierarchy: Low is always the fastest, followed by Medium, High, and then Ultra. The gaps between presets are relatively uniform, with Ultra being the most punishing. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset exceeds 144 FPS, making it viable for high-refresh monitors. At 1440p, Medium and High are excellent, while Ultra remains above 100 FPS. At 4K, only Low and Medium exceed 120 FPS, with High being just above 100 FPS and Ultra falling to 62.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a genre that benefits from smooth motion.