Downfall

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake-S desktop processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide a solid foundation for feeding the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER in Downfall, a horror title that leans on consistent frame pacing rather than extreme multi-threaded workloads. The CPU's 10 nm Intel process and 65 W TDP indicate an efficient design that keeps thermal headroom for sustained gaming sessions.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-12400 demonstrates balanced performance across thread counts. Its 3DMark scores scale from 910 in single-thread to 5,890 at max threads, showing strong scaling efficiency. Cinebench R23 results of 2,249 single-core and 15,935 multi-core place it firmly in the upper tier for gaming CPUs. The passmark single-thread score of 3,456 and multithread score of 18,747 reinforce that this chip can handle both the primary game thread and background tasks without bottlenecking the GPU.

The RTX 2060 SUPER, built on the Turing architecture with a TU106 chip, brings 2,176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus delivers 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which becomes relevant at higher resolutions where texture streaming demands more memory throughput. The GPU's boost clock of 1650 MHz and 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are modest by modern standards but well-matched to a 6-core CPU from the same generation.

For Downfall specifically, the measured frame rates suggest that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 189.6 FPS, which is well beyond what the GPU can sustain at higher settings. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 63rd percentile ranking suggest the processor has more headroom than the graphics card in this pairing. The i5-12400's nearest rivals — the Intel Core i7-9700 (0.1% ahead), Intel Core i7-8700 (0.2% behind), AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (0.4% behind), and Intel Core i5-11600K (0.4% ahead) — all sit within a narrow band, confirming the CPU's consistent mid-range positioning.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database for Downfall, this combination of Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1,223rd out of 1,741 tested combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking table, which may surprise some given the individual component scores. The CPU alone ranks in the 77th percentile of all processors, and the GPU sits in the 63rd percentile of all graphics cards, yet their combined standing in this specific game is less impressive.

The explanation lies in the game's demands. Downfall, released in 2016, has different performance characteristics than synthetic benchmarks suggest. The measured FPS data shows that the combo is perfectly playable at most settings, but the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions and quality presets. The 1,741-combo pool includes many pairings with newer GPUs that push the RTX 2060 SUPER down the rankings, even though the i5-12400 holds its own against comparable CPUs.

When examining the GPU's nearest rivals, the RTX 2060 SUPER's average benchmark score of 19,774 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (0.3% ahead), GeForce RTX 2070 (0.5% ahead), Quadro K5200 (0.8% ahead), and Tesla K40m (1.3% ahead). This clustering suggests that in raw compute terms, the 2060 SUPER is competitive with cards from different generations, but in Downfall's specific rendering paths, the Turing architecture's features may not translate into proportional frame rate advantages.

The rank of 1,223 out of 1,741 means roughly 70% of tested combos outperform this pairing in Downfall. That statistic, however, masks the fact that many of those combos use significantly more expensive hardware. The data shows this combo delivers a consistent experience across resolutions, even if it doesn't top any charts.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 189.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 137.3 FPS, a reduction of 52.3 FPS or about 27.6%. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 82.6 FPS, which is 56.5% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU has ample headroom and the graphics card's pixel throughput becomes the constraint.

The same pattern holds across all settings. At High settings, 1080p delivers 128.6 FPS, 1440p delivers 93.6 FPS (27.2% less), and 4K delivers 54.5 FPS (57.6% less than 1080p). The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 81.5 FPS at 1080p, 58.8 FPS at 1440p (27.9% less), and 37.3 FPS at 4K (54.2% less). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings indicates that resolution scaling is uniform and predictable.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB memory capacity becomes relevant at 4K, where larger textures and higher buffer requirements can stress the 448.0 GB/s bandwidth. The fact that 4K High achieves 54.5 FPS while 4K Ultra drops to 37.3 FPS suggests that the Ultra preset adds rendering features that disproportionately impact the GPU's fill rate and memory subsystem. The 4K Medium result of 70.4 FPS and 4K Low of 82.6 FPS show that the GPU has more headroom at lower quality settings, but the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce 189.6 FPS, Medium produces 157.7 FPS, and High produces 128.6 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 81.5 FPS, which is a 57% reduction from Low. This wide spread indicates that the Ultra preset in Downfall includes computationally expensive effects that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.181 TFLOPS can only partially handle. The 1080p results are all above 60 FPS, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains playable but shows the GPU's strain. Low settings average 137.3 FPS, Medium averages 111.5 FPS, and High averages 93.6 FPS. Ultra drops to 58.8 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider essential for smooth gameplay. The drop from High to Ultra at 1440p is 34.8 FPS, a 37.2% reduction, which is more severe than the 1080p High-to-Ultra drop of 47.1 FPS (36.6% reduction). This suggests that the Ultra preset's additional pixel shading and post-processing effects become more expensive as pixel count rises.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average 82.6 FPS, Medium averages 70.4 FPS, and High averages 54.5 FPS. Ultra falls to 37.3 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. The 4K results clearly show the GPU's 256-bit memory bus and 8 GB capacity being pushed to their limits. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, while adequate for 1440p, becomes a bottleneck at 4K with higher-quality textures.

The data indicates that the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p Medium to High, where the GPU can maintain 90+ FPS without excessive strain. At 1080p, the CPU's 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock are sufficient to push frame rates above 120 FPS in most settings, confirming that the i5-12400 is not holding back the RTX 2060 SUPER in this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Downfall?

A: The data shows 1440p offers the best balance, with 111.5 FPS at Medium and 93.6 FPS at High. 1080p delivers higher frame rates (up to 189.6 FPS at Low), but 4K drops below 60 FPS at High settings (54.5 FPS).

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-12400's average benchmark score of 19,850 is within 0.4% of its nearest rivals. The Intel Core i7-9700 is 0.1% ahead, the Core i7-8700 is 0.2% behind, and the Core i5-11600K is 0.4% ahead.

Q: Is the RTX 2060 SUPER the bottleneck in this setup?

A: Yes. The resolution scaling data shows frame rates dropping by roughly 27% from 1080p to 1440p and another 40% from 1440p to 4K, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 63rd percentile supports this.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Downfall?

A: At 4K Low, the combo averages 82.6 FPS, and at Medium it averages 70.4 FPS. High drops to 54.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37.3 FPS. Playable 4K is possible at Low or Medium settings, but High and Ultra require reduced expectations.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution?

A: At 1080p, Ultra is 57% slower than Low (81.5 vs 189.6 FPS). At 1440p, Ultra is 57.2% slower (58.8 vs 137.3 FPS). At 4K, Ultra is 54.8% slower (37.3 vs 82.6 FPS). The consistent reduction indicates the Ultra preset adds a fixed cost regardless of resolution.

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

A: It ranks 1,223rd out of 1,741 combos tested in Downfall. The CPU's individual ranking is in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

For players seeking a smooth experience, the measured data points to 1440p Medium as the optimal balance of visual quality and performance. At this setting, the combo delivers 111.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and approaches the refresh rate of many gaming monitors. The 1440p High preset at 93.6 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize image quality over raw frame rate.

At 1080p, the High preset (128.6 FPS) offers the best experience for competitive play, while Medium (157.7 FPS) is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. Ultra at 1080p (81.5 FPS) is playable but sacrifices significant frame rate for marginal visual gains. The 1080p Low preset (189.6 FPS) is unnecessary unless chasing maximum frame rates.

For 4K, the data suggests either Low (82.6 FPS) or Medium (70.4 FPS) as the only viable presets. High at 54.5 FPS may be tolerable for slower-paced horror gameplay, but the 37.3 FPS Ultra result is not recommended. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for Medium textures at 4K, but the Ultra preset's additional memory pressure and shading complexity push the GPU beyond its comfortable operating range.

The overall recommendation is 1440p High for the best visual fidelity without compromising frame rate, with 1080p High as a fallback for players who prioritize smoother motion. Avoid Ultra at any resolution unless the player is willing to accept sub-60 FPS performance, as the data clearly shows the Ultra preset's cost is disproportionate to its visual benefit in Downfall.