Downfall

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER combination ranks in the 15th percentile for Downfall, placing it at 3177 out of 3716 tested combos. This is a decidedly mid-to-low-tier pairing for this horror title, and the data indicates that while the CPU is more than capable, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The benchmark results show a system that can achieve playable frame rates at 1080p with adjustments, but one that struggles significantly to maintain smooth performance at 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 3177 out of 3716 tested configurations places it in the bottom 15% of all systems tested for Downfall. This ranking is heavily influenced by the graphics card's performance ceiling rather than the processor's capabilities. The Core i5-12600KF is a strong CPU, sitting in the 79th percentile among all tested processors, but in a GPU-bound scenario like this, its power is largely untapped.

The data shows a clear imbalance. The CPU's average benchmark score of 27799 places it in a dead heat with its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K (deltaPct of -0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (deltaPct of -0.3%). This indicates the processor is performing exactly as expected and is not a source of weakness. In contrast, the GTX 1660 SUPER's average score of 12986 is just 0.4% above the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and 0.4% above the AMD Radeon RX 580, showing it is a competent but mid-range performer that sits in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs.

This pairing creates a significant bottleneck. The CPU has the headroom to feed a much more powerful graphics card, but the GTX 1660 SUPER is holding the system back. In Downfall, a game that appears to be graphically intensive based on the FPS scaling, this results in the low overall ranking. The system is not a high-end contender, but its performance is predictable and consistent with its component tier, making it a viable, if not impressive, 1080p gaming machine for this title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the primary determinant of this combo's performance in Downfall. Its specifications, including 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s, define its capabilities. The GPU's boost clock of 1785 MHz and 1408 shading units provide the raw processing power, but the data shows these are insufficient for the most demanding settings in this game.

The 6 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor. At 4K resolution, the demand for video memory increases substantially. The benchmark results suggest that the card's memory capacity and bandwidth are stretched at 3840x2160, as evidenced by the significant performance drops when moving from Medium to High settings. The GPU's pixel rate of 85.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but are overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K.

The card's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 12699 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1278, confirms its mid-range standing. It is not a high-end card, and its 53rd percentile ranking against all GPUs reflects this. In Downfall, the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU is waiting for the GPU to deliver frames, and the GPU simply cannot keep up at higher resolutions, making it the sole reason for the combo's lower-tier ranking.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear path to the optimal experience. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the best choice, delivering an average of 99 FPS. This offers a significant visual upgrade over the Low preset while maintaining a frame rate well above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, yielding an average of 86 FPS. This is the only 1440p setting that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, while High drops to 71 FPS and Ultra falls to a less fluid 44 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p provides the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for users with higher-resolution monitors.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests this combination is not well-suited for high-quality settings. The Medium preset at 3840x2160 produces an average of 54 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Low preset is the only 4K option that provides a consistently comfortable frame rate at 65 FPS, but it requires a significant sacrifice in visual quality. Therefore, the recommendation is clear: stick to 1080p High for the best overall experience, or 1440p Medium if you prioritize resolution over some graphical detail.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The FPS data reveals a consistent pattern of performance scaling that is characteristic of a GPU-bound system. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are excellent across the board. The Low preset averages 147 FPS, the Medium preset averages 120 FPS (with a minimum of 102 and maximum of 138), and the High preset averages 99 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, cuts performance nearly in half to 62 FPS, indicating a massive jump in graphical load.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are expected but manageable. The Low preset still delivers a very playable 105 FPS. The Medium preset averages 86 FPS (min 73, max 99), which is a solid result. The High preset drops to 71 FPS, still playable, but the Ultra preset falls to 44 FPS, highlighting the GPU's struggle at this resolution with maximum settings.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1660 SUPER's limitations become stark. The Low preset is the only one that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 65 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS (min 45, max 62), which is borderline. The High preset drops to 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset becomes unplayable at 27 FPS. These numbers clearly show that 4K gaming is only viable with significant graphical compromises.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about the system's bottleneck. At 1080p High, the system averages 99 FPS. At 1440p High, this drops to 71 FPS, a 28% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 44 FPS, a 56% reduction from the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-limited system. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively stable across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not increase with resolution. However, the data shows a steep decline, which means the GPU is working progressively harder to render more pixels and is running out of headroom.

The gap between the Low and Ultra settings at each resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the difference between Low (147 FPS) and Ultra (62 FPS) is 85 FPS. At 4K, the difference between Low (65 FPS) and Ultra (27 FPS) is 38 FPS. This compression of the performance gap at higher resolutions shows that the GPU's raw compute power is being exhausted by the sheer number of pixels, leaving less room for the settings to have a proportional impact. The Core i5-12600KF, with its high single-thread score of 3302 in Cinebench R23, is not the limiting factor; the GTX 1660 SUPER is the component that dictates the system's performance ceiling in Downfall.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 with the High preset is the optimal choice, delivering an average of 99 FPS. This provides a high frame rate and good visual quality. For 1440p, the Medium preset is the best option, averaging 86 FPS, while 4K gaming is only viable on the Low preset, which averages 65 FPS.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Downfall?*

A: It can, but with significant compromises. The only 4K setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS is the Low preset at 65 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 54 FPS, High to 44 FPS, and Ultra becomes unplayable at 27 FPS. The 6 GB VRAM of the GTX 1660 SUPER is a limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this combo?

A: The GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The Core i5-12600KF's benchmark scores place it at the 79th percentile, showing it is a high-performing processor. The GTX 1660 SUPER, however, is in the 53rd percentile. The steep FPS drops when increasing resolution, from 99 FPS at 1080p High to 44 FPS at 4K High, are a classic sign of a GPU-limited workload.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 12986. This is 0.4% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 580. It is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla M2090 and 0.9% higher than the AMD Radeon 740M, showing it is a solid mid-range performer.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 147 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 62 FPS. This is a performance drop of 85 FPS, or roughly 58%, when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings. This shows the significant graphical overhead of the Ultra preset.

Q: What kind of frame rate can be expected at 1440p on Medium settings?

A: The 2560x1440 Medium preset delivers an average of 86 FPS, with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS. This is a very playable frame rate for a horror game, providing a smooth experience while maintaining a balance between visual quality and performance.