Downfall

# Downfall with AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER to deliver a horror-game experience that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet the CPU's strong single-threaded performance ensures high frame rates at 1080p. This combo ranks in the 85th percentile among all tested configurations in Downfall, with a combo rank of 447 out of 2,928 tested combos. The measured data shows a clear pattern: at 4K, average FPS drops to as low as 65 FPS on Ultra settings, while at 1080p on Low settings, the same combo hits 348 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4070 SUPER becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, while the Ryzen 7 9850X3D remains capable of feeding frames at lower resolutions.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It operates at a base clock of 4.70 GHz and boosts up to 5.60 GHz, which provides the high single-thread performance that horror games like Downfall often rely on for physics, AI, and game logic. The processor's 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a standout feature, and while the data does not specify a 3D V-Cache variant, the large cache helps maintain consistent frame pacing in scenes with complex geometry. The CPU sits in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs based on its average benchmark score of 58,386, with its nearest rival being the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M at 58,323 (0.1% higher) and the Intel Core i9-14900 at 58,115 (0.5% lower). This places the Ryzen 7 9850X3D in a competitive position, though its performance in Downfall is more dependent on the GPU as resolution climbs.

In Downfall, the CPU's role becomes evident when examining the FPS deltas between settings at the same resolution. At 1080p, dropping from Ultra to Low increases average FPS from 146 to 348, a jump of 202 FPS, which suggests that at lower settings the CPU is capable of pushing far more frames than the GPU can render. The 5.60 GHz boost clock and 16 threads allow the processor to handle the game's background tasks without bottlenecking, even when the RTX 4070 SUPER is tasked with lower graphical loads. At 4K, however, the CPU's influence diminishes; the difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 155 FPS versus 65 FPS, a 90 FPS gap, indicating that the GPU is the dominant constraint. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D's 120 W TDP and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (89.6 GB/s bandwidth) are adequate for this workload, and its PCIe Gen 5 interface with 24 lanes ensures the GPU has ample bandwidth, though the RTX 4070 SUPER uses PCIe 4.0 x16.

The processor's single-core Cinebench R23 score of 2,228 and multi-core score of 22,807 reflect its ability to handle both light and heavy threads, which is relevant for Downfall's mixed workloads. In contrast, the PassMark single-thread score of 4,704 and multithread score of 41,318 show a balanced profile. Compared to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is only 0.5% ahead in average benchmark score, meaning any FPS differences in Downfall are more likely attributable to the GPU or game optimization than CPU capabilities. The data supports a conclusion that this CPU is not a bottleneck in Downfall at any tested resolution, as evidenced by the high FPS at 1080p Low (348 FPS) where the CPU's ceiling is not reached.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 348, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the maximum measured value across all tested configurations, indicating that the combo is capable of very high frame rates when graphical demands are minimal.

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

A: The combo ranks 447th out of 2,928 tested combos, placing it in the top 15% of all configurations. This percentile reflects strong overall performance, though the exact percentile is not provided, the rank suggests it is a high-performing setup.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded, and at what settings?

A: The lowest average FPS is 65, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding configuration tested, and the FPS drops to a level that may be less smooth for fast-paced horror gameplay.

Q: Does the game show a larger FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings or Ultra settings?

A: At Low settings, FPS drops from 348 at 1080p to 155 at 4K, a 193 FPS reduction. At Ultra settings, FPS drops from 146 at 1080p to 65 at 4K, a 81 FPS reduction. The absolute drop is larger at Low settings, but the percentage drop is similar (55.5% vs 55.5% respectively).

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER a bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K. At 3840x2160, even at Low settings, the average FPS is 155, which is significantly lower than the 348 FPS at 1080p Low, showing that the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU's frame generation at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings yield an average FPS of 203, while High settings yield 167 FPS. This is a 36 FPS difference, indicating that Medium settings offer a substantial performance boost over High with only a moderate visual quality trade-off.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the resolution and the desired frame rate target. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with High settings delivering 233 FPS and Ultra offering 146 FPS. For the smoothest experience, Low settings at 1080p provide 348 FPS, which is far above any display refresh rate, but the visual quality may be too compromised for a horror game where atmosphere matters. Medium settings at 1080p (284 FPS) strike a balance between visual fidelity and performance, and the minimum FPS of 242 ensures that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays high.

At 1440p, Medium settings (203 FPS) are the best choice for high-refresh-rate monitors, as they deliver a smooth experience with a minimum FPS of 173. High settings (167 FPS) are also viable for 144 Hz displays, but Ultra (104 FPS) may dip below the refresh rate threshold for some users. The data shows that Medium settings at 1440p lose only 81 FPS compared to Low (248 FPS), while providing better visuals. For 4K, the situation is more constrained. Medium settings (126 FPS) are the highest playable option, with a minimum FPS of 107 that stays above 100 FPS, making it suitable for 120 Hz displays. High settings (104 FPS) are also playable, but Ultra (65 FPS) drops to a level where fast-paced horror sequences may feel less fluid. Low settings at 4K (155 FPS) are possible but sacrifice too much visual quality for a game that relies on lighting and shadows for tension.

The best overall experience for most users is Medium settings at 1440p, which provides a high average FPS (203) and a minimum FPS (173) that ensures no major stutters. If playing at 4K, Medium settings are recommended over High or Ultra, as the 126 FPS average is significantly higher than High's 104 FPS and Ultra's 65 FPS, while the visual difference between Medium and High is less impactful in a horror game than the frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combo ranks 447th out of 2,928 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the top 15.3% of all configurations. This rank reflects a high-performing setup that is well-suited for the game, though it is not at the absolute top tier. The CPU's percentile rank of 92 (vs all CPUs) and the GPU's percentile rank of 83 (vs all GPUs) suggest that the combo is slightly CPU-heavy, meaning the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card. This is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows the GPU becoming the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Compared to the CPU's nearest rivals, the combo's performance is closely matched with other high-end systems. The Intel Core i9-14900, which scores 0.5% lower than the Ryzen 7 9850X3D in average benchmarks, would likely produce similar FPS in Downfall when paired with the same GPU. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (1% higher average score), could offer slightly better performance, but the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for this game. The rank of 447 out of 2,928 indicates that this combo is in the upper echelon of tested systems, with only 446 combos performing better, likely featuring higher-tier GPUs or CPUs. For a mid-range-to-high-end GPU like the RTX 4070 SUPER, this rank is impressive and shows that the combo is well-balanced for Downfall's requirements.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 348 at 1920x1080 to 248 at 2560x1440 (a 100 FPS decrease) and then to 155 at 3840x2160 (a further 93 FPS decrease). This represents a total drop of 193 FPS from 1080p to 4K, or a 55.5% reduction in performance. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 146 at 1080p to 104 at 1440p (42 FPS decrease) and then to 65 at 4K (39 FPS decrease), a total drop of 81 FPS, which is also a 55.5% reduction. This consistent percentage drop across settings indicates that the scaling is primarily driven by the GPU's rendering load, not by CPU limitations.

The fact that the percentage drop is nearly identical (55.5% for both Low and Ultra) suggests that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the limiting component at all settings when moving to higher resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect a smaller percentage drop at lower settings (where the CPU has more headroom) and a larger drop at higher settings (where GPU load is higher). Instead, the uniform scaling points to a GPU-bound scenario. The data also shows that the gap between 1080p and 1440p is larger in absolute terms at Low settings (100 FPS) compared to Ultra settings (42 FPS), but the relative drop is similar. This indicates that the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth (504.2 GB/s) are insufficient to maintain frame rates as resolution scales, even with the CPU's high single-thread performance. For a horror game like Downfall, which likely has complex lighting and shadow effects, the 4K resolution at Ultra settings (65 FPS) is the most demanding configuration, and the combo's performance here is only marginal for smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates: Low settings average 348 FPS, Medium settings average 284 FPS (with a minimum of 242 and maximum of 327), High settings average 233 FPS, and Ultra settings average 146 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 202 FPS, showing that the GPU is capable of very high frame rates when settings are reduced, but Ultra settings at 1080p still provide a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally: Low settings average 248 FPS, Medium settings average 203 FPS (minimum 173, maximum 234), High settings average 167 FPS, and Ultra settings average 104 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 144 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p, reflecting the increased GPU load. The Medium settings minimum FPS of 173 ensures that even in the most demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above 144 FPS, making this a solid choice for 144 Hz gaming.

At 3840x2160, the performance is the most constrained: Low settings average 155 FPS, Medium settings average 126 FPS (minimum 107, maximum 145), High settings average 104 FPS, and Ultra settings average 65 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 65 FPS is the lowest measured value, and it highlights the GPU's limitations at high resolutions with maxed-out settings. The Medium settings at 4K, with a minimum of 107 FPS, offer the best balance of visual quality and performance, as the average FPS remains above 120. The data shows that the combo is most effective at 1080p and 1440p, where it can take full advantage of high refresh rates, while 4K playable settings are limited to Medium or below for a consistent 100+ FPS experience.