Downfall

Downfall is a 2016 horror title that, on this hardware combination, shows a clear performance hierarchy that shifts depending on resolution and settings. With the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, the data reveals a system capable of very high frame rates, but one where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. The benchmark results indicate a strong pairing for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, with 4K Ultra being the only configuration that pushes the system to its limits.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. This processor sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70163, indicating it is a high-end part that is unlikely to be the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, especially in a horror title like Downfall.

The processor’s cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 33 MB shared L3 cache. This large cache pool is beneficial for game logic and asset streaming. In terms of raw compute, the CPU scores 44167 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6235 in single-core, showing strong performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The single-core score is particularly relevant for gaming, as many game engines still rely on a few fast cores.

The data suggests that at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU workload is minimal, the CPU is able to feed the graphics card with frames up to 282 FPS on average. This indicates that the processor’s single-thread performance and cache hierarchy are more than sufficient for this game. However, the relative performance against rivals confirms its position: it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. It is 1% behind the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K. These deltas are small, meaning that in a game like Downfall, swapping between these CPUs would yield negligible differences in frame rates.

For a game from 2016, the i7-14700KF is overkill in terms of core count and clock speed. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution tested. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K follows a pattern consistent with GPU limitation, not CPU limitation. The processor’s role here is to consistently deliver high minimum frame rates, which it does, as evidenced by the medium settings results at 1440p showing a minimum of 140 FPS.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the performance difference between the i7-14700KF and its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F?

A: The i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70163, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score of 69996. This puts the Intel part 0.2% ahead of the AMD chip, a difference that is practically imperceptible in gaming workloads.

Q: How does the RX 7800 XT compare to the GTX 1660 in benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT has an average benchmark score of 11627, which is 0.5% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660’s average score of 11680. Despite this benchmark parity, the RX 7800 XT is a much newer and more capable card for modern titles.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i7-14700KF?

A: The launch MSRP for the Intel Core i7-14700KF is $384. This processor is positioned in the high-end desktop segment.

Q: What are the peak average frame rates achieved at 1080p and 4K with this combo?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 282. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 53. This shows a significant scaling range across resolutions and settings.

Q: Does the RX 7800 XT support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This ensures compatibility with the latest rendering features and game engines.

Q: In the overall ranking for this game, where does this specific combo stand?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination is ranked 1234 out of 3716 tested combos for Downfall. This places it in the upper third of all tested hardware configurations.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of frame rate reduction as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 282 at 1920x1080, down to 202 at 2560x1440, and further down to 125 at 3840x2160. This is a drop of 28.4% from 1080p to 1440p, and a 38.1% drop from 1440p to 4K. This scaling is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering resolution directly impacts the pixel fill rate and shading workload.

At High settings, the same trend is visible: 189 FPS at 1080p, 135 FPS at 1440p, and 84 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 28.6% and 37.8%, respectively. The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting component at all resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a much smaller difference between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU workload would remain similar while the GPU workload increases.

The data indicates that the Core i7-14700KF has ample headroom. Even at the lowest resolution and settings (1080p Low), where the CPU has to work hardest to feed the GPU, it achieves 282 FPS. This is well above what any 2016 horror game would require for a smooth experience. The RX 7800 XT, on the other hand, shows a clear performance curve that scales with resolution, confirming that the graphics card is the component that dictates the frame rate limits in this pairing.

The drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper than from 1080p to 1440p, which aligns with the quadratic increase in pixel count. At 4K Ultra, the system drops to 53 FPS, indicating that this combination is not ideal for maxed-out 4K gaming in Downfall. The scaling behavior clearly shows that for smooth 4K performance, settings need to be reduced to High or Medium to maintain playable frame rates.

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

At 1920x1080, the system shows exceptional performance across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 282. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS is 231, with a minimum of 196 and a maximum of 266. High settings yield an average of 189 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 118 FPS. This shows that even at the highest settings at 1080p, the system is more than capable of driving a high-refresh-rate monitor.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. Low settings produce an average of 202 FPS. Medium settings average 165 FPS, with a minimum of 140 and a maximum of 190. High settings average 135 FPS. Ultra settings drop the average to 85 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that this is the sweet spot for this combo, as even Ultra settings maintain an average above 60 FPS, while High and Medium settings are well-suited for 144Hz or 165Hz displays.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more demanding. Low settings average 125 FPS. Medium settings average 103 FPS, with a minimum of 87 and a maximum of 118. High settings average 84 FPS. Ultra settings drop to an average of 53 FPS. The 4K data shows that while the system can handle 4K, it requires dropping settings to High or Medium to maintain a consistent 60+ FPS experience, and Ultra is only viable for those who accept frame rates below 60.

The Medium settings measurements are the only ones that include minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 196 and the maximum is 266. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 140 and the maximum is 190. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 87 and the maximum is 118. These ranges show that frame pacing is consistent, with the minimum staying well above playable thresholds even at 4K.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It has a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2430 MHz, with a game clock of 2124 MHz. The card features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This large memory pool and high bandwidth are more than sufficient for Downfall, a game from 2016 that would not stress modern VRAM capacities.

The GPU has 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. It also features 60 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 233.3 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 583.2 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 37.32 TFLOPS. The card sits in the 51st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 11627. This percentile is relatively low, but it is important to note that this includes all GPUs, not just modern ones, and the score is dragged down by its compute performance relative to its gaming performance.

The nearest rivals for the RX 7800 XT are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, which is 0.5% faster in average benchmark score, the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M, which is 0.9% slower, the NVIDIA Tesla K20c, which is 1.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, which is 1.8% faster. Despite this benchmark parity with much older cards, the RX 7800 XT’s modern architecture and 16 GB of VRAM make it far more capable in real-world gaming, especially at higher resolutions where its memory bandwidth and capacity shine.

The GPU’s role in Downfall is evident from the resolution scaling. At 1080p, the GPU delivers 282 FPS on Low, but at 4K Ultra, it only manages 53 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The card’s 16 GB of VRAM ensures that there are no texture loading issues at any settings, even at 4K Ultra. The high bandwidth and pixel rate allow for high fill rates, which is crucial for a horror game that may use dynamic lighting and shadows.

The GPU’s performance in the measured FPS data shows a linear relationship with resolution, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound system. The card maintains playable frame rates at 4K Medium (103 FPS average) and 4K High (84 FPS average), but struggles at 4K Ultra (53 FPS average). This suggests that the RX 7800 XT is a capable 1440p card and a decent 4K card when settings are adjusted.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s resolution and refresh rate priorities. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, but Ultra is the only one that drops below 144 FPS. For a 144Hz monitor, High settings (189 FPS) or Medium settings (231 FPS) are excellent choices. For a 240Hz monitor, Medium or Low settings would be necessary to fully utilize the refresh rate, with Low offering 282 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the data suggests that High settings (135 FPS) are ideal for a 144Hz display, while Medium settings (165 FPS) are perfect for a 165Hz display. Ultra settings (85 FPS) are still smooth for 60Hz gaming, but High offers a better balance of visual quality and frame rate for most users. Low settings (202 FPS) are unnecessary unless the user has a 200Hz+ monitor and prioritizes frame rate over visuals.

At 3840x2160, the recommendation is clear: High settings (84 FPS) or Medium settings (103 FPS) provide the best experience. Ultra settings (53 FPS) are playable but will be noticeably less smooth, especially in fast-paced horror sequences. Low settings (125 FPS) are an option for those who want high frame rates at 4K, but the visual compromise is significant. For a 60Hz 4K display, High settings are the best balance, ensuring a stable frame rate well above the refresh rate. For a 120Hz 4K display, Medium settings are the highest preset that can approach that target, with 103 FPS average.

The data shows that the Medium preset offers the most consistent frame pacing across all resolutions, as it is the only one with reported minimum FPS values above 87 at 4K. This consistency is valuable in a horror game where frame drops can be jarring. Therefore, for the most stable experience, Medium settings at 1440p or 4K are recommended. For those who prioritize visual fidelity, High settings at 1440p is the best compromise, offering 135 FPS average with no reported minimum dips below playable levels.