Downfall

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates across the three resolution tiers reveal a system that scales predictably with pixel count, though the degree of the drop-off is heavily influenced by the graphics preset. At the Low preset, the transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 results in a reduction from 194.8 FPS to 135.9 FPS, a 30% decrease. Moving further to 3840x2160 at Low yields 88.8 FPS, which is 54% below the 1080p figure. This pattern indicates that at lower settings, the workload is still substantial enough to be impacted by the increased pixel count, but the headroom remains high.

The High preset shows a similar relative trend. Starting at 127.1 FPS at 1080p, the score drops to 93.0 FPS at 1440p and finally to 60.3 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is 53% lower than the 1080p result, which is almost identical to the percentage drop observed at Low settings. However, the absolute numbers are much lower, which suggests that the game's visual complexity at High settings adds a consistent load on top of the resolution scaling.

The most telling data point for identifying the limiting component comes from the Ultra preset. At 1080p, the system manages 82.2 FPS. This drops to 57.8 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 37.1 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K here is 55%, which is a larger percentage loss than the other presets. This steeper decline at Ultra settings indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is becoming the primary bottleneck. The GPU's compute and memory resources are saturated by the combination of high detail and high resolution, causing the frame rate to fall more sharply than at lower settings where the CPU can keep pace more easily.

The data supports a conclusion that the Intel Core i5-9400 is sufficient to feed the Radeon RX 7600 at 1080p across all settings, as even the Ultra preset maintains a playable frame rate. The bottleneck shifts decisively to the GPU as resolution increases, particularly at the Ultra preset. The difference between 1440p and 4K at Ultra is particularly stark, with a 36% performance loss, highlighting the GPU's struggle with the 4K pixel count when combined with maximum detail settings. The system is clearly capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, but 4K gaming is only viable with significant compromises to the graphics preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combination holds the 1158th position out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall. This places the pairing in the lower third of all possible configurations, indicating that while it is not a weak performer, it is far from the top tier. The rank suggests that many other CPU and GPU pairings can achieve higher frame rates in this specific title.

Examining the components individually provides context for this ranking. The Core i5-9400 sits at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it is exactly average in the benchmark database's aggregate CPU performance. Its average benchmark score is 2305, which puts it in a tight cluster with its nearest rivals. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2300, a mere 0.2% difference, and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 also scores 2299, also a 0.2% delta. The Intel Xeon E-2134 sits at 2295, 0.4% behind. On the other side, the Intel Core i7-8809G scores 2319, which is 0.6% higher. This shows the CPU is in a very competitive performance band where no single rival has a significant advantage in raw compute.

The GPU performs better in its relative standing. The Radeon RX 7600 is at the 63rd percentile among all GPUs, which is above average. Its average benchmark score of 20258 is closely matched by its nearest rivals. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT scores 20146, a 0.6% difference, and the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 20088, a 0.8% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, which is 1.3% higher, and the Intel Arc B570 scores 20556, 1.5% higher. The GPU is competitive with these parts, but the CPU's average standing in the overall pool of processors likely prevents this combo from climbing higher in the rankings. The combination of an average CPU with an above-average GPU results in a system that is positioned in the lower-middle portion of the combo hierarchy for Downfall.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1720 MHz, a game clock of 2250 MHz, and a boost clock of 2655 MHz. The memory operates at 2250 MHz with an effective data rate of 18 Gbps. These specifications define the card's capacity to handle texture data and geometry, which is directly relevant to the performance observed in Downfall.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor for a game released in 2016. The measured frame rates at 4K resolution with the Ultra preset show a significant drop to 37.1 FPS. This low score is likely influenced by the GPU hitting the limits of its memory capacity and bandwidth at that high resolution. The 128-bit memory bus, while providing ample bandwidth for 1080p and 1440p, becomes a constraint at 4K with high-detail textures, as the GPU must work harder to manage the data flow.

In the context of this game, the GPU's role is dominant. The performance scaling from the Low preset to the Ultra preset at 1080p shows a clear progression: 194.8 FPS at Low, 155.3 FPS at Medium, 127.1 FPS at High, and 82.2 FPS at Ultra. This demonstrates that the Radeon RX 7600 has enough raw compute power to handle the game's engine at 1080p, but the Ultra preset's additional effects and shadow quality place a heavy load on the GPU's shader units. The FP32 performance of 21.75 TFLOPS is the theoretical peak, and the measured results show that this power is sufficient for high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but not for maintaining high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a comprehensive set of average frame rates for the combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 194.8 FPS, which is the highest score recorded for this combo. The Medium preset delivers 155.3 FPS, while the High preset produces 127.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, while the most demanding, still manages a respectable 82.2 FPS. These numbers indicate that the system is well-suited for 1080p gaming, providing a smooth experience even at the highest detail settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops as expected. The Low preset averages 135.9 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset delivers 113.6 FPS, and the High preset averages 93.0 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 57.8 FPS, which is a noticeable step down but remains playable on a standard 60 Hz monitor. The 1440p results show that the GPU is still capable of delivering high frame rates, but the Ultra preset is pushing the hardware to its limits.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. The Low preset averages 88.8 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K and indicates the game is not exceptionally demanding at lower settings. The Medium preset averages 71.5 FPS, and the High preset drops to 60.3 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, yields only 37.1 FPS. This result is below the threshold for smooth gameplay and shows that the Radeon RX 7600 is not capable of handling 4K Ultra settings in this title. The data suggests that 4K gaming is possible with this hardware, but only with reduced settings to maintain a reasonable frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and performance target.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The average frame rate of 82.2 FPS is well above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a fully smooth experience with the highest visual fidelity. There is no reason to compromise on settings at this resolution, as the hardware has sufficient headroom to handle the maximum detail level.

For 2560x1440, the High preset presents the best balance. The average frame rate of 93.0 FPS offers a fluid experience that is well-suited for high refresh rate monitors. The Ultra preset, at 57.8 FPS, is close to 60 FPS but may experience dips below that threshold, making High the safer and more consistent choice. The Medium preset at 113.6 FPS is also viable but sacrifices visual quality for a frame rate increase that may not be necessary.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the most practical choice. The average frame rate of 71.5 FPS provides a playable experience that is above 60 FPS. The High preset at 60.3 FPS is borderline, and any minor scene complexity could push it below 60 FPS. The Low preset at 88.8 FPS is the best for performance but significantly reduces visual quality. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as the 37.1 FPS average is not smooth enough for a responsive gaming experience. For 4K, users should prioritize the Medium preset to ensure a stable and enjoyable frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Downfall?

A: The data shows the system performs best at 1920x1080, where even the Ultra preset achieves 82.2 FPS. At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 93.0 FPS, which is also excellent. 4K is playable only with reduced settings.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Downfall?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The measured 4K results show the Low preset averages 88.8 FPS and the Medium preset averages 71.5 FPS. However, the Ultra preset only reaches 37.1 FPS, making it unsuitable for smooth play.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in aggregate performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. It is nearly identical to the Intel Core i3-10305, which is 0.2% slower, and the Intel Core i3-1125G4, also 0.2% slower. The Intel Core i7-8809G is 0.6% faster.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in aggregate performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 20258. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is 0.6% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 460 is 0.8% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile is 1.3% faster, and the Intel Arc B570 is 1.5% faster.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 194.8 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 82.2 FPS. This represents a 58% reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest settings.

Q: Is the GPU or the CPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The frame rate drops significantly from 88.8 FPS at Low to 37.1 FPS at Ultra, which is a clear sign of GPU saturation. The CPU's performance remains constant, but the GPU's workload increases dramatically with resolution and detail.