Downfall

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER produces a combination that ranks 1544th out of 1741 tested combos in Downfall. This places the pairing in the lower percentile of all configurations, primarily because the graphics card anchors the system’s overall capability. While the processor is a top-tier component, the data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor in this specific benchmark set, resulting in a combo that sits below the midpoint of the tested pool.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1544 out of 1741 places this configuration in the bottom 12% of all tested pairings for Downfall. This is a notable underperformance when considering the potential of the CPU alone. The Core i9-14900K holds a 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79824. In contrast, the GTX 1660 SUPER only reaches the 55th percentile among GPUs, with an average score of 14286. The vast gap between the processor’s high standing and the GPU’s mid-tier position explains the poor overall combo rank. The benchmark results show that this pairing is heavily bottlenecked; the CPU is capable of far more work than the GPU can feed it in a graphics-intensive title like Downfall. The ranking suggests that for this game, the graphics card is the primary determinant of the experience, and its relatively modest performance compared to modern parts drags the entire system down.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the TU116 chip using a 12 nm process from TSMC. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 1750 MHz, which translates to 14 Gbps effective. The GPU’s base clock is 1530 MHz, with a boost clock of 1785 MHz. These specifications place the card in a specific performance tier that is reflected in its benchmark scores. For instance, its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1278, and its Passmark G3D score is 12699. The card’s nearest rival in the data is the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11, which has an average score of 14314, a delta of -0.2%. This shows the GTX 1660 SUPER is statistically similar to that integrated solution in synthetic tests, despite being a discrete card. In Downfall, the GPU’s 6 GB VRAM capacity becomes a critical factor at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data shows a steep drop when moving from 1440p to 4K, particularly on the Ultra preset, where the average FPS falls to 27.6. This indicates that the card’s memory bandwidth and capacity are insufficient for the highest settings at 4K, causing a severe performance penalty.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a playable frame rate?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the most consistent resolution. At Low settings, the combo achieves 144.9 average FPS; at Medium, it reaches 122.3; and at High, it maintains 100.6. Even at Ultra, it produces 64.5 average FPS, which is the only resolution where all presets remain above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 14286. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11, has an average score of 14314, which is a delta of -0.2%. This means the two parts perform nearly identically in synthetic tests, despite the GTX 1660 SUPER being a discrete card.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K a bottleneck for this GPU?

A: The data suggests the opposite. The CPU has a percentile ranking of 97 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79824. The GPU’s percentile is only 55. The CPU is significantly more powerful than the GPU, meaning the graphics card is the limiting factor, not the processor.

Q: What is the FPS drop between 1080p and 4K on the High preset?

A: On the High preset, the average FPS at 1920x1080 is 100.6. When moving to 2560x1440, it drops to 70.7, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 44.1. This shows a clear scaling pattern where each resolution step costs roughly 30% performance.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a better experience than High at 1440p?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 70.7 average FPS, while the Ultra preset only manages 45.9 average FPS. The significant drop in frame rate from Ultra does not justify the visual gain, making High the more balanced option.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-core performance compare to its multi-core performance?

A: The CPU’s Cinebench R23 score is 7040 for single-core and 49872 for multi-core. This indicates a strong multi-threaded capability, with the multi-core score being roughly seven times higher than the single-core score, reflecting its 24 cores and 32 threads.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the combo scales across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 144.9 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this configuration. The Medium preset achieves 122.3 FPS, while the High preset produces 100.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution drops to 64.5 FPS, which is still a smooth experience for most displays. Moving to 2560x1440, the performance decreases noticeably. The Low preset averages 102.5 FPS, Medium averages 83.8 FPS, and High averages 70.7 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls to 45.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold often considered optimal for smooth gameplay. At 3840x2160, the card struggles significantly. The Low preset averages 63.8 FPS, Medium averages 51.8 FPS, and High averages 44.1 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is nearly unplayable, with an average of 27.6 FPS. This data shows a consistent pattern: the GTX 1660 SUPER is capable of handling 1080p and 1440p with reasonable settings, but it is not suited for 4K gaming beyond the Low preset.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh. It has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. The CPU features a 36 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB per core L2 cache. Its performance metrics are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 49872 and a single-core score of 7040. In the Passmark suite, it scores 58674 in multithread tests and 4697 in single-thread tests. Its average benchmark score is 79824, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7413, which has an average score of 80041, a delta of -0.3%. This means the i9-14900K is essentially on par with that server-grade chip. In Downfall, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with data. The benchmark results indicate that the processor is never the limiting factor. Even at the lowest FPS recorded (27.6 at 4K Ultra), the CPU is likely idle waiting for the GPU. The CPU’s high boost clock of 6.00 GHz and powerful multi-core performance ensure that it can handle the game’s logic and physics without issue, but the GTX 1660 SUPER cannot capitalize on this headroom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 100.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable, producing 64.5 FPS, but the drop from High to Ultra is significant, and the visual difference in a horror title may not be worth the 36% performance loss. For 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice, delivering 70.7 FPS. The Medium preset at 83.8 FPS is also a solid option for players who prefer higher frame rates over visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 1440p should be avoided, as the 45.9 FPS average is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option, producing 63.8 FPS. The Medium preset at 51.8 FPS is playable but may feel sluggish, while the High and Ultra presets at 44.1 and 27.6 FPS respectively are not recommended for an enjoyable experience. The data clearly shows that the GTX 1660 SUPER is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a secondary option if settings are kept at High or below.