Downfall

The benchmark data for Downfall on the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER shows a system that is heavily influenced by graphics settings and resolution. The RTX 2070 SUPER, with a GPU benchmark percentile of 65, is the primary variable in this pairing, while the i5-14600KF, sitting at the 93rd percentile, provides a robust foundation. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across the three resolutions and four settings tiers, interpreting what the numbers indicate about the hardware's role in this specific horror title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the degree of that drop is heavily dependent on the graphics preset. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 207.4 FPS. Scaling to 1440p reduces this to 147.4 FPS, a drop of approximately 29%. Moving to 4K further reduces the average to 91.8 FPS, which is a 55.7% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling indicates that at lower resolutions and settings, the system is not primarily limited by the GPU.

The trend shifts when looking at the High preset. At 1080p High, the average is 140.9 FPS. At 1440p, it falls to 103.4 FPS, and at 4K, it hits 63.3 FPS. The 4K result here is a 55.1% drop from 1080p, which is a similar percentage to the Low preset, but the absolute numbers are much lower. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 89.4 FPS. This falls to 65.1 FPS at 1440p and plummets to 38.3 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure is 57.2% lower than the 1080p Ultra result, demonstrating that the most demanding settings amplify the resolution penalty.

This scaling behavior points directly to the GPU as the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the CPU is able to feed the GPU enough frames to reach 207.4 FPS, but as the resolution and settings increase, the GPU's workload grows exponentially. The RTX 2070 SUPER, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, begins to saturate, causing the frame rate to drop. The data suggests that at 4K with Ultra settings, the GPU is nearly maxed out, delivering only 38.3 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for smooth gameplay. The i5-14600KF, with its high clock speeds and 24 MB of shared L3 cache, is not the bottleneck here; the evidence points to the graphics card being the primary constraint in this configuration.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the central figure in this performance story. Its benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22206. The data shows it is closely matched with the NVIDIA RTX A400, which is 0.5% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700, which is 2.5% faster. This positioning suggests the card is a solid mid-range performer, but it struggles with the most demanding tasks.

The card's specifications include a base clock of 1605 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz. Memory is clocked at 1750 MHz, effectively 14 Gbps, over a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 8 GB capacity can become a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data supports this: at 4K Ultra, the card delivers only 38.3 FPS, a clear sign that it is overwhelmed. In contrast, at 1080p Low, it produces 207.4 FPS, showing that when the workload is light, the card can perform admirably.

The GPU's role is further clarified by the performance deltas between settings at the same resolution. At 4K, moving from Low (91.8 FPS) to Medium (77 FPS) incurs a 16.1% performance loss. Moving from Medium to High (63.3 FPS) results in a further 17.8% loss. The jump to Ultra (38.3 FPS) is the most severe, representing a 39.5% drop from High. These are the hallmarks of a GPU that is running out of computational resources and memory bandwidth. The card's FP32 performance is rated at 9.062 TFLOPS, which is not sufficient to handle the rendering load of Downfall at maximum settings in 4K. The data indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the definitive performance ceiling for this system.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF provides the processing foundation for this configuration, and the data indicates it is more than capable of keeping up with the GPU in this game. The CPU boasts 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This high boost clock is crucial for gaming performance. Its benchmark scores are impressive, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49367. It is virtually tied with the Intel Core i5-14600K (0.4% faster) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.6% slower), indicating it sits at the top of the consumer desktop heap.

The CPU's role in Downfall can be inferred from the FPS scaling. At 1080p Low, the system hits 207.4 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of processing the game's logic and draw calls quickly enough to feed the GPU. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions at the same settings. However, the data shows a steep decline as resolution increases, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck. For example, at High settings, the FPS drops from 140.9 at 1080p to 63.3 at 4K, a 55.1% reduction. This would not happen if the CPU were the primary constraint.

The CPU's multi-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889, suggests it can handle the background tasks and game engine threads without issue. Its single-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 score of 4643, is also strong, which is important for the primary game thread. The conclusion from the data is that the i5-14600KF is not a performance bottleneck in Downfall. It provides a stable platform that allows the RTX 2070 SUPER to perform to its full potential. The system's overall rank in the game, 1064 out of 1741 tested combos, reflects this combination of a top-tier CPU and a mid-range GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this hardware?

A: The highest average FPS is 207.4, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This represents the peak output of the system when the GPU load is minimized.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. This is evident because FPS drops significantly as resolution increases at the same settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. For example, at High settings, FPS falls from 140.9 at 1080p to 63.3 at 4K.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 22206. It is 0.5% slower than the NVIDIA RTX A400 and 2.5% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5700. It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile by 2.3%.

*Q: Is this system capable of running Downfall at 4K?*

A: Yes, but not at the highest settings. At 4K with Low settings, it achieves an average of 91.8 FPS. At 4K with High settings, it drops to 63.3 FPS. At 4K with Ultra settings, it only manages 38.3 FPS, which may not be smooth enough for all players.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 169.6 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it achieves 121 FPS. This represents a 28.7% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark performance compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X?

A: The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49367, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X has an average score of 49062. The i5-14600KF is 0.6% faster than the Ryzen 9 5950X.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For players with a 1080p monitor, the system is powerful enough to handle High settings comfortably, with an average of 140.9 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. Ultra settings at 1080p are also viable, with an average of 89.4 FPS, but this is a significant drop from High and may not be worth the visual gain for a 40% performance loss. Medium settings at 1080p yield 169.6 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors if visual fidelity is less of a priority.

For 1440p gaming, High settings are the sweet spot. The system delivers an average of 103.4 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. This is the recommended preset for 1440p as it provides a strong experience without pushing the GPU to its limits. Medium settings at 1440p offer a higher frame rate at 121 FPS, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often substantial in a horror game where atmosphere matters. Ultra at 1440p drops to 65.1 FPS, which is playable but may show stutters in demanding scenes.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. The data shows that High settings produce an average of 63.3 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. Low settings are the only way to get a high frame rate at this resolution, with an average of 91.8 FPS. However, this requires a significant compromise on visual quality. Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as the 38.3 FPS average is below the threshold for an enjoyable experience. For the best overall experience at 4K, the High preset is the highest quality option that remains playable, while Low is the choice for a higher frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the average FPS measured for every resolution and settings combination.

1920x1080:

• Low: 207.4 FPS
• Medium: 169.6 FPS
• High: 140.9 FPS
• Ultra: 89.4 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 147.4 FPS
• Medium: 121 FPS
• High: 103.4 FPS
• Ultra: 65.1 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 91.8 FPS
• Medium: 77 FPS
• High: 63.3 FPS
• Ultra: 38.3 FPS

The data confirms a consistent hierarchy: performance degrades as both resolution and settings increase. The delta between Low and Ultra is most pronounced at 4K, where the 91.8 FPS at Low is 2.4 times higher than the 38.3 FPS at Ultra. The system is most comfortable at 1080p, where even the Ultra preset maintains a playable frame rate. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB of VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra results show a clear hardware limit.