Downfall

Downfall, a 2016 horror title, stresses hardware differently than typical action games, and the measured data for the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT shows a configuration that scales predictably across resolutions and presets. The combo ranks in the 54th percentile of all tested combinations, with data indicating a strong balance between the six-core processor and the RDNA 2 graphics card. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS figures, the CPU's role, and how the pairing behaves under varying loads.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, but the rate of decline is not uniform across all settings, revealing how the workload shifts. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 229.3 FPS at 1920x1080 to 101.9 FPS at 3840x2160, a reduction of roughly 55%. This steep decline indicates that even at the lowest graphical fidelity, the GPU is still the primary performance limiter, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames. The scaling is more aggressive at Medium, where 187.1 FPS at 1080p drops to 85.4 FPS at 4K, again a 54% reduction, reinforcing the notion that pixel throughput is the dominant factor.

Moving to High settings, the transition from 152 FPS at 1080p to 66.8 FPS at 4K represents a 56% loss, a nearly identical scaling pattern to the lower presets. However, the Ultra preset tells a different story. At 1080p, the system manages 98.1 FPS, but at 4K it plummets to 44.8 FPS, a 54% drop that is consistent with the other presets. The key insight is the absolute values: the difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 131.2 FPS, while at 4K it is only 57.1 FPS. This compression of frame rates at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU's shading and memory bandwidth are being saturated, making the preset choice less impactful as resolution increases.

The data indicates that this combo is not CPU-bound at any tested resolution. Even at 1080p Low, where the frame rate exceeds 229 FPS, the processor does not become a bottleneck. The consistent percentage drop across presets when moving from 1440p to 4K — for instance, High drops from 111.1 to 66.8 FPS (a 40% loss) — confirms that the limiting component is the Radeon RX 6700 XT's rendering capacity. Gamers targeting 4K will see playable frame rates only on Low and Medium settings, while 1440p and 1080p provide a much broader range of playable presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a six-core, twelve-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark data shows a single-thread score of 868 in 3DMark and a multi-thread score of 5652 in the same test, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. For a horror game like Downfall, which typically relies on fewer, more intensive threads for AI and physics, the single-thread performance is crucial. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 1691 suggests that the processor has solid performance when only a couple of cores are active, which is often the case in this genre.

The CPU’s role in this pairing is to ensure that the GPU is never starved of data. In the measured results, the fact that frame rates scale so predictably with resolution and settings implies that the i5-11400F is keeping up with the GPU's demands. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth provide sufficient throughput for the game’s assets. When compared to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, the i5-11400F’s average benchmark score of 17181 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (17189, a 0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-1260P (17212, a -0.2% delta). This indicates that the CPU is firmly in the mid-range tier, and its performance in Downfall is not an outlier.

The processor’s 65W TDP and 14 nm process node are not directly relevant to the FPS results, but the core configuration is. Since the frame rates at 1080p Low exceed 200 FPS, the data proves that the six physical cores are sufficient for this title. The game does not appear to leverage the 12 threads heavily, as the scaling from 1080p to 4K is almost purely GPU-driven. A weaker CPU with lower single-thread performance might cause stutters or dips in minimum FPS, but the average FPS data shows no such issue for this combo.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined ranking for this system in Downfall is 935 out of 1741 tested combos, which places it in the 53.7th percentile. This is a mid-pack position, indicating that while the RX 6700 XT is a capable GPU (77th percentile of all GPUs), the overall system is not at the top end for this specific game. The rank suggests that many other CPU/GPU pairings can achieve higher average frame rates, likely due to more powerful processors or graphics cards. However, the rank also shows that this combo outperforms a significant number of alternatives, making it a balanced, mainstream solution.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6800, which has a deltaPct of 0.7% higher average score, and the NVIDIA RTX A5000, which is 1.3% lower. This places the RX 6700 XT in a tight competitive cluster, and the measured FPS in Downfall are consistent with that positioning. The combo rank of 935 is not a reflection of a bottleneck; rather, it is the result of the hardware being mid-range relative to the entire database. For a 1080p gamer, this rank is more than adequate, as the measured FPS are well above 60 on High settings. For 4K enthusiasts, the rank correctly reflects that this is not a top-tier 4K solution, as Ultra settings at 4K only produce 44.8 FPS.

The percentile data for the CPU (75th) and GPU (77th) are similar, showing that this is a well-matched pair. The combo rank of 935 out of 1741 is lower than the individual component percentiles would suggest, which implies that Downfall may be more sensitive to other factors, such as memory latency or driver overhead. Still, the data shows that the system delivers a smooth experience at most settings, with the rank serving as a caveat for those seeking maximum frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers a wide range of frame rates: 229.3 FPS on Low, 187.1 FPS on Medium, 152 FPS on High, and 98.1 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that the GPU is capable of very high refresh rates at 1080p, making it ideal for competitive or fast-paced gameplay. The jump from Low to Ultra costs 131.2 FPS, which is a significant penalty but still leaves the game playable on all presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but start to show the GPU’s limits. Low settings produce 163.8 FPS, Medium drops to 136.6 FPS, and High yields 111.1 FPS. Ultra at 1440p falls to 67.9 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p is a 95.9 FPS drop, showing that the GPU is working harder but still maintaining a playable experience. At 3840x2160, the picture changes. Low settings achieve 101.9 FPS, Medium drops to 85.4 FPS, and High falls to 66.8 FPS. Ultra at 4K is the only preset that dips below 60 FPS, with an average of 44.8 FPS.

This breakdown shows that the combo is versatile. For 1080p and 1440p users, every preset is viable, with even the most demanding Ultra setting staying above 67 FPS at 1440p. At 4K, users must make a choice: accept the lower visual fidelity of Low or Medium for frame rates above 85 FPS, or push to High for a nearly 60 FPS experience. The Ultra preset at 4K is only for those who prioritize visuals over smoothness.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a 60 FPS average?

A: The data shows that all presets at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 exceed 60 FPS, with the lowest being 67.9 FPS at 1440p Ultra. At 3840x2160, the Low, Medium, and High presets all stay above 60 FPS, with High averaging 66.8 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance influence the FPS in Downfall?

A: The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score is 868, and the 2-thread score is 1691. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (229.3 FPS) indicates that the processor does not bottleneck the GPU, as the frame rates scale linearly with resolution, suggesting the GPU is the primary limiter.

Q: Is the RX 6700 XT significantly better than its nearest rival in the database?

A: The GPU's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6800, which has a deltaPct of 0.7% higher average benchmark score. This difference is negligible, meaning the two GPUs perform nearly identically in synthetic tests.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 101.9 on Low to 44.8 on Ultra. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, users should stick to High settings or lower, as Ultra will dip below 60 FPS.

Q: What does the combo rank of 935 out of 1741 tell us?

A: It places the system in the 54th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it performs better than roughly half of all tested rigs in this game. It is a mid-tier result, consistent with the individual component rankings.

Q: Are there any settings where the CPU becomes a bottleneck?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 229.3 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. If the CPU were limiting, we would see smaller FPS gains when lowering the resolution or settings, but the scaling is consistent.

Settings Recommendations

For users with a 1920x1080 or 2560x1440 display, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining an average FPS above 67.9 at 1440p. At 1080p, Ultra yields 98.1 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. The High preset is a good fallback for those who want a higher frame rate buffer, as it delivers 152 FPS at 1080p and 111.1 FPS at 1440p. There is little reason to use Low or Medium at these resolutions, as the GPU has enough headroom to run High or Ultra without sacrificing playability.

For 3840x2160 users, the recommendation is more nuanced. The High preset is the best balance, offering 66.8 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. Medium is also a solid choice at 85.4 FPS, and it provides a more substantial performance cushion. Low at 101.9 FPS is viable for those who prioritize frame rate over detail, but the visual downgrade is likely too steep for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. The Ultra preset at 4K should be avoided due to its 44.8 FPS average, which will feel sluggish during fast-paced sequences. In summary, the data supports using High settings at 4K, while 1440p and 1080p users can confidently select Ultra.