Downfall

Downfall, a horror title from 2016, places distinct demands on the CPU and GPU. With the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060, the data reveals a configuration that scales predictably across resolutions, with the processor providing a robust foundation and the graphics card acting as the primary bottleneck at higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance metrics to show how this specific pairing behaves in this game.

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, operating on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. For a horror title like Downfall, which often involves complex scripting and physics interactions, the CPU’s multithreading capability is significant. The processor’s benchmark scores reflect a strong showing: a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055. In Geekbench, it achieves 11268 multicore and 2058 single-core. These figures situate the i5-14400F in a solid position for gaming, as it ranks in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs.

The data shows the processor is not a limiting factor in the measured FPS results. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches an average of 210 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding frames to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck, even at lower graphical settings where the GPU workload is lighter. The processor’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory also contribute to a responsive system, though the game’s specific engine likely benefits more from the raw thread count and clock speed than cache size. The boost clock of 4.70 GHz is particularly relevant for single-threaded tasks, which many game engines still rely on for core logic.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-14400F’s average benchmark score is 32279. It sits within a tight performance band: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U scores 32233 (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i9-11900 scores 32226 (0.2% slower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS scores 32354 (0.2% faster). The Intel Core i7-12800H trails slightly with 32121 (0.5% slower). These small deltaPct values indicate that the i5-14400F is performing exactly as expected for its class, providing a stable baseline for the RX 9060 to operate. In Downfall, this means the CPU is delivering consistent frame pacing, allowing the GPU’s output to be the primary variable in performance across different settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

When evaluating the full system, the combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1667 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations tested, indicating a capable pairing that is not at the absolute top end of performance but is far from the bottom. The rank suggests that while the GPU is a mid-range part (59th percentile among all GPUs), the CPU’s strength (83rd percentile) helps boost the overall combo’s standing.

The ranking implies that in a database of nearly 3000 combinations, this setup is outperformed by systems with higher-end GPUs or CPUs, but it also beats a significant number of configurations, likely those with older or weaker components. For a player, this rank translates to a system that can handle Downfall comfortably at most settings, but it will not be the absolute best experience available. The data does not specify which combos are above or below, but the percentile positions of the individual components suggest the CPU is pulling its weight more than the GPU. The GPU’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (with a deltaPct of -0.7%, meaning the RX 9060 is slightly slower) and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (1% faster), which helps contextualize the GPU’s position. The combo’s rank of 1667 is a direct result of this mid-range GPU performance being paired with a high-mid-range CPU, creating a balanced but not top-tier gaming system for this title.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling that points to the GPU as the primary limiting component in this pairing. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 141 FPS. Moving to 1440p, this drops to 101 FPS, a reduction of 40 FPS (approximately 28%). At 4K, the High setting yields just 63 FPS, which is a further drop of 38 FPS (approximately 38% from 1440p). This steep decline as resolution increases is classic GPU-bound behavior: the CPU i5-14400F is capable of maintaining high frame rates, but the RX 9060’s rendering workload grows exponentially with pixel count.

The trend is similar across other settings. With Low settings, the 1080p average is 210 FPS, dropping to 150 FPS at 1440p and 93 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are consistent, reinforcing that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates flatten out at higher resolutions, as the GPU would have fewer frames to render relative to the CPU’s capability. Instead, the FPS continues to fall sharply, indicating the GPU is working at its maximum capacity. The medium settings show a similar pattern: 172 FPS at 1080p, 123 FPS at 1440p, and 76 FPS at 4K. This scaling behavior is typical for a system where the CPU has headroom, and it tells us that for the best experience, users should prioritize GPU settings over CPU-related settings when tweaking the game.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. Starting at 1920x1080, the combo delivers an average of 210 FPS at Low settings. Medium settings reduce this to 172 FPS, with a minimum of 146 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS. High settings yield 141 FPS average, while Ultra settings drop to 88 FPS. At this resolution, all presets are playable, and even the Ultra setting maintains a solid frame rate above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings produce 150 FPS, Medium settings average 123 FPS with a range of 104 to 141 FPS, High settings drop to 101 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 63 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is right at the edge of smooth gameplay, with 63 FPS being acceptable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Moving to 3840x2160, the data shows the GPU’s limits. Low settings still manage 93 FPS, Medium settings average 76 FPS (with a minimum of 65 FPS and maximum of 88 FPS), High settings drop to 63 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to 39 FPS. At 4K, the Ultra preset is not viable for smooth play, as 39 FPS is below the threshold for comfortable gaming. The minimum FPS data points, where available, show that the system maintains fairly consistent performance, with the 1440p Medium setting having a minimum of 104 FPS, which is still quite high.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The combo achieves an average of 141 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14400F bottleneck the AMD Radeon RX 9060 in Downfall?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck. At 1080p Low settings, the system reaches 210 FPS, and the FPS drops consistently with resolution increases, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings average 123 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 63 FPS, a difference of 60 FPS.

Q: Is the 4K Ultra preset playable with this hardware?

A: The 4K Ultra preset averages 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making it not recommended for a good experience.

Q: How does the CPU’s average benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279, which is 0.1% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233) and 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i9-11900 (32226).

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the 1080p Medium setting?

A: The minimum FPS for 1920x1080 Medium is 146 FPS, with a maximum of 198 FPS.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s resolution preference. At 1080p, the High preset is recommended as it delivers 141 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard and close to the refresh rate of many 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 88 FPS is also viable, but the visual fidelity gain may not justify the 53 FPS loss compared to High. For those seeking maximum performance at 1080p, the Medium preset at 172 FPS is an excellent choice, but High offers a better balance of quality and speed.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the best option, averaging 123 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with a minimum of 104 FPS, ensuring no significant dips. High settings at 101 FPS are also acceptable, but Medium offers a more consistent frame rate with only a modest visual difference. The Ultra preset at 63 FPS is borderline; it is playable on a 60Hz monitor, but the frame pacing may suffer in intense scenes. For 4K, the Low preset at 93 FPS is recommended, as it provides a playable experience without sacrificing too much visual detail. Medium settings at 76 FPS are also viable, but the minimum of 65 FPS suggests occasional stutters. The High preset at 63 FPS is just at the edge, and Ultra should be avoided due to the 39 FPS average. Overall, the data suggests that the sweet spot for this hardware is Medium settings at 1440p or High settings at 1080p.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1700 MHz, a boost clock of 2990 MHz, and a game clock of 2400 MHz. With 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, it delivers a FP32 performance of 21.43 TFLOPS. The GPU’s 28 ray accelerators (RT cores) are present, though Downfall, being a 2016 title, likely does not utilize ray tracing, so this feature is less relevant. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this game, as the measured FPS does not indicate any memory-related stuttering at higher resolutions, though at 4K Ultra the low 39 FPS suggests the GPU is compute-bound rather than memory-bound.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show a mixed profile: a Passmark G3D score of 17631 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322. Its average benchmark score is 16014, which places it in the 59th percentile among all GPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, it is 0.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (score 16129) and 1% faster than the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862). The RX 9060 also sits 1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15852) and 2.1% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679). In Downfall, the GPU’s performance is the key determinant of the FPS numbers. The 4K Ultra result of 39 FPS indicates the GPU is fully utilized, while the 1080p Low result of 210 FPS shows it can keep up with the CPU when the workload is light. The boost clock of 2990 MHz is high, which helps in maintaining frame rates, but the 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB capacity may limit performance in more modern titles, though not noticeably in this game. The data confirms that the RX 9060 is a capable mid-range card that pairs well with the i5-14400F, but it is the primary component to upgrade if higher resolutions or settings are desired.