Downfall

# Downfall with Intel Core i5-14600K + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

The pairing of Intel's Core i5-14600K with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is one of the most lopsided configurations in the Downfall benchmark database. The CPU is a modern 14-core powerhouse, while the GPU is an end-of-life Pascal-era card with only 4 GB of VRAM. This combination ranks 3666 out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 1.3% of all configurations for this game. The data tells a clear story: the GTX 1050 Ti is the overwhelming bottleneck, and the i5-14600K's capabilities are almost entirely unrealized in this horror title.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600K brings substantial processing resources to this pairing. It features 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This Raptor Lake Refresh architecture CPU, built on Intel's 10 nm process, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU also includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, though these are irrelevant when a discrete GPU is present.

Benchmark data shows the i5-14600K's raw capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 24491 in multi-core and 2064 in single-core tests. Geekbench results show 16673 multi-core and 2491 single-core. The PassMark multi-thread score is 38682, with a single-thread score of 4270. These numbers place the CPU in the 90th percentile of all CPUs tested, meaning it outperforms 90% of processors in the database. Its average benchmark score of 48618 sits close to rivals like the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (48698, -0.2% delta), AMD EPYC 4345P (48470, +0.3%), and Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (48287, +0.7%).

However, in Downfall specifically, this CPU's power is largely irrelevant. The measured FPS numbers at all resolutions and settings are severely constrained by the GPU. At 1080p Low, the fastest measured configuration, the system achieves 74 FPS average. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 14 FPS. These numbers are not indicative of CPU limitations; rather, they reflect the GPU's inability to keep up with the CPU's output. The i5-14600K could easily feed a much more powerful graphics card, but with the GTX 1050 Ti, the CPU sits mostly idle, waiting for the GPU to finish each frame.

The data suggests that Downfall is not CPU-bound with this configuration. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions, since the CPU workload would remain constant. Instead, FPS drops dramatically as resolution increases (74 FPS at 1080p Low to 33 FPS at 4K Low), which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's 14 cores and 20 threads are simply not being taxed by this horror game, which likely relies more on GPU rendering than complex CPU simulation.

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

Examining the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and what minimum frame rate is acceptable. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 74 FPS average, which is the highest of any measured configuration. Medium at 1080p gives 60 FPS average with a minimum of 51 FPS and maximum of 69 FPS. High at 1080p drops to 50 FPS average. Ultra at 1080p falls to 31 FPS.

For smooth gameplay at 1080p, Low is the clear winner, offering 74 FPS average. However, Medium at 60 FPS average may provide a better visual experience while still maintaining playable frame rates, especially since the minimum of 51 FPS stays above common 50 FPS thresholds. High at 50 FPS is borderline, while Ultra at 31 FPS is likely too choppy for a horror game where smooth motion contributes to atmosphere.

At 1440p, the situation tightens. Low delivers 53 FPS average, Medium drops to 43 FPS (minimum 37, maximum 50), High falls to 35 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 22 FPS. The Low preset at 1440p is the only one that maintains a comfortable average above 50 FPS. Medium at 43 FPS average may be acceptable for some players, but the 37 FPS minimum could cause noticeable stutter in tense moments.

At 4K, none of the presets deliver truly playable performance. Low achieves 33 FPS average, Medium 27 FPS (minimum 23, maximum 31), High 22 FPS, and Ultra 14 FPS. Even the best 4K option, Low at 33 FPS, falls below the 60 FPS target that most players prefer. For 4K, the data suggests this combination is not viable for a smooth experience.

The best experience per the measured data is 1080p Low at 74 FPS average, which provides the highest frame rate and likely the most responsive gameplay. Players who prioritize visual quality over raw FPS might choose 1080p Medium at 60 FPS, which still maintains a solid average while offering better graphical fidelity than Low.

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

Q: What is the overall rank of this CPU+GPU combination in Downfall?

A: This combo ranks 3666 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 1.3% of all configurations for this game. This indicates severe performance limitations in Downfall, almost entirely attributable to the GPU.

Q: How does the GTX 1050 Ti compare to its nearest rivals in GPU benchmarks?

A: The GTX 1050 Ti has an average benchmark score of 4193, placing it in the 25th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M330 (4170, +0.6% delta), NVIDIA Quadro K2100M (4151, +1.0%), NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241, -1.1%), and AMD Radeon Vega 3 (4268, -1.8%). These deltas are all within 2% of each other, indicating the GTX 1050 Ti sits at the very bottom of the GPU performance spectrum.

Q: What is the fastest measured FPS for this combination?

A: The fastest measured FPS is 74 FPS average at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that exceeds 70 FPS, and it represents the best-case scenario for this hardware pairing in Downfall.

Q: How much faster is 1080p Low compared to 4K Ultra?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 74 FPS average, while at 4K Ultra it drops to 14 FPS average. This represents a 5.3x reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest resolution and settings to the highest, illustrating the GPU's extreme sensitivity to rendering load.

Q: Does the i5-14600K's 90th percentile CPU ranking help in Downfall?

A: Despite the CPU ranking in the 90th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 48618, the measured FPS in Downfall are consistently low across all settings. The data indicates the GTX 1050 Ti is the limiting factor, as FPS scales with resolution and settings changes rather than remaining constant, which would be the case if the CPU were the bottleneck.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 37, with an average of 43 and a maximum of 50. This minimum frame rate is notably low, suggesting potential frame time spikes that could affect gameplay smoothness in a horror title where sudden movements or scenes may occur.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo rank of 3666 out of 3716 places this configuration in the bottom 50 combinations tested in Downfall. This ranking is remarkably low when considering the CPU's capabilities. The i5-14600K alone ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48618. This CPU outperforms rivals like the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H by 0.2%, the AMD EPYC 4345P by 0.3%, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX by 0.7% in average benchmark scores. Yet when paired with the GTX 1050 Ti, the combined system falls to the bottom of the rankings.

The GPU's benchmark performance explains this discrepancy. The GTX 1050 Ti ranks in the 25th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 4193. Its nearest rivals are all similarly low-performing parts: the AMD Radeon R5 M330 (4170), NVIDIA Quadro K2100M (4151), NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241), and AMD Radeon Vega 3 (4268). The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is just 305, and its PassMark G3D score is 6340. These are extremely low figures that bottleneck the entire system.

The data shows that in Downfall, the GPU dominates the performance outcome. A combo with a high-end CPU and low-end GPU cannot overcome the GPU's limitations. The rank of 3666 reflects the GPU's position in the 25th percentile, not the CPU's 90th percentile ranking. This suggests that for Downfall, the GPU is the primary determinant of a combo's rank, and the CPU contributes little to the final FPS numbers.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a Pascal architecture GPU built on Samsung's 14 nm process. It features 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 112.1 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1291 MHz with a boost clock of 1392 MHz, and memory runs at 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective). The chip, GP107, contains 3,300 million transistors on a 132 mm² die.

These specifications place the GTX 1050 Ti firmly in the entry-level category, and the benchmark data confirms this. The GPU scores 305 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 7834 in Geekbench Metal, 18129 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 10001 in Geekbench Vulkan. PassMark results show 6340 in G3D, 2652 in GPU compute, and 104 in DirectX 9. Its average benchmark score is 4193, placing it in the 25th percentile of all GPUs.

In Downfall, the GTX 1050 Ti's limitations are immediately apparent. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is likely insufficient for higher resolutions and settings, though the measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, the GPU manages only 74 FPS average. The GPU's pixel rate of 44.54 GPixel/s and texture rate of 66.82 GTexel/s are modest figures that constrain rendering performance. The FP32 performance of 2.138 TFLOPS is also low, limiting compute-heavy effects.

The relationship between GPU specifications and Downfall's results is clear: the GTX 1050 Ti is simply too weak to drive this game at high frame rates. Even at the lowest settings, the GPU cannot exceed 74 FPS at 1080p. As resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and bandwidth become even more strained, causing FPS to plummet. The 4K Ultra result of 14 FPS average demonstrates the GPU's inability to handle the pixel count and effects load at that resolution.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combination's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves the following averages: Low at 74 FPS, Medium at 60 FPS (minimum 51, maximum 69), High at 50 FPS, and Ultra at 31 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p has the most complete data, with both minimum and maximum values recorded, showing a range of 51 to 69 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low averages 53 FPS, Medium averages 43 FPS (minimum 37, maximum 50), High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a 37-50 FPS range, indicating significant frame time variance. At 3840x2160, the results are much lower: Low averages 33 FPS, Medium averages 27 FPS (minimum 23, maximum 31), High averages 22 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. The 4K Medium preset has a 23-31 FPS range.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low is always the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the slowest. The deltas between settings are substantial. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 43 FPS (74 vs 31). At 1440p, the difference is 31 FPS (53 vs 22). At 4K, the difference narrows to 19 FPS (33 vs 14). This narrowing at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes increasingly saturated, reducing the relative impact of settings changes.

The Medium preset's minimum FPS values are notable. At 1080p, the minimum is 51 FPS, which is 9 FPS below the average. At 1440p, the minimum is 37 FPS, 6 FPS below average. At 4K, the minimum is 23 FPS, 4 FPS below average. These minimums suggest occasional frame drops that could be perceptible, especially at 1440p and 4K where the averages are already low.

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

The resolution scaling behavior reveals critical information about which component limits performance in this configuration. Comparing the same settings across resolutions, the FPS drops are significant. At Low settings, 1080p yields 74 FPS, 1440p yields 53 FPS (a 28% drop), and 4K yields 33 FPS (a 55% drop from 1080p). At Medium, the progression is 60 FPS at 1080p, 43 FPS at 1440p (28% drop), and 27 FPS at 4K (55% drop). High settings show 50 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p (30% drop), and 22 FPS at 4K (56% drop). Ultra settings show 31 FPS at 1080p, 22 FPS at 1440p (29% drop), and 14 FPS at 4K (55% drop).

The consistent percentage drops across all settings are revealing. Moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by roughly 28-30%, and moving from 1080p to 4K reduces FPS by roughly 55-56%. This consistent scaling pattern is the classic signature of a GPU-bound system. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect FPS to remain relatively constant across resolutions, since the CPU's workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) does not change with resolution. Instead, FPS drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count, indicating that the GPU's rendering throughput is the bottleneck.

The resolution scaling data also shows that the GPU's limitations become more pronounced at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 14 FPS represents a 55% reduction from 1080p Ultra's 31 FPS. This scaling is not perfectly linear with pixel count (4K has 4x the pixels of 1080p), but the drop is substantial. The GTX 1050 Ti's 112.1 GB/s memory bandwidth and 44.54 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply insufficient for 4K rendering, even at the lowest settings.

This resolution scaling analysis confirms that the i5-14600K is not the limiting factor in this configuration. The CPU's high benchmark scores and 90th percentile ranking are irrelevant when the GPU cannot keep up with rendering demands. If a more powerful GPU were paired with the i5-14600K, the resolution scaling would likely be much less dramatic, as the CPU could handle the increased draw calls and physics calculations without becoming a bottleneck. The data from this combination underscores the importance of balanced system configurations, where the GPU's capabilities match the demands of the target resolution and settings.