Downfall

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. This CPU sits on the AMD Socket AM4 platform with a 65W TDP and supports DDR4 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 20,655 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,916 in single-core, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 27,220 puts it just 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900K and 0.8% ahead of both the Intel Core i7-12700H and Intel Core i7-1370P, with a 1.2% lead over the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340. For a game like Downfall, a horror title, the 5700 provides ample thread count for any background tasks and physics calculations, though the game's actual FPS at lower resolutions will be more dependent on single-thread performance, where the 5700 scores 901 in 3DMark single-thread and 3,296 in Passmark single-thread.

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

The Ryzen 7 5700's 8 cores and 16 threads are substantial for a gaming workload. While Downfall is a horror game that may not be heavily threaded, the 5700's 16 threads ensure that the CPU is not a bottleneck at high frame rates, especially when the GPU is under heavy load at 4K resolution. The 4.60 GHz boost clock is the key figure for single-threaded game logic, and the data confirms this. At 1080p Low settings, the combination achieves 368.7 FPS, which is a clear indicator that the CPU can feed the GPU effectively at lower resolutions. The CPU's 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide sufficient data throughput for game assets. While the 5700 is nearly tied with the i9-9900K in overall CPU benchmarks, its multi-threaded score of 20,655 in Cinebench R23 demonstrates that it can handle any modern game engine's background tasks without issue. The data shows that the CPU's performance is not a limiting factor in this pairing, as the FPS scales almost linearly with resolution changes, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the sweet spot for this combination depends heavily on your display's refresh rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 169.6 FPS, which is more than enough for a high-refresh-rate monitor. However, the High preset at 265.6 FPS is the better choice if you have a 240Hz or higher display, as it provides a massive 96 FPS advantage over Ultra while still looking far better than Low. At 2560x1440, the High preset hits 190.4 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz to 165Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 1440p still delivers 118.7 FPS, which is playable but leaves a 71.7 FPS gap to High, making High the recommended preset for competitive play. At 3840x2160, the High preset yields 119.2 FPS, which is perfectly smooth for a 120Hz 4K display. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 72 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action; the Medium preset at 147 FPS is a better balance if you want higher quality than Low but cannot afford the Ultra preset's performance hit. The Low preset at 4K reaches 175 FPS, but the visual sacrifices are typically not worth it on a large 4K screen. For the best experience, the High preset is the clear winner across all resolutions, offering a significant FPS boost over Ultra while maintaining visual fidelity.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination run Downfall at 4K with high settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 119.2 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings, which is smooth for most displays. If you want higher visual fidelity, the Ultra preset still achieves 72 FPS, which is playable.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets?

A: The High preset is significantly faster. At 1080p, it is 96 FPS faster (265.6 vs 169.6). At 1440p, it is 71.7 FPS faster (190.4 vs 118.7). At 4K, it is 47.2 FPS faster (119.2 vs 72). The Ultra preset offers higher visual quality, but the FPS cost is substantial.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this test?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the frame rate is 368.7 FPS, which is extremely high. As the resolution increases to 4K Low, the frame rate drops to 175 FPS, indicating that the GPU is working harder at higher resolutions, while the CPU can maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its direct rivals in synthetic tests?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700 has an average benchmark score of 27,220, which is 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i9-9900K and 0.8% higher than the Intel Core i7-12700H and Intel Core i7-1370P. It is 1.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144Hz monitor?

A: Both 1080p and 1440p High settings exceed 144 FPS. At 1440p High, the average is 190.4 FPS, which provides headroom above the refresh rate. At 4K High, the average is 119.2 FPS, which is below 144 FPS.

Q: Is the Ultra preset ever worth using?

A: Only if you have a 60Hz or 75Hz display. At 4K Ultra, the 72 FPS average is suitable for a 60Hz panel. For any higher refresh rate, the High preset is the better option, as it more than doubles the frame rate at 1080p and nearly doubles it at 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 124th out of 1,741 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the top 7.1% of all tested configurations, which is an excellent result. The rank reflects the strong balance between the CPU and GPU. The RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end GPU with an average benchmark score of 53,610, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU's 84th percentile ranking is slightly lower, but the data shows that the CPU is not holding back the GPU in this game. The top 123 combos likely feature more powerful CPUs, but the FPS difference would be minimal at most settings. For the majority of players, this combo provides frame rates that exceed the refresh rates of common gaming monitors, making the rank of 124 a very practical and desirable position. The 0.2% difference in GPU score between the RTX 4080 SUPER and the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT shows that there is little to distinguish between these top-tier cards in synthetic tests, but the RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and Ada Lovelace architecture provide a solid foundation for high-resolution gaming.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a powerhouse, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz, with 10,240 shading units and 320 TMUs. These specifications translate into a Passmark G3D score of 34,245 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,600. In the context of Downfall, the GPU's role is clear: it is the primary driver of frame rate at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER is capable of delivering 368.7 FPS at 1080p Low, but the focus is on 4K performance. At 4K High, the GPU delivers 119.2 FPS, which is a demanding workload that any lesser GPU would struggle with. The 16 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for a 2016 horror game, even at Ultra settings, ensuring no texture pop-in or stutter. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s is also crucial for maintaining high frame rates at 4K with High settings, as the game's assets need to be streamed quickly to the GPU. The RTX 4080 SUPER's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, is only 0.2% behind in average benchmark score, showing that this level of performance is the top tier for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across the board. The Low preset delivers an average of 368.7 FPS, which is the highest measured value. The Medium preset achieves 326.8 FPS, while the High preset is at 265.6 FPS. The Ultra preset, while still fast, drops to 169.6 FPS, which is still above the refresh rate of most monitors. At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high. The Low preset hits 284.6 FPS, the Medium preset achieves 231.8 FPS, and the High preset is at 190.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p delivers 118.7 FPS, which is a significant drop from High but still playable. At 3840x2160, the performance scales as expected. The Low preset averages 175 FPS, the Medium preset reaches 147 FPS, and the High preset is at 119.2 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding scenario, averaging 72 FPS. This breakdown shows a consistent pattern: the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with the Ultra preset costing roughly 40-50% of the frame rate compared to High at every resolution. The Low preset provides the highest frame rates but sacrifices visual fidelity, which is not ideal for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. The data confirms that this GPU is one of the few that can handle 4K gaming with high settings at over 100 FPS, making it a top-tier choice for this title.