Downfall

# Downfall with AMD Ryzen 7 9700X + Intel Arc B370

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a markedly GPU-bound experience in Downfall, with frame rates collapsing as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 96 FPS, but that figure drops to 43 FPS at 4K Low — a 55% reduction that points squarely at the integrated graphics solution as the primary constraint. The Arc B370, an IGP with a 25 W TDP and system-shared memory, ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, while the Ryzen 7 9700X sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. This asymmetry defines the entire performance profile: the CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU runs out of throughput long before the processor is challenged.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep, consistent decline as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate moves from 64 FPS at 1080p to 46 FPS at 1440p and finally to 29 FPS at 4K. That progression represents a 28% drop from 1080p to 1440p, followed by a further 37% drop from 1440p to 4K. The pattern is not linear — the penalty accelerates at higher resolutions, which is typical for a GPU that is already near its limit at 1080p.

Low settings tell a similar story with higher absolute numbers: 96 FPS at 1080p, 68 FPS at 1440p, and 43 FPS at 4K. The 4K figure is less than half of the 1080p result, confirming that pixel throughput scales poorly on this hardware. Medium settings show 78 FPS, 56 FPS, and 35 FPS across the same resolution ladder, while Ultra settings produce 40 FPS, 29 FPS, and 18 FPS respectively.

The scaling behavior indicates a GPU-bound scenario at every resolution tested. The Arc B370's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply insufficient for 4K workloads, particularly at higher presets. The 4K Ultra result of 18 FPS is nearly unplayable, and even 4K Low at 43 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold that most users consider smooth. The fact that the CPU is a high-end 8-core Zen 5 part with a 5.50 GHz boost clock makes the GPU limitation even more apparent — there is no scenario in this data where the Ryzen 7 9700X becomes the bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

Among 2,928 tested combinations in Downfall, this pairing ranks 2,688th. That places it in the bottom 8% of all combos, a poor showing driven almost entirely by the GPU. The Arc B370's average benchmark score of 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1,186, delta -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1,190, delta -0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1,192, delta -0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1,168, delta 1.4%). These are all legacy or low-end parts, and the Arc B370 sits squarely among them.

The CPU, by contrast, is a strong performer. The Ryzen 7 9700X has an average benchmark score of 37,943, which is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14901E (score 37,911) and 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (score 37,904). It also leads the Intel Core 5 211E (score 37,829, delta 0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (score 37,804, delta 0.4%). This is a top-tier processor, but in Downfall, the combo rank reflects the weakest link. The data shows that even a CPU in the 86th percentile cannot compensate for a GPU in the 5th percentile when the game is render-limited.

The ranking gap between CPU capability and combo performance is instructive. The Ryzen 7 9700X could easily drive a much more powerful discrete GPU, but with the Arc B370 as the rendering engine, the system's ceiling in Downfall is low. Users should interpret this rank as a warning: the processor is not the constraint, and upgrading it would yield no measurable benefit in this title.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X or the Intel Arc B370 the bottleneck in Downfall?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184, while the Ryzen 7 9700X ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The FPS scaling across resolutions confirms GPU limitation.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average is 78 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. This is the highest preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS at 1080p.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combo?

A: At 4K High, the average is 29 FPS; at 4K Medium, 35 FPS; at 4K Low, 43 FPS; and at 4K Ultra, 18 FPS. None of these reach 60 FPS, so 4K is not smooth in any configuration.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1,186 (-0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1,190 (-0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1,192 (-0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1,168 (+1.4%). All are statistically similar.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 9700X's multi-core performance help in Downfall?

A: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 20,485 and single-core is 2,211, but these scores do not translate to higher FPS in this game because the GPU saturates first. The CPU is never the limiting factor in any measured configuration.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 1080p is the only resolution where the average FPS exceeds 60 at Low (96 FPS) and Medium (78 FPS). At 1440p, all presets fall below 68 FPS, and at 4K, all presets fall below 43 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a clear tiering by preset. Low settings deliver an average of 96 FPS. Medium settings average 78 FPS with a recorded minimum of 67 FPS and maximum of 90 FPS. High settings average 64 FPS. Ultra settings drop to an average of 40 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 56 FPS, or 58%, indicating that the visual preset has a massive impact on performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the numbers compress downward. Low averages 68 FPS. Medium averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and maximum of 64 FPS. High averages 46 FPS. Ultra averages 29 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 39 FPS, a 57% reduction. Notably, even the Low preset at 1440p falls below the 1080p Medium result, showing that resolution scaling costs more than preset scaling on this hardware.

At 3840x2160, performance becomes marginal across the board. Low averages 43 FPS. Medium averages 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS and maximum of 40 FPS. High averages 29 FPS. Ultra averages 18 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS at 4K Medium is 30, which is below the 60 FPS threshold by half. The Ultra result of 18 FPS is below the 24 FPS threshold sometimes cited for film-like motion, and it is the lowest measured value in the entire dataset.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low to Medium gains are modest, Medium to High gains are smaller, and High to Ultra is the most punishing step. At 1080p, Ultra costs 24 FPS compared to High (40 vs 64). At 1440p, Ultra costs 17 FPS compared to High (29 vs 46). At 4K, Ultra costs 11 FPS compared to High (18 vs 29). The absolute cost of Ultra shrinks as resolution rises, but the percentage cost remains severe, and the resulting frame rates are untenable for smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It has 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, 20 raster output units, and 10 ray tracing cores. The base clock is 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2,400 MHz. Its peak FP32 throughput is 6.144 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s with a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. The TDP is 25 W, and the GPU uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

These specifications explain the measured results. A 25 W IGP with system-shared memory cannot sustain high frame rates at high resolutions in a horror title like Downfall. The GPU's 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs is consistent with its position near legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M in 3DMark Steel Nomad scoring. The fact that the closest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, is a mobile part from a previous era underscores how far behind modern discrete GPUs this IGP is.

The memory situation is particularly relevant. With no dedicated VRAM, the GPU relies on system memory bandwidth, which is "System Dependent" per the spec sheet. This means performance can vary based on the system's DDR5 configuration, but in no case does it approach what a dedicated GPU with its own memory bus would provide. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth of the Ryzen 7 9700X's dual-channel DDR5 controller is the theoretical ceiling for the GPU's memory access, and that is shared with the CPU.

The boost clock of 2,400 MHz is respectable for an integrated part, but the low base clock of 300 MHz and the 25 W power envelope limit sustained performance. The GPU's score of 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it in a performance tier where 1080p Medium at 78 FPS is near the practical maximum, and 4K is only feasible at Low settings with an average of 43 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience for this combo is 1080p with Medium settings. This configuration delivers an average of 78 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, which is the highest preset that maintains a minimum above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a 22% improvement over High settings (78 vs 64 FPS) while presumably retaining some visual quality gains over Low.

At 1080p Low, the average rises to 96 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset. For users who prioritize smoothness above all else and are playing a horror title where responsiveness matters, this is a viable choice. The jump from Low to Medium costs 18 FPS (96 to 78), while the jump from Medium to High costs 14 FPS (78 to 64). The step from High to Ultra costs 24 FPS (64 to 40), which is the largest single-preset penalty and should be avoided.

At 1440p, no preset achieves a 60 FPS average. The best option is Low at 68 FPS, which is playable but not smooth by modern standards. Medium at 56 FPS is borderline, with a minimum of 48 FPS that will be noticeable in fast-moving scenes. High at 46 FPS and Ultra at 29 FPS are not recommended for this resolution.

At 4K, the data shows no playable configuration. Low at 43 FPS is the best case, and even that falls well below the 60 FPS target. Medium at 35 FPS, High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 18 FPS are all below acceptable thresholds for a game that likely requires quick reactions. Users with 4K displays should either lower the resolution or accept that this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming in Downfall.

The recommendation is clear: 1080p Medium is the sweet spot, with 1080p Low as a fallback for higher frame rates. Any move to higher resolutions or higher presets results in diminishing returns and sub-60 FPS averages.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a desktop processor from the 9000 series, based on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The TDP is 65 W, and it is built on TSMC's 4 nm process. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The processor also includes Radeon integrated graphics, though the Arc B370 is the primary GPU in this configuration.

In CPU benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 9700X performs strongly. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 20,485 and single-core is 2,211. Geekbench scores are 17,906 multi-core and 3,023 single-core. The 3DMark scores show scaling from 2,525 at 2 threads to 9,771 at maximum threads, with 9,824 at 16 threads. Passmark results are consistently high, including 120,142 in integer math and 78,999 in floating point math. The processor's average benchmark score of 37,943 places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs.

Despite this capability, the CPU's role in Downfall is minimal because the GPU is the bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows no scenario where CPU performance limits frame rates. Even at 1080p Low with 96 FPS average, the Arc B370 is still the constraining factor — a stronger GPU would likely push this figure much higher given the CPU's headroom. The Ryzen 7 9700X's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for a horror game of this era, and its single-thread performance (2,211 in Cinebench R23 single-core) ensures that even lightly threaded game logic will not become a bottleneck.

The CPU's nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the Intel Core i9-14901E (37,911, delta 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37,904, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core 5 211E (37,829, delta 0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (37,804, delta 0.4%). All of these are within 0.4% of the Ryzen 7 9700X, indicating that the CPU is well-matched to its peers. In a system with a more powerful discrete GPU, this processor would not be the limiting factor in Downfall. With the Arc B370, however, the CPU's capabilities are largely untapped, and the combo's 2,688th place ranking out of 2,928 reflects that imbalance.