Downfall

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a predictable scaling pattern in Downfall, where the integrated-class GPU becomes the dominant constraint as resolution climbs. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo posts 96 FPS average, but this figure collapses to 43 FPS at 3840x2160 Low—a drop of 55% that squarely implicates the graphics pipeline rather than the processor. The Arc B370’s 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 20 ROPs simply cannot sustain frame rates when pixel count quadruples, and the data reflects this: moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings reduces average FPS from 64 to 46, a 28% loss, while the jump from 1440p to 4K at High further cuts performance from 46 to 29 FPS, a 37% decline. This non-linear degradation indicates the GPU is running out of shading and rasterization headroom, not memory bandwidth or CPU feed, since the Core i5-14400F’s 10 cores and 16 threads remain largely idle in a horror title that typically favors single-thread responsiveness.

The scaling story becomes even more telling at Ultra settings. At 1080p Ultra, the combo manages 40 FPS; at 1440p Ultra, it falls to 29 FPS; at 4K Ultra, it bottoms out at 18 FPS. The 55% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Ultra mirrors the Low-setting drop, confirming that the bottleneck is purely fill-rate and pixel-shader bound. The Arc B370’s 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate and 96.00 GTexel/s texture rate are fixed hardware limits, and the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (18) aligns almost exactly with what those figures would suggest for a game with moderate geometric complexity. Notably, the CPU’s boost clock of 4.70 GHz and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3055 do not fluctuate in importance across resolutions; the FPS deltas between settings at each resolution are consistent, which points to a GPU that is saturated regardless of the quality preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s standing in Downfall is unambiguously weak. With a combo rank of 3429 out of 3716 tested combinations, this pairing sits in the bottom 7.7% of all systems measured for this game. That percentile placement is driven almost entirely by the Arc B370, which itself holds a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, and its nearest rivals are all legacy or low-power parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (0.2% faster), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5% faster), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7% faster). The only GPU the Arc B370 beats in its immediate tier is the AMD FirePro M2000, which scores 1168 (1.4% slower). In practical terms, this means the Arc B370 is competing with hardware from over a decade ago, and in Downfall specifically, it cannot deliver a consistently playable experience at any resolution above 1080p with medium-to-high presets.

The CPU side does not rescue the pairing. While the Core i5-14400F ranks in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32279, its nearest rivals—the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233, 0.1% slower), Intel Core i9-11900 (32226, 0.2% slower), and Intel Core i7-12800H (32121, 0.5% slower)—show that the processor is firmly mid-pack in raw compute. In Downfall, however, the CPU’s strength is irrelevant because the GPU cannot translate that compute into frames. The combo’s rank of 3429 vs. 3716 total combos means that 287 other configurations are even slower, but those are likely pairing similarly weak integrated GPUs with weaker CPUs. The 14400F’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 16 threads do not manifest in any FPS advantage here; the measured results are GPU-bound at every resolution and setting combination, as evidenced by the fact that even the best-case 1080p Low score of 96 FPS is far below what the CPU could theoretically support.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14400F bottleneck the Intel Arc B370 in Downfall?

A: No. The data shows the GPU is the limiting component at every resolution. The CPU’s 10 cores, 16 threads, and 4.70 GHz boost clock are more than sufficient; FPS scales down consistently with resolution and settings, which is a GPU-bound signature. Even at 1080p Low (96 FPS), the Arc B370 is maxed out, not the CPU.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo if aiming for 60 FPS?

A: None of the measured configurations reach a 60 FPS average at 1440p or 4K. At 1080p, only the Low preset (96 FPS) and Medium preset (78 FPS) exceed 60 FPS. High at 1080p hits 64 FPS, while Ultra falls to 40 FPS. So 1080p Low or Medium is the only viable path to 60+ FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals are ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, 0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, 0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, 0.7% faster). It beats only the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4% slower). These are all legacy parts, indicating the Arc B370 is entry-level at best.

Q: Is the combo playable at 4K in Downfall?

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 43 FPS. Medium at 4K drops to 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS, High falls to 29 FPS, and Ultra is unplayable at 18 FPS. For a horror game that benefits from smooth motion, 4K is not a recommended target for this pairing.

Q: What settings preset offers the highest FPS without dropping below 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Medium at 1080p yields 78 FPS average with a minimum of 67 FPS and maximum of 90 FPS. This is the highest preset that maintains a minimum above 60 FPS. High at 1080p averages 64 FPS but lacks a reported minimum, so Medium is the safest choice.

Q: How does the CPU’s benchmark performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U scores 32233 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core i9-11900 scores 32226 (0.2% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS scores 32354 (0.2% higher). The Intel Core i7-12800H scores 32121 (0.5% lower). The differences are negligible in gaming contexts.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a full matrix of performance. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results: Low averages 96 FPS, Medium averages 78 FPS (with a minimum of 67 and maximum of 90), High averages 64 FPS, and Ultra averages 40 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 56 FPS, which is a 58% reduction, showing that the Arc B370’s 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs are quickly overwhelmed by higher-quality shaders and textures. The 1080p Medium minimum of 67 FPS is notable because it stays above the 60 FPS threshold, but the High preset’s lack of a reported minimum suggests variability that could dip below playable levels during intense scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are steep but consistent. Low averages 68 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium falls to 56 FPS (minimum 48, maximum 64), High drops to 46 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 29 FPS. The 1440p Medium minimum of 48 FPS would be noticeable in a horror title where frame pacing is critical for atmosphere. At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playability: Low averages 43 FPS, Medium averages 35 FPS (minimum 30, maximum 40), High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 18 FPS. The 4K Medium minimum of 30 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra score of 18 FPS is effectively a slideshow. The pattern across all resolutions is linear: each step up in quality costs roughly 20-25% of the average FPS, which is characteristic of a GPU that has no headroom to spare.

The data also reveals that the Arc B370’s shared memory architecture does not cause sudden frame drops beyond what the average indicates. The only reported minimums (Medium settings at all three resolutions) show that the GPU maintains a stable floor: 67 FPS at 1080p, 48 FPS at 1440p, and 30 FPS at 4K. These minimums are 86%, 86%, and 86% of their respective averages (78, 56, 35), respectively, which indicates consistent frame delivery rather than stutter-heavy spikes. This is a positive sign for the Intel Xe3-LPG architecture, even if the absolute performance is low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on Raptor Lake-R architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die size. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, boosting to 4.70 GHz, and it carries 20 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 80 KB of L1 per core. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 21645 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3055 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 11268 and single-core score of 2058. These figures place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32279. For Downfall, a horror game with a 2016 release date, these specs are more than adequate; the game’s engine is unlikely to stress 16 threads, and the single-core performance is sufficient for the AI and physics calculations typical of the genre.

The CPU’s role in this combo is to feed the GPU without becoming a bottleneck, and the measured FPS confirms it does so. At 1080p Low, the CPU can deliver 96 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see the FPS plateau at a certain value regardless of resolution, but that is not the case; FPS scales inversely with pixel count. The CPU’s 4.70 GHz boost clock and 16 threads are also reflected in the Passmark multi-thread score of 25470 and single-thread score of 3701, which are strong enough to handle any background tasks while gaming. The ECC memory support and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 compatibility are irrelevant to this game’s performance, but they do indicate the CPU is a modern, versatile part that will not hold back future upgrades. In summary, the 14400F is a mid-range CPU that is overqualified for the Arc B370 in this title, and its presence does not contribute to any of the FPS deficits observed.

Settings Recommendations

For players using this combo in Downfall, the measured data offers a clear hierarchy of playable configurations. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 78 FPS average with a 67 FPS minimum. This keeps the frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold even during the most demanding moments, which is crucial for a horror game where sudden frame drops can ruin immersion. The High preset at 1080p averages 64 FPS, but without a reported minimum, it is riskier; if the minimum falls below 60 FPS, the experience would be noticeably less smooth. Low at 1080p is the highest-FPS option at 96 FPS, but it sacrifices the visual fidelity that Downfall uses to build tension. Ultra at 1080p (40 FPS) is not recommended, as the average falls below the 60 FPS target and the GPU is clearly overworked.

At 2560x1440, the only preset worth considering is Low (68 FPS), which maintains playability but with significant visual compromises. Medium at 1440p (56 FPS average, 48 FPS minimum) is borderline, and High (46 FPS) and Ultra (29 FPS) are too slow for a responsive horror experience. At 3840x2160, none of the presets are truly playable; Low (43 FPS) is the only one that approaches acceptable performance, but even that will feel sluggish. The data suggests that 1080p Medium is the sweet spot for this combo, as it is the highest quality setting that guarantees a minimum FPS above 60. If the user prioritizes frame rate over visuals, 1080p Low offers the best headroom at 96 FPS, but the visual downgrade from Medium to Low is substantial. Ultimately, the Arc B370 is a 1080p-class GPU, and the Core i5-14400F does nothing to change that; stick to 1080p Medium for the best measured experience.