Downfall

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Downfall, a 2016 horror title that clearly favors GPU throughput at higher settings. Across the 12 measured configurations, the combo’s average frame rates range from 29.4 FPS at 4K Ultra to 146.7 FPS at 1080p Low, demonstrating that this pairing is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming rather than 4K. The data shows a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, with the gap between Low and Ultra settings widening dramatically at 4K, indicating that the GTX 1660 SUPER becomes the primary bottleneck in this pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a predictable but pronounced scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 146.7 FPS on Low, 122.8 FPS on Medium, 99.3 FPS on High, and 61.3 FPS on Ultra. Dropping to 2560x1440 reduces those figures to 103.6, 88.6, 72.2, and 44 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, the numbers fall further to 65.3, 55.4, 41.9, and 29.4 FPS across the same settings ladder.

The scaling behavior is telling. From 1080p to 1440p, the average frame rate drops by roughly 29-31% across all settings, a consistent penalty that suggests the GPU is already working hard at 1440p. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the drop is more severe: Low settings fall from 103.6 to 65.3 FPS (a 37% reduction), while High settings fall from 72.2 to 41.9 FPS (a 42% reduction). The Ultra preset suffers the most, dropping from 44 to 29.4 FPS, which is a 33% loss.

This scaling pattern indicates that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the i5-11400F’s six cores and 12 threads can keep the GTX 1660 SUPER fed, as evidenced by the 146.7 FPS ceiling on Low settings. At 4K, however, the GPU’s 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus become the bottleneck, particularly on Ultra where the 29.4 FPS result falls below the 30 FPS threshold often considered minimum for playability. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that dips below 30 FPS, underscoring that this combo is not designed for 4K gaming with maximum detail.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 11th Gen series, built on Intel’s 14 nm Rocket Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz boosts to 4.40 GHz, and it carries 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor’s benchmark data shows a strong single-thread presence: 3DMark single-thread scores 868, while Cinebench R23 single-core hits 2029. Multi-threaded results are equally solid, with Cinebench R23 multi-core scoring 14372 and Geekbench multi-core reaching 7579.

In Downfall, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p Low, where the 146.7 FPS result suggests the processor is not the primary constraint. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5619 and max-thread score of 5652 indicate that the i5-11400F has ample headroom for the game’s threading demands. The CPU’s percentile ranking against all processors is 75, meaning it outperforms three-quarters of tested CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 17181 places it within 0.2% of rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (17189) and Intel Core i7-1260P (17212). This near-parity with mobile-class chips suggests that the i5-11400F is more than capable for a 2016 horror title, even at higher settings where the GPU takes over the workload.

The processor’s 65 W TDP and DDR4 memory support with dual-channel configuration provide a stable platform, but the data indicates that CPU performance is rarely the limiting factor in this pairing. At 4K Ultra, where frame rates collapse to 29.4 FPS, the CPU’s utilization likely drops as the GPU struggles to keep pace, a classic sign of GPU-bound operation.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications explain the frame rate patterns observed. Built on the 12 nm TU116 chip with Turing architecture, the GPU features 1408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. Its base clock is 1530 MHz with a boost clock of 1785 MHz, and it carries 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The GPU’s benchmark results place it in the 55th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14286. Its closest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14314, a -0.2% delta) and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14315, -0.2%), which are integrated or low-power solutions. The GTX 1660 SUPER’s 5.027 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate are modest by modern standards, and this shows in Downfall’s 4K results.

The 4K Ultra frame rate of 29.4 FPS is the clearest indicator of GPU limitation. The GTX 1660 SUPER’s 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for a 2016 title, but the memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s appears inadequate for 4K Ultra detail, where the game demands more texture and shading throughput. At 1080p, the GPU’s 1785 MHz boost clock allows it to deliver 146.7 FPS on Low, but the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p (146.7 vs 61.3 FPS) shows how much overhead the Ultra preset demands. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 12699 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1278 reinforce that this is a mid-range part, not a 4K-capable solution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing ranks 1521 out of 1741 combos for Downfall, placing it in the bottom 13% of all tested configurations. This low rank is somewhat surprising given the playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but it reflects the fact that many other combos in the database feature more powerful GPUs or CPUs. The rank suggests that while this combo is functional, it is far from optimal for Downfall, particularly at 4K where the 29.4 FPS Ultra result drags down its overall standing.

The combo’s ranking is influenced by the GPU’s 55th percentile standing and the CPU’s 75th percentile, but the GPU’s limitations at high resolutions are the primary factor. At 1080p, the combo performs admirably, with High settings hitting 99.3 FPS and Ultra reaching 61.3 FPS, both well above playable thresholds. At 1440p, High settings still manage 72.2 FPS, which is smooth for a horror game. Only at 4K does the combo fall below the 30 FPS line on Ultra, and even 4K High at 41.9 FPS is marginal.

The rank of 1521 out of 1741 means that 220 combos perform worse, but it also means that a significant majority of tested systems deliver better results. This is likely because Downfall benefits from higher-end GPUs that can handle 4K Ultra, while this combo’s GTX 1660 SUPER is positioned for 1080p gaming. The data suggests that users seeking 4K performance should look elsewhere, while those targeting 1080p will find this combo more than adequate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings for this combo in Downfall?*

A: The data shows 1080p High delivers 99.3 FPS, while 1440p High achieves 72.2 FPS. Both are playable, but 1080p Ultra at 61.3 FPS is the highest quality setting that remains above 60 FPS. For 4K, only Low settings (65.3 FPS) approach playability, as Ultra drops to 29.4 FPS.

*Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in Downfall?*

A: Only at Low settings, where it reaches 65.3 FPS. Medium drops to 55.4 FPS, High to 41.9 FPS, and Ultra to 29.4 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS threshold. The GPU’s 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K Ultra detail.

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

A: The i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17181, which is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (17189, 0% delta) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-1260P (17212, -0.2%). It also edges out the Intel Core i5-1240U (17141, 0.2% delta).

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

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER scores 14286 on average, which is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14314) and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14315), and 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon Vega 11 (14352). The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT leads with 14389, a 0.7% advantage.

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

A: It ranks 1521 out of 1741 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 13% of configurations. This reflects its limitations at 4K Ultra, despite solid 1080p performance.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 146.7 FPS, indicating the CPU can keep up. At 4K Ultra, the GPU’s 29.4 FPS result shows it cannot handle the workload, while the CPU’s 75th percentile ranking suggests it has headroom.