Downfall

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Downfall with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Arc B390 combination reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces 106 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops that to 76 FPS, a reduction of 30 FPS. At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields 47 FPS average, representing a 59 FPS decline from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting component as pixel count rises.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory. At 1080p, the combo averages 87 FPS. At 1440p, this falls to 62 FPS. At 4K, the average drops further to 39 FPS. The High preset follows suit: 71 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, starting at 44 FPS at 1080p, falling to 32 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 20 FPS at 4K.

The FPS deltas between resolutions grow larger as settings increase. For Low, the gap between 1080p and 1440p is 30 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 29 FPS. For Ultra, the gap between 1080p and 1440p is 12 FPS, and the gap between 1440p and 4K is also 12 FPS. This suggests that at lower settings, the GPU is more heavily taxed by resolution scaling, while at higher settings, the absolute FPS values are so low that the resolution differences compress.

The data indicates that 1080p is the only resolution where this combo approaches smooth gameplay across multiple presets. The 4K results are marginal at best, with only the Low preset exceeding 40 FPS. The limiting component is clearly the GPU, as the CPU's benchmark scores place it in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU's percentile ranking is just 9th.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process. Its base clock is 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. It also includes 12 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1).

Memory is system shared, meaning the GPU relies on the CPU's DDR5 memory. The memory bandwidth is listed as system dependent, which means actual performance will vary based on the installed system memory configuration. The GPU's TDP is 80 W, and it connects via the IGP bus interface with no power connectors required.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482. This places it in the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463 (1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M with 1460 (1.5% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM with 1446 (2.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 with 1443 (2.7% slower). These are all entry-level or legacy discrete GPUs, which contextualizes the Arc B390's performance tier.

The GPU's low percentile ranking relative to the CPU's high ranking explains the FPS patterns observed. In Downfall, the Arc B390's limited shading throughput and system-shared memory bandwidth constrain performance. The 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 figure is modest by modern standards, and the system-dependent memory bandwidth means that at higher resolutions, the GPU must work harder to access textures and frame buffers. The 4K results, with no preset exceeding 47 FPS average, reflect this limitation. Even at 1080p Low, the 106 FPS average suggests the GPU is operating near its practical ceiling for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D + Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2589 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested combinations. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's limited performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part. The CPU alone sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 75779. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (75738, 0.1% slower), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (75716, 0.1% slower), the AMD EPYC 8224P (75582, 0.3% slower), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (75488, 0.4% slower).

The stark contrast between the CPU's high ranking and the GPU's low ranking creates a severe bottleneck scenario. The combo rank of 2589 out of 2928 indicates that most other tested combinations deliver better performance in Downfall. This is expected given that the Arc B390 is an integrated GPU, while the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a flagship desktop processor. The data suggests that pairing this CPU with a more capable discrete GPU would yield dramatically better results.

The combo's position in the rankings is consistent across all measured settings and resolutions. No preset at any resolution produces FPS values that would be considered competitive with higher-ranked combos. The best result, 106 FPS at 1080p Low, is respectable for an iGPU but falls short of what a mid-range discrete GPU could achieve. The Ultra preset at 4K, with 20 FPS average, represents the worst-case scenario for this pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and acceptable frame rates. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 106 FPS average, which is the highest measured result across all configurations. The Medium preset at 1080p provides 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. The High preset at 1080p yields 71 FPS average. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 44 FPS average.

For smooth gameplay at 1080p, the Medium preset offers the best balance. The 87 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the minimum of 74 FPS indicates consistent frame delivery. The High preset at 71 FPS average is also viable, though the lower minimum frame rate could introduce occasional stutter in demanding scenes. The Low preset's 106 FPS is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays but sacrifices visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset provides 76 FPS average, which is playable. The Medium preset at 62 FPS average with a minimum of 53 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 51 FPS average may experience noticeable frame pacing issues. The Ultra preset at 32 FPS average is not recommended for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset at 47 FPS average approaches playability. The Medium preset at 39 FPS average and the High preset at 32 FPS average fall below acceptable thresholds for most players. The Ultra preset at 20 FPS average is effectively unplayable.

Given the data, the recommended configuration is 1080p with Medium settings. This provides 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 FPS, which balances visual fidelity with smooth performance. Users prioritizing frame rate over visuals can opt for the Low preset at 106 FPS average. Those with less demanding needs might attempt 1440p Low at 76 FPS average, but 4K gameplay is not viable beyond the Low preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets for each resolution. At 3840x2160, the High preset averages 32 FPS. The Low preset at 4K averages 47 FPS. The Medium preset averages 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 20 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 51 FPS. The Low preset averages 76 FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 32 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 71 FPS. The Low preset averages 106 FPS. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 44 FPS.

The Medium preset is the only configuration with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values across all resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 74 to 100 FPS. At 1440p, the range is 53 to 71 FPS. At 4K, the range is 33 to 44 FPS. These ranges indicate that the Medium preset maintains relatively consistent frame delivery, with the 4K range being the tightest at 11 FPS spread.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p for each preset shows a consistent reduction. High drops from 71 to 51 FPS (20 FPS reduction). Low drops from 106 to 76 FPS (30 FPS reduction). Medium drops from 87 to 62 FPS (25 FPS reduction). Ultra drops from 44 to 32 FPS (12 FPS reduction). From 1440p to 4K, High drops from 51 to 32 FPS (19 FPS reduction), Low drops from 76 to 47 FPS (29 FPS reduction), Medium drops from 62 to 39 FPS (23 FPS reduction), and Ultra drops from 32 to 20 FPS (12 FPS reduction).

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Downfall?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 106 at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo run Downfall at 4K smoothly?

A: The data shows 4K performance is limited. The Low preset averages 47 FPS, Medium averages 39 FPS, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 20 FPS. Only the Low preset approaches playable frame rates.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710.

Q: What is the combo's rank among tested combinations in Downfall?

A: The combo ranks 2589 out of 2928 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of all tested combinations.

Q: Which settings preset provides the best experience at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p averages 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This offers the best balance of visual quality and smooth performance.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 75779.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The CPU features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory via a dual-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The processor includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics and supports ECC memory. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 with a TDP of 170 W.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance. It scores 42018 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6536 in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The single-core scores are 2259 in Cinebench R23 and 350 in Cinebench R15. In Geekbench, it scores 26736 multi-core and 3064 single-core. PassMark results show 70255 in multi-thread tests and 4737 in single-thread tests. The 3DMark tests show 17184 for max threads, 16374 for 16 threads, 9259 for 8 threads, 4963 for 4 threads, and 2549 for 2 threads.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 75779, placing it in the 95th percentile. Its nearest rivals are all within 0.4% in average score, indicating that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is performance-competitive with other high-end processors. The 16,630 million transistors on a 4 nm TSMC process with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm² highlight the advanced manufacturing.

In the context of Downfall, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics calculations, and game logic. Given the CPU's high benchmark scores, it is unlikely to be the bottleneck in this combo. The measured FPS data supports this interpretation: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 106 FPS, which suggests the CPU can handle the game's demands. The limiting factor is the Arc B390's rendering throughput, as evidenced by the rapid FPS decline at higher resolutions and settings. The CPU's 128 MB L3 cache and high boost clock are more than sufficient for a horror title like Downfall, which typically does not stress multi-threaded performance as heavily as other genres. The data indicates that the CPU is operating well within its capabilities, while the GPU is saturated.