Downfall

Downfall, a horror title from 2016, presents an interesting stress test for the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 pairing. The benchmark data reveals a combination that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet shows surprising headroom at 1080p. The measured frames per second (FPS) across the board are exceptionally high, suggesting that this hardware is far beyond the requirements of this older title, but the scaling patterns between settings and resolutions provide a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It features a 30 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor achieves a strong single-thread score of 1136 in 3dmark and 2116 in Cinebench R23, indicating excellent per-core performance. Its multi-threaded capabilities are equally impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a Geekbench multicore score of 19429.

For a game like Downfall, which is a horror title from 2016, the CPU demands are typically modest. The data supports this: at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 299 FPS, which is the highest measured average in the entire dataset. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is more than capable of feeding frames to the GPU, even in a worst-case scenario for load. The processor's high boost clock of 5.40 GHz is likely the key factor here, ensuring that the game's primary thread is processed with minimal latency.

However, the CPU's role becomes more nuanced when analyzing the frame rate scaling. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra settings drops the average FPS from 299 to 125. This is a massive 174 FPS difference, which is far too large to be attributed to CPU limitations alone. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively static as the GPU load increased. Instead, this dramatic drop indicates that the CPU is providing a very high ceiling, and the GPU is the component that struggles to keep up as graphical fidelity increases.

The processor’s percentile ranking of 89 against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881, places it in the upper echelon of available processors. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, scores 46971, a mere 0.2% difference. This near-parity in synthetic benchmarks suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i7-13700K would perform almost identically to its closest competitor. Yet, in Downfall, the data shows the CPU is rarely the limiting factor, as even at 4K Ultra, the system still manages an average of 56 FPS, a figure that is still playable and points to the GPU being the primary constraint.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the clear workhorse in this pairing, but the data shows it is also the primary bottleneck at higher settings. The GPU features 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1710 MHz, and the card is built on the Ampere architecture with 8704 shading units and 68 RT cores. These specifications are formidable, yet the game’s results show a clear performance ceiling.

Looking at the measured data, the RTX 3080’s performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1440p High, the card produces 143 FPS, but this drops to 89 FPS at 4K High. This is a 37.7% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1440p to 4K, which directly correlates with the increase in pixel count (from 3.6 million to 8.3 million pixels). This scaling indicates that the GPU’s raw pixel-pushing power is the limiting factor at these higher resolutions.

The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s appears sufficient, but the 10 GB VRAM capacity may be a concern at 4K Ultra. The benchmark shows 4K Ultra as the only setting that dips below 60 FPS, achieving just 56 FPS. While the game’s VRAM usage is not explicitly detailed, the combination of high resolution and Ultra settings likely pushes the memory demand closer to the 10 GB limit. This could result in texture swapping or other memory-related stutters, although the average FPS data does not show severe drops, with the Medium setting at 4K showing a min FPS of 92.

The RTX 3080’s synthetic benchmark percentile is 68, with an average score of 23172. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA P106-100, scores 23249, a 0.3% difference. This close call in synthetic scores is misleading, as the P106-100 is a much older, lower-tier card. The gaming performance of the RTX 3080, as shown in the measured FPS, is clearly superior, but the synthetic comparison highlights that the RTX 3080 is not at the absolute top of the GPU hierarchy. In Downfall, this means the GPU will be the limiting factor for maximum frame rates, especially at 4K.

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

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of performance across the four settings presets. For players seeking the highest possible frame rates, the Low preset is the obvious choice, delivering an average of 299 FPS at 1080p and 214 FPS at 1440p. However, this comes at a significant visual cost, which may not be desirable for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and detail.

The Medium preset offers a compelling balance. At 1080p, it delivers 245 FPS, only 54 FPS less than Low, but with improved visual quality. At 1440p, the Medium preset achieves 175 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth and represents a 22.4% drop from Low but a 22.3% increase over High. The Medium preset also includes min and max FPS data, showing a consistent range of 149-201 FPS at 1440p, indicating stable frame pacing.

For a more visually rich experience, the High preset is recommended for most users. At 1440p, it delivers 143 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and only 18.3% lower than Medium. At 4K, the High preset still manages 89 FPS, which is a very playable frame rate for a horror title. The Ultra preset, while offering the best visuals, is only recommended for players with 1080p monitors, where it achieves 125 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 90 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 56 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience. Therefore, the data suggests High is the sweet spot for 1440p and 4K, while Medium or High is ideal for 1080p if you want to avoid the visual downgrade of Low.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Downfall at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Technically yes, but not at a consistently smooth frame rate. The measured average at 4K Ultra is 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for most gamers. While it is playable, the frame rate is noticeably lower than other settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 299 FPS, showing the CPU can handle a massive frame load. However, as resolution and settings increase, the frame rate drops significantly, indicating the RTX 3080 is struggling to keep up with the graphical demands.

Q: What is the best setting to use for a 1440p monitor?

A: The High preset is the best choice for 1440p. It delivers an average of 143 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and provides a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset, which runs at 175 FPS. The Ultra preset is also viable at 90 FPS but may not be worth the performance hit.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p, the average frame rate drops from 299 FPS on Low to 125 FPS on Ultra, a 58.2% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is from 214 FPS to 90 FPS, a 57.9% reduction. This shows that visual fidelity comes at a high cost in this game.

Q: Does the frame rate remain stable, or are there significant drops?

A: For the Medium preset, which is the only one with min and max FPS data, the frame rate is quite stable. At 4K, it ranges from 92 to 125 FPS, and at 1440p, it ranges from 149 to 201 FPS. This suggests that the system maintains consistent performance without major stutters in this setting.

Q: How does this system’s performance in Downfall compare to its overall benchmark ranking?

A: The CPU and GPU have high percentile rankings (89th and 68th, respectively), but the combo ranks 1057th out of 3716 tested combinations for this game. This indicates that while the individual components are strong, there are many other hardware combinations that achieve higher frame rates in Downfall, likely due to more powerful GPUs.

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

The resolution scaling data is the most revealing aspect of this benchmark. When moving from 1080p to 4K at the High setting, the average FPS drops from 201 to 89, a 55.7% reduction. This is a significant drop that correlates almost linearly with the increase in pixel count (4x more pixels). This linear scaling is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is capable of processing the game logic and draw calls at a rate that far exceeds the GPU’s rendering capabilities at 4K.

At the Low setting, the scaling is even more dramatic. The system goes from 299 FPS at 1080p to 133 FPS at 4K, a 55.5% drop. This consistency in percentage drop across different settings further confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rate to remain relatively constant as resolution increases, especially at Low settings where the GPU load is minimal. Instead, the frame rate plummets, proving the RTX 3080 is maxed out.

The Medium setting shows a similar trend, with FPS dropping from 245 at 1080p to 109 at 4K. The only setting that deviates slightly is Ultra, which drops from 125 FPS at 1080p to 56 FPS at 4K, a 55.2% reduction. This uniform scaling across all settings is a textbook example of a GPU-limited system. It suggests that the Intel Core i7-13700K has enough headroom to deliver frames well beyond what the RTX 3080 can render, particularly at higher resolutions. The limiting component in this pairing is unequivocally the graphics card.

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

The following data provides a comprehensive look at the average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 299 FPS
• Medium: 245 FPS (min 208, max 282)
• High: 201 FPS
• Ultra: 125 FPS

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 214 FPS
• Medium: 175 FPS (min 149, max 201)
• High: 143 FPS
• Ultra: 90 FPS

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 133 FPS
• Medium: 109 FPS (min 92, max 125)
• High: 89 FPS
• Ultra: 56 FPS

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: for every resolution, the frame rate drops by roughly 30-40 FPS when moving from Low to Medium, another 30 FPS when moving from Medium to High, and a further 50-80 FPS when moving from High to Ultra. The most significant performance hit is from High to Ultra, which represents a substantial increase in graphical fidelity. For example, at 1440p, the jump from High (143 FPS) to Ultra (90 FPS) is a 37.1% reduction in performance. This suggests that the Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly taxing on the GPU, such as advanced shadow mapping or volumetric lighting, which are common in horror games to create atmosphere.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination ranks 1057th out of 3716 total tested combinations for Downfall. This places it in the top 28.5% of all systems tested. While this is a respectable ranking, it is not in the top tier, which is expected given the RTX 3080’s position in the GPU hierarchy. The CPU, with its 89th percentile ranking, is clearly not the weak link; it is the GPU that holds this combo back from a higher ranking.

The data shows that this combo is capable of delivering high frame rates, but it is not the absolute best for this game. The 1057th rank implies that there are 1056 other combinations that perform better, likely featuring more powerful GPUs like the RTX 3090 or RTX 4080. The RTX 3080’s performance, while strong, is not sufficient to push this combo into the top tier of Downfall’s performance charts, particularly at 4K Ultra where it drops to 56 FPS.

However, the ranking should not be viewed as a negative. The combo still delivers a very smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p with high settings, and even at 4K High, it maintains an average of 89 FPS. The data suggests that this is a well-balanced system for 1440p gaming, where it ranks highly due to the CPU’s ability to avoid bottlenecking the GPU. For players targeting 4K, the combo is serviceable but will require some settings compromises to maintain high frame rates. The ranking of 1057 out of 3716 confirms the RTX 3080’s capabilities, but it also highlights that for an older title like Downfall, the GPU is the determining factor for top-tier performance.