Downfall

The Intel Core i5-14400F pairs a 10-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake design with a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 4.70 GHz boost clock. This configuration is positioned in the 88th percentile against all CPUs, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 reflects a strong all-rounder for gaming workloads. The data suggests that this processor is not the bottleneck in most scenarios, especially when paired with a mid-range GPU. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks—the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645—are separated by a negligible 0.2% difference in average score, indicating that the 14400F sits in a highly competitive performance tier. For a horror title like Downfall, which often relies on single-threaded draw calls and physics calculations, the 3093 single-core score in Cinebench R23 and the 2333 Geekbench single-core score provide a solid foundation. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache is another factor that helps keep frame pacing stable, as it reduces the latency penalty when the game engine streams in new assets.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP and the fact it is multiplier-unlocked=false suggest a conservative power profile, but the benchmark results prove it can sustain high clocks when needed. The PassMark multi-thread score of 25783 further corroborates its capability to handle background tasks without stealing cycles from the game. The data implies that the 14400F’s role in this combo is to supply frames quickly and consistently, leaving the visual fidelity work to the GPU. In Downfall, where the horror atmosphere depends on smooth motion and sudden scene changes, this processor’s 10 cores (with 16 threads) ensure that the game’s AI and scripting logic never starve the render thread. The 4.70 GHz boost clock is particularly relevant for the game’s 2016 release date, as older engines often scale poorly with core counts but respond well to raw clock speed.

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F brings 10 physical cores and 16 threads to the table, a configuration that balances modern multi-threaded demands with legacy single-thread performance. With a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost of 4.70 GHz, the processor can pivot between energy efficiency and peak throughput. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 shows that it can handle heavy workloads, but the single-core score of 3093 is what matters more for a game like Downfall, which was released in 2016 and likely relies on a primary game thread. The PassMark single-thread score of 3723 reinforces this, placing it well above the threshold for maintaining high frame rates in less optimized titles.

The 20 MB of shared L3 cache is a key asset for gaming, as it allows frequently accessed data to stay close to the cores. The data shows that this CPU achieves a 88th percentile ranking against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H, posts an average benchmark score of 32513, which is essentially identical to the 14400F’s 32508. This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 14400F will trade blows with mobile high-end chips, but its desktop design with a 65 W TDP allows for more sustained boost behavior. For Downfall, the measured FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings reaches 228 FPS, indicating that the CPU is not limiting the system at lower resolutions; the GPU takes over as the primary constraint as settings increase.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus. Its memory clock runs at 2125 MHz, translating to 17 Gbps effective and a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock of 2460 MHz and base clock of 1830 MHz provide the raw compute to process Downfall’s horror visuals, which often involve dark scenes, particle effects, and dynamic lighting. The 3072 shading units and 96 texture mapping units handle the pixel and texture work, while the 48 ROPs ensure that frame buffer operations keep up with the render output.

The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor at higher resolutions. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 42.9, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is likely due to VRAM capacity and bandwidth limitations, as the 128-bit bus is narrow for 4K workloads. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 19545 places it in the 66th percentile against all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, is only 0.6% behind in average score. This indicates that the RTX 4060 is a competent mid-range card, but it is not designed for maxed-out 4K gaming. The 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 performance provides ample compute for the game’s shaders, but the memory subsystem becomes the bottleneck at higher settings. The data suggests that the RTX 4060 excels at 1080p and 1440p, where its 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient to maintain high frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 achieves a rank of 981 out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is expected given the mid-range nature of both components. The rank indicates that there are 760 combos that perform better, but also 760 that perform worse, suggesting a balanced system that is neither overkill nor underpowered for this game. The data shows that this combo is capable of delivering playable frame rates at most settings, but it struggles to maintain high FPS at 4K Ultra, which is a common trait for mid-range GPUs.

The combo’s rank is influenced by the CPU’s strong single-thread performance and the GPU’s solid rasterization capabilities. In Downfall, the game’s horror elements often involve sudden frame time spikes, and the data shows that the combo handles these well at 1080p, where the average FPS at High settings is 151.3. However, the rank of 981 suggests that there are many combos with higher-end GPUs or more VRAM that can push higher frame rates at 4K. The percentile of the CPU (88th) and GPU (66th) indicates that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing, which is typical for a mid-range card. The combo’s performance relative to other tested combinations shows that it is a capable 1080p and 1440p machine, but it falls off at 4K, particularly with Ultra settings.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strongest performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 228, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the CPU is feeding the GPU well. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 183.1, a 19.7% decrease, while High settings yield 151.3 FPS. At Ultra, the average FPS falls to 95.3, which is still smooth but shows a significant scaling cost. The data reveals that the RTX 4060 can easily handle 1080p regardless of settings, with the lowest average still well above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings produce an average of 159.4 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play. Medium settings drop to 132.5, and High settings yield 107.9 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 70.7, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 55.6%, indicating that the GPU is becoming more stressed. At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average 102 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 79.5, High to 67.9, and Ultra to 42.9. The Ultra setting at 4K is the only measurement below 60 FPS, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay. The data shows a clear pattern: the combo is a 1080p beast, a solid 1440p performer, and only capable of 4K at lower settings.

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

The scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals the bottleneck dynamics of this combo. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 228 at 1080p to 102 at 4K, a 55.3% reduction. This is a substantial drop, but the absolute values remain high, indicating that the GPU is still the limiting factor. At Medium settings, the drop is from 183.1 to 79.5, a 56.6% reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 151.3 to 67.9, a 55.1% reduction. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings suggests that the resolution scaling is primarily GPU-bound.

However, at Ultra settings, the drop is from 95.3 at 1080p to 42.9 at 4K, a 55.0% reduction. This is similar to the other settings, but the absolute value at 4K Ultra is below 60 FPS, making it unplayable. The data implies that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution, as the FPS drops are proportional to the pixel count increase. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are the likely culprits for the 4K Ultra shortfall. The memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s is insufficient for the data throughput required at 4K with maxed settings. The scaling pattern shows that the combo is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p, but the GPU’s memory constraints become apparent at 4K, particularly with Ultra presets.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 in Downfall?

A: The data suggests no. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 228 FPS, and the CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3093 indicates it can feed the GPU adequately. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent across settings, implying the GPU is the primary limiter.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 102, which is playable. At 4K High, it drops to 67.9, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 42.9, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are the constraints.

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

A: 1920x1080 is the sweet spot, with all settings yielding above 95 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings still achieve 70.7 FPS, making it a viable option for high-refresh-rate monitors. 4K is only recommended for Low or Medium settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 23181, while the RX 6600M scores 23321, a 0.6% difference. In Downfall, the RTX 4060’s performance is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the RX 6600M would likely perform similarly due to the close scores.

Q: Does the CPU’s 10-core configuration help in Downfall?

A: The 10 cores and 16 threads provide a solid foundation, but the single-thread performance (3093 in Cinebench R23) is more critical for a 2016 game. The multi-core score of 21914 ensures background tasks don’t interfere, but the game likely uses fewer cores.

Q: What is the lowest FPS recorded across all settings?

A: The lowest average FPS is 42.9, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is the only measurement below 60 FPS, indicating that the combo is not suitable for 4K Ultra in this title.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience in Downfall, the data points to 1920x1080 with High settings as the optimal balance. The average FPS of 151.3 is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and High settings provide a richer visual experience than Low or Medium without the performance penalty of Ultra. At 1080p, Ultra settings still deliver 95.3 FPS, so players with high-refresh-rate monitors can comfortably use Ultra. However, for those with 1440p displays, Medium settings at 132.5 FPS offer a smooth experience, while High at 107.9 FPS is also viable. Ultra at 1440p drops to 70.7 FPS, which is playable but leaves less headroom for frame time spikes.

At 4K, the recommendation is to stick with Low settings, which yield 102 FPS, or Medium at 79.5 FPS. High settings at 67.9 FPS are borderline, but Ultra at 42.9 FPS should be avoided for a smooth horror experience. The measured data shows that the combo is most comfortable at 1080p, where it can handle any preset, and 1440p, where Medium or High are the best choices. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, so players should prioritize settings that reduce texture and shadow memory usage. The data implies that the game’s horror atmosphere benefits more from consistent frame pacing than from maxed-out settings, making Medium at 1440p the recommended sweet spot for a balanced experience.