Downfall

Intel Core i9-14900K pairs with Intel Arc B390 in Downfall, a combination that produces playable frame rates at lower resolutions but struggles at 4K Ultra settings. The 24-core, 32-thread processor with a 3.20 GHz base clock and 6.00 GHz boost clock sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the integrated-style GPU lands at just the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This pairing ranks 2589 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall, indicating a significant bottleneck on the graphics side.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a Raptor Lake-R architecture desktop processor built on Intel's 10 nm process. It brings 24 cores and 32 threads, with a substantial 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. This processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and it carries Intel UHD Graphics 770 as integrated graphics. Its benchmark results show strong compute performance: 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 2,262.5 in single-core, and 21,697 in Geekbench multi-core. The PassMark multi-thread score reaches 58,674, with single-thread at 4,697.

In Downfall, this CPU's role is largely to feed frames to a severely underpowered GPU. The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches 106 FPS average, which suggests the CPU can push far beyond what the GPU can render at higher settings. The processor's 95th percentile ranking versus all CPUs puts it in elite company, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i9-14900KF (0.3% behind), Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (0.6% behind), and AMD EPYC 7413 (1.2% behind). Only the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 edges it out by 1.7% in average benchmark score.

The 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier indicate this is a high-performance desktop part, but in this specific game combo, the CPU is not the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 20, and even at 1080p Ultra it only reaches 44 FPS. These numbers point to GPU-bound scenarios where the i9-14900K's massive thread count and high clock speeds cannot compensate for the graphics bottleneck. The processor's 32 threads and 6.00 GHz boost clock are far in excess of what Downfall's horror gameplay appears to require, based on the measured frame rates remaining consistent with GPU-limited behavior across resolution changes.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines. The GPU has 12 ray tracing cores and operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2,500 MHz. Memory is system shared, with bandwidth described as system dependent. The GPU's pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

This GPU sits at the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with its only benchmark score coming from 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 at 1,482. Its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts: GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% behind), GeForce 800M (1.5% behind), GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% behind), and GeForce GT 710 (2.7% behind). The Arc B390 actually leads all four rivals in that benchmark, but the margin is thin — between 1.3% and 2.7%.

In Downfall, the Arc B390's performance reveals its limitations. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p Low, the combo hits 106 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra it drops to 44 FPS. Moving to 1440p, Low yields 76 FPS while Ultra falls to 32 FPS. At 4K, Low produces 47 FPS and Ultra only 20 FPS. This scaling suggests the GPU's 80 W TDP and system-shared memory create a hard ceiling on performance. The lack of dedicated VRAM means the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which likely contributes to the steep drop-off as resolution and settings increase. The 12 RT cores are present but appear to offer little benefit in this title at high settings, given the sub-30 FPS results at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo achieves in Downfall?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 106, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the GeForce GT 710.

Q: What is the lowest playable frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average FPS is 20, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. The medium preset at 4K shows a minimum FPS of 33, which is the only min FPS value above 30 in the 4K resolution.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU bottleneck this combo in Downfall?

A: The data indicates GPU bottlenecking. The CPU ranks at the 95th percentile while the GPU sits at the 9th percentile, and frame rates scale dramatically with resolution and settings, dropping from 106 FPS at 1080p Low to 20 FPS at 4K Ultra.

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

A: It ranks 2589 out of 2928 tested combos, placing it in the lower portion of the overall distribution.

Q: What are the FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 87 FPS with a range of 74 to 100 FPS. At 2560x1440, it averages 62 FPS with a range of 53 to 71 FPS. At 3840x2160, it averages 39 FPS with a range of 33 to 44 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2589 out of 2928 places this pairing in the bottom 12% of all tested combinations in Downfall. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU's 9th percentile standing, which drags down an otherwise elite CPU. The Intel Core i9-14900K's 95th percentile CPU ranking and its strong benchmark scores — including 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 21,697 in Geekbench multi-core — suggest the processor is capable of far higher frame rates with a more capable GPU.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmark are all significantly older NVIDIA parts, with the Arc B390 leading them by 1.3% to 2.7%. This narrow margin in synthetic testing does not translate into competitive gaming performance, as the measured FPS data shows the GPU struggling to maintain 30 FPS at 4K Ultra. The 2928 total combos in the database include a wide range of CPU-GPU pairings, and this specific combination sits near the bottom because the GPU cannot leverage the CPU's computational headroom.

Comparing the CPU's nearest rivals shows how the processor performs standalone: the i9-14900K is 0.3% behind the i9-14900KF, 0.6% behind the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, and 1.2% behind the AMD EPYC 7413 in average benchmark score. These differences are minor, indicating the CPU itself is not the source of the low combo rank. Instead, the Arc B390's 1,482 3DMark score and its position relative to GPUs like the GT 710 and GT 520MX highlight the graphics bottleneck that defines this pairing's performance in Downfall.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 106 FPS, which is the highest measured in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 and maximum of 100 FPS. High settings drop to 71 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 44 FPS average. This resolution shows a clear progression, with Low to Medium costing 19 FPS, Medium to High costing 16 FPS, and High to Ultra costing 27 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 76 FPS, which is 30 FPS lower than at 1080p Low. Medium settings average 62 FPS with a range of 53 to 71 FPS. High settings produce 51 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 32 FPS average. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is a 44 FPS drop, indicating the GPU's performance degrades significantly as settings increase.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 47 FPS, which is the only 4K preset above 40 FPS. Medium settings average 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 and maximum of 44 FPS. High settings drop to 32 FPS average, and Ultra settings bottom out at 20 FPS average. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 27 FPS, and even the Medium preset's minimum of 33 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay.

The data shows consistent behavior across resolutions: each step up in settings costs roughly 10-15 FPS at lower resolutions, but the penalty becomes more severe at 4K. The Medium preset at each resolution provides the only min/max FPS measurements, with 1080p showing 74-100 FPS, 1440p showing 53-71 FPS, and 4K showing 33-44 FPS. These ranges indicate that the Medium preset has the most consistent frame pacing, while Low and High settings lack recorded minimums in the dataset.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Low preset at 1920x1080 provides the best experience with an average of 106 FPS. This is the only configuration that breaks the 100 FPS barrier, making it the clear choice for smooth gameplay in Downfall. For players seeking higher visual fidelity, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a strong compromise at 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 FPS, ensuring frame rates stay well above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that maintains an average above 70 FPS, hitting 76 FPS. The Medium preset at 62 FPS average is viable for most players, with its 53 FPS minimum keeping the experience mostly smooth. High settings at 51 FPS average may satisfy players who prioritize visuals, but the 32 FPS average at Ultra settings makes that preset difficult to recommend at this resolution.

The 3840x2160 resolution presents significant challenges. The Low preset at 47 FPS average is the only 4K option that approaches smooth gameplay, though it remains below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings at 39 FPS average with a 33 FPS minimum are playable but will exhibit noticeable stuttering in fast-paced horror sequences. High settings at 32 FPS average and Ultra at 20 FPS average are not recommended for a playable experience.

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 stands out as the optimal choice. It delivers 87 FPS average, which is 82% of the Low preset's performance while offering improved graphics settings. The measured minimum of 74 FPS ensures consistent frame delivery without major dips. Players with higher-resolution displays should stick to Low settings at 1440p or 4K, as the Medium preset at those resolutions sacrifices too much frame rate for the visual upgrade.