Downfall

The Intel Core i5-12400 pairs a 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake design with a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 4.40 GHz boost clock. This combination of physical cores and high boost frequencies gives the CPU a benchmark percentile of 72 against all processors, with an average benchmark score of 18683. In the context of Downfall, a horror game that typically relies on strong single-thread performance for game logic and physics, the i5-12400’s 3DMark single-thread score of 910 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2257 indicate a robust foundation. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache further helps by keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency in scenes with many interactive elements. While the CPU is not the most powerful available, its 12 threads ensure that background tasks and the game’s AI routines do not starve the main rendering thread, which is critical for maintaining consistent frame pacing in a tense horror environment.

The CPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is remarkably tight. The data shows it is only 0.1% behind the AMD EPYC 7643 and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i7-1355U in average benchmark score. Slightly more distant, it trails the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 by 0.7% but leads the Intel Core i3-14100F by 0.9%. This clustering suggests that the i5-12400 sits in a performance class where minute architectural differences, rather than raw core counts, determine outcomes. For Downfall, this means the CPU is unlikely to be the bottleneck at lower resolutions; its ability to push high frame rates in the measured data confirms that it can keep up with the GPU’s output. The benchmark results indicate a balanced part that neither holds back the system nor over-delivers beyond what the GPU can process, making it a predictable anchor for the rest of the build.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process and houses 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The GPU operates with a base clock of 2150 MHz, a game clock of 2495 MHz, and a boost clock of 2600 MHz. This memory configuration is particularly relevant for Downfall, as horror games often feature high-resolution textures and complex shadow maps that consume VRAM quickly. The 12 GB capacity provides ample headroom for the game’s High and Ultra settings at 1440p and even 4K, where the measured data shows the GPU handling a 72 FPS average at 4K High. The GPU’s pixel rate of 166.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 416.0 GTexel/s support the rendering of detailed environments without stutter. With a benchmark percentile of 71 across all GPUs and an average score of 26011, the RX 6750 XT is positioned as a mid-to-high-tier performer.

Comparing the GPU to its nearest rivals shows a slight edge. The RX 6750 XT leads the AMD Radeon R9 M395X by 0.5%, the AMD FirePro W7100 by 0.6%, and the AMD FirePro D700 by 0.7%. More notably, it outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile by 1.1%, which is a mobile part, making this desktop GPU’s lead more significant for sustained workloads. The 40 ray accelerators and 64 ROPs are capable of handling Downfall’s lighting effects, though the game’s reliance on traditional rasterization means these features are secondary. The 250 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate a power-hungry component, but the measured frame rates suggest the GPU is efficiently converting that power into performance. At 1080p Low, the GPU achieves a 240 FPS average, showcasing its raw throughput, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 45 FPS, highlighting the limits of its 13.31 TFLOPS FP32 compute when pushed to extreme settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 161 FPS, which drops to 115 FPS at 1440p High (a 28.6% decrease), and further to 72 FPS at 4K High (a 37.4% decrease from 1440p). This trend indicates that the GPU becomes the primary limiting component as resolution climbs. At 1080p Low, the system hits 240 FPS, suggesting that the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at high frame rates, but the GPU’s workload scales with pixel count. The transition from 1080p to 1440p shows a 46 FPS drop at High settings, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 43 FPS, demonstrating a near-linear scaling of GPU load. This is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where the CPU’s 4.40 GHz boost clock and 12 threads are sufficient to avoid bottlenecks.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU and GPU are well balanced, as the 240 FPS at Low settings approaches the practical limits of many displays. However, at 4K, the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are stretched, with the Ultra preset falling to 45 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K yields 87 FPS, which is 42 FPS higher than Ultra, indicating that the GPU’s shader units and ROPs are saturated at the highest settings. The resolution scaling also shows diminishing returns for the CPU: while 1080p Low reaches 240 FPS, 4K Low only reaches 107 FPS, a 55.4% reduction. This suggests that the GPU’s pixel throughput, rather than the CPU’s processing power, dictates the frame rate at higher resolutions. For players targeting 4K, the data recommends stepping down from Ultra to High or Medium to maintain playable frame rates, as the GPU cannot sustain 60 FPS at the highest preset.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT combo holds a rank of 1695 out of 3716 total combos for Downfall. This places it in the 45.6th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms roughly 54% of configurations while being surpassed by the top 45%. This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the individual component percentiles: the CPU at 72 and the GPU at 71. The combo’s rank suggests that while neither component is a top-tier flagship, their pairing creates a synergistic balance that avoids severe bottlenecks. The data shows that the combo’s performance is more dependent on the GPU at higher resolutions, as the CPU’s relative strength does not translate into higher frame rates when the GPU is overwhelmed.

Comparing this combo to others in the database, the rank of 1695 indicates that it sits in the upper-middle tier, capable of running Downfall smoothly at 1440p High (115 FPS) and 4K Medium (87 FPS). The nearest rival comparisons for the individual parts provide context: the CPU is nearly identical in performance to the AMD EPYC 7643, while the GPU edges out the RTX 3080 Ti Mobile. This suggests that a combo with a slightly stronger CPU or GPU could achieve a higher rank, but the current pairing is well-matched for the game’s demands. The benchmark results indicate that the limiting factor for this combo is the GPU when pushing 4K Ultra, where the 45 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider smooth. At 1440p and below, the combo ranks competitively, delivering frame rates that exceed typical display refresh rates.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p High provides the best balance, with an average of 115 FPS. At 4K High, the average drops to 72 FPS, which is still playable, but 1440p offers a higher frame rate without the GPU strain seen at 4K Ultra.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. It is 0.1% behind the AMD EPYC 7643, 0.3% behind the Intel Core i7-1355U, and 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, while leading the Intel Core i3-14100F by 0.9%.

*Q: Is the GPU sufficient for 4K gaming in Downfall?*

A: The Radeon RX 6750 XT achieves 72 FPS at 4K High and 87 FPS at 4K Medium, indicating it can handle 4K at reduced settings. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo averages 240 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra, it averages 101 FPS. This represents a 139 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset nearly halves the performance compared to Low.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1695 out of 3716 tested combinations for Downfall, placing it in the upper-middle tier of performance. This rank reflects a balanced pairing that excels at 1080p and 1440p but struggles with 4K Ultra.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: The data suggests no CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 240 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it achieves 172 FPS, indicating the CPU can feed the GPU adequately. The GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the frame rate drops to 45 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings in Downfall. For players with a 1080p display, the High preset at 161 FPS offers a smooth experience without the performance sacrifice of Ultra, which drops to 101 FPS. The Medium preset at 197 FPS is a strong alternative if visual fidelity is less critical, providing a 36 FPS boost over High. At 1440p, the High preset at 115 FPS is the recommended choice, as it balances visual quality with a frame rate that exceeds most 60 Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 1440p yields 72 FPS, which is playable but represents a 37.4% drop from High, making it less ideal for fast-paced horror sequences. For 4K, the Medium preset at 87 FPS is the best option, as it maintains a playable frame rate while offering improved visuals over Low (107 FPS) and avoiding the severe drop to 45 FPS at Ultra.

The data indicates that the Ultra preset is not viable at 4K, as the 45 FPS average falls below the standard 60 FPS threshold. At 1080p and 1440p, Ultra is playable but requires a trade-off in frame rate. The benchmark results suggest that High settings provide the best overall experience across all resolutions, delivering 161 FPS at 1080p, 115 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. This consistency makes High the safest recommendation for a balance of visual quality and performance. Players with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors (144 Hz or above) should consider Medium to push frame rates to 197 FPS, while those with 4K displays should prioritize Medium to stay above 60 FPS. The measured min FPS values for Medium are also stable, with 167 FPS at 1080p, 119 FPS at 1440p, and 74 FPS at 4K, indicating no severe frame drops.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo spans three resolutions and four settings, providing a comprehensive view of performance. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 240 FPS, while Medium averages 197 FPS with a minimum of 167 FPS and a maximum of 226 FPS. High drops to 161 FPS, and Ultra averages 101 FPS. This shows a consistent decline as settings increase, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 139 FPS. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 167 indicates that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate remains high, suggesting the GPU has ample headroom at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 172 FPS, Medium 140 FPS (with a min of 119 FPS and max of 162 FPS), High 115 FPS, and Ultra 72 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is less severe than at 1080p, with a total drop of 100 FPS. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 119 shows that the GPU can maintain a stable frame rate above 60 FPS even under load. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 107 FPS, Medium 87 FPS (with a min of 74 FPS and max of 100 FPS), High 72 FPS, and Ultra 45 FPS. The Ultra preset’s 45 FPS is the only measurement below the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that 4K Ultra is not a viable option for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 4K offers the best compromise with a 74 FPS minimum, ensuring that the frame rate rarely dips below playable levels. The data shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with resolution and settings, with the most significant drop occurring between High and Ultra at 4K, where the frame rate falls by 27 FPS.