Downfall

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

The measured frame rates for this AMD Ryzen 7 7700X + Intel Arc B570 combination in Downfall reveal a pronounced resolution sensitivity that points to the GPU as the primary performance governor at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo delivers 163 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 116 FPS, a 47 FPS decline. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 72 FPS, representing a 91 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern — a 44% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 56% reduction from 1440p to 4K at Low settings — indicates that the rendering workload scales heavily with pixel count, a classic signature of GPU-bound performance.

The same trend holds across other settings tiers. At Medium, the 1080p average is 133 FPS, falling to 95 FPS at 1440p and 59 FPS at 4K. At High, 109 FPS at 1080p becomes 78 FPS at 1440p and 49 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, 68 FPS at 1080p drops to 49 FPS at 1440p and 30 FPS at 4K. The consistent pattern across all four settings levels — each resolution step costs roughly 25-35% of the previous frame rate — confirms that pixel throughput is the dominant constraint. The CPU, with 8 cores and 16 threads running at a base clock of 4.50 GHz and boost up to 5.40 GHz, is unlikely to be the limiting factor at these frame rates, especially given its strong multi-threaded benchmark scores like the Cinebench R23 multicore result of 19088.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the GPU still has headroom but is already the primary bottleneck, given that even the fastest measured config (Low) tops out at 163 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is heavily taxed, with the Ultra preset yielding just 30 FPS average. This resolution scaling behavior is typical of a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU: the CPU can feed frames quickly at lower resolutions, but the GPU's pixel processing capabilities become the ceiling as resolution increases. For players targeting 4K, the data implies that only Low settings approach playable territory (72 FPS), while Medium and High hover near 49-59 FPS, and Ultra falls below 30.

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

The Intel Arc B570 GPU brings a specific set of specifications that directly inform its performance in Downfall. The GPU features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock runs at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective), while the GPU core operates at a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz. With 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, the Arc B570 also includes 18 ray tracing cores, though the game's performance data does not specifically isolate ray tracing effects.

The 10 GB VRAM capacity is relevant for a horror title like Downfall, which at higher resolutions and settings can demand substantial frame buffer memory. At 4K Ultra, the combo delivers only 30 FPS average, and while the data does not report VRAM usage, the sharp performance cliff from High (49 FPS) to Ultra (30 FPS) at 4K suggests that the Ultra preset may be pushing the memory subsystem harder, potentially exceeding what the 160-bit bus can efficiently feed. The bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s is moderate by current standards, and the 23.04 TFLOPS FP16 throughput (2:1 ratio) versus 11.52 TFLOPS FP32 indicates the GPU's compute capacity is balanced for rasterization workloads.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide context for its raw capability. The PassMark G3D score of 14195 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2649 place it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Arc A750 (20582, delta -0.1%), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534, delta 0.1%), and AMD Radeon R9 M390X (20662, delta -0.5%). These close deltas — all within 0.5% — indicate that the Arc B570 sits in a tightly contested performance tier. In Downfall specifically, the GPU's ability to maintain 49 FPS at 4K High and 30 FPS at 4K Ultra shows that it can handle the game's visual demands at lower presets, but the Ultra preset at 4K is beyond its comfortable range.

The GPU's pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s are the theoretical throughput limits that the measured FPS numbers reflect. At 1080p Ultra, 68 FPS average suggests the GPU is working at a reasonable efficiency given these specs. The consistent FPS drops across resolution steps align with the GPU's bandwidth and pixel throughput characteristics. With a TDP of 150 W and a suggested PSU of 450 W, the Arc B570 is positioned as a mainstream power envelope, which correlates with its mid-tier performance class.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X provides substantial processing headroom that, in this pairing, prevents it from becoming a bottleneck in Downfall. The CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 4 architecture (Raphael codename), manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. With a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, the 7700X offers high single-thread and multi-thread performance. Its L3 cache is 32 MB shared, with 1 MB L2 per core and 64 KB L1 per core, providing ample cache for game logic and asset streaming.

The CPU's benchmark results reinforce its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 19088 multicore and 1987 single-core. Geekbench results show 12451 multicore and 2289 single-core. The 3DMark tests reveal scaling from 1090 single-thread to 8859 for 16 threads and 8852 for max threads, indicating excellent multi-threading efficiency. The PassMark multithread score of 35686 and single-thread score of 4190 place the CPU in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (35802, delta 0.3%), Intel Core 7 250H (35728, delta 0.5%), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (35719, delta 0.5%), all within 0.7% of the 7700X's average benchmark score of 35909.

In Downfall, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics calculations, and game logic. The measured FPS data shows no signs of CPU limitation, even at 1080p Low where the GPU is producing 163 FPS. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect the FPS to plateau at similar levels regardless of resolution. Instead, the FPS scales consistently with resolution changes, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component across all tested configurations. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s through its dual-channel DDR5 support provides sufficient data throughput for game assets, and its PCIe Gen 5 interface with 24 lanes ensures the GPU connection is not a bandwidth bottleneck.

The game's release date of 2016-02-28 means Downfall was designed for hardware of that era, and the 7700X, released in 2022, exceeds the CPU demands of such a title. The high boost clock of 5.40 GHz is particularly beneficial for the single-threaded game logic that horror titles often rely on for scripted sequences and AI behavior. The CPU's benchmark data shows strong single-thread performance with a 3DMark single-thread score of 1090 and PassMark single-thread of 4190, which would handle any poorly optimized or legacy code paths in the game engine without issue.

# FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the highest frame rates across all settings, with Low achieving 163 FPS and Medium hitting 133 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates remain playable, with Low at 116 FPS and Medium at 95 FPS. At 4K, only Low (72 FPS) and Medium (59 FPS) approach smooth gameplay, while High (49 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) fall below ideal thresholds.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest GPU rivals based on benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B570's average benchmark score is 20556, placing it at 65th percentile among GPUs. Its closest rival is the Intel Arc A750 with a score of 20582 (delta -0.1%), followed by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile at 20534 (delta 0.1%), the AMD Radeon R9 M390X at 20662 (delta -0.5%), and the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M at 20480 (delta 0.4%). All deltas are within 0.5%, indicating near-identical raw performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system for Downfall?

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X has a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19088 and sits at 85th percentile among CPUs. The measured FPS drops consistently with resolution increases across all settings — from 163 FPS at 1080p Low to 72 FPS at 4K Low — which is the expected pattern for GPU-bound workloads. A CPU bottleneck would show similar FPS regardless of resolution.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution?

A: At 1080p, Low produces 163 FPS while Ultra produces 68 FPS, a 95 FPS difference. At 1440p, Low yields 116 FPS versus Ultra's 49 FPS, a 67 FPS gap. At 4K, Low achieves 72 FPS while Ultra drops to 30 FPS, a 42 FPS difference. The gap narrows as resolution increases because the GPU becomes increasingly saturated at higher pixel counts.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Downfall?

A: The combo ranks 2343 out of 2928 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking distribution. This rank reflects the GPU's mid-tier positioning (65th percentile) combined with the CPU's strong performance (85th percentile), but the GPU's limitations dominate the game's performance outcome.

Q: Does the Arc B570's 10 GB VRAM appear to be a limiting factor in the measured results?

A: The data does not report VRAM usage, but the performance pattern suggests memory bandwidth, not capacity, may be the constraint. The 380.0 GB/s bandwidth on a 160-bit bus supports the observed FPS scaling, and the sharp drop from High to Ultra at 4K (49 to 30 FPS) could indicate the Ultra preset stresses the memory subsystem. The 10 GB capacity is likely sufficient for Downfall given its 2016 release date.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, all presets are playable, but Ultra at 68 FPS average is the most visually demanding option that still maintains smooth gameplay. For players prioritizing frame rate, Low at 163 FPS provides maximum responsiveness, while Medium at 133 FPS offers a balance between visual quality and performance. High at 109 FPS is also a strong choice, giving good visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts toward Medium as the best overall experience. Medium produces 95 FPS average with a minimum of 81 FPS and maximum of 110 FPS, providing consistent performance that avoids the frame rate dips that could be jarring in a horror title. High at 78 FPS is acceptable for players who prefer visual quality, but the 49 FPS Ultra result is too close to the 30 FPS 4K Ultra outcome to justify the visual upgrade. Low at 116 FPS is the choice for competitive or high-refresh-rate play.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. Low at 72 FPS is the only preset that clears the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended setting for smooth gameplay. Medium at 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS is borderline but may be acceptable for players who can tolerate occasional dips. High at 49 FPS and Ultra at 30 FPS are not recommended for a horror game where smooth motion is important for atmosphere and reaction times. The data suggests that 4K players should either accept Low settings or consider the resolution scaling implications.

The measured minimum FPS values provide additional guidance. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 113 FPS, ensuring no significant drops. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 81 FPS, still above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K Medium, the minimum falls to 50 FPS, which may be noticeable in intense scenes. For players sensitive to frame time consistency, the Medium preset's measured min/max ranges (113-153 at 1080p, 81-110 at 1440p, 50-68 at 4K) offer the only available variance data, suggesting this preset has predictable performance characteristics.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

1080p:

• Low: 163 FPS average — the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset.
• Medium: 133 FPS average (minimum 113 FPS, maximum 153 FPS).
• High: 109 FPS average.
• Ultra: 68 FPS average.

1440p:

• Low: 116 FPS average.
• Medium: 95 FPS average (minimum 81 FPS, maximum 110 FPS).
• High: 78 FPS average.
• Ultra: 49 FPS average.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 72 FPS average.
• Medium: 59 FPS average (minimum 50 FPS, maximum 68 FPS).
• High: 49 FPS average.
• Ultra: 30 FPS average.

The data reveals a consistent progression across settings tiers. At every resolution, Low is the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the slowest. The gap between Low and Medium averages 30 FPS at 1080p, 21 FPS at 1440p, and 13 FPS at 4K. The gap between Medium and High is 24 FPS at 1080p, 17 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K. The gap between High and Ultra is 41 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. Notably, the High-to-Ultra transition is the largest drop at every resolution, suggesting the Ultra preset introduces disproportionately heavy rendering effects.

The minimum FPS data points, available only for Medium presets, show that the 1080p Medium configuration maintains a minimum of 113 FPS (85% of average), the 1440p Medium has a minimum of 81 FPS (85% of average), and the 4K Medium has a minimum of 50 FPS (85% of average). The consistent ratio suggests the game's frame time variance scales proportionally with average performance. The maximum FPS values for Medium are 153 at 1080p, 110 at 1440p, and 68 at 4K, representing 115%, 116%, and 115% of their respective averages.

# How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X + Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2343 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the 80th percentile from the bottom (or 20th percentile from the top). This rank reflects a significant gap between the CPU's high percentile standing (85th among CPUs) and the GPU's more moderate position (65th among GPUs). The ranking suggests that many other combinations, likely with more powerful GPUs, achieve better performance in this game.

The rank of 2343 out of 2928 means there are 2342 combinations that perform better and 585 that perform worse. This places the combo in the lower-middle tier of the overall distribution. Given the GPU's nearest rivals all score within 0.5% of the Arc B570's average benchmark score, the ranking is likely determined by the GPU's performance class rather than any specific architectural advantage or disadvantage. The CPU's high benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 multicore of 19088, PassMark multithread of 35686) do not boost the combo's rank because Downfall's performance is GPU-bound at the resolutions tested.

The delta percentages among the GPU's nearest rivals — 0.1% from RTX 3070 Mobile, -0.1% from Arc A750, 0.4% from Quadro M4000M, and -0.5% from R9 M390X — indicate that swapping the GPU for any of these would produce nearly identical results in synthetic benchmarks. However, in Downfall specifically, the measured FPS data shows the Arc B570 is capable of 163 FPS at 1080p Low, which is a strong result for the hardware class. The combo's rank likely reflects that many competing systems pair similar GPUs with faster CPUs or use higher-tier GPUs that push frame rates higher.

The rank also suggests that for players considering this specific hardware combination, the performance in Downfall is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming at medium-to-high settings, but the combo is not positioned to excel at ultra settings or 4K resolution. The data-driven conclusion is that the GPU is the performance limiter and the deciding factor in this rank, with the CPU providing more than enough headroom to support the GPU's maximum output.