Downfall

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 4 architecture (Raphael) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it carries a 65 W TDP. The processor supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and it connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes. The chip includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache.

For a horror title like Downfall, the CPU’s role is primarily to maintain a stable frame pipeline, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has spare capacity. Benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 7 7700 is a strong performer in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1930 in single-core and 18760 in multi-core. Geekbench results show 2525 single-core and 15371 multi-core. The 3DMark tests reveal scaling from 1049 (single-thread) to 8484 (16-threads), meaning the processor efficiently utilizes its 16 threads when the game engine can parallelize tasks.

The CPU’s percentile ranking against all CPUs is 87, placing it well above the median. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core 5 221E at 40144 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 270 at 40246 (0.4% behind), and the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 (0.6% behind). The Ryzen 7 7700’s average benchmark score is 40081, which puts it in a tight cluster with these competitors—none of which are more than 0.6% away. This indicates that for CPU-bound scenarios, the 7700 is neither a bottleneck nor a standout; it sits in a performance band where differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

In Downfall, the measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the system reaches 312 FPS average. This is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset, suggesting that at this setting, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU far beyond typical display refresh rates. The jump from 1080p Medium (255 FPS) to 1080p High (209 FPS) shows a 46 FPS drop, which is more attributable to GPU workload than CPU limits, as the CPU’s 16 threads remain underutilized in a horror game that is not heavily threaded.

The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2043 and 4-thread score of 3931 indicate that even with a few active threads, the processor delivers robust performance. For a game like Downfall, which is a horror title from 2016, the engine likely relies on a few primary threads for game logic and physics. The Ryzen 7 7700’s high single-thread performance (Cinebench R15 single-core score of 308 and Passmark single-thread score of 4063) ensures that these main threads are not the limiting factor. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 58, which is far below the CPU’s capability, confirming that the CPU is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture (Navi 48) using a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has a base clock of 1660 MHz, a boost clock of 2970 MHz, and a game clock of 2400 MHz. The memory runs at 2518 MHz (20.1 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus, providing 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM and 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU features 4096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, along with 64 ray tracing cores. Its peak FP32 performance is 48.66 TFLOPS, and it has a TDP of 304 W, requiring a 700 W suggested PSU and dual 8-pin power connectors.

The GPU’s percentile ranking against all GPUs is 55, which is slightly above the median. Its average benchmark score is 13543. However, the nearest rivals are surprising: the AMD Radeon HD 7770M scores 13536 (0.1% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13515 (0.2% ahead), the NVIDIA P106-090 scores 13470 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon Pro 555 scores 13407 (1% behind). These are all older or lower-tier GPUs, yet the score deltas are minimal. This suggests that the average benchmark score for the RX 9070 XT may be skewed by specific workloads where its architecture does not excel, or the benchmark suite does not fully utilize its modern features. In DirectX 12, the Passmark score is 78, while DirectX 11 is 292, DirectX 10 is 154, and DirectX 9 is 353. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 7260, which is a more modern and relevant metric.

For Downfall, the GPU’s role is dominant across most settings. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, FPS drops significantly. At 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 312 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 58 FPS. This 81% reduction in frame rate is entirely GPU-bound, as the CPU has ample headroom. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for a 2016 horror game, even at 4K, so VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor in any measured configuration.

The GPU’s clock behavior is relevant: the boost clock of 2970 MHz is high, and the game clock of 2400 MHz indicates sustained performance. The 644.6 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and high-resolution assets do not cause stutters. The measured FPS at 4K Medium (113 FPS) and 4K High (93 FPS) shows that the GPU can handle 4K with ease at medium presets, but Ultra settings (58 FPS) push it below the 60 FPS threshold. This indicates that the Ultra preset introduces effects that are particularly demanding on the ROPs and shading units.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) across three resolutions. The best experience depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, all presets deliver playable frame rates: Low (312 FPS), Medium (255 FPS), High (209 FPS), and Ultra (131 FPS). Even at Ultra, the frame rate exceeds 120 FPS, so 1080p users can select Ultra for maximum visual fidelity without compromising smoothness.

At 1440p, the story changes. Low (223 FPS) and Medium (182 FPS) are excellent, High (150 FPS) is still very smooth, and Ultra (93 FPS) drops below 100 FPS but remains playable. For a horror game, where atmosphere and lighting matter, the Medium preset at 1440p offers 182 FPS with better visuals than Low, while High at 150 FPS is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that many 1440p monitors support. Ultra at 93 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced horror, but the visual gains over High are marginal per the FPS cost.

At 4K, the recommendations are more constrained. Low (139 FPS) and Medium (113 FPS) are smooth, High (93 FPS) is playable, but Ultra (58 FPS) falls below the 60 FPS target. For 4K, the Medium preset provides the best balance: 113 FPS average with min FPS of 96 and max FPS of 131, ensuring no drops below 60 FPS. High at 93 FPS is also viable if the user prefers better shadows and textures, but it lacks the min/max data in the pack, so the Medium preset’s guaranteed floor of 96 FPS makes it the safer choice. Ultra at 4K is not recommended for consistent performance.

Overall, the data suggests that the RX 9070 XT is overkill for 1080p in this game, as even Ultra exceeds 120 FPS. The sweet spot is 1440p High (150 FPS) or 4K Medium (113 FPS). The Medium preset at 4K offers the best combination of visual quality and frame rate stability, as evidenced by the min FPS of 96. For users with 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitors, 1440p High is the recommended choice, delivering 150 FPS average with the CPU not being a constraint.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination in Downfall?*

A: The highest average FPS is 312, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 58, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The 4K Medium preset averages 113 FPS and is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700 has an average benchmark score of 40081, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 scores 40048. The delta is 0.1%, meaning the 7700 is effectively tied with its rival in overall CPU performance.

Q: What is the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 High, the average FPS is 209. At 3840x2160 High, the average FPS drops to 93, a reduction of 116 FPS (55.5% lower).

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for 4K in this game?

A: Yes. The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM with 644.6 GB/s bandwidth. The measured 4K results show playable frame rates at Low, Medium, and High, confirming that VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the 4K Medium preset?

A: The minimum FPS for 3840x2160 Medium is 96, with a maximum of 131 and an average of 113.

Q: How does the GPU’s average benchmark score compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570?

A: The RX 9070 XT has an average benchmark score of 13543, while the GTX 570 scores 13515. The RX 9070 XT is 0.2% ahead, a negligible difference in aggregate benchmarks despite the generational gap.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a consistent pattern: the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions. From 1080p to 4K, the FPS drops are substantial across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 312 (1080p) to 223 (1440p) to 139 (4K). This represents a 55.4% reduction from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, the drop is from 255 (1080p) to 182 (1440p) to 113 (4K), a 55.7% reduction. At High settings, the numbers are 209 (1080p), 150 (1440p), and 93 (4K), a 55.5% reduction. At Ultra settings, the FPS drops from 131 (1080p) to 93 (1440p) to 58 (4K), a 55.7% reduction.

The consistency of these percentage drops—all hovering around 55-56%—is telling. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would not scale linearly with resolution; instead, we would see a plateau at lower resolutions where the CPU limits the frame rate. Here, the FPS continues to increase as resolution decreases, all the way to 312 FPS at 1080p Low. This indicates that even at 1080p Low, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the GPU is still able to produce over 300 FPS. The Ryzen 7 7700’s 16 threads and high single-core performance (Passmark single-thread score of 4063) are more than sufficient for this game’s engine.

The scaling also shows that the GPU’s performance is consistent across presets; the relative drop from 1080p to 4K is nearly identical regardless of settings. This suggests that the game’s rendering workload scales proportionally with pixel count, and the RX 9070 XT’s 644.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 48.66 TFLOPS are the determining factors. The 4K Ultra preset (58 FPS) is the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset adds effects that are disproportionately expensive at 4K pixel counts.

The data also shows that the 1440p to 4K jump is more punishing than the 1080p to 1440p jump. For example, at High settings, 1080p to 1440p drops 59 FPS (from 209 to 150), while 1440p to 4K drops 57 FPS (from 150 to 93). The pixel counts are 2.07 million (1080p), 3.69 million (1440p), and 8.29 million (4K). The 1440p to 4K increase is 2.25x, while the 1080p to 1440p increase is 1.78x, yet the FPS drops are similar. This suggests that the GPU’s fill rate (380.2 GPixel/s) and texture rate (760.3 GTexel/s) are being approached at 4K, causing the frame rate to compress further.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT in Downfall is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 312 FPS average
• Medium: 255 FPS average, with min 217 and max 294
• High: 209 FPS average
• Ultra: 131 FPS average

At 1080p, all presets are well above 120 FPS, making the system capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors even at Ultra settings. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 217 ensures no drops below the refresh rate of most 1080p displays.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 223 FPS average
• Medium: 182 FPS average, with min 155 and max 210
• High: 150 FPS average
• Ultra: 93 FPS average

At 1440p, the Medium and High presets exceed 144 FPS, making them ideal for 144 Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 93 FPS is still smooth but may not fully utilize a 144 Hz display. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 155 means it never dips below 144 FPS, providing a consistent experience.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 139 FPS average
• Medium: 113 FPS average, with min 96 and max 131
• High: 93 FPS average
• Ultra: 58 FPS average

At 4K, the Low and Medium presets exceed 60 FPS, with Medium ensuring a min FPS of 96. High is playable at 93 FPS, but the Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS, making it unsuitable for consistent frame pacing. The 4K Medium preset offers the best balance, with a 113 FPS average and a guaranteed floor of 96 FPS.

The combo rank in Downfall is 910 out of 3716 combinations, placing it in the top 24.5% of tested configurations. The data is marked as measured, confirming that these are real-world results rather than estimates. The GPU’s 16 GB VRAM and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth are not stressed by this 2016 title, as even 4K Ultra does not exceed VRAM capacity. The CPU remains underutilized across all settings, with the GPU being the sole determinant of frame rate scaling.