Downfall

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a dominant 1080p and 1440p experience in Downfall, but 4K Ultra settings expose the CPU’s limitations, pushing frame rates below the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows a clear hierarchy: at 1440p High, the combo produces 142.3 FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 57.4 FPS. This indicates that while the GPU is capable of extreme throughput, the six-core processor becomes a bottleneck specifically when resolution and settings demand maximum draw calls.

FAQ

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

A: The combination ranks 543rd out of 1,741 tested combos, placing it in the top 31.2% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves at 1080p?

A: At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 270.4 FPS, which is the peak measured performance across all resolutions and settings.

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

A: Yes, but only at lower presets. At 4K Low, it averages 135 FPS, and at 4K High, it averages 89.1 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, it drops to 57.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 compare to its closest rival in general benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3080’s average benchmark score is 35,787, which is 0.2% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro Duo’s 35,860 score, and 0.9% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE’s 36,101 score.

Q: What is the CPU’s single-core performance score?

A: In Cinebench R23, the Core i5-9400 scores 1,125 points in single-core and 7,969 points in multi-core tests.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 270.4 FPS, while at 1440p Low it reaches 216.6 FPS—a smaller drop than expected if the GPU were the sole bottleneck, indicating the CPU is capping the frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, delivering 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is crucial for Downfall’s high-resolution textures, allowing the GPU to maintain high average frame rates even at 4K. The GPU’s base clock is 1440 MHz, boosting to 1710 MHz, and it contains 8,704 shading units alongside 68 RT cores.

The GPU’s benchmark results place it in the 80th percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 25,086 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,407. In practical terms, this translates to the GPU handling the majority of rendering work efficiently. At 1440p High settings, the system produces 142.3 FPS, showcasing the RTX 3080’s ability to push high frame rates without breaking a sweat. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 29.77 TFLOPS supports this capability, ensuring that pixel and texture rates of 164.2 GPixel/s and 465.1 GTexel/s respectively are fully utilized.

However, the GPU’s role is not uniform across settings. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate collapses to 57.4 FPS, suggesting that the GPU’s raw power is being constrained by another component. The RTX 3080’s average benchmark score of 35,787 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro Duo, which scores 35,860 with a deltaPct of -0.2%. This indicates that the GPU is performing as expected for its class, and any significant frame rate drops in Downfall are likely due to the CPU’s inability to feed it data quickly enough.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor from the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory. While this CPU is competent for general tasks, its benchmark scores reveal a mid-pack position: it sits in the 50th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2,305.

In Downfall, the CPU’s role becomes increasingly critical as settings are lowered. At 1080p Low, the system hits 270.4 FPS, a figure that is almost entirely CPU-bound, as the GPU is not stressed at such low resolution. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7,969 points indicates it can handle multiple threads, but the six threads limit its ability to keep up with the RTX 3080’s massive output. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-10305, scores 2,300 with a deltaPct of 0.2%, showing that the i5-9400 is essentially on par with newer low-end parts.

The bottleneck becomes apparent at 4K Ultra, where the frame rate drops to 57.4 FPS. At this setting, the CPU must process more draw calls and game logic, and its boost clock of 4.10 GHz is insufficient to maintain parity with the GPU’s capabilities. The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s also constrains data flow, though this is less of a factor at higher resolutions where the GPU’s 760.3 GB/s bandwidth takes over the primary data streams. The data clearly shows that the i5-9400 is the limiting component in this pairing, particularly when settings are pushed to Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 543 out of 1,741 tested combos places it in the upper third of all systems tested for Downfall. This rank is driven almost entirely by the RTX 3080’s high percentile standing (80th) versus the CPU’s more modest 50th percentile. The data shows that this pairing outperforms many systems with newer CPUs but weaker GPUs, as the GPU’s raw power compensates for the CPU’s age in most scenarios.

However, the rank does not tell the whole story. While the overall position is strong, the performance gap between the CPU and GPU is stark. The RTX 3080 scores 35,787 on average, while the i5-9400 scores 2,305, a ratio of roughly 15.5:1. This imbalance means that in CPU-bound scenarios, such as 1080p Low, the system’s rank would likely be lower if the CPU were the only factor. Conversely, in GPU-bound scenarios like 4K High, the rank is bolstered by the GPU’s strength. The rank of 543 suggests a system that is more than capable for most gaming, but it is not a top-tier combination due to the CPU’s limitations.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic bottleneck signature. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 270.4 at 1080p to 216.6 at 1440p, a 19.9% decrease, and then to 135 at 4K, a further 37.7% decrease. This scaling is steep, indicating that the GPU is becoming more involved as resolution increases, but the initial drop from 1080p to 1440p is smaller than expected, suggesting the CPU is still a factor at 1080p.

At High settings, the scaling is more linear: 199 FPS at 1080p, 142.3 at 1440p, and 89.1 at 4K. The 4K High score of 89.1 FPS is impressive and shows the GPU handling the load well. However, at Ultra settings, the drop is dramatic: 125.9 FPS at 1080p, 92.6 at 1440p, and 57.4 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration below 60 FPS, and it indicates that the CPU is unable to keep up with the GPU’s demands at maximum settings. The data points to the CPU being the primary limiter at Ultra, as the GPU’s performance would otherwise suggest higher frame rates given its 80th percentile standing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance across all settings. Low settings produce 270.4 FPS, Medium reaches 246.6 FPS, High hits 199 FPS, and Ultra manages 125.9 FPS. These numbers show that even at Ultra, the system is far above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p gaming a non-issue for this combo.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show the expected drop. Low settings yield 216.6 FPS, Medium drops to 174.5 FPS, High produces 142.3 FPS, and Ultra falls to 92.6 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is still above 90 FPS, indicating a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more variable. Low settings achieve 135 FPS, Medium hits 110.7 FPS, High reaches 89.1 FPS, and Ultra drops to 57.4 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only sub-60 FPS figure in the entire dataset, highlighting the CPU bottleneck. The gap between High and Ultra at 4K is 31.7 FPS, the largest single-setting drop in the resolution, further evidence that the CPU cannot sustain the additional load.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the data recommends 1440p High settings, which delivers 142.3 FPS. This configuration offers a balance between visual fidelity and performance, staying well above the 60 FPS standard while providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium. The 1440p High option is ideal for users with 144Hz monitors, as it keeps the frame rate within the range where the GPU’s power is fully utilized without the CPU bottleneck becoming too pronounced.

If 4K is the target, High settings at 89.1 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a smooth experience without the severe drop seen at Ultra. The 4K Ultra setting at 57.4 FPS is not recommended for competitive play, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold. For maximum frame rates, 1080p Low at 270.4 FPS is the best option, but this sacrifices visual quality significantly. The data suggests that users should avoid Ultra settings at 4K with this CPU, as the bottleneck negates the RTX 3080’s advantages. Instead, High settings at 1440p or 4K provide the best balance of performance and quality, ensuring the system remains responsive and visually impressive.