Downfall

Downfall, the 2016 horror title, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware. This analysis evaluates the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, based on measured frame rate data. The combination demonstrates a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions, with the data indicating a strong shift in system bottleneck from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K. The following sections break down the scaling, component roles, and optimal settings derived from the benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a classic pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 233 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 167 FPS, a reduction of approximately 28%. The jump to 4K (2160p) at High settings yields 104 FPS, which is a 55% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling suggests that at lower resolutions, the system is not purely GPU-limited, as the frame rate does not drop proportionally with the pixel count increase.

The 4K Ultra preset, however, paints a different picture. At 65 FPS, the game becomes far more taxing on the graphics card. The difference between 1080p Ultra (146 FPS) and 4K Ultra (65 FPS) is a 55% reduction in performance, which is a significant hit. This indicates that the Ultra preset, with its additional visual effects, heavily burdens the GPU's compute and memory subsystems.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU plays a more significant role, as the frame rates are high enough that the graphics card is not saturated. The 333 FPS at 1080p Low is a strong indicator that the i5-11400F can feed frames quickly, but the ceiling is likely imposed by the CPU's single-thread performance. As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rate becomes increasingly dependent on the RTX 4070 SUPER's capabilities. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at High settings (167 to 104 FPS) is a 38% drop, which is closer to the pixel count difference, suggesting the GPU is now the primary limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, especially at higher resolutions. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for the textures and assets in Downfall, as the frame rates remain high across all settings at 1440p. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and 7168 shading units contribute to its raw compute power, which is evident in the 4K Medium result of 126 FPS.

The GPU's percentile rank of 83 places it in the top tier of all tested graphics cards. Its average benchmark score of 43223 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, which scores 43262, a delta of only -0.1%. This indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is a very consistent performer in synthetic tests. In gaming, its role is critical. The data shows that at 4K Low, the card manages 155 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 65 FPS. This 58% performance penalty from Low to Ultra settings at the same resolution demonstrates how the GPU's shading units and texture rate are taxed by the higher-fidelity presets.

The GPU's VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor in the measured results. Even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate is stable at 65 FPS, and there is no indication of memory swapping or texture pop-in that would suggest a VRAM shortage. The effective memory clock of 21 Gbps ensures that the memory bandwidth is not a constraint, especially when compared to the 504.2 GB/s available. The GPU is clearly the bottleneck at 4K Ultra, as the frame rate is nearly halved compared to the High preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is 333 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at the highest visual quality setting?

A: At the Ultra preset, the combo averages 146 FPS at 1080p, 104 FPS at 1440p, and 65 FPS at 4K. This shows a clear performance ceiling as resolution increases.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this benchmark?

A: At 1080p, the data suggests the CPU is more influential, as frame rates are very high. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component, as frame rates drop significantly across all settings.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 43223, which is 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB's score of 43262.

Q: Does the combo provide a playable experience at 4K?

A: Yes, at Medium and High settings, the average frame rates are 126 FPS and 104 FPS respectively, which are smooth. The Ultra preset, at 65 FPS, is still playable but may not be preferred for fast-paced action.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of performance across nine distinct configurations. Starting at 1080p, the combo delivers 333 FPS on Low, 284 FPS on Medium, 233 FPS on High, and 146 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 242 FPS and a maximum of 327 FPS, indicating a stable frame time distribution. The gap between High and Ultra is substantial, a 37% performance drop, which suggests that the Ultra preset introduces settings that are disproportionately demanding.

At 1440p, the frame rates are as follows: Low at 248 FPS, Medium at 203 FPS, High at 167 FPS, and Ultra at 104 FPS. The Medium preset here has a minimum of 173 FPS and a maximum of 234 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is relatively consistent, with an average reduction of about 28% across all settings. This consistency indicates that the GPU is handling the increased pixel load efficiently.

Moving to 4K, the performance drops are more pronounced. Low yields 155 FPS, Medium 126 FPS, High 104 FPS, and Ultra 65 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS. The difference between 1440p and 4K is significant, with an average reduction of 38% across settings. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding configuration, with the frame rate falling to 65 FPS, which is below the 100 FPS threshold that many consider ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination ranks 668th out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the top 18% of all configurations, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The rank suggests that this combo is well-balanced for this title, capable of delivering high frame rates at most settings.

The CPU's percentile rank against all processors is 71, meaning it performs better than 71% of CPUs in the database. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7H12, has a similar average score of 17120, with a delta of 0.3%, making the i5-11400F slightly faster in synthetic benchmarks. The GPU's percentile rank is 83, placing it in the top 17% of all graphics cards. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, is 0.1% faster in average benchmark score.

This ranking indicates that the GPU is the stronger component in this pairing, and the combo's overall rank in Downfall is likely influenced by the CPU's ability to keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo can achieve over 200 FPS on most settings, which is excellent. The rank of 668 out of 3716 confirms the overall capability of this system for this specific game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 14340 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2024 in single-core. Its single-thread performance is crucial for gaming, as it directly impacts frame rate generation. The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score of 868 indicates a solid foundation for handling game logic and physics.

The CPU's role in Downfall becomes evident when examining the 1080p frame rates. The 333 FPS at Low settings suggests that the CPU is capable of high draw call rates. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p (333 to 146 FPS) shows that the game's visual settings can quickly shift the bottleneck to the GPU. The i5-11400F has a 65W TDP and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 17177 is very close to its nearest rivals, indicating that it is a consistent performer. The Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17239, a delta of -0.4%, making the i5-11400F slightly slower. The CPU's 12 MB of L3 cache is shared across all cores, which helps with data access in games. At 4K, the CPU's role is diminished, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck, but at 1080p, the CPU is essential for achieving frame rates above 200 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and frame rate preference. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 126 FPS. The High preset is also viable at 104 FPS, but the Ultra preset at 65 FPS may be too demanding for a consistent 60 FPS experience on some displays. The Medium preset's minimum of 107 FPS ensures that frame drops are rare, making it the recommended choice for 4K.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 167 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 104 FPS is also a strong option, offering better visual fidelity while still maintaining a frame rate above 100 FPS. For users with 144Hz displays, the High preset is recommended to ensure headroom for demanding scenes. The Low preset at 248 FPS is unnecessary for most users, as the visual compromise is significant.

For 1080p, the Ultra preset at 146 FPS is the best choice for maximizing visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The High preset at 233 FPS is ideal for competitive play or for users with 240Hz displays, as it provides a very high frame rate. The Medium preset at 284 FPS offers diminishing returns in visual quality, but it is the best option for those seeking the absolute highest frame rates. The data suggests that this combo is overkill for 1080p, allowing users to enable the highest settings without concern.