Downfall

Downfall, a 2016 horror title, proves surprisingly demanding at its upper settings, but the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers a wide range of performance. The benchmark results show that this combination is capable of extreme frame rates at lower presets, yet it also exposes the significant performance cost of the Ultra preset. This analysis breaks down the measured data to provide a clear picture of what this specific hardware combination achieves in this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Downfall with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo delivers between 168 FPS (Ultra) and 400 FPS (Low), which is exceptionally high. At 2560x1440, performance remains excellent, with a 191 FPS average on High. For a balance of visual fidelity and high refresh rates, 2560x1440 on High is a strong choice, as it stays well above 144 FPS. 3840x2160 is also viable, with the High preset averaging 119 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance?

A: The data shows a massive performance hit when moving to Ultra. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate drops from 119 FPS on High to 74 FPS on Ultra, a decrease of 45 FPS. Similarly, at 2560x1440, it drops from 191 FPS to 120 FPS, and at 1920x1080, it drops from 268 FPS to 168 FPS. Ultra nearly halves the frame rate compared to High at every resolution.

Q: Is the RTX 4080's 16 GB of VRAM a limiting factor in Downfall?

A: The benchmark results do not indicate any VRAM-related performance issues at any of the tested settings. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution and preset, suggesting that the 16 GB of GDDR6X memory is sufficient for the game's demands at these configurations.

Q: How does the Core i5-14600K's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 48618 places it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, scores 48698, making the i5-14600K just 0.2% slower. It is also 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 4345P and 0.7% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average frame rate of 327 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. The minimum recorded frame rate was 278 FPS, and the maximum was 376 FPS, indicating very consistent performance with no significant dips.

Q: Is the RTX 4080's performance close to that of the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The average benchmark score for the RTX 4080 is 54247, while its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209. This makes the RTX 4080 just 0.1% faster in these aggregated benchmarks, indicating near-identical performance levels between the two cards.

Settings Recommendations

The measured frame rates clearly indicate that the Ultra preset is a performance trap for this title. While the game is playable, the cost is severe. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields an average of 74 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 119 FPS achieved on High. This pattern holds at lower resolutions. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 120 FPS, but High is far ahead at 191 FPS. At 1920x1080, the drop is from 268 FPS on High to 168 FPS on Ultra.

The High preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance across all tested resolutions. It delivers 119 FPS at 4K, which is ideal for a smooth experience on a high-refresh-rate monitor. At 1440p, the 191 FPS average is exceptional, and at 1080p, the 268 FPS average is more than sufficient for even the fastest competitive displays. The jump from High to Ultra does not appear to justify the steep performance penalty. For players seeking maximum frame rates, the Medium preset offers a substantial boost—145 FPS at 4K and 233 FPS at 1440p—with only a minor reduction in visual fidelity compared to High. The Low preset pushes frame rates to 178 FPS at 4K and 285 FPS at 1440p, but the visual trade-offs are likely too significant for most. The data suggests that High is the optimal setting for this hardware, with Medium serving as a strong alternative for those prioritizing maximum refresh rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.30 GHz. This high boost clock is likely a significant factor in the game's performance at lower resolutions and settings, where the CPU is more likely to be a bottleneck. The processor's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064. This places the CPU at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier performer for gaming workloads.

The data shows that in Downfall, the CPU is not a limiting factor. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination achieves a remarkable 400 FPS average. This high frame rate confirms the CPU's strong single-threaded performance, as lower graphical settings reduce the GPU's workload and put more emphasis on the processor to feed frames. The gap between Low and Medium, and Medium and High, narrows as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance is sufficient to support the RTX 4080's capabilities without holding it back. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support further contribute to its ability to handle game data efficiently.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 230th out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This places it in the top 6.2% of all tested systems for this game, which is an exceptionally strong result. The ranking is based on the measured FPS data and reflects the high performance of both the CPU and GPU.

The high ranking is a direct result of the balanced nature of this pairing. The CPU provides enough processing power to avoid bottlenecking the GPU, while the GPU is capable of producing high frame rates at all tested settings. While the GPU is a high-end part, it is not the absolute fastest on the market, which allows for higher-tier combinations to rank above it. However, for the vast majority of users, this level of performance is beyond what is needed for a smooth and enjoyable experience in Downfall. The data indicates that this combo is a top-tier performer, and users with high-refresh-rate monitors will be able to take full advantage of their display's capabilities at 1440p and even 4K with the appropriate settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a powerful graphics card built on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. The card's base clock is 2205 MHz, with a boost clock of 2505 MHz. With 9728 shading units and 76 RT cores, it is a formidable piece of hardware. Its average benchmark score of 54247 puts it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its performance is nearly identical to the RTX 4080 SUPER, being just 0.1% faster in aggregate benchmarks.

The GPU is the dominant factor in Downfall's performance at higher resolutions and settings. This is evident in the scaling of frame rates. At 1920x1080, the difference between Medium (327 FPS) and High (268 FPS) is 59 FPS. At 3840x2160, the same settings gap is only 26 FPS (145 FPS vs 119 FPS), but the overall frame rates are much lower. This shows that the GPU's workload increases significantly with resolution, and it becomes the primary bottleneck. The 16 GB of VRAM is ample for this game, as the data shows no signs of memory-related stuttering or performance drops at the Ultra preset. The card's high boost clock and memory bandwidth are key to sustaining high frame rates, even at the demanding 4K resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally fast. The Low preset achieves an average of 400 FPS. Medium averages 327 FPS, with a minimum of 278 FPS and a maximum of 376 FPS. The High preset averages 268 FPS, and Ultra drops to 168 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, allowing for incredibly high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, we see a more balanced load. The Low preset averages 285 FPS. Medium averages 233 FPS, with a minimum of 198 FPS and a maximum of 268 FPS. The High preset averages 191 FPS, which is still exceptional for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset averages 120 FPS, which is playable but a significant step down from the other presets. The data shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern as settings are increased.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is fully utilized. The Low preset averages 178 FPS. Medium averages 145 FPS, with a minimum of 123 FPS and a maximum of 167 FPS. The High preset is the sweet spot for 4K, averaging 119 FPS, which is ideal for a smooth experience on a 120Hz display. The Ultra preset averages 74 FPS, which is the only configuration that dips below the 100 FPS mark. This highlights the steep cost of the Ultra preset at 4K, making the High preset the clear recommendation for this resolution.