Downfall

# Downfall with Intel Core i5-10400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

The pairing of Intel's 6-core Comet Lake processor with NVIDIA's flagship Blackwell GPU produces an unusual bottleneck profile in Downfall, a 2016 horror title. Benchmark data shows the RTX 5090 dominating frame rates across all tested resolutions, while the i5-10400F's older architecture limits performance primarily at lower resolutions. The measured FPS values reveal a system where GPU headroom is abundant, yet CPU throughput becomes the determining factor for maximum frame rates in less demanding settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This Comet Lake processor, built on Intel's 14 nm process, sits in the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 14168. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7552 (0.4% ahead), AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (0.8% behind), Intel Core i5-8500 (1.1% behind), and AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (1.2% behind). These deltas are minimal, placing the i5-10400F in a tightly contested performance tier.

In single-threaded workloads, the processor scores 688 in 3DMark single-thread and 1453 in Cinebench R23 single-core. Multi-threaded results are substantially stronger, with Cinebench R23 multi-core hitting 10297 and 3DMark max threads reaching 4735. The 12 MB shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support contribute to a balanced compute profile. For a horror game like Downfall, which typically relies on fewer threads, the single-core performance becomes critical. The gap between single-thread (688) and 4-thread (2560) 3DMark scores suggests scaling efficiency, but the processor’s 14 nm architecture and 65 W TDP indicate it is not a modern high-frequency part.

The data indicates that at 1080p with Low settings, the CPU becomes a limiting factor. The measured 283.4 FPS at 1080p Low represents the highest frame rate in the dataset, yet this is barely above the 263.2 FPS at Medium. The incremental gain from Medium to Low is only 20.2 FPS, suggesting the processor’s ability to feed frames is nearing its ceiling. In contrast, the GPU’s raw compute is far higher than what this CPU can consistently utilize, a pattern visible when comparing resolution scaling across settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. Its 21760 shading units, 680 TMUs, and 176 ROPs provide massive parallel throughput, with FP32 performance rated at 104.8 TFLOPS. The GPU operates at a 2017 MHz base clock and boosts to 2407 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). This card sits in the 94th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84306, placing it just 0.1% ahead of the RTX 5090 D and 0.2% ahead of the RTX 5050 Mobile.

In Downfall, the RTX 5090’s capability is evident in the 4K Ultra result of 84.7 FPS, which remains playable despite the demanding settings. The GPU’s pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s are far beyond what a 2016 horror title requires. The 32 GB VRAM capacity is excessive for this game’s likely memory footprint, but it ensures no capacity-related stuttering at any resolution. The GPU’s 575 W TDP and suggested 950 W PSU reflect its power appetite, yet the measured FPS data shows it delivering consistently high output even at 4K.

The critical observation is that the RTX 5090 is underutilized at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 283.4 FPS result is modest relative to what this GPU could theoretically achieve with a stronger processor. The passmark G3D score of 39650 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 380114 confirm the GPU’s dominance, but the CPU cannot keep pace. This creates a scenario where the GPU’s performance is constrained by the i5-10400F’s instruction throughput, particularly for games like Downfall that may not scale perfectly across many cores.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals clear scaling patterns across three resolutions. At 1080p, frame rates range from 193.8 FPS (Ultra) to 283.4 FPS (Low). Moving to 1440p, the range narrows to 138.5 FPS (Ultra) to 253.1 FPS (Low). At 4K, the range compresses further to 84.7 FPS (Ultra) to 203.5 FPS (Low). The drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 109.4 FPS (from 244.5 to 135.1), representing a 44.7% reduction. For Low settings, the drop is 79.9 FPS (from 283.4 to 203.5), a 28.2% reduction.

These percentages indicate that at Low settings, the CPU bottleneck is more pronounced, as the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is smaller in relative terms. At 1080p Low, the CPU limits the system to 283.4 FPS, and even at 4K Low, the CPU still manages 203.5 FPS, suggesting the GPU has enough headroom to maintain high output despite the resolution increase. Conversely, at Ultra settings, the GPU becomes more involved, and the 4K result of 84.7 FPS shows a significant reduction from 1080p’s 193.8 FPS — a 56.3% drop.

The limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is clearly the bottleneck, as evidenced by the relatively small differences between Low (283.4), Medium (263.2), and High (244.5) settings. At 4K, the GPU takes on a more prominent role, with Ultra (84.7 FPS) being substantially lower than High (135.1 FPS). The data suggests that for this game, the RTX 5090’s capabilities are best leveraged at 4K, where the GPU load increases and the CPU’s limitations become less impactful.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide clear guidance on optimal settings. At 4K, Ultra delivers 84.7 FPS, which is playable but leaves little headroom for frame-time spikes. High at 4K achieves 135.1 FPS, a 59.5% improvement over Ultra, making it the recommended choice for a smooth experience at maximum resolution. Medium at 4K yields 168.9 FPS, and Low reaches 203.5 FPS, but these settings sacrifice visual fidelity for frame rates that exceed the display refresh rates of most monitors.

At 1440p, High provides 218.6 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. Ultra at 1440p drops to 138.5 FPS, still playable but with a 36.6% reduction compared to High. The 1080p results show that High (244.5 FPS) and Medium (263.2 FPS) are both strong, with Low (283.4 FPS) offering only marginal gains. For the best experience, High settings at 1440p or 4K are recommended, as they deliver high frame rates without the steep performance penalty of Ultra.

The data indicates that Ultra settings impose a substantial cost across all resolutions, with the largest drop occurring from High to Ultra at 4K (50.4 FPS). Given that this is a horror game where smoothness matters for immersion, High settings provide the best measured experience per the data. The 4K High result of 135.1 FPS exceeds the 120 Hz threshold, while 1440p High at 218.6 FPS comfortably supports high-refresh-rate displays.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combination in Downfall?

A: The data shows 1440p High delivers 218.6 FPS, which is the highest frame rate among High settings across all resolutions while maintaining visual quality. The 4K High result of 135.1 FPS is also strong, but the 1440p option provides more headroom for consistent performance.

Q: How does the i5-10400F compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmarks?

A: The i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14168, placing it 0.4% behind the AMD EPYC 7552 and 0.8% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. It is also 1.1% and 1.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-8500 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, respectively.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 experience a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions?

A: Yes, the measured FPS at 1080p Low (283.4) and 1080p Medium (263.2) are relatively close, with only a 20.2 FPS difference. This small gap suggests the CPU limits the system at lower resolutions, as the GPU’s additional capability cannot translate into higher frame rates.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Ultra and High settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, Ultra achieves 84.7 FPS while High achieves 135.1 FPS, a difference of 50.4 FPS. This represents a 59.5% improvement from Ultra to High, making High considerably more playable.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 rank among all GPUs in the benchmark database?

A: The RTX 5090 sits in the 94th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 84306. It is 0.1% ahead of the RTX 5090 D, 0.2% ahead of the RTX 5050 Mobile, and 1.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon PRO W6600.

Q: Is the 4K Low setting viable for competitive play in Downfall?

A: The 4K Low result of 203.5 FPS is the highest frame rate at that resolution, providing a smooth experience. However, Low settings reduce visual fidelity, and the 4K High option at 135.1 FPS may offer a better balance for most players.