Downfall

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers a remarkably high-refresh-rate experience in Downfall, a 2016 horror title that clearly responds well to modern hardware. This combination sits at rank 280 out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the top 8% of all configurations tested in this game. The data shows a system that is capable of crushing even 4K Ultra settings, though the scaling patterns reveal where the performance bottlenecks lie as resolution increases.

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

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts up to 4.90 GHz, which gives it strong single-threaded performance for a horror game that likely relies on draw calls and physics calculations. The CPU's benchmark results show a 3dmark single-thread score of 1016 and a 3dmark 2-thread score of 1995, indicating that the per-core throughput is solid but not the absolute fastest available.

In the context of Downfall's measured performance, the CPU is rarely the limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the combo produces 397 FPS average, which is an extremely high frame rate that suggests the CPU can feed the GPU with data quickly enough to saturate even a high-end graphics card. The processor's multithreaded capabilities, evidenced by a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 23391, ensure that background tasks and game logic don't create stutter spikes, even when the frame rate is in the hundreds.

The CPU's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 per core provide adequate memory hierarchy for a game from 2016, which likely has modest cache demands compared to modern titles. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, though the measured results don't specify which memory type was used. The fact that the CPU holds up at 1080p High settings, where the average FPS only drops to 267 from the Low setting's 397, indicates that the game's CPU load scales with quality settings but the 12600KF absorbs that load without issue.

Benchmark comparisons show the 12600KF is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-10900K, with a deltaPct of -0.3%, meaning the older flagship performs nearly identically in average synthetic scores. It also matches the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D within 0.3%, which is notable because that AMD chip is often praised for gaming performance. This parity means the CPU choice here is not the source of any performance advantage or disadvantage in Downfall; the GPU dominates the results.

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

The scaling pattern across resolutions is textbook GPU-bound behavior. At 1080p High, the combo averages 267 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 190 FPS (a 29% reduction); and at 4K High, it falls to 118 FPS (a further 38% reduction from 1440p). This consistent degradation with increasing pixel count indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the CPU still has headroom at 1080p.

Looking at Low settings, the trend is even more pronounced. The 1080p Low average is 397 FPS, which drops to 284 FPS at 1440p Low (a 28% reduction) and then to 177 FPS at 4K Low (a 38% reduction from 1440p). The fact that the frame rate nearly halves from 1080p to 4K on Low settings reinforces that the GPU's pixel throughput is the deciding factor, because the game logic and draw calls are identical regardless of resolution.

The Medium settings rows include min and max FPS values, which provide insight into frame pacing. At 4K Medium, the average is 144 FPS with a min of 123 and max of 166, showing a relatively tight range of about 43 FPS between minimum and maximum. At 1440p Medium, the average is 232 FPS with a min of 197 and max of 267, expanding to a 70 FPS range. At 1080p Medium, the average is 325 FPS with a min of 276 and max of 374, a 98 FPS spread. This widening variance at lower resolutions suggests that CPU-side frame generation becomes less consistent as the GPU finishes frames faster, introducing more variability in frame times.

The Ultra settings reveal the steepest drop-off. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to 74 FPS, which is 37% lower than the 4K High average of 118 FPS. The gap between 1440p Ultra (119 FPS) and 4K Ultra (74 FPS) is 38%, consistent with the resolution scaling seen on other presets. This indicates that Ultra settings add a significant per-pixel shading load that the RTX 4080 SUPER handles at 1440p but struggles to maintain at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

With a combo rank of 280 out of 3716 tested combinations, this pairing of the Core i5-12600KF and RTX 4080 SUPER places in the 92.5th percentile of all tested systems in Downfall. This is a strong result that reflects the GPU's high-end positioning—the RTX 4080 SUPER benchmarks at an 86th percentile among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 54209 places it just 0.1% behind the standard RTX 4080 and 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X.

The CPU's percentile ranking is lower, at 79th among all CPUs, but its average benchmark score of 27799 is only 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which is a popular choice for gaming builds. This near-parity in synthetic benchmarks means the CPU is not dragging down the combo's rank. The top 280 combos likely feature slightly faster CPUs like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D or higher-binned Intel parts, but the delta in average CPU scores is within 0.3%, so the performance difference in Downfall would be minimal.

The GPU's nearest rival, the RTX 4080, has an average score of 54247, just 0.1% higher than the SUPER variant. This means the combo rank is essentially the same whether one uses the standard 4080 or the SUPER, and the measured FPS in Downfall would be within a rounding error. The data shows that this combo outperforms the vast majority of systems, with only 280 of 3716 achieving higher frame rates, and those are likely configurations with even more powerful GPUs or CPUs that push the 1080p low-setting ceiling higher.

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

The measured data provides a complete grid of 12 combinations of resolution and settings, all with average FPS, and three rows with min and max values. Here is the full breakdown:

1920x1080:

• Low: 397 FPS average
• Medium: 325 FPS average, with min 276 and max 374
• High: 267 FPS average
• Ultra: 167 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 284 FPS average
• Medium: 232 FPS average, with min 197 and max 267
• High: 190 FPS average
• Ultra: 119 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 177 FPS average
• Medium: 144 FPS average, with min 123 and max 166
• High: 118 FPS average
• Ultra: 74 FPS average

The 1080p Low result of 397 FPS is the highest recorded in the entire dataset, and the 1080p Ultra result of 167 FPS is still well above the 144Hz threshold, making this a viable setup for high-refresh monitors at 1080p with maximum settings. At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers 119 FPS, which is just shy of 120 Hz, while the High preset at 190 FPS provides plenty of headroom for 144Hz or even 165Hz displays. The 4K results show that High settings at 118 FPS are playable on a 120Hz display, but Ultra at 74 FPS might require VRR to avoid tearing.

The min and max FPS values for Medium settings across all three resolutions show that the lowest frame rate recorded is 123 FPS at 4K, which is still smooth. The 1080p Medium max of 374 FPS approaches the Low setting's average, indicating that the Medium preset does not introduce CPU-bound limits at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Downfall at 4K Ultra with a 60 FPS target?

A: Yes. The measured 4K Ultra average is 74 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. However, the margin is only 14 FPS, so any background tasks or intense scenes could push it lower.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144Hz monitor?

A: At 1440p High, the average is 190 FPS, which exceeds 144Hz. At 4K High, the average is 118 FPS, which is below 144Hz. For a 144Hz display, 1440p High is the sweet spot, while 4K High would require a 120Hz panel.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to the standard RTX 4080 in this pairing?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, while the standard RTX 4080 scores 54247, a delta of only -0.1%. In practical terms, the measured FPS in Downfall would be nearly identical between the two GPUs.

Q: Is the i5-12600KF a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: The data suggests not. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 397 FPS, indicating the CPU can feed the GPU effectively. The CPU's average benchmark score is within 0.3% of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, so any bottleneck would be minimal.

Q: What are the min FPS values for Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 276. At 1440p Medium, the min is 197. At 4K Medium, the min is 123. These minimums are all well above playable thresholds.

Q: How does the 4K Low result compare to the 1080p Ultra result?

A: The 4K Low average is 177 FPS, while the 1080p Ultra average is 167 FPS. This shows that resolution scaling has a larger impact than quality settings, as dropping from Ultra to Low at 1080p only gains 130 FPS, but moving from 1080p to 4K at Low loses 220 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p users, the Ultra preset at 167 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while still delivering frame rates well above the 144Hz refresh rate common on 1080p monitors. The 1080p High preset at 267 FPS is only worth considering if the display refresh rate exceeds 240Hz, and even then the visual fidelity loss may not be justified.

For 1440p users, the High preset at 190 FPS is the optimal balance. This delivers smooth gameplay on 144Hz and 165Hz displays with significant headroom. The Ultra preset at 119 FPS is acceptable for 120Hz panels, but the 71 FPS difference between High and Ultra suggests that the extra visual effects come at a steep performance cost. The Medium preset at 232 FPS is only useful for 240Hz monitors, and the Low preset at 284 FPS is overkill unless chasing maximum competitive frame rates.

For 4K users, the High preset at 118 FPS is the clear winner. It stays above the 60 FPS minimum for smooth play and is suitable for 120Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 74 FPS is playable on a 60Hz monitor but leaves little headroom for frame drops, especially given the min FPS data from Medium settings shows a 21 FPS drop from average to min at 4K. The Medium preset at 144 FPS is the choice for 144Hz 4K displays, though such panels are rare. The Low preset at 177 FPS is unnecessary unless the user prioritizes frame rate above all visual quality.

The data shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER has enough raw power to handle this 2016 horror game at high settings across all resolutions, and the i5-12600KF keeps up without becoming a constraint. The measured results indicate that the High preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance at every resolution, with the exception of 1080p where Ultra is clearly viable.