Downfall

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In the context of Downfall, a horror title from 2016, this processor's configuration is more than adequate for the game's demands. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide sufficient bandwidth for gaming workloads of this era. Its benchmark scores underscore its capability: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14372 and a single-core score of 2029 indicate strong performance that will not bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios. The processor's 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17181, places it comfortably above the median, ensuring that in a game like Downfall, the CPU is unlikely to be the primary constraint on frame rates. The data shows that the CPU's multi-threaded performance, as measured by the 3DMark max threads test at 5652, is robust, but for a game from 2016, the single-thread performance (3DMark single thread score of 868) is often more critical, and this chip delivers adequately on that front.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 2055 MHz, with a boost clock of 2635 MHz and a game clock of 2410 MHz, providing substantial computational power. In Downfall, the GPU's role is paramount, as the game's visual effects and resolution scaling heavily tax the graphics processor. The RX 6650 XT's 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs are well-suited for rendering the game's horror environments. The data confirms this, with the GPU holding a 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 29024. Its performance in DirectX 11 (PassMark score of 169) and DirectX 12 (PassMark score of 62) shows it is capable of handling modern and legacy APIs, which is relevant for a game released in 2016. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game's texture requirements at 1080p and 1440p, though at 4K Ultra settings, the data reveals the frame rate drops significantly, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor in the most demanding scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo in Downfall shows a clear and expected trend: performance degrades as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 197.1 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck; the GPU has plenty of headroom. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 143.4 FPS, a decrease of approximately 27%. At 4K Low, the frame rate falls further to 87.7 FPS, another significant drop of about 39% from 1440p. This pattern indicates that as resolution increases, the workload shifts more heavily onto the GPU, and the RX 6650 XT becomes the limiting component. The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 81.3 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 38 FPS, a reduction of over 53%. This steep decline at 4K Ultra demonstrates that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth are insufficient for the highest fidelity at that resolution. Conversely, the relatively small drop between 1080p and 1440p at High settings (from 136.6 FPS to 93.3 FPS) suggests a balanced load, but the 4K results confirm that for a smooth experience at 4K, lower settings are mandatory.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K in Downfall?

A: At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 59, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold. To achieve a more comfortable margin at 4K, the data shows that Medium settings provide 74.1 FPS, while Low settings yield 87.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor with this hardware?

A: For a 1440p display, the High preset delivers an average of 93.3 FPS, which is a smooth experience. The Medium preset offers 114.7 FPS, providing a higher frame rate with a modest visual compromise. Ultra drops to 59.1 FPS, which is still playable but not as fluid.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Low, the system achieves 197.1 FPS. This very high frame rate suggests the GPU is not fully utilized, meaning the CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is likely the limiting factor at this extreme frame rate, though it still provides an excellent experience.

Q: How does the frame rate change from 1080p to 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 136.6. When resolution increases to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 93.3 FPS. This represents a reduction of approximately 32%, indicating that the GPU is beginning to feel the load at 1440p.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset with this GPU?

A: The Ultra preset in Downfall is demanding. At 1440p, it yields 59.1 FPS, and at 1080p, it yields 81.3 FPS. While playable, the data shows that High settings offer a significant performance boost (e.g., 136.6 FPS at 1080p) with likely minimal visual difference, making Ultra a less favorable choice for higher frame rates.

Q: Is there a large performance gap between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: Yes, the gap is substantial. At 4K Low, the system averages 87.7 FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it averages 38 FPS. This is a difference of over 50 FPS, showing that the GPU's resources are heavily taxed by the Ultra preset's additional graphical effects at 4K resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Downfall, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 1106 out of 1741 total combinations. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems for this specific game. The rank suggests that while this combo is fully capable of running Downfall at playable frame rates in most configurations, there are many other combinations that deliver higher performance. The CPU's 75th percentile ranking and the GPU's 72nd percentile ranking individually indicate that both components are above average, but their combined rank in this game is dragged down by the fact that many other tested combos include more powerful components. The data implies that for a game like Downfall, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the GPU is the primary driver of the combo's rank, as the CPU is sufficient for the game's threading requirements. The rank of 1106 out of 1741 means that approximately 63% of tested combos perform better, which is a useful context for understanding where this system stands relative to others in the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for this combo in Downfall across all tested resolutions and settings:

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|------------|----------|-------------|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 197.1 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 165.3 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 136.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 81.3 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 143.4 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 114.7 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 93.3 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 59.1 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 87.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 74.1 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 59.0 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 38.0 |

The data reveals a consistent pattern across all resolutions: lower settings yield higher frame rates, and the gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 115.8 FPS, while at 4K, the difference is 49.7 FPS. This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU has more influence on the frame rate, while at 4K, the GPU's limitations become more pronounced. The 1440p results show a balanced curve, with High settings providing a solid 93.3 FPS, which is often considered the sweet spot for competitive play on high-refresh monitors. The 4K data shows that High settings barely misses the 60 FPS mark at 59.0 FPS, making Medium settings (74.1 FPS) the recommended choice for a 4K experience that prioritizes smoothness over maximum fidelity.