Downfall

Downfall, a 2016 horror title, presents a demanding workload where the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti combination delivers a playable but heavily settings-dependent experience. The measured data shows that this pairing ranks 1535 out of 1741 tested combos, placing it in the lower half of the database and indicating that while the hardware is functional, it requires careful configuration to achieve smooth frame rates. The benchmark results reveal a system where the GPU is consistently the primary bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and quality presets, making settings management the key to a positive experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory position it as a capable modern desktop part. In the context of Downfall, a horror game that typically relies on single-thread performance for game logic and AI, the CPU’s strong single-core capability—evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 960—ensures that it does not become the limiting factor in most scenarios. The processor’s overall average benchmark score of 25236 places it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13620H, scoring nearly identically at 25201 (a delta of only 0.1%).

The data suggests that the CPU has ample headroom for this title. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 146.7 FPS, a figure that is more than double the 64.4 FPS seen at Ultra settings. This scaling is primarily a GPU-side phenomenon, as lowering graphical fidelity reduces the load on the graphics card without significantly changing the CPU’s work. The 16 threads of the i5-13400F are more than sufficient for Downfall, which is not known for heavy multi-threading. The bottleneck is clearly not the processor; even at the lowest frame rate recorded (27.1 FPS at 4K Ultra), the CPU is unlikely to be stalled, as its PassMark multithread score of 25032 indicates substantial parallel processing power that a 2016 game would struggle to saturate.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F strong enough for Downfall?

A: Yes, the data shows it is more than adequate. The CPU’s single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread score of 960) and high average benchmark score (25236, 82nd percentile) indicate it will not bottleneck the GPU in this game. The frame rate differences across settings are almost entirely due to GPU load.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti perform in this game at 1080p?

A: The GPU delivers strong results. Measured average FPS ranges from 146.7 on Low settings to 64.4 on Ultra at 1920x1080. The High preset yields 99.6 FPS, which is well above the standard 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. It is the only resolution where the High preset achieves near 100 FPS (99.6). At 2560x1440, High drops to 68.9 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 41.7 FPS, making 4K unsuitable for demanding settings.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Only with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves 67.4 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to 52.2 FPS, and Ultra is a slideshow at 27.1 FPS. The GPU’s 6 GB of VRAM and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are limiting factors at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1535 out of 1741 tested combinations, placing it in the lower 12% of the database. This is a low ranking, but it does not reflect the CPU’s capability; rather, it highlights the GTX 1660 Ti’s position in the lower half of GPUs (55th percentile).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Downfall?

A: The benchmark data clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting component. This is evident from the steep FPS drop when moving from Low to Ultra settings at any given resolution, which is a GPU workload increase. The CPU’s performance remains relatively constant across these changes.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable drop as resolution increases, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on High settings reduces the average frame rate from 99.6 FPS to 68.9 FPS, a decline of roughly 31%. The jump from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 on the same preset is even more severe, falling from 68.9 FPS to 41.7 FPS, a further 39% reduction. This scaling pattern is consistent with the GTX 1660 Ti’s specifications, including its 192-bit memory bus and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth, which become increasingly stressed as pixel count rises.

The data reveals that the limiting component is unequivocally the graphics card. For example, at 4K, the difference between Low (67.4 FPS) and Ultra (27.1 FPS) is a massive 40.3 FPS, or roughly 60%. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller performance gap between settings, as the CPU’s workload does not change with graphical fidelity. The 1080p results further support this: the system is capable of 146.7 FPS on Low, but only 64.4 FPS on Ultra, showing that the GPU’s shading units (1536) and texture units (96) are saturated at higher quality levels. Users targeting 4K should expect to use Low settings for playable frame rates, while 1440p is viable for Medium settings (85 FPS) but not High.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data suggests that the High preset at 1920x1080 is the ideal balance of visual quality and performance, delivering an average of 99.6 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS standard, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense scenes. The Ultra preset at 1080p (64.4 FPS) is also playable but offers diminishing returns for the performance cost, and the 35 FPS drop from High to Ultra is substantial.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, yielding a solid 85 FPS. The High preset at this resolution (68.9 FPS) is borderline, and the Ultra preset (44.4 FPS) falls below the 60 FPS threshold. For 4K gaming, only the Low preset (67.4 FPS) is acceptable, but users should be prepared for a significant visual downgrade. The Medium (52.2 FPS) and High (41.7 FPS) presets at 4K are not recommended for a smooth experience, and Ultra (27.1 FPS) is unplayable. In summary, the optimal configuration is 1080p High, with 1440p Medium as a viable alternative for those with higher-resolution monitors.

How This Combo Ranks

The configuration of the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ranks 1535 out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested, a position that is heavily influenced by the GPU’s modest standing in the overall performance hierarchy. The GTX 1660 Ti has a percentile rank of 55 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13925. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 570X, scores 13871, a delta of only 0.4%, indicating the 1660 Ti is at the mid-range of the performance spectrum.

In contrast, the CPU is a high-end part. The i5-13400F sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13620H, is essentially equivalent in score (25201 vs. 25236). This disparity between a top-tier CPU and a mid-range GPU means the combo’s low ranking is not a reflection of the processor’s capability. The data demonstrates that if paired with a stronger GPU, the i5-13400F would likely move this combo significantly higher in the rankings, as it provides ample headroom for more demanding graphics cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 146.7 FPS, which drops to 124.1 FPS on Medium, 99.6 FPS on High, and 64.4 FPS on Ultra. This shows a smooth scaling curve, with each increase in quality costing a roughly 20-25% performance hit.

At 2560x1440, the performance is still respectable but noticeably lower. Low settings deliver 104.3 FPS, Medium drops to 85 FPS, High falls to 68.9 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 44.4 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra at this resolution is a particularly steep 24.5 FPS loss, making Ultra an unattractive option.

At 3840x2160, the limits of the GTX 1660 Ti are reached. Low settings yield 67.4 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. Medium drops to 52.2 FPS, High to 41.7 FPS, and Ultra is virtually unplayable at 27.1 FPS. The data shows that the 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and the 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for high-fidelity 4K gaming, as the GPU’s fill rate (84.96 GPixel/s) is overwhelmed.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is based on the Turing architecture (TU116 chip) and is manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 1536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, with a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz. The 6 GB of GDDR6 memory runs at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective) across a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. These specifications position the card as a mid-range solution, and its benchmark scores confirm this: it holds a 55th percentile rank among all GPUs, with an average score of 13925.

In Downfall, the GPU’s role is the primary determinant of performance. The measured FPS data shows that the card’s performance scales directly with the quality preset, a clear sign of GPU-bound operation. The card’s FP32 performance of 5.437 TFLOPS and texture rate of 169.9 GTexel/s are the key metrics that govern how it handles the game’s rendering tasks. The data shows that the card is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p (over 100 FPS on Medium), but its 6 GB VRAM capacity becomes a limiting factor at 4K, where high-resolution textures can exceed this amount. The card’s end-of-life production status and its 120 W TDP suggest that it is a legacy part, and its performance in this 2016 game is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but not for demanding 4K scenarios.