Downfall

# Downfall with Intel Core i5-10400F + AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a striking performance profile in Downfall, a 2016 horror title. The data shows a combination that is heavily GPU-limited at lower resolutions, yet the CPU's six cores and twelve threads, running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz, provide a solid foundation. The processor, built on the 14 nm Comet Lake architecture, holds a percentile ranking of 73 against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14168. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7552 (0.4% faster), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (0.8% slower), the Intel Core i5-8500 (1.1% slower), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (1.2% slower). This close grouping indicates that the i5-10400F sits in a well-populated performance tier, and its 12 MB of shared L3 cache helps feed the Radeon RX 7900 XT efficiently.

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

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides 6 cores and 12 threads, a configuration that proves sufficient for Downfall's demands. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 284.8 FPS average, which suggests the CPU is not the primary constraint at this resolution. The processor's single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 688 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1453, is adequate for the game's logic and physics processing. However, the multi-threaded capabilities shine in this context: the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10297 and Geekbench multicore score of 5783 indicate that the CPU can handle background tasks and game threads without bottlenecking.

The boost clock of 4.30 GHz is critical for maintaining high frame rates in Downfall, especially when the GPU is pushing very high FPS at 1080p. At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 284.8 is well above what most displays can show, and the CPU's ability to sustain this performance depends on its thermal and power headroom. The 65 W TDP is modest, ensuring consistent boost behavior without excessive heat generation. The Passmark multithread score of 12115 and Passmark single-thread score of 2541 further confirm that the CPU is balanced between raw thread count and per-core efficiency.

When the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU takes over as the limiting factor, but the CPU still needs to keep up with draw calls and game logic. The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 62.1, which is a significant reduction from the 1080p Low figure. This drop is primarily attributable to the GPU's workload, but the CPU's consistent performance across resolutions—evidenced by the 3DMark 16-thread score of 4748—ensures that frame pacing remains stable. The i5-10400F's 12 threads are sufficient to avoid stutter in this horror title, even when the GPU is maxed out.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data for Downfall reveals distinct performance tiers across settings presets. At 1080p, the Low preset yields 284.8 FPS, Medium produces 263.8 FPS, High delivers 223.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 143.7 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra represents a 35.7% reduction in frame rate, which is substantial for a visual upgrade that may not be perceptible in a horror game's often dark environments. For the smoothest experience at 1080p, the High preset offers a strong balance: 223.4 FPS is far beyond the 144 Hz refresh rate of most monitors, and the visual improvements over Low are noticeable.

At 1440p, the scaling shows similar behavior: Low achieves 242 FPS, Medium reaches 197.9 FPS, High hits 163.1 FPS, and Ultra falls to 103 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p provides 197.9 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming, while High at 163.1 FPS remains above the 144 FPS threshold. For 1440p, the High preset is recommended as it delivers a smooth experience with enhanced visual fidelity, and the 163.1 FPS average leaves headroom for occasional dips.

At 4K, the choices become more constrained. Low produces 146.5 FPS, Medium delivers 121.9 FPS, High offers 101.5 FPS, and Ultra drops to 62.1 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K falls below 60 FPS if there are any frame-time spikes, making it risky for a game that relies on atmospheric tension. The High preset at 4K, with 101.5 FPS, provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and is the best choice for 4K displays. Medium at 121.9 FPS is also viable, but High's visual improvements justify the 20 FPS cost. In summary, the data suggests that High is the optimal preset across all resolutions, offering the best balance between visual quality and frame rate stability.

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

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 223.4 at 1080p to 163.1 at 1440p, then to 101.5 at 4K. This represents a 27% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 55% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, which indicates that the GPU's rasterization and shading capabilities are being taxed increasingly as pixel count rises. The RX 7900 XT, with its 5376 shading units and 192 ROPs, is powerful enough to maintain high frame rates, but the 4K resolution demands 3840x2160 pixels, which is 4 times the pixel count of 1080p.

The Low settings preset shows a similar trend: 284.8 FPS at 1080p, 242 FPS at 1440p, and 146.5 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 39.5%, which is less severe than the High preset's 37.8% drop from 1440p to 4K, suggesting that the Low preset reduces the GPU's per-pixel workload enough to mitigate the resolution penalty. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 143.7 FPS at 1080p, 103 FPS at 1440p, and 62.1 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure is 56.8% lower than the 1080p Ultra figure, confirming that the GPU is the limiting component when all visual effects are enabled.

The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal, as evidenced by the consistent FPS ratios across resolutions. The i5-10400F's performance, with a Passmark physics score of 696 and a 3DMark 8-thread score of 3929, is sufficient to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions. The data indicates that the RX 7900 XT is the bottleneck at 4K, particularly at Ultra settings where the 62.1 FPS average suggests that the GPU's compute resources are fully utilized. This is a healthy pairing for a horror game like Downfall, where the CPU rarely becomes a limiting factor, and the GPU's 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 800.0 GB/s bandwidth handle the game's texture and geometry demands without issue.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-10400F + AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT combination ranks 391 out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the top 22.5% of all configurations. This ranking is impressive given the CPU's relatively modest position in the overall CPU hierarchy (73rd percentile) and the GPU's strong showing (82nd percentile). The combo's performance is driven primarily by the GPU, which delivers an average benchmark score of 38358, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (0% difference), the NVIDIA CMP 70HX (0.3% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 (0.4% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (0.6% faster). This tight grouping means the RX 7900 XT is performing at a level consistent with its peers.

The CPU's contribution to the combo rank is secondary but non-trivial. The i5-10400F's average benchmark score of 14168 places it 0.4% behind the AMD EPYC 7552 and 0.8% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. These small deltas indicate that the CPU is not leaving significant performance on the table in Downfall. The combo's rank of 391 out of 1741 suggests that there are 390 combinations that perform better, likely featuring newer CPUs with higher single-thread performance or more cores. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo delivers excellent playable frame rates at all resolutions and settings, with even the worst-case scenario (4K Ultra) hitting 62.1 FPS.

The rank also reflects the game's age and optimization. Downfall, released in 2016, may not fully utilize the RX 7900 XT's modern features like ray tracing (84 RT cores) or the DirectX 12 Ultimate API. The GPU's Passmark DirectX 12 score of 110 is relatively low compared to its DirectX 11 score of 340, suggesting that the game's engine may be more efficient with older APIs. Despite this, the combo's high FPS numbers across all settings indicate that the hardware is more than capable of handling this horror title, and the rank of 391 confirms the GPU's raw power overcoming any potential software inefficiencies.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Downfall?

A: The data shows that 1440p at High settings delivers 163.1 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. At 4K, the High preset provides 101.5 FPS, which is smooth but leaves less headroom. The 1080p results (223.4 FPS at High) are excessively high for most monitors, making 1440p the sweet spot.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p compared to 4K?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo hits 284.8 FPS, indicating the CPU is not a bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 62.1, which is a GPU limitation. The CPU's consistent performance across resolutions, evidenced by its 73rd percentile ranking, shows it is not the limiting factor in this game.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth the FPS cost?

A: At 1080p, Ultra (143.7 FPS) is 35.7% slower than High (223.4 FPS). At 4K, Ultra (62.1 FPS) is 38.8% slower than High (101.5 FPS). The visual differences in a horror game are often subtle, so High is recommended for better frame rate stability.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 391 out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the top 22.5%. This is a strong result, driven largely by the RX 7900 XT's 82nd percentile GPU ranking, despite the CPU's more modest 73rd percentile standing.

Q: Is the RX 7900 XT's performance consistent with its rivals?

A: Yes, the GPU's nearest rivals show a delta of just 0.6% or less. The RTX 5080 Mobile is 0% different, the CMP 70HX is 0.3% faster, and the MX570 is 0.4% slower. This indicates the RX 7900 XT is performing exactly as expected.

Q: What settings should be used for a 4K display?

A: The High preset at 4K provides 101.5 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and offers good visual quality. Medium gives 121.9 FPS for more headroom, but High is recommended for the best balance. Ultra at 62.1 FPS is risky if frame times spike.