Downfall

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

The Intel Core i7-14700K brings 20 cores and 28 threads to this pairing, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This is a Raptor Lake-R architecture part built on Intel's 10 nm process, featuring 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. For a horror title like Downfall, which is not typically a heavily threaded workload, the CPU's single-core performance dominates the experience, and the data backs this up: the chip posts a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2160 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2569.

In practical terms, the 14700K is nowhere near the limiting factor in this combo. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and PassMark multithread score of 52392 indicate massive computational headroom. The CPU's percentile rank of 94 versus all CPUs means it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market. When paired with a GPU from the GeForce 10-series era, the CPU is effectively idle in most frames, waiting on the graphics card to deliver its output. The 14700K's PassMark single-thread score of 4472 reinforces this: even at 1080p, where CPU load is highest relative to GPU load, the processor can feed frames far faster than the GTX 1070 can render them.

The game itself, Downfall, released in 2016, which places it in an era when quad-core CPUs were the norm. The 14700K's 20 cores are overkill for this title, but that excess capacity means there is no scenario in the measured data where CPU performance becomes a bottleneck. Even the L3 cache, at 33 MB shared, helps with memory latency in scenes with many objects or AI entities, though the game's age means it likely does not exploit such resources deeply. To summarize: this CPU contributes stability and high minimum frame consistency, but the FPS numbers across all resolutions are dictated by the GPU, not the processor.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3074 out of 3716 tested combinations in Downfall. That places it in the bottom 17% of all tested pairings, which is a stark statistic when you consider the CPU's strength. The ranking reflects the GPU's age and tier, not the CPU's capability. A top-6% CPU (by percentile) dragged down by a GPU that sits at the 47th percentile against all GPUs results in a mid-to-low-tier overall combo ranking.

The GTX 1070's average benchmark score of 9780 puts it within 0.2% of the AMD FirePro W5000 (score 9803) and 0.5% of the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (score 9832). It is also 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla M10 (score 9724) and 0.7% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (score 9716). These are all professional or older workstation cards, which tells you the GTX 1070 is competing in a performance tier that is far below the 14700K's weight class. In this game specifically, the combo rank of 3074 out of 3716 means there are 642 tested combinations that perform worse, but the vast majority of combos — roughly 83% — deliver better results.

The mismatch is clear. The CPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the AMD EPYC 9115 (deltaPct 0.1), AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (deltaPct -0.2), AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (deltaPct -0.7), and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (deltaPct -0.9). All of these are high-end processors that would typically be paired with modern GPUs. Here, the 14700K is shackled to a GPU that launched in 2016 with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. The result is a combo that underperforms what the CPU alone could achieve, and the rank reflects that imbalance.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a textbook GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo delivers 157 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 112 FPS, a 28.7% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 70 FPS, another 37.5% drop from 1440p. The pattern is consistent: each resolution step costs a significant chunk of performance, which indicates the GPU is the primary constraint.

Look at the High settings row for a cleaner picture. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 105. At 1440p High, it drops to 75 FPS, a 28.6% decrease. At 4K High, it falls to 47 FPS, a 37.3% drop from 1440p. The percentage losses are nearly identical between Low and High settings, which is a hallmark of a GPU that is fully saturated at every resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see smaller percentage drops at higher resolutions because the CPU load would stay constant while GPU load increases. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with pixel count, confirming the GTX 1070 is doing all the heavy lifting.

The Medium settings rows provide min and max FPS data, which further illuminates the scaling. At 1080p Medium, the average is 128 FPS with a min of 109 and max of 147. At 1440p Medium, the average is 92 FPS with a min of 78 and max of 105. At 4K Medium, the average is 57 FPS with a min of 48 and max of 66. The min-to-max spread tightens as resolution increases: 38 FPS spread at 1080p, 27 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. This tighter spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is consistently saturated, leaving less variance in frame times. The CPU is not causing hitches or frame drops; it is simply waiting on the GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 157 FPS, which is well above any display refresh rate you would realistically pair with this GPU. Medium settings average 128 FPS, with a minimum of 109 and maximum of 147. High settings average 105 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 66 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 91 FPS, which is substantial, but even at Ultra, the game remains playable at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers step down. Low settings average 112 FPS, still very smooth. Medium settings average 92 FPS, with a min of 78 and max of 105. High settings average 75 FPS. Ultra settings fall to 47 FPS. At this resolution, Ultra becomes marginal for a 60 Hz display, but High settings hold up well. The 1440p data shows a 65 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, indicating that the GPU is starting to feel the pixel load.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1070's limits are exposed. Low settings average 70 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 57 FPS, with a min of 48 and max of 66 — the minimum dips below 50 FPS, which can be noticeable in a horror game where smooth motion matters. High settings average 47 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 29 FPS. The 41 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is smaller in absolute terms than at lower resolutions, but the relative impact is severe: Ultra is less than half the FPS of Low. At 4K, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS threshold, and Medium barely stays above 55 FPS on average.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the GTX 1070 with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and a 256-bit bus width (256.3 GB/s bandwidth) is outpaced by the pixel throughput demands of 4K. The card's 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 107.7 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply not enough for high-fidelity rendering at that resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a Pascal architecture GPU built on TSMC's 16 nm process, with 7,200 million transistors on a 314 mm² die. It has 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The base clock is 1506 MHz with a boost clock of 1683 MHz, and memory runs at 2002 MHz (8 Gbps effective). The 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is paired with a 256-bit bus, yielding 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth.

In Downfall, this GPU is the sole determinant of performance across all measured settings. The 14700K's integrated UHD Graphics 770 is irrelevant here; the discrete GPU handles all rendering. The GTX 1070's PassMark G3D score of 13498 and its 47th percentile rank against all GPUs place it in the mid-range of graphics cards, which matches the measured FPS data. Its nearest rivals in benchmark scores — the AMD FirePro W5000 (deltaPct -0.2), NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (deltaPct -0.5), NVIDIA Tesla M10 (deltaPct 0.6), and NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (deltaPct 0.7) — are all older or workstation-class parts, reinforcing that this GPU is not competitive with modern mid-range cards.

The GPU's DirectX 12 support (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility mean it can run Downfall's rendering paths, but the card's age shows in the resolution scaling. At 1080p, the GTX 1070 provides ample performance, with even Ultra settings hitting 66 FPS. At 1440p, it starts to strain at Ultra but remains playable at High. At 4K, only Low settings deliver a smooth experience. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this 2016 title, as Downfall does not require massive texture buffers, but the card's raw compute and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

The GPU's TDP is 150 W with a suggested 450 W PSU, which is modest by modern standards. The card's 267 mm length and dual-slot width are standard, but its performance tier is what matters here: it is a capable 1080p card that can handle 1440p with settings compromises, but 4K gaming is beyond its comfortable range.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience per the measured rows, the sweet spot depends on your target resolution. At 1080p, High settings at 105 FPS is the recommended choice. It provides a 39 FPS gain over Ultra (66 FPS) while sacrificing only a modest amount of visual fidelity. The jump from High to Ultra costs 39 FPS, which is too steep for the visual improvement in a horror game where atmosphere matters but smooth motion is critical. Medium at 128 FPS is also viable if you prefer maximum smoothness, but High delivers the best balance of image quality and frame rate.

At 1440p, High settings at 75 FPS is the clear recommendation. It stays above 60 FPS, which is the minimum threshold for a good experience in a slow-paced horror title. Medium at 92 FPS is smoother, but High's visual upgrade is worth the 17 FPS cost. Ultra at 47 FPS is too close to the edge — in tense scenes, you want headroom, and 47 FPS does not provide it. Low at 112 FPS is unnecessary unless you have a high-refresh display, but most users at 1440p would prefer High.

At 4K, the recommendation is Low settings at 70 FPS. Medium at 57 FPS is playable, but the 48 FPS minimum is risky in a horror game where sudden visual effects can cause frame drops. High at 47 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 29 FPS is not recommended for anyone who values smooth gameplay. The data shows that at 4K, the GTX 1070 simply does not have enough pixel throughput for High or Ultra settings. If 4K is your target, Low settings provide the only consistently smooth experience, and even then, you are at 70 FPS average with no min/max data to confirm stability.

For the overall best experience, 1080p High at 105 FPS is the standout configuration. It delivers high visual quality and a frame rate that exceeds 100 FPS, giving you headroom for any scene. If you have a 1440p monitor, High at 75 FPS is acceptable, but be prepared for occasional dips in the 60-70 FPS range. Avoid Ultra at any resolution above 1080p, as the FPS cost is disproportionate to the visual gain. The GTX 1070 is a 1080p-class card in this game, and the measured data consistently supports that conclusion.