Downfall

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 is a study in contrast: a modern, high-core-count CPU anchored to a graphics card from an older hardware generation. In Downfall, a horror title, this pairing yields a playable experience at lower resolutions and settings, but the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck as resolution and quality demands rise. The data shows a combo that ranks in the 3395th position out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of performance for this specific title.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which provides substantial single-thread headroom for game logic and frame pacing. The processor's cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 24 MB L3 cache, which helps keep frequently accessed data close to the execution cores. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and its PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes ensures the rest of the system can feed data without being a limiting factor.

Benchmark scores for the i5-14600KF are strong across the board. In Cinebench R23, it scores 32544 points in multi-core and 4594 points in single-core. Geekbench results show 17085 multi-core and 2445 single-core. The PassMark multithread score is 38697, with a single-thread score of 4273. These numbers place the CPU in the 90th percentile of all processors, indicating it is a high-performing part. Relative to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight competition: the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has an average score of 49228, which is a 0.3% difference from the i5-14600KF's average of 49394. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is 0.4% behind, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% behind. Only the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 posts a higher average score at 49796, a -0.8% delta, meaning the i5-14600KF is slightly behind that specific part.

In Downfall, the CPU's role is to maintain a stable frame delivery, and its high single-core performance is well-suited for this. The game is not heavily threaded, so the i5-14600KF's 20 threads are likely underutilized. However, the sheer speed of the cores ensures that the CPU side of the pipeline is rarely the cause of a frame rate dip. The data supports this interpretation: at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 102 FPS average, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. At this setting, the CPU is not being challenged, and the frame rate is likely limited by the GPU's raw output. The processor's strong PassMark integer math score of 125982 and floating-point math score of 93048 suggest it can handle the game's AI and physics calculations without causing stutter, even when the GPU is struggling at higher resolutions. The conclusion is that the i5-14600KF is a capable partner that will not hold back the RX 580 in this title; the bottleneck lies elsewhere.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is a much older design, built on the Polaris 20 chip using a 14 nm process. It features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The GPU clock runs at a base of 1257 MHz and boosts to 1340 MHz. Memory is 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 2000 MHz, or 8 Gbps effective. Compute performance is rated at 6.175 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16. The card has a TDP of 185 W and requires a 450 W power supply.

Benchmark results for the RX 580 place it in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, which is a middling position. Its PassMark G3D score is 8813, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1005. Geekbench scores show 45235 for Metal, 37453 for OpenCL, and 45173 for Vulkan. Notably, the DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 scores in PassMark are low, at 60 and 43 respectively, suggesting the architecture does not excel in modern API-heavy workloads. The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, which has an average score of 12940, a -0.1% delta from the RX 580's 12928. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is 0.4% faster, while the AMD Radeon 740M and AMD FirePro W5100 are 0.5% and 0.6% slower, respectively. This places the RX 580 in the same performance tier as those parts, but it is clearly a generation behind the current norm.

In Downfall, the GPU's limitations are evident in the frame rate data. The 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game's textures at all settings, but the raw processing power is not. The pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s and texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s are the primary constraints. At 1080p High settings, the average FPS is 68, which drops to 49 at 1440p, and further to 30 at 4K. This scaling pattern shows that the GPU is being saturated as the pixel count increases. The shift from 1080p Low (102 FPS) to 1080p Ultra (43 FPS) highlights that the GPU's compute units are the limiting factor when shader complexity rises. The RX 580 is a card that can run the game at playable frame rates, but only at lower settings and resolutions. The 6.175 TFLOPS of compute power is not enough to maintain high frame rates in a modern horror title at 4K, where the GPU is clearly the component that dictates performance.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low settings, the combo averages 102 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 73 FPS, a 28% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 45 FPS, a 56% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep drop is consistent with the GPU's fillrate and bandwidth limits being overwhelmed by the growing number of pixels.

The same trend is visible at Medium settings. At 1080p, the average is 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. At 1440p, the average is 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. At 4K, the average is 37 FPS, with a minimum of 32 FPS and a maximum of 43 FPS. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is a 28% drop, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is a 38% drop. This indicates that the GPU is hitting a wall at 4K, where even the minimum frame rate is below 35 FPS.

At High settings, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute numbers. 1080p yields 68 FPS, 1440p yields 49 FPS (a 28% drop), and 4K yields 30 FPS (a 39% drop from 1440p). At Ultra settings, the frame rates are the lowest of the dataset: 43 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 19 FPS is nearly unplayable, and it confirms that the RX 580 is not designed for such demanding workloads.

The analysis of these numbers points to the GPU as the limiting component. The CPU's performance does not degrade with resolution, as its workload stays constant. The fact that the FPS drops by roughly 30% to 40% with each resolution step shows that the GPU's pixel processing capability is being exhausted. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be similar across resolutions, as the CPU would hit its limit first. Instead, the data shows a GPU that is progressively overwhelmed, making the RX 580 the definitive constraint in this pairing for Downfall.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 3395th out of 3716 tested combinations in Downfall. This places it in the bottom 9% of all tested systems, which is a poor result for a CPU that is in the 90th percentile of all processors. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance, which is in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs. The CPU is capable, but the GPU drags the overall system down to a low rank.

This rank is not surprising given the GPU's age and performance tier. The RX 580's nearest rivals, such as the GTX 1660 SUPER and RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, are similarly positioned, and none of these would be expected to produce a high combo rank in a modern game at high settings. The data suggests that the i5-14600KF is wasted in this configuration for Downfall, as the GPU cannot utilize the CPU's full potential. The combo's rank is a reflection of the weakest link, and that is clearly the GPU.

However, the rank does not tell the whole story. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 102 FPS, which is a smooth experience. At 1080p High, it still manages 68 FPS, which is playable. The rank of 3395th is an aggregate measure across all settings and resolutions, and it penalizes the poor 4K Ultra performance. For a user who plays at 1080p with lower settings, this combo is more than sufficient, and the rank would be higher in that specific use case. But the data as a whole shows a system that struggles at higher resolutions, and the rank reflects that.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Downfall at 1080p with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes. The data shows an average of 102 FPS at 1080p Low and 68 FPS at 1080p High. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is 43 FPS, which is above the threshold for basic playability.

Q: What is the best setting for this combo at 1440p?

A: At 1440p Medium, the combo averages 60 FPS, which is the most balanced option. 1440p High drops to 49 FPS, while 1440p Low is 73 FPS. 1440p Ultra is not recommended, as it falls to 31 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this pairing?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's performance is high, but the GPU's frame rates drop significantly with resolution and settings increases, indicating it is the bottleneck.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RX 580's average benchmark score is 12928, which is -0.1% different from the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (12940) and -0.4% different from the GTX 1660 SUPER (12986). It is 0.5% faster than the Radeon 740M and 0.6% faster than the FirePro W5100.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The average frame rate at 4K Ultra is 19 FPS, which is not playable. The highest 4K average is 45 FPS at Low settings.

Q: Does the CPU's 14 cores help in this game?

A: The CPU's high single-core performance is more relevant. The game does not appear to be heavily threaded, as the frame rates are limited by the GPU, not the CPU.

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

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Radeon RX 580 combination in Downfall. Minimum and maximum values are provided only where they were recorded.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 102 FPS average
• Medium: 83 FPS average, 71 FPS minimum, 96 FPS maximum
• High: 68 FPS average
• Ultra: 43 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 73 FPS average
• Medium: 60 FPS average, 51 FPS minimum, 69 FPS maximum
• High: 49 FPS average
• Ultra: 31 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 45 FPS average
• Medium: 37 FPS average, 32 FPS minimum, 43 FPS maximum
• High: 30 FPS average
• Ultra: 19 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern: at 1080p, the combo is capable of delivering smooth frame rates at Low and Medium settings, with High being acceptable. At 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot, while High and Ultra require compromises. At 4K, only Low settings approach playability, and anything above Medium results in frame rates below 40 FPS. This breakdown confirms that the RX 580 is the limiting component, and the i5-14600KF's potential is not fully realized in this title at higher resolutions.