Downfall

# Downfall with Intel Core i5-13400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a playable but uneven experience in Downfall, with performance heavily dictated by resolution and settings. At 1080p, the combo produces excellent frame rates across all presets, but 4K Ultra drops to 36 FPS, revealing a GPU-bound scenario where the 8 GB VRAM and Turing architecture struggle. The combo ranks 2630th out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the lower third of all pairings, though the CPU's strong multi-threaded scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core at 22604) ensure it is rarely the bottleneck. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, GPU characteristics, and settings recommendations based solely on the benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern: as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, average frame rates drop dramatically across every preset. At High settings, the transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces average FPS from 128 to 92, a 28% decline, while moving from 1440p to 4K drops the average from 92 to 57, another 38% reduction. This steep scaling curve indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K while the GPU's compute resources remain fixed.

The Low preset shows the same trend but with higher absolute numbers: 191 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 85 FPS at 4K. These figures suggest that even at the lowest settings, the GPU cannot maintain 1080p-level frame rates at 4K, losing 55% of its performance when moving from 1080p to 4K. The Medium preset follows suit, with 156 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K, while Ultra drops from 80 FPS at 1080p to 57 FPS at 1440p and just 36 FPS at 4K.

The 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS is particularly telling, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold that most games target for smooth gameplay. This indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.181 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth are simply insufficient for 4K Ultra in Downfall. The scaling from 1440p Ultra (57 FPS) to 4K Ultra (36 FPS) represents a 37% drop, which is consistent with the pixel count increase and confirms that the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU's capabilities, with a PassMark multi-thread score of 25032 and 10 cores, are more than adequate to feed the GPU at all resolutions, so the frame rate ceiling is set by the graphics card.

At 1080p, the data shows the combo is capable of exceeding 190 FPS on Low and 150+ FPS on Medium, which means the CPU is not holding back performance. The fact that 1080p Ultra still achieves 80 FPS while 4K Ultra only manages 36 FPS reinforces the conclusion that resolution scaling is entirely GPU-limited. Players targeting 4K should expect to use Low or Medium settings, where 85 FPS and 69 FPS respectively are achievable, but High and Ultra will require significant compromises.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is directly relevant to Downfall's performance at high resolutions, as the 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS suggests that both memory capacity and bandwidth are stretched thin. The GPU's base clock of 1470 MHz and boost clock of 1650 MHz are modest by modern standards, but the 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs provide adequate throughput for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

The GPU's 12 nm Turing architecture, manufactured by TSMC with 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die, delivers 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. This places the RTX 2060 SUPER in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs based on average benchmark scores, with a PassMark G3D score of 16462. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (deltaPct -0.4), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (deltaPct -0.5), and AMD Radeon RX 460 (deltaPct -1.5), indicating that the desktop RTX 2060 SUPER is competitive with mid-range laptop and workstation parts.

In Downfall specifically, the GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s appears to be a key factor in the 4K performance drop. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p with all presets, but at 4K, the combination of higher resolution textures and effects likely exceeds comfortable memory usage, contributing to the 36 FPS Ultra result. The measured data shows that the GPU can handle Medium settings at 4K with 69 FPS average and a minimum of 59 FPS, suggesting that memory pressure is manageable at this preset but becomes problematic at High and Ultra.

The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support and 34 RT cores do not appear to provide any specific advantage in Downfall, a horror game from 2016 that predates widespread ray tracing adoption. The PassMark DirectX 12 score of 61, compared to DirectX 11 at 130, indicates that the GPU performs better under older APIs, which is relevant since Downfall's engine likely relies on DirectX 11. The 14.36 TFLOPS FP16 performance (2:1 ratio) and 272 tensor cores are unused in this title, so the GPU's raw rasterization capabilities are what matter for the measured FPS.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the best resolution, with average FPS ranging from 80 (Ultra) to 191 (Low). At 1440p, the combo still delivers playable frame rates (57-136 FPS across presets), but 4K performance drops to 36-85 FPS, making 1080p the most consistent choice.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K Medium, the combo achieves 69 FPS average with a minimum of 59 FPS, which is playable. However, 4K High drops to 57 FPS and 4K Ultra falls to 36 FPS, both below the 60 FPS threshold. The data suggests using Medium settings for 4K or lowering to 1440p for higher quality presets.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this pairing?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions and settings tested. The Intel Core i5-13400F has a PassMark multi-thread score of 25032 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22604, while the RTX 2060 SUPER's 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS shows the GPU cannot keep up with pixel demands. At 1080p Low, 191 FPS indicates the CPU is not limiting frame rates.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (deltaPct -0.4), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (deltaPct -0.5), AMD Radeon RX 460 (deltaPct -1.5), and Intel Arc A770M (deltaPct -1.6), showing it is statistically equivalent to these parts.

Q: What settings should be avoided with this combo?

A: The data shows 4K Ultra should be avoided entirely, as it produces only 36 FPS average. Additionally, 1440p Ultra at 57 FPS is borderline, and while playable, it is close to the 60 FPS threshold. For consistently smooth performance, stick with Medium or High at 1440p or any preset at 1080p.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM cause issues in Downfall?

A: The measured results suggest VRAM is sufficient for most scenarios, as 4K Medium maintains 69 FPS with a 59 FPS minimum. However, the drop to 57 FPS at 4K High and 36 FPS at 4K Ultra indicates that higher settings may strain the 8 GB capacity, though the exact cause cannot be isolated from the FPS data alone.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 191 FPS, Medium reaches 156 FPS with a minimum of 133 FPS and maximum of 180 FPS, High achieves 128 FPS, and Ultra still manages 80 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p gaming is thoroughly covered, with even the most demanding preset exceeding 60 FPS by a comfortable margin.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains solid but shows clear scaling. Low settings average 136 FPS, Medium drops to 112 FPS (minimum 95, maximum 128), High reaches 92 FPS, and Ultra falls to 57 FPS. The 1440p results show that High settings are perfectly playable, while Ultra is borderline and may exhibit occasional stuttering given its proximity to the 60 FPS mark.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings average 85 FPS, Medium achieves 69 FPS (minimum 59, maximum 80), High drops to 57 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 36 FPS. The 4K Medium result is the only preset at this resolution that consistently stays above 60 FPS, with the minimum of 59 FPS being just below the threshold. The 4K Ultra figure of 36 FPS is the worst result across all tested configurations, representing a 55% reduction compared to 1080p Ultra's 80 FPS.

The progression across resolutions for each preset shows a consistent pattern. Low settings drop from 191 to 136 to 85 FPS as resolution increases, Medium goes from 156 to 112 to 69 FPS, High falls from 128 to 92 to 57 FPS, and Ultra declines from 80 to 57 to 36 FPS. These numbers reveal that the RTX 2060 SUPER's performance halves or nearly halves when moving from 1080p to 4K, regardless of the preset chosen.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-13400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination ranks 2630th out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the 29th percentile of all pairings. This rank reflects the GPU's mid-range position (62nd percentile among all GPUs) and the CPU's stronger standing (77th percentile among all CPUs), with the combination's overall performance limited by the graphics card.

The CPU's nearest rivals help contextualize its contribution to this combo. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS has an average benchmark score of 25284 (deltaPct 0), while the Intel Core 5 120 scores 25362 (deltaPct -0.3) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D scores 25365 (deltaPct -0.3). The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H trails slightly at 25201 (deltaPct 0.4). These close margins indicate the i5-13400F is competitive with these parts, and its 10 cores and 16 threads provide ample processing power for Downfall's workload.

The GPU's ranking relative to its peers is similarly tight. The RTX 2060 SUPER's average benchmark score of 18093 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159, deltaPct -0.4), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18189, deltaPct -0.5), AMD Radeon RX 460 (18373, deltaPct -1.5), and Intel Arc A770M (18383, deltaPct -1.6). This grouping means that swapping the GPU for any of these rivals would produce nearly identical frame rates in Downfall, confirming that the RTX 2060 SUPER is not a standout performer but is also not significantly behind its direct competitors.

The combo's 2630th rank out of 3716 indicates that most tested combinations deliver better performance in Downfall, which aligns with the GPU's 62nd percentile standing. However, the rank is not a measure of playability—the measured FPS data shows this combo can run Downfall smoothly at 1080p and 1440p with appropriate settings, even if it does not compete with higher-end configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver playable performance, but Medium settings at 156 FPS average (133 minimum) provide the best balance of visual quality and headroom. High at 128 FPS is also excellent, while Ultra at 80 FPS remains smooth despite being the most demanding. For players prioritizing maximum frame rates, Low at 191 FPS is the clear choice.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings at 112 FPS (95 minimum) are the recommended choice, as they offer a significant visual upgrade over Low (136 FPS) while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High at 92 FPS is also viable for those who prefer higher quality, but Ultra at 57 FPS is borderline and may result in occasional dips below 60 FPS. Players with 1440p monitors should avoid Ultra unless they are willing to accept slightly reduced smoothness.

At 3840x2160, Medium settings at 69 FPS (59 minimum) are the only preset that consistently approaches 60 FPS, making them the recommended choice for 4K gaming. Low at 85 FPS is an alternative for those who prioritize frame rate over visuals, but High at 57 FPS and Ultra at 36 FPS are not recommended due to their sub-60 FPS averages. The 4K Medium minimum of 59 FPS is within 1 FPS of the 60 FPS threshold, so players with VRR displays will have the best experience here.

Overall, the data suggests that Medium settings are the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, delivering 156 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K. High settings are a strong alternative at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the performance drop to 57 FPS makes Medium the safer choice. Ultra settings should only be used at 1080p, where 80 FPS is still playable, and avoided at 1440p and 4K entirely.