Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a playable experience in Downfall across most settings, with the data showing a clear shift in the bottleneck as resolution climbs. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough to suggest the CPU is doing heavy lifting, while at 4K Ultra, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, the role of each component, and how this pairing ranks among the 3,716 tested combinations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a predictable but steep decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 199 FPS at 1080p to 142 FPS at 1440p, then further to 88 FPS at 4K. That is a 55.8% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 38.0% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear — the largest absolute drop occurs between 1080p and 1440p, which indicates that the GPU is still capable of feeding the CPU at lower resolutions, but pixel throughput becomes more demanding as pixel count grows.

For Medium settings, the pattern continues: 162 FPS at 1080p, 116 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 46 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 44 FPS, showing a more consistent scaling pattern. High settings show 133 FPS at 1080p, 95 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. Here, the 4K result is notably close to the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that the GPU is nearing its limit at this resolution with High preset. Ultra settings present the steepest curve: 83 FPS at 1080p, 59 FPS at 1440p, and 37 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure is the lowest measured in the entire dataset, and the gap between 1080p and 1440p Ultra (24 FPS) is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K Ultra (22 FPS).

What does this scaling say about the limiting component? At 1080p Low, the 199 FPS average is far beyond what most displays can show, indicating that the CPU has headroom to spare. As resolution rises, the GPU’s pixel and texture processing workload grows, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The fact that 4K Low still achieves 88 FPS suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint even at 4K — the GPU is still managing to output near-90 FPS when graphical load is low. However, at 4K Ultra, the 37 FPS result is a clear sign that the RX 6650 XT’s 8 GB of VRAM and its computational resources are overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings. The scaling from 4K Low to 4K Ultra (88 to 37 FPS, a 58.0% drop) is more severe than the scaling from 1080p Low to 1080p Ultra (199 to 83 FPS, a 58.3% drop), which reinforces that the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor from the 3000 series, built on the Zen 2 architecture with a 7 nm process. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz and boost clock is 4.40 GHz. The CPU has a 32 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration. In synthetic benchmarks, this processor scores 2092 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 8899 and single-core score of 1593. The Passmark multi-thread score is 22458, and single-thread score is 2656. The processor’s percentile versus all CPUs is 84, meaning it outperforms 84% of tested CPUs in aggregate benchmarks.

In Downfall, the CPU’s role is most apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 199 FPS average indicates that the 8 cores and 16 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU without creating a bottleneck. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz provides the single-thread performance needed for game logic and physics, which is often the limiting factor in horror titles that rely on scripted events and complex AI. The 32 MB L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency in scenarios where the game engine loads new areas or spawns entities.

Comparing the 3700X to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, the data shows it is statistically tied with several newer processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has an average score of 34222, which is 0.1% lower than the 3700X’s 34260. The AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220, also 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333, which is 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H scores 34083, which is 0.5% lower. These delta percentages are all within a narrow band, indicating that the 3700X’s performance in Downfall is not meaningfully different from these rivals — the CPU is not the differentiator in this game’s frame rates.

The fact that 1080p Ultra still achieves 83 FPS suggests that the CPU can handle the increased draw calls and object count that come with higher settings. The 16 threads allow the game to distribute work across cores, which is beneficial for a 2016 horror title that may not be optimized for modern multi-core processors but still benefits from having multiple threads available. At 1440p and 4K, the CPU’s influence diminishes, as the GPU becomes the primary constraint. The data shows that the frame rate differences between 1080p and 1440p are larger than those between 1440p and 4K for most settings, which is consistent with the CPU being less of a factor as resolution increases.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is based on the Navi 23 chip with RDNA 2.0 architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 2055 MHz, boost clock is 2635 MHz, and game clock is 2410 MHz. The memory clock runs at 2190 MHz, which translates to 17.5 Gbps effective. The GPU has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, along with 32 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 168.6 GPixel/s and texture rate is 337.3 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 10.79 TFLOPS.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RX 6650 XT scores 17166 in Passmark G3D, 1859 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, and 7532 in Passmark GPU compute. Its percentile versus all GPUs is 65, meaning it outperforms 65% of tested GPUs. The nearest rivals in the database are all older professional cards: the NVIDIA Tesla K40m scores 19885 (0.6% higher), the AMD FirePro D300 scores 19637 (0.7% lower), the AMD FirePro W7000 scores 19905 (0.7% higher), and the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 scores 19602 (0.8% lower). These deltas are small, but the RX 6650 XT is clearly a consumer gaming card with a different performance profile than these workstation parts.

In Downfall, the GPU’s role is most evident at high resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the 37 FPS average is the lowest in the dataset, and it reflects the GPU’s inability to maintain smooth frame rates when both resolution and graphical fidelity are maxed out. The 8 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor, as 4K textures and high-quality effects can exceed this capacity, leading to texture swapping or reduced performance. The 128-bit memory bus, while providing 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth, is narrower than what some higher-end cards offer, which can limit performance in memory-intensive scenes.

At 1440p, the GPU performs more comfortably. Medium settings yield 116 FPS, High yields 95 FPS, and Low yields 142 FPS. These numbers indicate that the RX 6650 XT is well-suited for 1440p gaming at medium to high settings in this title. The 1080p results are even stronger, with Low hitting 199 FPS and High hitting 133 FPS. The boost clock of 2635 MHz helps maintain high frame rates in less demanding scenes, while the 2048 shading units provide enough compute power for the game’s rendering effects.

The data shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with settings. From Low to Ultra at 1080p, the frame rate drops from 199 to 83 FPS, a 58.3% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is from 142 to 59 FPS, a 58.5% reduction. At 4K, the drop is from 88 to 37 FPS, a 58.0% reduction. This consistency suggests that the GPU is the dominant factor in determining frame rates across all resolutions, but the CPU still matters at lower resolutions where the GPU can produce very high frame counts.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 2424 out of 3716 combos for Downfall. This places it in the 34.8th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning roughly two-thirds of other combos perform better in this game. The rank reflects the mid-range nature of both components — the CPU is a solid 8-core part from 2019, and the GPU is a capable 1080p/1440p card from 2022, but neither is top-tier for a demanding title like Downfall.

The combo rank is influenced by the GPU’s performance ceiling. While the CPU scores in the 84th percentile globally, the GPU is in the 65th percentile, and the combination’s rank in this specific game is lower than either component’s individual percentile. This suggests that Downfall is more GPU-bound, and the RX 6650 XT’s limitations at 4K Ultra drag down the overall ranking. If the GPU were paired with a stronger card, the CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads would likely support higher frame rates, but as tested, the combo’s performance is constrained by the GPU.

Comparing to the nearest rival combos, the data shows that this pairing is not far off from systems using newer CPUs. The CPU’s nearest rivals all have average scores within 0.5% of the 3700X, which means that swapping the CPU for a newer model would not change the Downfall results significantly — the GPU would still be the limiting factor. Similarly, the GPU’s nearest rivals are all within 0.8% of the RX 6650 XT’s average score, but those are professional cards not typically used for gaming, so the comparison is less relevant for game performance.

The rank of 2424 out of 3716 indicates that this combo is positioned in the lower half of tested systems, which is consistent with the 4K Ultra result of 37 FPS. For a game like Downfall, which is a horror title that may benefit from higher frame rates for smooth motion and responsive controls, this combo is adequate at 1080p and 1440p but struggles at 4K with max settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings levels, providing a comprehensive view of performance. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 199 FPS, Medium averages 162 FPS with a minimum of 138 and maximum of 187, High averages 133 FPS, and Ultra averages 83 FPS. The Medium setting has the only recorded min/max values at this resolution, showing a 49 FPS range between minimum and maximum.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 142 FPS for Low, 116 FPS for Medium (min 99, max 133), 95 FPS for High, and 59 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting again has min/max values, with a 34 FPS range. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is most pronounced at Low settings (57 FPS difference), while the Ultra setting sees a smaller drop of 24 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 88 FPS for Low, 72 FPS for Medium (min 61, max 83), 59 FPS for High, and 37 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting’s min of 61 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold, while the max of 83 FPS shows that the GPU can occasionally deliver smoother performance. The Ultra setting’s 37 FPS is the only result below 60 FPS at any resolution except for the 1440p Ultra’s 59 FPS, which is just barely under.

Across all resolutions, the Low setting consistently delivers the highest frame rates, with 199 FPS at 1080p being the peak performance for this combo. The High setting at 4K (59 FPS) is notable because it falls just short of 60 FPS, meaning that players aiming for a locked 60 FPS at 4K would need to use Medium settings, which deliver 72 FPS. The Ultra setting is only viable at 1080p, where it achieves 83 FPS, while at 1440p and 4K, it drops to 59 and 37 FPS respectively.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with even Ultra achieving 83 FPS. For a 60 Hz display, Ultra is the best choice because it provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate well above 60. For a 144 Hz display, High settings (133 FPS) or Medium (162 FPS) would be more appropriate, with Low (199 FPS) offering the highest possible frame rate for competitive play or maximum smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the High setting (95 FPS) offers a good balance of visual fidelity and performance, comfortably above 60 FPS. Medium (116 FPS) provides even more headroom for higher refresh rate displays, while Low (142 FPS) is suitable for 144 Hz monitors. Ultra (59 FPS) is just below 60 FPS, so it is not recommended for a locked 60 FPS experience, but it may be acceptable for players who prioritize visuals over frame rate consistency.

At 3840x2160, the Medium setting (72 FPS) is the best option for a 60 Hz display, as it exceeds the 60 FPS threshold while still providing decent visual quality. Low (88 FPS) offers even more headroom and is the best choice for players who want to ensure smooth performance at 4K. High (59 FPS) is marginally below 60 FPS, which could result in noticeable stuttering on a 60 Hz display, so it is not recommended. Ultra (37 FPS) is too demanding for this combo at 4K and should be avoided.

The data indicates that the best experience overall is at 1440p with High settings, which delivers 95 FPS — a smooth frame rate that balances visual quality and performance. For players with 1080p displays, Ultra settings provide the highest visual quality without sacrificing playability. For 4K displays, Medium settings are the sweet spot, offering 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, ensuring that frame times stay above the 60 FPS threshold for most of the gameplay.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Downfall?*

A: The highest average FPS is 199, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 37, which is well below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What settings should be used for a 1440p 60 Hz display?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 deliver an average of 95 FPS, and Medium delivers 116 FPS, both comfortably above 60 FPS. Ultra at 1440p averages 59 FPS, which is just below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 is 0.1% lower, the AMD EPYC 4244P is 0.1% lower, the Intel Core i5-13450HX is 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is 0.5% lower.

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

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is in the 65th percentile, meaning it outperforms 65% of all tested GPUs.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS is 37, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.