Downfall

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX produces a performance profile in Downfall that is heavily dictated by the chosen resolution and graphics preset. The measured data reveals a system capable of extreme frame rates at 1080p, with performance scaling down predictably as resolution increases, but with notable variances depending on the preset level. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all tested configurations, examines the roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides context on how this combination ranks against other tested systems.

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

The frame rate drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is substantial across all settings, but the pattern of the decline reveals a shift in the bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 244 at 1080p to 175 at 1440p, a reduction of 69 FPS, and then to 109 at 4K, a further drop of 66 FPS. This steady, linear decline indicates that the GPU is becoming progressively more loaded as pixel count increases, but the CPU remains capable of feeding it adequately even at 4K.

The scaling at Low settings is even more dramatic. The system delivers 364 FPS at 1080p, drops to 260 FPS at 1440p, and then to 162 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is 202 FPS lower than the 1080p result, showing that the GPU is the primary limiter when the graphical load is light and the CPU is not stressed. At 1080p Low, the frame rate of 364 FPS is likely near the CPU's maximum throughput for this game, as further increases in resolution cause a sharp decline.

For Medium settings, the measured minimum and maximum FPS values provide additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the average is 298 FPS with a min of 253 and a max of 343. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 213 FPS (min 181, max 245), and at 4K Medium, the average is 132 FPS (min 113, max 152). The consistency of the minimum frame rates relative to the averages suggests that the game maintains a stable frame pacing, with the GPU handling the increased load without severe stuttering.

The Ultra settings show the most significant scaling penalty. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 153, which drops to 109 at 1440p, and then to 68 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than half the 1080p Ultra result, indicating that the RX 7900 XTX is fully saturated by the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical fidelity. This scaling behavior confirms that while the CPU is strong enough to avoid becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions, the GPU is the definitive limiting component at 4K, particularly when settings are maxed out.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S family, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its architecture provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is well-suited for gaming, and the benchmark data supports that assertion. In synthetic tests, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs.

In Downfall, the CPU's role is evident in the high frame rates at 1080p Low, where the 364 FPS average is likely near the limit of what the processor can drive. The PassMark multithread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 indicate a balanced processor that can handle both the game's logic and the rendering commands without becoming a constraint. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5873 and 8-thread score of 4745 show that the CPU's performance scales well with thread usage, which is relevant for a game that may utilize multiple cores for physics and AI.

Comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is closely matched with other processors. The AMD EPYC 7643 has an average score of 18697, a delta of -0.1% relative to the i5-12400's average score of 18683. The Intel Core i7-1355U is 0.3% behind, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is 0.7% behind. The Intel Core i3-14100F is 0.9% ahead. This tight grouping suggests that the i5-12400's performance in Downfall is not exceptionally unique; rather, it falls in a predictable range for its class. The 12 threads and high boost clock are sufficient to keep up with the RX 7900 XTX at 1080p and 1440p, but the data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any tested resolution, as the FPS scaling follows a GPU-bound pattern.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a high-end graphics card based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, with a Navi 31 chip manufactured on a 5 nm process. It features 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1929 MHz, a game clock of 2365 MHz, and a boost clock of 2498 MHz, with memory running at 2500 MHz (20 Gbps effective). This hardware is designed for high-resolution gaming, and the measured results in Downfall reflect its capabilities.

The GPU's VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for Downfall, even at 4K Ultra settings. The game, released in 2016, does not require the 24 GB available, meaning there is no risk of VRAM-related stuttering or texture pop-in. The GPU's 61.39 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 959.2 GTexel/s texture rate are the key drivers behind the high frame rates observed. At 4K Ultra, the card still manages an average of 68 FPS, which is a demanding scenario that showcases its raw compute power.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 19410 places it in the 64th percentile of all GPUs, which is lower than expected for a flagship card, but this is due to the inclusion of older and less powerful GPUs in the comparison set. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB (0.4% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (1% behind), the AMD FirePro D300 (1.2% behind), and the NVIDIA TITAN Xp (1.2% ahead). This comparison is somewhat misleading, as the RX 7900 XTX is far more powerful than these cards in real-world gaming, but the benchmark scores reflect a specific workload mix.

In the context of Downfall, the GPU's role is clear: it is the dominant factor in determining performance at 4K and at higher settings. The gap between 1080p High (244 FPS) and 4K High (109 FPS) is entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The card's 24 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth ensure that memory bandwidth is not a bottleneck, allowing the shader units to work at full capacity.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. On Low settings, the average FPS is 364. Medium settings produce an average of 298 FPS, with a minimum of 253 and a maximum of 343. High settings reduce the average to 244 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 153 FPS. This shows that even at the highest settings, the system is far above the 60 FPS threshold, and the CPU and GPU are both operating without significant strain.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but begin to show the GPU's increased load. Low settings yield an average of 260 FPS. Medium settings average 213 FPS, with a minimum of 181 and a maximum of 245. High settings average 175 FPS. Ultra settings average 109 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is 44 FPS, which is a significant reduction but still results in a playable experience.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 162 FPS. Medium settings average 132 FPS, with a minimum of 113 and a maximum of 152. High settings average 109 FPS. Ultra settings average 68 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only scenario where the frame rate drops below the 100 FPS mark, and it is still capable of providing a smooth experience on a 60 Hz display. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings at each resolution (253 at 1080p, 181 at 1440p, 113 at 4K) show that the frame pacing remains consistent, with no severe dips that would indicate a CPU stutter or memory issue.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Downfall?*

A: The highest average FPS is 364, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the system maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 68 FPS, which is above the standard 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 175 at 2560x1440 to 109 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 66 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 253 FPS, with a maximum of 343 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data suggests the CPU is near its limit at 364 FPS, as the frame rate is exceptionally high and further resolution increases cause a sharp decline, indicating the GPU becomes the limiter.

Q: How does the RX 7900 XTX's performance compare to its nearest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The RX 7900 XTX has an average benchmark score of 19410. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB, has a score of 19334, which is 0.4% higher.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity.

For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset provides an average of 153 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset at 244 FPS is also viable, but the visual improvement from High to Ultra may be worth the 91 FPS cost for those with 144 Hz or 240 Hz displays. The Medium preset at 298 FPS offers a good balance, but the High preset is recommended as it provides a significant visual upgrade while still maintaining a very high frame rate.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 175 FPS, which is ideal for most high-refresh-rate displays. The Ultra preset at 109 FPS is still smooth and offers the best visual quality, but the drop from High is 66 FPS. For users prioritizing frame rate, Medium at 213 FPS is a strong choice, but the High preset is the best compromise between performance and image quality.

At 4K, the High preset produces 109 FPS, which is excellent for 4K gaming. The Ultra preset at 68 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 132 FPS offers a higher frame rate with a modest reduction in visual fidelity. For most 4K users, the High preset is recommended as it delivers a high frame rate without sacrificing too much graphical detail. The Ultra preset is only recommended for users with a 60 Hz display who prioritize maximum visual quality over frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX combination ranks 524th out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the top 14.1% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a high-performing configuration relative to the broader database.

This ranking is notable because the CPU is a mid-range processor (72nd percentile among all CPUs), while the GPU is a high-end card (64th percentile among all GPUs). The combination of a strong but not top-tier CPU with a flagship GPU results in a system that performs well above average, but not at the very top of the rankings. The top-ranked combos likely feature higher-end CPUs, such as those with more cores or higher clock speeds, which can push frame rates even higher in CPU-bound scenarios.

The ranking of 524th out of 3716 suggests that while the RX 7900 XTX is a powerful GPU, the i5-12400 is a slight limiting factor in certain scenarios, particularly at 1080p Low settings where the CPU's maximum throughput is reached. However, the overall performance is still excellent, and the system is capable of delivering a smooth experience at all tested resolutions and settings. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for high-resolution gaming, where the GPU's strengths are fully utilized, rather than for esports-style gaming at the lowest settings where the CPU's limitations are more apparent.