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 Raphael architecture at TSMC's 5 nm node. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache, and it supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The processor sits in the 91st percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40,468.

In Downfall, a horror title from 2016, the CPU's high single-thread performance is particularly relevant. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1,049 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,136 indicate strong per-core capability, which matters for game logic and physics in a genre that often relies on scripted sequences and AI-driven scares. Multi-threaded performance is equally robust: Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 29,302, and the 3DMark max-threads score is 8,479. The 8-core/16-thread layout ensures that background tasks and streaming won't interfere with frame pacing.

The CPU's nearest rival comparisons show tight clustering. It trails the Intel Core i9-13905H by 0.6% (40,712 vs. 40,468), while sitting 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40,431) and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40,262). Against the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T, the Ryzen 7 7700 leads by 1.2% (40,468 vs. 39,995). These deltaPct values confirm that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this combo—its performance envelope is comfortably above what Downfall demands, even at high refresh rates.

The data suggests the CPU is overprovisioned for this game. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 172.8 FPS, which is far beyond typical display refresh rates. The CPU's 16 threads and high boost clock ensure that frame generation and game logic are never starved, even when the GPU is the limiting factor. For a 2016 horror title, the Ryzen 7 7700 provides massive headroom, meaning the measured FPS differences across settings and resolutions are almost entirely attributable to the GPU.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU on the TU106 chip, fabricated at TSMC's 12 nm node with 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU clocks run at 1,365 MHz base and 1,680 MHz boost, with memory at 1,750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It has 1,920 shading units, 120 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 30 RT cores, and 240 tensor cores. The RTX 2060's pixel rate is 80.64 GPixel/s, texture rate is 201.6 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 6.451 TFLOPS. The card sits in the 58th percentile against all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 16,074.

In Downfall, the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game's era, but the measured FPS reveals it as the clear performance limiter. The GPU's nearest rivals show it is mid-pack: it is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15,996 vs. 16,074), 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15,786), but 1.7% behind both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Radeon Pro 5700 (both at 16,351). The PassMark G3D score of 14,111 and DirectX 12 score of 53 indicate that while the card is capable, it is not a high-end performer by modern standards.

The GPU's role becomes clear in the measured FPS data. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 172.8 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 32.5 FPS—a 5.3x reduction. The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution grows with pixel count, which points to fill-rate and memory bandwidth constraints. At 1080p, the RTX 2060 can keep up with the CPU's output, but at 4K, the GPU's 336.0 GB/s bandwidth and 6 GB VRAM become strained. The card's 12 nm process and 160 W TDP also suggest thermal and power limits that could affect sustained performance in longer horror sessions, though the data does not include sustained load metrics.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Downfall?

A: The data shows 1440p High at 81.2 FPS as the sweet spot. It is 32.4% slower than 1080p High (119.8 FPS) but still well above 60 FPS, while 4K High drops to 51.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much FPS does the RTX 2060 lose when going from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the average FPS falls from 119.8 at 1080p to 81.2 at 1440p and 51.1 at 4K. That is a 57.3% reduction from 1080p to 4K, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 7700 bottleneck the RTX 2060 in this game?

A: No. The CPU's 3DMark max-threads score of 8,479 and Cinebench R23 multi-core of 29,302 are far above what Downfall needs. The 172.8 FPS at 1080p Low shows the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond its limits, so the GPU is the limiting component.

Q: Is Ultra settings playable at 1440p?

A: Yes, but just barely. The measured average FPS at 1440p Ultra is 51.4, which is below the standard 60 FPS target. For a horror game where smooth motion matters for atmosphere, Medium at 99.9 FPS or High at 81.2 FPS are better choices.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rival in raw GPU compute?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score of 16,074 is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15,996) and 1.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15,786), but it is 1.7% lower than both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Radeon Pro 5700 (both at 16,351).

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low averages 172.8 FPS while Ultra averages 70.5 FPS. That's a 102.3 FPS difference, meaning Ultra is 59.2% slower than Low, which shows the significant cost of maxing out settings on this GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a full picture of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the RTX 2060 and Ryzen 7 7700 deliver strong results: Low averages 172.8 FPS, Medium reaches 146.1 FPS, High hits 119.8 FPS, and Ultra drops to 70.5 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra costs 49.3 FPS, which is a 41.2% reduction, making Ultra the least efficient preset at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. Low averages 122.3 FPS, Medium 99.9 FPS, High 81.2 FPS, and Ultra 51.4 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra here is 29.8 FPS (a 36.7% drop), which is proportionally similar to 1080p but starts to approach the 60 FPS threshold. Medium at 1440p offers 99.9 FPS, which is 23.1% faster than High, making it a viable option for higher refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits become apparent. Low averages 74.5 FPS, Medium 62.6 FPS, High 51.1 FPS, and Ultra 32.5 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is 18.6 FPS (36.4% reduction), consistent with the lower resolutions, but the absolute numbers are now below comfortable playability for most presets. Only Low at 74.5 FPS and Medium at 62.6 FPS remain above 60 FPS at 4K. The data shows that Ultra at 4K (32.5 FPS) is the worst-case scenario, while 1080p Low (172.8 FPS) is the best-case.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU-bound nature of this combo. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 119.8 at 1080p to 81.2 at 1440p (a 32.2% reduction) and then to 51.1 at 4K (a 57.3% reduction from 1080p). The scaling is not linear—the jump from 1440p to 4K (37.1% drop) is steeper than from 1080p to 1440p (32.2% drop), which indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and fill rate are being saturated at higher pixel counts.

At Low settings, the scaling is similar but slightly less severe: 172.8 FPS at 1080p, 122.3 FPS at 1440p (29.2% drop), and 74.5 FPS at 4K (56.9% drop from 1080p). The fact that Low settings still show a large 4K penalty confirms that the resolution itself, not just the graphics features, is the limiting factor. The RTX 2060's 336.0 GB/s bandwidth and 6 GB VRAM are simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K, regardless of settings.

The data also shows diminishing returns from lowering settings at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 102.3 FPS (172.8 vs. 70.5). At 1440p, that gap narrows to 70.9 FPS (122.3 vs. 51.4). At 4K, it shrinks further to 42.0 FPS (74.5 vs. 32.5). This pattern means that at 4K, even dropping to Low settings cannot fully compensate for the pixel count, while at 1080p, settings have a much larger impact on performance. The limiting component is clearly the GPU—the CPU's strong multi-threaded and single-threaded scores would allow much higher FPS if the GPU could keep up.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p displays, High settings at 119.8 FPS provide the best balance of visual quality and performance. The jump to Ultra costs 49.3 FPS (down to 70.5 FPS) for marginal visual gains, while Medium at 146.1 FPS is only 21.9% faster than High but noticeably less visually rich. Since the game is a horror title where atmosphere matters, High is the recommended preset—it stays well above 60 FPS and preserves the intended visual experience.

For 1440p, Medium at 99.9 FPS is the recommended preset. High at 81.2 FPS is also viable, but Medium offers 23.1% more headroom, which is valuable for maintaining smooth frame pacing during intense scenes. Ultra at 51.4 FPS is below 60 FPS and should be avoided. Low at 122.3 FPS is an option for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, but the visual degradation is significant.

For 4K, Medium at 62.6 FPS is the only preset that stays above 60 FPS while retaining some visual fidelity. Low at 74.5 FPS is the safest choice for consistent performance, but High at 51.1 FPS and Ultra at 32.5 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience. The data shows that 4K is the edge of this GPU's capability, and players should accept either Medium settings or lower resolutions for the best experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combo ranks 1,442 out of 1,741 tested combinations in Downfall, placing it in the bottom 17.2% of all combos. This low rank is driven entirely by the GPU—the Ryzen 7 7700 is a high-end CPU (91st percentile), while the RTX 2060 is mid-range (58th percentile). The CPU's performance is not the issue; the GPU's 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth cap the combo's ability to handle the game at higher settings and resolutions.

The rank reflects the measured FPS data, which shows the combo is playable at 1080p and 1440p with the right settings, but struggles at 4K. The CPU's nearest rivals (AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40,431, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40,262, Intel Core i9-13905H at 40,712, Intel Core Ultra 5 235T at 39,995) all have similar average scores, so swapping the CPU would not meaningfully change the rank. Conversely, the GPU's rivals (AMD Radeon RX 7600S at 15,996, AMD Radeon Pro 5600M at 16,351, AMD Radeon Pro 5700 at 16,351, AMD Radeon Pro W5500 at 15,786) are all within 1.8% of the RTX 2060, meaning a GPU upgrade would be needed to move up significantly in the rankings.

In summary, this combo is a solid 1080p/1440p performer for Downfall, but its 4K capability is limited, and its overall rank reflects that. The CPU provides ample headroom, while the GPU is the bottleneck. Players seeking higher ranks should focus on GPU upgrades, as the data shows the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing.