Downfall

Downfall with the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti presents a case where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, but the CPU proves sufficient to push very high frame rates at 1080p. The measured data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions, with the most significant performance drop occurring when moving from 1440p to 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 214.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 152.4 FPS, a reduction of roughly 29%. The jump to 4K brings the average down to 96.8 FPS, another 36% decrease from the 1440p result. This steep decline indicates that the GTX 1080 Ti is being pushed to its limits at higher pixel counts, while the Core i5-11400F has ample headroom.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 145.9 FPS at 1080p to 103.8 FPS at 1440p, and then to 64.2 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic drop, with 90.8 FPS at 1080p, 64.1 FPS at 1440p, and just 42.7 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, making it the only point where the experience becomes compromised for smooth play.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is doing more of the heavy lifting, as the frame rates exceed 200 FPS on Low settings. At 4K, the GPU's raw throughput dominates the equation, and the CPU's role diminishes. The GTX 1080 Ti's 11 GB of GDDR5X memory and 484.4 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game's demands at 4K, but the 11.34 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power limits the maximum frame rate achievable at that resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-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 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide a solid foundation for gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 14,372 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,029 in single-core, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs.

For Downfall, the CPU's performance is more than adequate. The game is a horror title from 2016, and it does not appear to be heavily multi-threaded based on the scaling data. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 214.7 FPS, which is far beyond what a typical 60 Hz or 144 Hz monitor can display. Even at 1440p High, the 103.8 FPS average suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor.

The 3DMark results for the CPU show a strong scaling from 2 threads (1,691) to 8 threads (4,691), but minimal gains beyond that, with the max thread score of 5,652 being only slightly higher. This indicates that the processor's 12 threads are more than enough for this workload. The Passmark multi-thread score of 16,908 and single-thread score of 2,981 further confirm that the i5-11400F is a balanced performer that won't hold back the GTX 1080 Ti in this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Downfall with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1440p High settings provide an average of 103.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. At 4K High, the average drops to 64.2 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 42.7 FPS, which is below the standard 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is the only tested configuration that fails to maintain a playable frame rate.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17,181. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U scores 17,189 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-1260P scores 17,212 (-0.2% delta), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U scores 17,215 (-0.2% delta). The i5-11400F is effectively tied with these processors.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile?

A: The GTX 1080 Ti sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,402. Its closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780, which scores 19,405 (0% delta).

Q: Is the GTX 1080 Ti the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1920x1080 Low, the system achieves 214.7 FPS, which is very high. The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score of 868 and Passmark single-thread score of 2,981 indicate it can keep up with the GPU at this resolution.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average frame rate drops from 145.9 FPS at 1080p to 64.2 FPS at 4K, a reduction of approximately 56%. This is a substantial loss that reflects the GPU's workload increasing fourfold.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global database of tested combinations for Downfall, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks 1,005 out of 1,741 total combos. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems. The rank reflects the GTX 1080 Ti's 61st percentile standing among all GPUs, which is respectable but not top-tier for a game released in 2016.

The CPU's 75th percentile ranking among all processors is higher than the GPU's percentile, which reinforces the idea that the graphics card is the limiting component in this setup. The combination of a strong mid-range CPU with an older high-end GPU produces solid results, but not class-leading ones. The 4K Ultra result of 42.7 FPS is the weak point, pulling the overall ranking down.

For context, the nearest GPU rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 with a delta of 0%, and the NVIDIA TITAN Xp with a delta of 1.1% higher score. This shows that the GTX 1080 Ti is performing as expected for its class, and the combo's rank is largely determined by the GPU's absolute performance level.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates are as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 214.7 FPS
• Medium: 173.5 FPS
• High: 145.9 FPS
• Ultra: 90.8 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 152.4 FPS
• Medium: 128.2 FPS
• High: 103.8 FPS
• Ultra: 64.1 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 96.8 FPS
• Medium: 79.6 FPS
• High: 64.2 FPS
• Ultra: 42.7 FPS

The pattern is clear: each resolution step down from 1080p to 1440p to 4K reduces performance by roughly a third to a half, depending on the settings preset. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, Ultra is about 58% slower than Low. At 4K, Ultra is about 56% slower than Low, showing a consistent scaling. The 1440p Medium result of 128.2 FPS is particularly strong, offering a good balance between visual quality and frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

For a 1080p display, the High preset at 145.9 FPS is the sweet spot. It provides excellent visual quality while maintaining a frame rate that exceeds even the fastest 144 Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 90.8 FPS is also viable if you prefer maximum graphical fidelity, but the drop of 55 FPS from High is significant for a marginal visual improvement.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 128.2 FPS offers the best experience. It delivers fluid gameplay with good detail, and the 60 FPS headroom is substantial. The High preset at 103.8 FPS is also excellent if you want better visuals and have a 100 Hz or 120 Hz monitor. The Ultra preset at 64.1 FPS is borderline, but acceptable if you prioritize image quality over smoothness.

For 4K gaming, the High preset at 64.2 FPS is the recommended choice. It barely clears the 60 FPS bar, providing a playable experience with good visuals. The Medium preset at 79.6 FPS offers more headroom and is a safer pick for areas with heavy action. The Low preset at 96.8 FPS is a fallback for those who prefer high frame rates over visual fidelity. Avoid the Ultra preset at 42.7 FPS, as the frame rate is too low for a satisfying horror experience where responsiveness matters.