Downfall

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a formidable 1080p and 1440p experience in Downfall, though the Ultra preset at 4K presents a significant challenge. This combination ranks in the top 21% of all tested configurations, leveraging a 6-core/12-thread CPU and a 20 GB GPU to push frame rates well beyond playable thresholds at lower resolutions. The data indicates that while the hardware is exceptionally capable, the game’s Ultra settings demand careful consideration at higher resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking in Downfall?*

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 370th out of 1741 tested combos, placing it in the top 21.2% of all configurations.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17181. This places it virtually level with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (17189, 0% delta), the Intel Core i7-1260P (17212, -0.2% delta), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (17215, -0.2% delta).

Q: How does the GPU’s benchmark score stack up against its closest competitors?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT’s average benchmark score is 38358. It sits within a tight margin of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (38349, 0% delta), the NVIDIA CMP 70HX (38225, 0.3% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38135, 0.6% delta).

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 332.1 fps, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest measured average frame rate is 61.7 fps, occurring at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have, and what is its memory bus width?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT features 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 800.0 GB/s.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the dominant force in this pairing’s gaming performance. Built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 31 chip, the GPU’s specifications are substantial. Its 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 800.0 GB/s bandwidth provide a massive data pipeline, which is crucial for feeding the 5376 shading units and 84 ray accelerators at high resolutions. The GPU’s boost clock of 2394 MHz and game clock of 2025 MHz ensure that raw compute throughput, rated at 51.48 TFLOPS FP32, is readily available to the rendering engine.

The benchmark data shows a clear scaling pattern attributable to the GPU’s capabilities. At 1080p, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates, with the Low preset hitting 332.1 fps and High reaching 228.6 fps. The jump to 1440p sees a predictable decline, with the High preset averaging 161.9 fps, still exceptionally high. The 4K results reveal the GPU’s limits under heavier load; the High preset drops to 101.9 fps, while the Ultra preset falls to 61.7 fps. This 4K Ultra figure is the only sub-60 fps result in the entire dataset, indicating that the GPU’s fill rate and shading power are strained by the combination of maximum settings and 3840x2160 resolution. The performance delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is over 85 fps, demonstrating that the GPU’s workload scales dramatically with settings changes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F, a Rocket Lake-S part, provides a solid foundation for the GPU. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it offers adequate parallel processing for modern game engines. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz allow for strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and frame pacing. The CPU’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, and its dual-channel DDR4 memory support provides a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

In the context of Downfall, the CPU’s role is to keep the GPU fed without becoming a bottleneck. The benchmark results suggest it succeeds admirably at lower resolutions. At 1080p, where the GPU has less work per frame, the CPU’s ability to process draw calls and physics is highlighted. The jump from 228.6 fps at High to 332.1 fps at Low shows that the CPU can handle the increased frame throughput without being the limiting factor. However, at 4K, the CPU’s influence wanes. The frame rate differences between presets are more pronounced, suggesting the GPU’s rendering load becomes the primary constraint. The CPU’s multi-threaded score in Cinebench R23 is 14372, and its single-thread score is 2029, which are competitive figures that place it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. This headroom ensures that at 4K, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, as the CPU is capable of delivering the necessary instructions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined system holds a rank of 370 out of 1741 tested configurations in Downfall, placing it in the top 21.2% of all combos. This is a strong showing for a processor that is now end-of-life, paired with a flagship-tier GPU. The CPU’s individual performance, with an average benchmark score of 17181, is statistically indistinguishable from its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-1260P. This means the CPU is not a differentiator in this ranking.

The GPU, however, is a significant contributor to the high rank. Its average benchmark score of 38358 places it near the top of the hierarchy, just 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 70HX and 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile. The GPU’s 82nd percentile standing among all GPUs is the primary driver of the combo’s overall position. The data indicates that while the CPU is a competent mid-range part, the GPU’s raw power is what boosts this configuration into the upper echelon of tested systems. The rank of 370 suggests that there are 369 other combinations that outperform it, likely featuring newer, higher-core-count CPUs or even more powerful GPUs, but this pairing remains a high-performance outlier.

Settings Recommendations

The measured frame rates provide a clear guide for optimal settings. For players targeting the highest refresh rates on 1080p displays, the Low preset offers an average of 332.1 fps, which is far beyond any display’s capabilities. However, the High preset at 228.6 fps is a more balanced choice, offering significantly better visual fidelity while still exceeding the refresh rate of most high-end 1080p monitors.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers an average of 161.9 fps, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate 1440p panels. The Medium preset at 198.7 fps is also viable, but the visual quality trade-off may not be worth the extra 36.8 fps. The Ultra preset at 99.4 fps is playable, but the drop from High is substantial, making High the recommended setting for a smooth experience.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests a compromise is necessary. The High preset at 101.9 fps is the best experience, providing a frame rate that is comfortably above 60 fps. The Medium preset at 122.9 fps is also excellent, offering a higher performance margin. The Ultra preset, at 61.7 fps, is technically playable, but it sits at the edge of the playable threshold and represents a 40% performance hit compared to High. The recommendation is to use the High preset for 4K, as it provides the best balance of visual quality and smoothness. The Low preset at 146.7 fps is unnecessary, as the visual degradation is severe. In summary, High is the optimal preset for all resolutions, offering a strong balance between quality and performance.