Downfall

# Downfall with Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a mid-range experience in Downfall, a 2016 horror title that remains demanding at higher presets. The combo ranks 1423 out of 1741 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database, yet the measured FPS data reveals a system capable of smooth 1080p play at most settings. This analysis breaks down how the six-core processor and six-gigabyte GPU each contribute to the frame rates observed across resolutions and settings, and where the bottleneck shifts as graphical load increases.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 brings 6 cores and 12 threads, running at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boosting up to 4.40 GHz. This Alder Lake-S architecture, built on a 10 nm process, provides the computational foundation for Downfall's physics, AI, and game logic. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 5873 in 3dmark_16_threads and 5890 in 3dmark_max_threads, indicating strong multi-threaded scaling. The single-thread score of 910 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2249 in Cinebench R23 single-core suggest the processor excels at lightweight, latency-sensitive tasks typical of horror game scripting.

At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 173.4 FPS average, a figure that far exceeds what the GPU alone could drive if the CPU were limiting. This suggests the i5-12400 provides ample headroom at lower resolutions. The processor's 18 MB shared L3 cache and 80 KB L1 cache per core help maintain responsiveness in scenes with many interactive elements. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400's average benchmark score of 19850 sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-11600K (19771) and 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-9700 (19831), meaning CPU-bound scenarios in Downfall should perform nearly identically to those older but capable chips.

The 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier (false) indicate a power-efficient, non-overclockable part, but the data shows the processor is rarely the constraint. When resolution jumps from 1440p to 4K, the FPS drop at High settings (from 84.7 to 50.1) mirrors GPU load increases, not CPU stalls. The benchmark results position the i5-12400 in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, confirming it as a solid mid-range performer that will not bottleneck the RTX 2060 in this title.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary driver in this combo, featuring 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock of 1680 MHz and base clock of 1365 MHz, paired with 1920 shading units, deliver a measured passmark_g3d score of 14111. This places the card in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16074. The RTX 2060's closest rivals in the database—AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996, 0.5% slower) and AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16351, 1.7% faster)—show that the card sits in a tightly contested performance band.

In Downfall, the GPU's influence is most evident at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the system manages only 34.5 FPS, while 4K Low reaches 78.6 FPS—a 44.1 FPS swing that underscores how much the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and 192-bit bus are taxed by the game's higher-quality textures and effects. The 14 Gbps effective memory speed and 201.6 GTexel/s texture rate suggest the card can handle moderate settings well, but the data indicates that Ultra presets push the GPU beyond its comfort zone at 1440p and above.

The RTX 2060's Turing architecture, with 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, provides features that Downfall (a 2016 release) likely does not leverage heavily, but the raw FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS is what drives the measured results. At 1080p Medium, the system hits 145.8 FPS, and at 1080p High it achieves 117.9 FPS—both smooth for a horror title that benefits from consistent frame pacing. The GPU's 160 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU indicate it operates within standard bounds, but the frame data reveals that the 6 GB VRAM becomes a limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the average drops to 34.5 FPS.

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

The measured FPS across resolutions tells a clear story of GPU-bound scaling. At Low settings, the system goes from 173.4 FPS at 1080p to 121.4 FPS at 1440p (a 30.0% drop) and then to 78.6 FPS at 4K (a 35.3% drop from 1440p). This consistent decline with each resolution increase points directly to the GPU as the limiting component, as CPU performance would not degrade so predictably with pixel count.

At High settings, the scaling is steeper: 117.9 FPS at 1080p drops to 84.7 FPS at 1440p (28.2% reduction) and then to 50.1 FPS at 4K (40.9% reduction from 1440p). The increasing percentage drop at 4K indicates that the RTX 2060's memory bandwidth and shading capacity are being saturated. The most dramatic scaling appears at Ultra settings: 72.1 FPS at 1080p falls to 50.1 FPS at 1440p (30.5% drop) and then to 34.5 FPS at 4K (31.1% drop from 1440p). This suggests that at Ultra, the GPU is already near its limits even at 1080p, so additional resolution has a compounding effect.

The data implies that the i5-12400 is not a bottleneck at any resolution. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences between 1440p and 4K, as the GPU would be waiting on the processor. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with pixel count across all settings, confirming a GPU-bound scenario. For players targeting 60 FPS, the system achieves it at 1080p Ultra (72.1 FPS) and at 1440p Medium (101.5 FPS), but falls short at 4K High (50.1 FPS) and 4K Ultra (34.5 FPS).

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1423 out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the 18th percentile of all configurations. This rank reflects the GPU's mid-range position (58th percentile) more than the CPU's (77th percentile), confirming that the graphics card is the performance ceiling. The CPU's nearest rivals—Intel Core i7-9700 (0.1% faster) and Intel Core i5-11600K (0.4% slower)—would likely yield nearly identical combo rankings when paired with the same GPU, as the processor's influence on frame rates is minimal in this GPU-bound scenario.

The GPU's nearest rivals tell a similar story. The AMD Radeon RX 7600S scores 0.5% lower in average benchmarks, meaning a combo with that card would rank marginally worse, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (1.7% faster) would edge out the RTX 2060 by a few positions. The rank of 1423 indicates that this combo sits below the median performer, which is expected given that the RTX 2060 is an end-of-life product from 2019. However, the measured FPS data shows that the combo still delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p across most settings, suggesting that the rank overshadows practical usability for this specific title.

The data also reveals that the combo's ranking is not a reflection of instability or poor optimization—rather, it is a consequence of the GPU's age and memory configuration. With 6 GB of VRAM, the RTX 2060 struggles with modern high-resolution textures, but Downfall's 2016 release date means the game's requirements align more closely with the card's strengths. This rank of 1423 out of 1741 means approximately 318 combos perform worse, and the 50.1 FPS at 4K High indicates the system is far from unusable.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 173.4 FPS, which is excessive for a horror game that benefits from atmosphere over raw speed. The Medium preset at 145.8 FPS offers a better balance, providing improved visuals while maintaining a high frame rate. High at 117.9 FPS is also smooth, but Ultra drops to 72.1 FPS—still playable but with a noticeable reduction in headroom for sudden action sequences.

At 1440p, the Medium preset (101.5 FPS) is the sweet spot, offering a 60+ FPS experience with good visual quality. High at 84.7 FPS remains comfortable, while Low at 121.4 FPS is overkill. Ultra at 50.1 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it less ideal for consistent gameplay. For 4K, the situation is more constrained: Low at 78.6 FPS is the only preset that clears 60 FPS, while Medium at 64.1 FPS barely does, and High at 50.1 FPS and Ultra at 34.5 FPS are below optimal.

The data suggests that for most players, the Medium preset at 1440p provides the best experience—it offers a 101.5 FPS average, which is smooth, while retaining enough visual fidelity for a horror atmosphere. At 1080p, Medium (145.8 FPS) or High (117.9 FPS) are both excellent choices, depending on whether the player prioritizes visual quality or frame rate stability. For 4K, Low settings are recommended if 60 FPS is the target, but Medium (64.1 FPS) is viable for those willing to accept marginal drops. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions above 1080p, as the frame rates (34.5-50.1 FPS) compromise the responsive feel needed for horror gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 or the RTX 2060 the bottleneck in Downfall?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. FPS scales consistently with resolution changes (173.4 FPS at 1080p Low to 78.6 FPS at 4K Low), which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 58th percentile further supports this conclusion.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K in Downfall?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where the average is 78.6 FPS. At Medium, the average is 64.1 FPS, which also exceeds 60 FPS. High (50.1 FPS) and Ultra (34.5 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score (16074) is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996) and 1.7% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16351). In practical terms, the measured FPS would differ by only a few frames per second at the same settings.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gameplay?

A: Medium is the best choice, delivering 101.5 FPS average. High (84.7 FPS) is also smooth, but Low (121.4 FPS) offers diminishing returns in visual quality. Ultra (50.1 FPS) drops below 60 FPS and is not recommended.

Q: Does the 6 GB VRAM limit performance at high settings?

A: Yes, particularly at 4K. The RTX 2060's 6 GB GDDR6 memory, with a 192-bit bus and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth, becomes saturated at 4K Ultra, resulting in 34.5 FPS. At 1080p, the VRAM is sufficient, as evidenced by 72.1 FPS at Ultra.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: It ranks 1423 out of 1741 combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This rank is driven by the GPU's mid-range position rather than the CPU, which ranks in the 77th percentile of all processors.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 173.4 FPS, Medium reaches 145.8 FPS, High achieves 117.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 72.1 FPS. These numbers show a clear progression, with each preset step reducing performance by roughly 25-30 FPS, except for the Ultra drop which is more pronounced.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 121.4 FPS at Low, 101.5 FPS at Medium, 84.7 FPS at High, and 50.1 FPS at Ultra. The gap between Medium and High is 16.8 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 34.6 FPS, indicating that Ultra at 1440p imposes a significant penalty. The 4K resolution (3840x2160) shows the most constrained results: Low averages 78.6 FPS, Medium 64.1 FPS, High 50.1 FPS, and Ultra 34.5 FPS.

The data shows that at every resolution, Low to Medium is a modest step (27.6 FPS at 1080p, 19.9 FPS at 1440p, 14.5 FPS at 4K), while Medium to High is also consistent (27.9 FPS at 1080p, 16.8 FPS at 1440p, 14.0 FPS at 4K). The largest jumps occur from High to Ultra: 45.8 FPS at 1080p, 34.6 FPS at 1440p, and 15.6 FPS at 4K. This pattern suggests that the Ultra preset introduces effects that disproportionately tax the RTX 2060, making it the least efficient setting across all resolutions.