Downfall

Downfall is a horror title from 2016, and this benchmark pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER shows a system that is heavily influenced by resolution and graphics presets. The data reveals a GPU that handles the game’s engine well at lower resolutions but begins to struggle as pixel count and visual fidelity increase. The measured frame rates provide a clear picture of where this combination excels and where it falls short, allowing for precise tuning based on the target display.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and clearly indicates a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 191.5 FPS, which is an exceptionally high frame rate that suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU more than enough data. Moving to 2560x1440 on Low settings, the frame rate drops to 134 FPS, a significant 30% decrease. The most dramatic decline occurs when scaling to 3840x2160 on Low settings, where the system yields 84.7 FPS. This represents a 55.8% reduction from the 1080p result, demonstrating that the RTX 2060 SUPER’s rendering pipeline becomes the primary bottleneck as the pixel workload expands.

The scaling trend persists across all settings presets. At High settings, the system drops from 128.6 FPS at 1080p to 93.6 FPS at 1440p, and then further to 57 FPS at 4K. This pattern is typical of a graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM and a 256-bit memory bus; the bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the sheer number of pixels at 4K overwhelms the fill rate. The fact that the gap between Low and Ultra presets widens at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 113.4 FPS, but at 4K, that difference shrinks to 46 FPS, showing that the card cannot fully utilize the lower settings' potential when the resolution is high.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest playable frame rate this system achieves in Downfall?

A: The highest measured average is 191.5 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that breaks the 190 FPS barrier.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rival in terms of raw benchmark score?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 19774, which is 0.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070’s score of 19680. It is also 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN.

Q: Is the Core i3-12100F a bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system only produces 38.7 FPS, which is far below the CPU’s capability. The GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the CPU’s multi-threaded performance is sufficient for this workload.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings yield 114.9 FPS, while High settings yield 93.6 FPS. This is a 21.3 FPS difference, indicating that the High preset imposes a moderate additional load on the GPU.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K with any preset?

A: Yes, but only with Low settings, where it averages 84.7 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 66.4 FPS, and at High it falls to 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance compare to its multi-thread score?

A: The CPU scores 1681 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 11912 in multi-core. The multi-core score is about 7 times higher, reflecting the 4 cores and 8 threads of the processor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing for Downfall. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, the card provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as evidenced by the high frame rates at those resolutions. However, the 4K results show the card’s limits. The base clock of 1470 MHz and boost clock of 1650 MHz are modest by modern standards, but the 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs are what drive the rendering performance. The data shows that at 1080p, the card is not fully taxed, as the frame rates scale almost linearly with the settings preset, from 78.1 FPS at Ultra to 191.5 FPS at Low.

The GPU’s benchmark percentile of 63 indicates it sits in the upper-middle tier of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the RTX 2070, which is only 0.5% faster on average, and the older GTX TITAN, which it beats by 0.3%. This close grouping suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER is a well-balanced card for its class. In Downfall specifically, the GPU’s performance at 1440p is particularly strong, with all presets except Ultra exceeding 90 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 54.9 FPS, showing that the card’s architectural limits are reached with the highest visual settings, likely due to the increased shading and texture work that the Turing architecture must handle.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers a wide range of performance depending on the preset. Low settings produce an average of 191.5 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and leaves significant headroom for a higher refresh rate monitor. Medium settings reduce this to 154.7 FPS, still a very playable number. High settings come in at 128.6 FPS, and Ultra drops to 78.1 FPS. The step from High to Ultra is a 50.5 FPS loss, indicating that the Ultra preset applies a heavy load that is not worth the visual gain for most players.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong for a 1440p panel. Low settings yield 134 FPS, Medium produces 114.9 FPS, and High delivers 93.6 FPS. These are all excellent figures for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset, however, drops to 54.9 FPS, which is a steep 38.7 FPS decline from High. This suggests that the Ultra preset at 1440p uses more memory bandwidth or shader complexity than the card can comfortably handle.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limitations are clear. Low settings still manage 84.7 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 66.4 FPS. High settings fall to 57 FPS, and Ultra plunges to 38.7 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a 46 FPS drop, which is less than the 113.4 FPS drop at 1080p. This indicates that the GPU is already saturated at 4K, and the settings changes have a smaller relative impact on the final frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. With a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, it provides strong single-thread performance, which is crucial for older games like Downfall. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681 places it well ahead of many older processors, and its multi-core score of 11912 shows that the 4 cores are capable of handling multi-threaded workloads. In this game, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 191.5 FPS, which is near the limit of what the CPU can provide, but it does not appear to be a bottleneck, as the frame rate scales consistently with GPU load.

The CPU’s benchmark percentile of 72 indicates it outperforms the majority of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, has an average score of 13534, which is only 0.1% higher than the i3-12100F’s score of 13516. This is remarkable, as the Threadripper is a much more expensive and power-hungry part. The data suggests that for gaming workloads like Downfall, the i3-12100F provides adequate performance without limiting the RTX 2060 SUPER. The L3 cache of 12 MB shared and the 10 nm process node contribute to its efficiency, and the 58 W TDP means it doesn’t produce excessive heat. In the context of this game, the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution or preset, as the GPU’s frame rates drop consistently with increased graphical load.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience at 1920x1080, the High preset is the optimal choice, delivering 128.6 FPS. This provides a high level of visual fidelity while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 78.1 FPS is still playable, but the 50.5 FPS penalty from High is substantial, and the visual improvement is unlikely to justify it for a horror game where smoothness matters. For players with 144 Hz monitors, the Medium preset at 154.7 FPS is a better choice, as it offers a balance between quality and speed.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is again the sweet spot, with 93.6 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and provides a crisp image on a 1440p panel. The Medium preset at 114.9 FPS is also viable for those who prefer higher refresh rates, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 54.9 FPS should be avoided, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold and could feel less responsive during fast-paced horror sequences.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience, with 84.7 FPS. The Medium preset at 66.4 FPS is acceptable, but the drop to 57 FPS at High makes that preset less desirable for a 60 Hz display. The Ultra preset at 38.7 FPS is not recommended for serious play. Therefore, for 4K, players should stick to Low or Medium settings to ensure the game remains fluid and responsive.