Downfall

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process. The GPU carries 32 GB of GDDR7 memory across a 512-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2407 MHz, with a base clock of 2017 MHz. These specifications position the card at the 92nd percentile of all GPUs in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 77712.

In the context of Downfall, a horror title released in 2016, the RTX 5090 D's massive frame buffer and bandwidth prove decisive. The game's measured FPS at 4K Ultra reaches 90 FPS, while dropping to Low settings at the same resolution yields 214 FPS. The 32 GB VRAM capacity is far beyond what a 2016-era title would demand, meaning memory capacity is never a bottleneck. Instead, the limiting factor shifts to the GPU's raw compute throughput — 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 and 1,636.8 GTexel/s texture rate — which directly drives the pixel and texture fill rates needed to sustain high frame rates.

The RTX 5090 D's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which is 1.6% slower, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, which trails by 2.4%. The RTX 5090 D outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT by 1.1%. These deltas are small, indicating that the 5090 D sits in a tightly contested performance tier, but its combination of 21760 shading units and 176 ROPs gives it a decisive edge in fill-rate-bound scenarios like Downfall's dark, texture-heavy environments.

At 1080p, the GPU's headroom is enormous. The difference between Low (387 FPS) and Ultra (202 FPS) at 1080p is 185 FPS, a 91.6% gap that reflects the computational cost of the Ultra preset's additional effects. The GPU's pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s are more than sufficient to saturate even high-refresh displays at lower resolutions, but the Ultra preset's heavier shading load pulls average FPS down to 202 — still well above 144 Hz.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear resolution scaling curve that points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At Low settings, average FPS falls from 387 at 1080p to 345 at 1440p and then to 214 at 4K. This represents a 44.7% drop from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is less steep at Ultra settings: 202 FPS at 1080p, 144 FPS at 1440p, and 90 FPS at 4K — a 55.4% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

The fact that Ultra settings show a proportionally larger drop at 4K compared to Low settings indicates that the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth become increasingly taxed as pixel count and per-pixel work both rise. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely contributing more to the frame time, since the GPU can process frames so quickly that it may occasionally wait on the processor. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is unequivocally the limiting component.

Comparing Medium settings across resolutions provides a cleaner view of the scaling: 361 FPS at 1080p, 282 FPS at 1440p, and 175 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 21.9%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 37.9%. This steeper decline at higher resolutions is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels being rasterized grows quadratically. The RTX 5090 D's 1.79 TB/s bandwidth is impressive but still finite, and 4K's 8.3 million pixels demand substantial memory traffic.

The 1080p to 4K scaling at Ultra (55.4% drop) versus Low (44.7% drop) suggests that the Ultra preset's additional lighting and shadow calculations amplify the resolution penalty. At Low settings, the reduced per-pixel work means the GPU can more efficiently hide memory latency, resulting in a shallower scaling curve. The data supports a conclusion that the RTX 5090 D is the performance ceiling for this combination, with the CPU playing a secondary role at lower resolutions and settings.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor from the 5000 series, based on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) on a 7 nm process. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, boosting to 4.80 GHz. The CPU has a 64 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. It sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41376.

In multi-threaded workloads, the 5900X scores 16262 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 10075 in 3DMark max threads. Single-thread performance is respectable but less dominant: 1527 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 941 in 3DMark single-thread. For Downfall, a horror title from 2016, the game's threading model is unlikely to scale perfectly across all 24 threads. The CPU's 12 physical cores provide ample headroom for any background tasks, but the game's primary thread performance is what matters most for frame pacing.

The nearest CPU rivals in the database are 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). The Intel Core i7-14650HX is 0.5% slower. These tiny deltas indicate the 5900X is well-positioned in its performance tier, though not a leader.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU's influence is most visible at 1080p Low, where the GPU is so fast that the CPU's single-thread speed can become a limiting factor. The 387 FPS at 1080p Low is the highest recorded average across all settings and resolutions, suggesting that this is near the engine's practical frame rate ceiling. The CPU's 4.80 GHz boost clock and 941 single-thread 3DMark score provide enough processing power to feed the GPU at these extreme frame rates, but the game's 2016-era engine likely has a hard cap on how many draw calls it can issue per second.

At 4K Ultra, the CPU's role diminishes. The 90 FPS average is far below the CPU's potential throughput, meaning the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU's 8,300 million transistors and dual 74 mm² die size indicate a robust design, but Downfall's workload at 4K Ultra is dominated by pixel shading and memory bandwidth, not CPU logic. The 5900X's 64 MB L3 cache helps reduce memory latency for game logic, but this advantage is overshadowed by the GPU's massive compute resources.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average FPS is 387, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is followed by 361 FPS at 1080p Medium and 345 FPS at 1440p Low.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 D outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT by 1.1%, but trails the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT by 1.6% and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB and 16 GB by 2.1% and 2.4%, respectively. Its average benchmark score is 77712.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, Low settings yield 214 FPS average, while Ultra settings yield 90 FPS. This represents a 124 FPS difference, meaning Ultra settings produce 57.9% fewer frames per second compared to Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 282, with minimum 240 and maximum 324. Given the CPU's high single-thread score and the GPU's massive bandwidth, the data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter at this resolution, though the CPU still contributes to frame pacing.

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

A: This combination ranks 35th out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the top 1.2% of all configurations tested.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 307, with a maximum of 415 and an average of 361. This minimum is higher than the average FPS at 4K Ultra (90 FPS), demonstrating the resolution's impact on performance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. At 4K, Medium settings deliver 175 FPS average with a minimum of 149 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay on high-refresh displays. Ultra at 4K drops to 90 FPS, which is still playable but may not saturate 144 Hz monitors. Low at 4K yields 214 FPS but sacrifices visual quality in a horror game where atmosphere matters.

For 1440p, Medium settings produce 282 FPS average with a minimum of 240, making this the sweet spot for high-refresh gaming. High settings at 1440p reach 231 FPS, still well above 144 Hz. Ultra at 1440p matches the 4K High performance at 144 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional effects at 1440p cost roughly the same as High at 4K.

At 1080p, Medium (361 FPS) and High (324 FPS) both provide exceptional performance. The Ultra preset at 202 FPS is the only setting that dips below 300 FPS at this resolution. The data shows that Medium settings offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions, with minimum FPS values staying above 149 at 4K and above 240 at 1440p.

For players with 144 Hz displays, 4K Medium (175 FPS) or 4K High (144 FPS) are both viable. The 4K Ultra setting at 90 FPS is better suited for 60 Hz displays or for players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate. The Low preset, while offering the highest FPS, strips away the atmospheric effects that define the horror genre experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 3840x2160 (4K), the measured average FPS values are: Low 214, Medium 175, High 144, Ultra 90. The Medium preset records a minimum of 149 and maximum of 202 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 124 FPS, meaning Ultra delivers 57.9% lower average FPS than Low. The High preset at 144 FPS is exactly half the Ultra at 90 FPS plus 54 FPS — a 60% improvement over Ultra.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the averages are: Low 345, Medium 282, High 231, Ultra 144. Medium shows a minimum of 240 and maximum of 324 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 201 FPS, a 58.3% reduction. High at 231 FPS is 60.4% faster than Ultra at 144 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 240 FPS exceeds the High average of 231 FPS, indicating that Medium provides more consistent frame pacing.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the averages are: Low 387, Medium 361, High 324, Ultra 202. Medium records a minimum of 307 and maximum of 415 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 185 FPS, with Ultra delivering 47.8% lower average FPS than Low. High at 324 FPS is 60.4% faster than Ultra. The Medium preset's minimum of 307 FPS is higher than the High average of 324 FPS, showing that Medium maintains more stable frame rates.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently offers the best combination of average FPS and minimum FPS stability. The Ultra preset's performance penalty is steepest at 4K, where it drops to 90 FPS, versus 144 FPS at 1440p and 202 FPS at 1080p. The Low preset's maximum advantage over Medium is just 26 FPS at 1080p (387 vs 361), but its visual quality sacrifice is significant for a horror title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 35th out of 2928 tested combinations in Downfall. This places the combo in the top 1.2% of all configurations tested, a strong showing that reflects the high performance of both components.

The rank of 35 is notable given the GPU's 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs and the CPU's 87th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The combination outperforms the vast majority of tested systems, with only 34 other combos achieving higher average FPS in Downfall. Given that the RTX 5090 D is a top-tier GPU and the Ryzen 9 5900X is a high-end desktop processor, this rank is consistent with expectations.

The fact that this combo does not rank even higher (e.g., top 10) may be attributed to the game's 2016-era engine, which may not fully utilize the CPU's 12 cores or the GPU's advanced features. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, are within 0.4% in average benchmark score, suggesting that the 5900X is not a limiting factor. Instead, the game's engine overhead and single-threaded bottlenecks likely cap performance at the high frame rates observed.

The combo's ranking relative to other tested combinations indicates that while the hardware is exceptionally powerful, Downfall's optimization limits how much of that power can be translated into FPS. The 90 FPS at 4K Ultra is a case in point: the GPU is capable of far higher frame rates in more modern titles, but the horror game's rendering pipeline and asset complexity constrain performance. The rank of 35 out of 2928 is a strong result, but it also highlights the diminishing returns of pairing top-tier hardware with an older game engine.