Downfall

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It carries a 125 W TDP and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus. In synthetic tests, the chip posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,889 and a single-core score of 4,643, while Geekbench results show 15,636 multi-core and 2,778 single-core. These numbers place the CPU in the 93rd percentile against all tested processors. The i5-14600KF’s nearest rivals by average benchmark score include the Intel Core i5-14600K, which is 0.4% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which is 0.6% slower. For a game like Downfall, a horror title from 2016, the CPU’s high single-thread performance is more relevant than its multi-threaded throughput, as older game engines typically rely heavily on a few fast cores. The 14-core configuration provides ample headroom for background tasks, but the 5.30 GHz boost clock is what drives the high frame rates seen in the measured data.

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

The i5-14600KF’s architecture splits its 14 cores between performance and efficiency groups, but in practical terms for Downfall, the boost clock of 5.30 GHz is the primary driver of results. The game’s engine, released in 2016, does not scale linearly with core counts beyond a certain point; instead, it rewards high-frequency single-core execution. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,643 and Geekbench single-core score of 2,778 indicate strong per-thread performance, which aligns with the high average FPS figures observed across all resolutions. The 20 threads and 24 MB of shared L3 cache ensure that the system does not bottleneck on context switching or memory latency during intense scenes, but the measured FPS deltas between settings suggest that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the CPU is clearly capable of pushing 382 FPS, which is a strong indicator that it can feed the RTX 5070 Ti without holding it back. The processor’s 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs reinforces that it is not a weak link in this configuration.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti ranks 140th out of 1,741 tested combos in Downfall. That places it in the top 8% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result for a mid-high-end pairing. The rank reflects the CPU’s ability to keep the GPU fed at lower resolutions while the GPU takes over at higher ones. The data shows that the combo is not the absolute fastest—there are 139 other combinations that achieve higher average FPS—but the margin is likely small. The GPU alone sits in the 87th percentile of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 52,086, nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, which is 0% faster. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 49,367 is also competitive, trailing the AMD EPYC 4345P by only 0.5%. This combo’s rank suggests it is a balanced pairing where neither component severely bottlenecks the other, making it a sensible choice for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p or 4K.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions, which indicates where the bottleneck shifts. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 382 FPS, which drops to 272.7 FPS at 1440p and further to 172 FPS at 4K. This represents a 55% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a massive drop and indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as pixel count increases. The same trend holds for Medium settings: 316 FPS at 1080p drops to 222.1 FPS at 1440p and 137.3 FPS at 4K, a 56.5% reduction. At High settings, the drop from 253.6 FPS at 1080p to 184.7 FPS at 1440p and 113.5 FPS at 4K is a 55.2% reduction. The pattern is consistent, showing that the CPU is not the primary constraint at higher resolutions; the RTX 5070 Ti’s rendering load is what scales with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is still able to push very high frame rates, but the fact that 4K Ultra yields 74 FPS versus 162.3 FPS at 1080p Ultra—a 54.4% drop—confirms that the GPU’s raw throughput is the ceiling. The CPU’s 5.30 GHz boost clock ensures it does not introduce a CPU-side bottleneck even at 1080p, where frame rates exceed 300 FPS.

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

The measured data provides a complete matrix of average FPS across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 382 FPS, Medium delivers 316 FPS, High delivers 253.6 FPS, and Ultra delivers 162.3 FPS. At 2560x1440, the numbers are 272.7 FPS for Low, 222.1 FPS for Medium, 184.7 FPS for High, and 115 FPS for Ultra. At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves 172 FPS, Medium achieves 137.3 FPS, High achieves 113.5 FPS, and Ultra achieves 74 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is consistent across all resolutions: at 1080p, Ultra is 57.5% slower than Low; at 1440p, it is 57.8% slower; at 4K, it is 57% slower. This uniformity suggests that the settings preset primarily affects GPU workload, with the CPU maintaining a stable baseline. The 4K Ultra result of 74 FPS is still playable, but the 113.5 FPS at 4K High shows a significant improvement of 53.4% over Ultra, making High a more attractive option for 4K gaming. The 1440p High result of 184.7 FPS is well above typical high-refresh-rate thresholds, while the 1080p Medium result of 316 FPS is exceptionally high, indicating this combo is well-suited for competitive play at lower resolutions.

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

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve over 200 FPS in Downfall?

A: At 1440p with Low settings, the combo achieves 272.7 FPS, and at Medium settings it achieves 222.1 FPS. At 1080p, both Low and Medium exceed 300 FPS, with 382 FPS and 316 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the i5-14600KF compare to its nearest rival, the i5-14600K?

A: The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49,367, which is 0.4% lower than the i5-14600K’s score of 49,166. The difference is negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: What is the frame rate drop from 1440p High to 4K High?

A: The 1440p High preset delivers 184.7 FPS, while 4K High delivers 113.5 FPS, representing a 38.5% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K.

Q: Is the RTX 5070 Ti a significant upgrade over the RTX 4080?

A: The RTX 5070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 52,086, which is exactly 0% different from the RTX 4080’s score of 52,085. They perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the CPU’s ranking among all processors?

A: The i5-14600KF is in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49,367. This places it ahead of 93% of tested processors.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: The 4K Ultra preset achieves 74 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The 4K High preset at 113.5 FPS provides a much smoother experience.

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

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the clear sweet spot. It delivers 113.5 FPS, which is 53.4% faster than Ultra’s 74 FPS, while still providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium’s 137.3 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is a 34.8% drop in frame rate, which is too steep for the marginal visual gains in a horror title. At 1440p, the High preset at 184.7 FPS is the best balance for high-refresh-rate monitors up to 165 Hz, but Medium at 222.1 FPS is preferable for 240 Hz panels. The Ultra preset at 115 FPS is still viable for 120 Hz displays, but it sacrifices too much performance compared to High. At 1080p, the Medium preset at 316 FPS is the optimal choice for competitive play, as it offers a 24.6% improvement over High’s 253.6 FPS while maintaining high visual quality. The Low preset at 382 FPS is only useful for extreme competitive scenarios where every frame matters, but the visual degradation is likely not worth it. For the best overall experience across all resolutions, the High preset is the most consistent recommendation, offering strong frame rates without the steep performance penalty of Ultra.