Downfall

# Downfall with AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER produces a varied performance profile across Downfall's resolution and settings matrix. At 1080p, frame rates are consistently high, reaching up to 191 FPS on Low settings, but the experience degrades significantly at 4K Ultra, where the average drops to 36 FPS. This pairing ranks 2061st out of 2928 tested combos in the database, indicating that while it can handle lower resolutions with ease, it struggles to maintain smooth gameplay at the highest visual demands. The data reveals a system where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, while the CPU's substantial capabilities remain largely untapped in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with High settings, the average frame rate is 128 FPS, which drops to 92 FPS at 1440p and further to 57 FPS at 4K. This represents a 55% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at High settings, a substantial decline that points directly to the GPU as the bottleneck. The RTX 2060 SUPER, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, simply cannot sustain the pixel throughput demanded at 4K resolution.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced at lower settings. At Low settings, the system achieves 191 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 85 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 55.5%, nearly identical to the High settings drop. This consistency across settings levels suggests that the resolution scaling is primarily driven by raw pixel count rather than by specific graphical features. The GPU's rendering pipeline is being saturated at 4K regardless of the visual complexity, indicating that the limiting component is the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth rather than its shader capabilities.

At Medium settings, the frame rates are 156 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, yields 80 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and only 36 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is 55%, again matching the pattern seen at other settings levels. This uniform scaling behavior indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is operating at its performance ceiling at 4K resolutions, and no amount of settings reduction can fully compensate for the pixel throughput required at that resolution.

The data suggests that 1440p represents a reasonable middle ground for this combo. At High settings, the 92 FPS average is still comfortably playable, while at Medium settings the 112 FPS average provides a smooth experience. The 4K results, however, are marginal at best, with even Low settings only achieving 85 FPS, which is below the 90 FPS threshold that many players consider ideal for fast-paced action.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture using the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is a critical factor in the 4K performance observed in Downfall.

The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gameplay, but at 4K resolutions, the combination of higher resolution textures and increased pixel count can strain the available memory capacity. The measured frame times, with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 80 FPS at 4K Medium, show that the GPU is working at its limits. The average of 69 FPS at this settings level indicates that the GPU can occasionally dip below the 60 FPS threshold, which is a common target for smooth gameplay.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's performance in the database's benchmark suite places it at the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (score 18159, delta -0.4%), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (score 18189, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon RX 460 (score 18373, delta -1.5%), and Intel Arc A770M (score 18383, delta -1.6%). This positioning shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is competitive with these mid-range options, though it trails the RX 460 and Arc A770M by small margins in overall benchmark scores.

In Downfall specifically, the GPU's role is clearly the dominant factor in determining performance at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS is particularly telling, as it shows the GPU struggling to maintain playable frame rates when all graphical features are enabled. The 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores present in the TU106 chip are not heavily utilized in this horror title, which appears to favor traditional rasterization performance over ray tracing or DLSS capabilities.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a formidable processor, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge codename). It operates at a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 120 W TDP. The CPU's 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a defining characteristic, providing substantial cache capacity for gaming workloads. Its benchmark scores are impressive, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22807 and a single-core score of 2228.

In the context of Downfall, the CPU's role is less critical than the GPU's, as evidenced by the consistent frame rates across different resolutions at the same settings level. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 128, while at 1440p High it drops to 92, and at 4K High it falls to 57. This pattern indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach these frame rates, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases.

The CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 41318 and single-thread score of 4704 demonstrate its strong processing capabilities. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (score 58323, delta 0.1%), Intel Xeon w5-2545 (score 58504, delta -0.2%), Intel Core i9-14900 (score 58115, delta 0.5%), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (score 58826, delta -0.7%). The Ryzen 7 9850X3D's average benchmark score of 58386 places it at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it is a high-performance processor that is unlikely to bottleneck in most gaming scenarios.

In Downfall, the CPU's performance is sufficient to support the highest frame rates observed at 1080p Low, where the system achieves 191 FPS. This suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor even at the lowest resolution tested, as the GPU is still able to produce these high frame rates. The CPU's 16 threads and high clock speeds provide ample headroom for the game's single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, making it a strong pairing partner for the RTX 2060 SUPER in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2061st out of 2928 tested combinations in Downfall. This places the combo in the lower-middle portion of the ranking distribution, which is somewhat surprising given the CPU's high performance. The ranking reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, where the RTX 2060 SUPER's mid-range performance drags down the overall result.

The rank of 2061 out of 2928 represents approximately the 70th percentile of all tested combos, meaning that roughly 70% of combinations achieve better performance in Downfall. This is primarily due to the GPU's relatively low average benchmark score of 18093, which places it at the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. Compared to combos with higher-end GPUs, this pairing falls behind in the 4K and Ultra settings categories, where the GPU's limitations are most apparent.

However, the combo's performance at 1080p and 1440p is more competitive. At 1080p Medium, the 156 FPS average is comparable to what many higher-ranked combos achieve, and at 1440p High, the 92 FPS average is respectable. The ranking is heavily influenced by the 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider essential for a smooth experience. This single data point likely contributes significantly to the combo's lower overall rank.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, all settings presets deliver playable frame rates, with Low achieving 191 FPS, Medium at 156 FPS, High at 128 FPS, and Ultra at 80 FPS. For players with a 60 Hz monitor, the Ultra preset provides a comfortable margin above the refresh rate, while those with higher refresh rate displays may prefer High settings to maximize visual quality while maintaining frame rates above 120 FPS.

At 1440p, the Medium preset offers the best balance, with an average of 112 FPS and a minimum of 95 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even during demanding scenes. The High preset at 92 FPS is also viable, but the Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. For 1440p gaming, Medium settings are recommended as they provide the most consistent experience without significant visual compromises.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset achieves 85 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, indicating potential stuttering during intense moments. The High preset at 57 FPS and Ultra at 36 FPS are both below the 60 FPS target, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay. For 4K, the Low preset is the only reliable option for maintaining frame rates above 60 FPS, though players may accept the Medium preset's slightly lower average if they prioritize visual quality over absolute smoothness.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p with Medium settings provides the best overall experience, achieving 112 FPS average with a minimum of 95 FPS. At 1080p, all settings presets exceed 80 FPS, while at 4K, only the Low preset exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the combo achieves an average of 36 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is the lowest measured result across all resolution and settings combinations.

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

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The consistent frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K across all settings presets (approximately 55% reduction) indicate that the RTX 2060 SUPER cannot maintain performance at higher resolutions, while the CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the difference between 1080p and 4K performance at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 128 FPS at 1080p to 57 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 71 FPS or approximately 55%. This substantial drop is attributed to the GPU's limited pixel throughput at 4K resolution.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2061st out of 2928 tested combinations in Downfall, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking. The GPU's 62nd percentile benchmark score and the CPU's 92nd percentile score highlight the imbalance between the two components in this game.

Q: What settings should I use for a 60 Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: For a 60 Hz monitor at 1440p, the Medium preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS, ensuring the frame rate never drops below the monitor's refresh rate. The High preset at 92 FPS is also suitable, but the Ultra preset at 57 FPS falls below 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in Downfall is organized by resolution and settings preset. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 191 FPS, the Medium preset delivers 156 FPS with a minimum of 133 FPS and maximum of 180 FPS, the High preset delivers 128 FPS, and the Ultra preset delivers 80 FPS. These results show that the system can handle 1080p gaming with ease, even at the highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 136 FPS, the Medium preset achieves 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 128 FPS, the High preset achieves 92 FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 57 FPS. The step from Medium to High results in a 20 FPS drop, while the step from High to Ultra results in a 35 FPS drop, indicating that the Ultra preset places a significantly higher load on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves 85 FPS, the Medium preset achieves 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 80 FPS, the High preset achieves 57 FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 36 FPS. The 4K results show a clear degradation in performance, with only the Low preset maintaining an average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 59 FPS indicates that the system can drop below the 60 FPS threshold during demanding scenes, while the High and Ultra presets are consistently below this target.