Downfall

The Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER pairing produces a playable but highly settings-sensitive experience in Downfall. The data shows a system that can comfortably handle 1080p and 1440p at moderate settings, but one that struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at 4K or at maximum graphical presets. The benchmark results clearly indicate that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, while the CPU provides a stable foundation for frame pacing at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable and steep performance degradation as resolution climbs from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 145.3 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that figure to 106 FPS, a reduction of 39.3 FPS. At 4K, the same Low settings yield only 62.8 FPS, representing a 56.8% drop from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load on the graphics card increases exponentially with pixel count.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 99.1 at 1080p to 69.9 at 1440p, and then to 46.5 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic collapse: 60.6 FPS at 1080p, 47.1 FPS at 1440p, and a mere 26.6 FPS at 4K. The severity of the drop at 4K Ultra—a decrease of 34 FPS compared to 1080p Ultra—suggests that the GTX 1660 SUPER's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit memory bus are insufficient for the extreme pixel throughput demanded by this configuration.

The scaling behavior indicates that at 1080p, the system is partially CPU-limited at lower settings, as the jump from Low to Medium only reduces FPS by 26.3 (from 145.3 to 119), while the jump from Medium to High costs another 19.9 FPS. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the unequivocal bottleneck; even the transition from Low to Medium costs 11.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset nearly halves the Low-setting frame rate. The data suggests that for consistent 60+ FPS gameplay, users must stay at 1080p with Medium settings (119 FPS) or High settings (99.1 FPS), or accept a compromise at 1440p with Low settings (106 FPS).

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Downfall, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 1551 out of 1741 total combos. This places it in the lower 11th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a modest performer relative to the broader spectrum of hardware combinations available. The ranking reflects the age of both components, as the Core i5-9400 was released in late 2018 and the GTX 1660 SUPER in late 2019, making them mid-range parts from their respective generations.

The combo's percentile ranking is consistent with the individual component benchmarks. The CPU sits at the 50th percentile among all tested processors, while the GPU ranks at the 55th percentile among all tested graphics cards. When paired together, the combination does not achieve a synergistic boost that would boost it above its individual standings. The rank of 1551 out of 1741 suggests that the majority of tested systems outperform this pairing, likely due to newer architectures or higher-tier components being more prevalent in the benchmark pool.

The data indicates that this combo is positioned for 1080p gaming rather than high-resolution or high-refresh-rate scenarios. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (26.6 FPS) is below playable thresholds, and even 1440p High (69.9 FPS) barely meets the standard for smooth gameplay on a 60 Hz display. The ranking implies that users seeking higher performance would need to consider more recent GPU offerings, as the GTX 1660 SUPER's successors in the GeForce 20-series would provide a meaningful uplift.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 features 6 cores and 6 threads, operating at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This configuration is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process node. The CPU's benchmark scores include a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 and a single-core score of 1125, which places it at the 50th percentile among all tested CPUs. Its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.2% slower) and the Intel Xeon E-2134 (0.4% slower), indicating that the i5-9400 offers competitive single-threaded performance for its era.

In the context of Downfall, a horror title that relies on atmospheric rendering rather than complex physics simulations, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The 6-core/6-thread configuration is sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck at 1080p, as evidenced by the high frame rates at Low settings (145.3 FPS). However, the lack of hyper-threading means that the CPU has only 6 threads to handle all background tasks, which could lead to occasional stutters in scenes with many simultaneous entities.

The CPU's boost clock of 4.10 GHz provides adequate single-threaded performance for the game's main thread, which is typical for DirectX 12 titles. The 9 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, and the dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth ensures that data can flow to the GPU without significant delays. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as frame rates scale primarily with GPU settings rather than resolution. At 4K, the CPU's workload remains relatively constant, but the GPU's inability to keep up dominates the performance profile.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce an average of 145.3 FPS, which is suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors up to 144 Hz. Medium settings yield 119 FPS, still comfortably above 60 FPS. High settings achieve 99.1 FPS, and even Ultra settings manage 60.6 FPS, which is playable on standard 60 Hz displays. This resolution offers the most flexibility, allowing users to prioritize visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings average 106 FPS, which remains smooth, but Medium drops to 84.5 FPS and High to 69.9 FPS. Ultra settings fall to 47.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel sluggish in a horror game where responsiveness is critical. Users at this resolution should stick to High settings or lower to maintain consistent frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1660 SUPER struggles to keep up. Low settings average 62.8 FPS, barely meeting the 60 FPS mark. Medium settings drop to 51.5 FPS, High to 46.5 FPS, and Ultra to 26.6 FPS. The 4K results show that this GPU is not suited for native 4K gaming in Downfall, particularly at higher presets. The 26.6 FPS at Ultra is nearly unplayable, and even the Low setting's 62.8 FPS leaves little headroom for demanding scenes.

The delta between settings presets widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 84.7 FPS (145.3 vs 60.6). At 1440p, that difference shrinks to 58.9 FPS (106 vs 47.1). At 4K, the gap narrows to 36.2 FPS (62.8 vs 26.6). This compression at higher resolutions further confirms that the GPU's raw throughput is the dominant constraint, as the relative cost of each settings increment becomes less impactful when the GPU is already saturated.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in Downfall?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Medium settings (119 FPS) or High settings (99.1 FPS) provides the best balance of visual quality and performance. For a 60 Hz display, 1080p Ultra (60.6 FPS) is also viable, while 1440p High (69.9 FPS) is acceptable for those prioritizing resolution over fidelity.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Downfall?*

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 62.8 FPS. Medium (51.5 FPS), High (46.5 FPS), and Ultra (26.6 FPS) all fall below the 60 FPS threshold, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-9400 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-9400 scores 2305 on average, which is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i3-10305 (2300) and 0.4% faster than the Intel Xeon E-2134 (2295). It is 0.6% slower than the Intel Core i7-8809G (2319), indicating near-identical performance among these mid-range processors.

Q: Is the GTX 1660 SUPER the bottleneck in this system?

A: Yes, the benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU can deliver 145.3 FPS on Low settings, but the GPU's performance drops sharply as resolution increases, showing that it cannot sustain high frame rates at 1440p or 4K.

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

A: At 1080p, Low settings average 145.3 FPS, while Ultra settings average 60.6 FPS. This represents a 84.7 FPS difference, meaning that Ultra settings nearly halve the frame rate compared to Low settings.

*Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Downfall?*

A: This combo ranks 1551 out of 1741 total combinations, placing it in the lower 11th percentile. This ranking reflects its age and mid-range positioning, with the majority of tested systems delivering higher performance.