Downfall

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER produces a wide spread of results in Downfall, ranging from a barely playable 36 FPS at 4K Ultra to a blistering 191 FPS at 1080p Low. The data indicates a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions and settings, but which possesses enough CPU headroom to push very high frame rates when the graphical load is reduced. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the role of each component, and which settings deliver the best experience.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor features a 12 MB shared L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. Its memory support is DDR4 with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. In the context of Downfall, a horror title from 2016, this CPU’s specifications are more than adequate to feed the GPU at most settings.

Benchmark results for the i5-11400F show a strong balance between single-thread and multi-thread performance. It scores 868 in 3DMark single-thread and 5652 in 3DMark max-threads. Cinebench R23 results are 2024 for single-core and 14340 for multi-core. The Passmark single-thread score is 2981, and the multithread score is 16908. These numbers place the CPU in the 71st percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly 71% of processors in the database. Its average benchmark score of 17177 is nearly identical to that of the AMD EPYC 7H12, which scores 17120 (a 0.3% difference), and the Intel Core i5-12450H, which scores 17239 (a -0.4% difference).

For Downfall, the CPU’s role becomes most apparent when looking at the high frame rates achieved at lower settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits an average of 191 FPS. This high frame rate is a direct result of the i5-11400F’s capable single-thread performance, which is critical for game logic and draw calls at high frame rates. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 1691 and 4-thread score of 3171 indicate that the CPU can handle the workload of a game from this era without becoming a bottleneck. The Passmark physics score of 842 further supports that the processor has enough computational power for the game's physics calculations.

However, as the resolution increases, the CPU becomes less of a factor. The data shows that the performance drop from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K is primarily driven by the GPU, not the CPU. The CPU’s job is to prepare frames, and at lower resolutions, it can prepare them faster than the GPU can render them, leading to high FPS. At higher resolutions, the GPU takes longer to render each frame, and the CPU’s faster frame preparation becomes irrelevant. The i5-11400F provides ample headroom for this game, ensuring that it is not the limiting component in the vast majority of the tested scenarios.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, but only at certain settings. At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 69, which is playable. At 4K High, the average drops to 57 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 36, which is generally considered too low for a smooth experience.

Q: What is the single best performance setting for the highest frame rate?

A: The data shows that the highest average FPS achieved is 191 at 1080p with Low settings. This is the fastest result in the measured FPS table.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177. This is essentially tied with the AMD EPYC 7H12, which scores 17120, putting the i5-11400F 0.3% ahead. It is also 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-12450H, which scores 17239.

Q: Is the RTX 2060 SUPER a high-performing GPU in the database?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER sits in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 18093, which puts it slightly behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (score 18159) by 0.4%.

Q: What kind of frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 92. This is a very smooth experience for a horror game.

Q: Does the game scale well from 1080p to 4K?

A: The scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 128 at 1080p to 92 at 1440p, and then to 57 at 4K. This shows a significant performance cost as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies in this system. At High settings, the average frame rate is 128 FPS at 1920x1080, which drops to 92 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 57 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a classic pattern of GPU-limited performance. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 28%, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is roughly 38%. These are significant reductions that directly correspond to the increase in pixel count and the subsequent load on the GPU.

The same pattern is evident at other settings. At Low, the average FPS goes from 191 at 1080p to 136 at 1440p and 85 at 4K. At Medium, the numbers are 156, 112, and 69 for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The consistent, large drops at every setting level confirm that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, is not the cause of this scaling behavior.

If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, with the FPS only being limited by the CPU’s processing speed. This is not the case here. The FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is the definitive signature of a GPU bottleneck. The RTX 2060 SUPER, while a capable card, simply cannot maintain the same level of performance at 4K as it does at 1080p in this title. Therefore, users looking for higher frame rates at 4K will need to lower graphical settings to reduce the rendering load on the GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The data provides a complete matrix of average FPS for each combination of resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 191. Moving to Medium settings, the average is 156 FPS, with a minimum of 133 and a maximum of 180. At High settings, the average is 128 FPS. The most demanding setting, Ultra, still produces a smooth average of 80 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset yields an average of 136 FPS. The Medium preset averages 112 FPS, with a range from 95 to 128. High settings bring the average down to 92 FPS. The Ultra preset drops the average to 57 FPS, which is still playable but noticeably less smooth.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly under heavy load. With Low settings, the average FPS is 85. The Medium preset achieves an average of 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80. High settings produce an average of 57 FPS. Finally, the Ultra preset yields an average of just 36 FPS, which is likely to feel stuttery and is not recommended for a smooth experience.

These numbers show a clear hierarchy. For a 60 FPS target at 4K, the user must select Medium or Low settings. For 1440p, High settings are more than sufficient, and even Ultra is playable. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with Ultra still providing a high average FPS of 80.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the key driver of frame rates in Downfall. This GPU is based on the Turing architecture and the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz. Its memory clock is 1750 MHz, which translates to 14 Gbps effective.

The GPU’s performance is reflected in its benchmark scores. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 16462 and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 6721. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 2011. Its average benchmark score is 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, which has a score of 18159, making the RTX 2060 SUPER 0.4% slower. It is also 0.5% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, which scores 18189.

In Downfall, the GPU’s role is paramount. The frame rate scaling shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at resolutions above 1080p. The 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game’s textures at all tested settings, as there are no reported outliers in the data. The GPU’s compute capabilities, as shown by its Passmark scores, are directly responsible for the rendering performance. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at the same resolution demonstrates the GPU’s workload. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low (191 FPS) and Ultra (80 FPS) is a 58% reduction in performance, which is a direct result of the increased shading, texture, and post-processing load on the GPU. The RTX 2060 SUPER is a solid performer for 1080p and 1440p gaming in this title, but its limitations are apparent at 4K with higher presets.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience in Downfall. The goal is to maintain a consistently smooth frame rate, typically 60 FPS or higher, without sacrificing too much visual quality.

For 1080p displays, the High preset is the clear choice. It delivers an average of 128 FPS, which is far above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a very smooth experience. The Ultra preset, at 80 FPS average, is also excellent, but the jump in visual quality from High to Ultra may not be worth the potential 38% performance hit for some users. The Medium preset at 156 FPS is overkill for most monitors and leaves performance on the table. Low at 191 FPS is only useful for competitive play, which is not typical for a horror game.

For 1440p displays, the High preset is again the recommended starting point. It provides an average of 92 FPS, which is ideal for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Medium preset at 112 FPS is also viable if the user prefers more headroom. The Ultra preset at 57 FPS is just below the 60 FPS mark, so it may be acceptable for some, but it risks noticeable dips. Low at 136 FPS is unnecessary.

For 4K displays, the situation is more constrained. The Medium preset is the best option for a playable experience, offering an average of 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, which is right at the edge of 60 FPS. The High preset at 57 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 36 FPS should be avoided. The Low preset at 85 FPS is playable but will result in a significant loss of visual fidelity.

In summary, this system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Downfall. The High preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance at these resolutions. For 4K, users must accept Medium settings to achieve a playable frame rate. The data does not support using the Ultra preset at any resolution if a 60 FPS experience is desired, as it only reaches that mark at 1080p.