Downfall

# Downfall with AMD Ryzen 9 5900X + Intel Arc B370

This combination of an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B370 produces a playable but constrained experience in Downfall, a horror title that scales heavily with both resolution and quality settings. The measured data shows a system that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the processor's 12 cores and 24 threads provide ample headroom even at the most demanding settings. Across all tested configurations, the combo ranks 2688 out of 2928 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems for this specific game. The Arc B370, with its integrated-class design and 25 W TDP, delivers performance comparable to legacy graphics solutions from over a decade ago, which fundamentally shapes what is achievable in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a dramatic and consistent performance drop that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 64 FPS at 1920x1080 to 46 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 18 FPS, and then further to 29 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 54.7% decrease from 1080p to 4K at High settings, with each resolution step exacting a significant toll on frame rates. The pattern is consistent across all quality presets, though the absolute numbers differ.

At Low settings, the system achieves 96 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 68 FPS at 1440p and 43 FPS at 4K. The 4K result at Low settings is actually lower than the 1080p result at High settings, underscoring how resolution affects performance more than quality presets in this configuration. Medium settings show a similar trajectory: 78 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, yields 40 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and just 18 FPS at 4K.

The scaling behavior indicates that Downfall is heavily pixel-bound on this hardware. The Arc B370's system-shared memory and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate become the limiting factor as resolution increases. The GPU's 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is simply insufficient to maintain higher frame rates at 4K, regardless of the quality settings chosen. The 25 W TDP and integrated form factor (IGP) further constrain performance, as the GPU cannot sustain the workload required by 4K rendering in this horror title.

Interestingly, the performance gap between 1080p and 1440p is relatively consistent across settings, while the jump from 1440p to 4K produces a steeper decline. This suggests that memory bandwidth or pixel throughput limitations become more pronounced at the highest resolution, where the system-shared memory architecture struggles to keep up with the data demands of 2160p rendering.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture with a 7 nm process node. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz provide substantial single-thread performance, as evidenced by a 3dmark single-thread score of 941 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1527. The processor's 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth contribute to solid overall computing capability.

In the context of Downfall, the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 96 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate across all configurations. Even at Ultra settings with the same resolution, the CPU manages to feed the GPU enough to reach 40 FPS. The processor's multi-threaded capabilities, reflected in a 3dmark max-threads score of 10075 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16262, ensure that game logic, physics, and AI calculations are handled without introducing frame rate limitations.

The 8-thread performance score of 6601 in 3dmark indicates strong scaling across cores, which is relevant for modern games that utilize multiple threads. However, Downfall's horror genre typically involves constrained environments with limited NPC counts, meaning the CPU workload is likely moderate. The single-thread score of 3469 in Passmark and the 3dmark 2-thread score of 1852 suggest that even lightly-threaded sections of the game would run smoothly on this processor.

The processor's 87th percentile ranking against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41376, places it well above the median. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (0.3% faster), Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (0.4% faster), and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (0.4% faster), all of which are within a rounding error of the 5900X's performance. The Intel Core i7-14650HX trails by 0.5%. This indicates that the CPU is more than adequate for Downfall, and any performance limitations in the measured FPS data are attributable to the GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance occurs at Medium settings at 1080p, where the system delivers 78 FPS on average with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. This configuration provides smooth gameplay that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining acceptable visual fidelity. The minimum frame rate of 67 FPS indicates that even during demanding scenes, the system does not drop below playable levels.

For users prioritizing maximum smoothness, Low settings at 1080p deliver 96 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all configurations. This comes at the cost of reduced visual quality but ensures the most consistent frame pacing. At 1440p, Medium settings provide 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS, which may be acceptable for players who prefer higher resolutions and can tolerate occasional dips below 60 FPS.

The High preset at 1080p offers 64 FPS, which is a reasonable middle ground, but the Medium preset achieves 14 FPS higher with likely minimal visual difference in a horror title where atmospheric effects are more important than texture detail. At 4K, no setting achieves a playable frame rate, with even Low settings producing only 43 FPS and Ultra dropping to 18 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 18 FPS is below the threshold for smooth gameplay and should be avoided entirely.

The Ultra preset presents a significant performance penalty across all resolutions: at 1080p it achieves 40 FPS, which is roughly half the performance of Low settings at the same resolution. Given that the Medium preset at 1440p (56 FPS) outperforms Ultra at 1080p (40 FPS), users should prioritize resolution over Ultra quality settings when using this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2688 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. This poor ranking is entirely attributable to the GPU, as the CPU's 87th percentile standing demonstrates that the processor is well above average. The GPU, by contrast, sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184 based on the 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 test.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% faster), all of which are over a decade old. The AMD FirePro M2000 trails by 1.4%. This comparison places the Arc B370 in the same performance class as legacy discrete GPUs from the early 2010s, which explains its inability to handle Downfall at high resolutions or quality settings.

The ranking disparity between the CPU and GPU creates a fundamentally unbalanced system for gaming. While the Ryzen 9 5900X provides exceptional processing power that would support even the most demanding modern titles, the Arc B370's integrated-class performance holds the entire system back. In Downfall specifically, the combo's rank of 2688 reflects the GPU's limitations rather than any CPU deficiency.

The measured FPS data confirms this analysis: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 96 FPS, which is respectable, but this drops to 40 FPS at Ultra settings. The 4K results are universally poor, with the best case being 43 FPS at Low settings. These numbers are consistent with a GPU that performs similarly to solutions from 2010-2011 era, as indicated by its nearest rivals.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Downfall with this hardware combination?

A: 1920x1080 is the only resolution where playable frame rates are achieved across all settings. At 1080p, frame rates range from 40 FPS at Ultra to 96 FPS at Low, with Medium delivering 78 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (68 FPS) and Medium (56 FPS) exceed 30 FPS, while 4K is not recommended for any setting.

Q: How does the Ultra preset affect performance compared to Low?

A: The Ultra preset reduces average frame rates by more than half compared to Low settings at every resolution. At 1080p, Ultra achieves 40 FPS versus 96 FPS at Low, a 56 FPS difference. At 1440p, the gap is 39 FPS (29 FPS Ultra versus 68 FPS Low), and at 4K, it narrows to 25 FPS (18 FPS Ultra versus 43 FPS Low).

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5900X sufficient for this game?

A: Yes. The processor's 12 cores, 24 threads, and boost clock of 4.80 GHz provide ample performance. Its 3dmark single-thread score of 941 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1527 indicate strong single-threaded capability, and the 87th percentile ranking against all CPUs confirms it is not a bottleneck in Downfall.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings. This is the highest frame rate achievable at 1440p while maintaining reasonable visual quality, though it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold during demanding scenes.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to other GPUs in this game?

A: The Arc B370 performs at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with performance similar to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, and AMD Radeon HD 7650M. This places it in the same class as GPUs from approximately 2010-2011, which limits its ability to run Downfall at higher resolutions.

Q: Should 4K resolution be attempted with this system?

A: No. The best 4K result is 43 FPS at Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. Medium settings at 4K achieve 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS, while High settings drop to 29 FPS and Ultra to 18 FPS. None of these configurations provide an acceptable experience at 3840x2160.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates for Downfall with this hardware combination is presented below, organized by resolution and settings preset.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 96 FPS, which is the highest measured value across all configurations. Medium settings achieve 78 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS, providing consistent frame pacing. High settings yield 64 FPS on average, while Ultra settings drop to 40 FPS. The 1080p resolution is the only one where all settings exceed 30 FPS, and the only resolution where any setting reaches or exceeds 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades noticeably. Low settings average 68 FPS, which remains playable, while Medium settings drop to 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS. High settings average 46 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 29 FPS. The 1440p results show that only Low and Medium settings maintain average frame rates above 50 FPS, with the minimum frame rate at Medium being 48 FPS.

At 3840x2160, all settings produce frame rates below the playable threshold for most users. Low settings average 43 FPS, Medium settings average 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS, High settings average 29 FPS, and Ultra settings average 18 FPS. The 4K results demonstrate that this hardware combination is not suitable for this resolution in Downfall, regardless of quality settings.

The data shows a clear pattern: each resolution increase from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by approximately 30%, while the increase from 1440p to 4K reduces frame rates by an additional 35-40%. This scaling behavior is consistent with a GPU that is limited by pixel throughput and memory bandwidth, as the system-shared memory configuration cannot efficiently handle the increased data requirements of higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process node. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU's base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2400 MHz, and it has a TDP of just 25 W, reflecting its integrated-class design.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest: 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.29 TFLOPS of FP16 performance (2:1 ratio). Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. Memory is system-shared, which means the GPU uses the same DDR4 memory as the CPU, with bandwidth described as "system dependent." This architecture fundamentally limits the GPU's ability to handle high-resolution textures and large frame buffers.

In Downfall, the GPU's limitations are immediately apparent. The measured performance at 4K, where all settings produce frame rates below 45 FPS, indicates that the pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s is insufficient for 3840x2160 rendering. Even at 1080p, the Ultra preset drops to 40 FPS, suggesting that the GPU's fill rate and compute capabilities are stretched by the game's visual effects at higher quality settings.

The GPU's 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with a 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, places it in the same performance tier as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, 0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, 0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, 0.7% faster). These comparisons highlight the GPU's age-equivalent performance, which is particularly problematic for a 2026 release with a 3 nm process node.

The system-shared memory configuration means the GPU has no dedicated VRAM, relying instead on the CPU's DDR4 memory subsystem. This creates potential bandwidth bottlenecks, especially at higher resolutions where memory traffic increases substantially. The 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth of the Ryzen 9 5900X's dual-channel DDR4 configuration is shared between CPU and GPU workloads, further constraining performance in memory-intensive scenarios.

The GPU's 10 ray tracing cores provide some hardware acceleration for ray-traced effects, but the overall compute throughput of 6.144 TFLOPS limits the practical use of such features in Downfall. The game's horror genre often relies on dynamic lighting and shadows, which can be computationally expensive, and the GPU's limited resources are better allocated to maintaining acceptable frame rates at lower settings rather than enabling advanced visual effects.

The combination of a high-end 12-core CPU with an entry-level integrated GPU creates a significant performance imbalance. While the Ryzen 9 5900X provides more than enough processing power for any game scenario, the Arc B370's integrated-class performance caps the system's gaming capabilities at 1080p Medium settings, where it achieves 78 FPS. This configuration is suitable for users who prioritize CPU-intensive workloads and play games at modest resolutions and quality settings.