Downfall

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT delivers a wide performance envelope in Downfall, ranging from highly playable at 1080p to marginal at 4K Ultra. The measured data shows a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, with the GPU acting as the primary constraint at higher resolutions while the CPU provides ample headroom at lower ones. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS rows, contextualizes the results against the combo’s rank among 2,928 tested combinations, and offers practical settings guidance based strictly on the provided figures.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression across resolutions reveals a clear and consistent pattern: performance degrades steadily as pixel count rises, with the most dramatic drop occurring between 1440p and 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 128 FPS at 1920x1080 to 91 FPS at 2560x1440, a 29% reduction, and then to 57 FPS at 3840x2160, a further 37% drop. This scaling behavior indicates that the rendering load at 4K nearly doubles the GPU’s work relative to 1080p, pushing the RX 6600 XT to its limits.

The Low preset shows the same trend but with higher absolute numbers: 191 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 85 FPS at 4K. The relative drops are similar — 29% from 1080p to 1440p and 37% from 1440p to 4K — suggesting that the GPU’s fillrate and bandwidth constraints scale uniformly with resolution regardless of the settings level. Medium settings follow suit: 156 FPS at 1080p, 111 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K, with the 1440p to 4K transition again being the steepest.

Ultra settings amplify the resolution penalty. At 1080p, Ultra averages 80 FPS, which is already a significant drop from Medium’s 156 FPS. Moving to 1440p, Ultra falls to 57 FPS, and at 4K, it plummets to 36 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that dips below 40 FPS, making it borderline unplayable for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases: at 1080p, Low is 111 FPS ahead of Ultra; at 1440p, the gap is 79 FPS; at 4K, it narrows to 49 FPS. This narrowing indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes so saturated that even the reduced workload of lower presets cannot fully compensate.

The limiting component at 1080p and 1440p is clearly the GPU, as evidenced by the large FPS jumps when lowering settings. At 1080p Low, the 191 FPS average suggests the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond what most displays can show, but the RX 6600 XT’s 8 GB memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth start to constrain higher presets. At 4K, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck, with even Low settings unable to break 90 FPS. The data does not show any frame rate that would indicate a CPU limitation, as even the lowest FPS at any resolution is far above the CPU’s theoretical floor given its 10 cores and 10 threads.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, based on the Navi 23 chip with RDNA 2.0 architecture, serves as the decisive factor in Downfall’s performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivers 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves adequate for 1080p and 1440p but becomes a limiting factor at 4K with higher presets. The GPU’s boost clock of 2589 MHz and game clock of 2359 MHz, with a base of 1968 MHz, provide the raw compute throughput needed for the horror game’s rendering demands.

The GPU’s 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units contribute to its pixel rate of 165.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 331.4 GTexel/s. These figures translate directly to the measured FPS: at 4K High, the 57 FPS average reflects the pixel rate being taxed by 8.3 million pixels per frame. The FP32 compute of 10.60 TFLOPS handles the shader work, and the 32 ray accelerators (RT cores) provide hardware support for any ray-traced effects, though the game’s specific implementation is not detailed in the data.

The GPU’s memory configuration is particularly relevant. At 1080p, the 8 GB frame buffer is rarely stressed, even at Ultra, which is why the 80 FPS average remains playable. At 1440p, memory pressure increases but remains manageable, as shown by the 57 FPS Ultra result. At 4K, however, the combination of higher resolution and Ultra settings likely exceeds the comfortable memory footprint, contributing to the 36 FPS average. The 16 Gbps effective memory speed and 2000 MHz memory clock provide the bandwidth for 128-bit bus, but this is a modest configuration compared to higher-tier cards, and the data supports that conclusion.

The GPU’s PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is a potential consideration, though the measured FPS does not indicate any bandwidth starvation. The card’s 160 W TDP and single 8-pin power connector suggest a mid-range power envelope, and its dual-slot design at 190 mm length makes it a compact option. The RX 6600 XT’s percentile rank of 70 among all GPUs places it above the median, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (0.7% higher score), Intel Arc A350M (0.8% lower), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (0.8% higher). This competitive positioning explains why the card performs well at 1080p but struggles at 4K Ultra, where higher-tier GPUs with more memory and bandwidth would excel.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 provides a robust foundation for this gaming configuration. With 10 cores and 10 threads, the Arrow Lake-S architecture CPU runs at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz, offering substantial single-thread performance that games like Downfall rely on. The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB L2 per core reduce memory latency, while its dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth ensures the GPU receives data without starvation.

The CPU’s benchmark scores contextualize its gaming capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 25,891 multi-core and 3,655 single-core, indicating strong multi-threaded and excellent single-threaded performance. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,412 is particularly relevant for games, where per-core performance often dictates frame pacing. The CPU’s percentile rank of 85 among all CPUs places it well above average, and its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (-0.2%), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (-0.4%), and Intel Core i9-12900T (-0.5%). This grouping shows the Ultra 5 225 is competitive with established mid-range and previous-generation high-end parts.

In Downfall, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (191 FPS) indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution, as the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. Even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is saturated at 36 FPS, there is no evidence of CPU-induced frame drops, as the minimum FPS values (where provided) align closely with averages. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 59 FPS against an average of 69, suggesting consistent frame delivery without CPU stalls.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP and active production status make it a modern choice, and its launch MSRP is $246. The lack of an unlocked multiplier means overclocking is not an option, but the boost clock of 4.90 GHz provides sufficient headroom for gaming. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU is present but irrelevant for this configuration, as the discrete GPU handles all rendering. The CPU’s PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes ensures ample bandwidth for the GPU’s PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, and the memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is sufficient for the game’s data streaming.

How This Combo Ranks

Among all tested processor and graphics card combinations in Downfall, this setup ranks 2,091st out of 2,928 total combos, placing it in the 71st percentile of configurations. This rank reflects the RX 6600 XT’s mid-range positioning rather than any CPU deficiency, as the Ultra 5 225 is a strong performer. The combo’s rank suggests that while it is not among the top-tier configurations, it outperforms roughly 71% of tested systems, which aligns with the GPU’s 70th percentile rank among all GPUs.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score — the GTX 1630, Arc A350M, GTX 780 Ti, and RTX 2080 SUPER — provide context for the combo’s gaming performance. The RTX 2080 SUPER, for instance, has a 1.1% higher average score, yet the RX 6600 XT’s newer architecture and 8 GB memory allow it to compete effectively in modern titles like Downfall. The combo’s rank is driven by the GPU’s capabilities, as the CPU’s 85th percentile rank would place it higher if paired with a more powerful graphics card.

The measured FPS at 1080p High (128 FPS) and 1440p High (91 FPS) are solid mid-range results, but the 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS drags the overall ranking. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it delivers smooth frame rates across most settings. At 4K, users would need to drop to Low or Medium settings to achieve playable performance, which is a typical trade-off for a GPU in this class.

The rank also reflects the game’s horror genre, which often features dark environments and limited draw distances, potentially reducing GPU load compared to open-world titles. This could explain why the combo achieves higher FPS than its raw benchmark scores might suggest. The 2,928 tested combos include a wide range of hardware, from entry-level to enthusiast, and this setup’s 2,091st place indicates it sits in the upper-middle tier of configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 128 FPS average, which is excellent for smooth gameplay, while Medium provides 156 FPS and Low reaches 191 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 80 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant performance cost for marginal visual gains. For most users at 1080p, the High preset offers the best balance, providing a high frame rate without the unnecessary overhead of Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 91 FPS, which is suitable for most displays, while Medium reaches 111 FPS and Low hits 136 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 57 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced horror gameplay but is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players prefer. The Medium preset at 1440p, with a minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 128 FPS, provides a consistent experience and is the recommended choice for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the options are more constrained. The Low preset averages 85 FPS, making it the only 4K setting that clears 60 FPS. Medium averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, which is borderline but workable for a horror game where reaction times are less critical. High drops to 57 FPS, and Ultra falls to 36 FPS, which is likely too low for comfortable gameplay. For 4K, the Low preset is the safest recommendation, with Medium as an option for users who prioritize visual quality over a small FPS cushion.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset provides the best consistency, as evidenced by the minimum FPS values being within 15% of the average. The High preset does not include minimum FPS data in the measured rows, but the averages suggest it is a viable middle ground. The Ultra preset is only recommended at 1080p, where the 80 FPS average remains playable, and should be avoided at 4K due to the 36 FPS result.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Downfall?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 as the strongest resolution, with Low hitting 191 FPS, Medium 156 FPS, and High 128 FPS. At 2560x1440, High still delivers 91 FPS, but 3840x2160 drops to 57 FPS on High, making 1080p the most comfortable for maintaining high frame rates.

Q: How does the RX 6600 XT compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score of 24,442 is 0.7% higher than the GTX 1630, 0.8% higher than the GTX 780 Ti, and 1.1% higher than the RTX 2080 SUPER, while being 0.8% lower than the Intel Arc A350M. This places it in a tight competitive band.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The Core Ultra 5 225’s single-thread score of 4,412 in PassMark and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655 indicate strong per-core performance. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (191 FPS) shows the GPU, not the CPU, is the limiting component.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 69 FPS at 3840x2160 Medium, with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 80 FPS. This is the second-best 4K result after Low’s 85 FPS average.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 2,091st out of 2,928 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the 71st percentile. This is consistent with the GPU’s 70th percentile rank among all GPUs.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 111 FPS or High at 91 FPS provide better frame rates with likely minimal visual differences in a horror game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured FPS values are as follows: Low averages 85 FPS, Medium averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 80 FPS, High averages 57 FPS, and Ultra averages 36 FPS. The Medium preset provides the only minimum FPS data at this resolution, indicating a fairly stable frame delivery within the 59–80 FPS range. The jump from Low to Medium costs 16 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 12 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 21 FPS, making Ultra the most expensive step.

At 2560x1440, Low averages 136 FPS, Medium averages 111 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 128 FPS, High averages 91 FPS, and Ultra averages 57 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 95 FPS shows that even under load, the system stays above 90 FPS, which is excellent for 1440p gaming. The gap between Low and Medium is 25 FPS, Medium to High is 20 FPS, and High to Ultra is 34 FPS, with Ultra representing a steep drop.

At 1920x1080, Low averages 191 FPS, Medium averages 156 FPS with a minimum of 133 FPS and maximum of 180 FPS, High averages 128 FPS, and Ultra averages 80 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 133 FPS ensures a consistently high frame rate, and even Ultra’s 80 FPS is above the 60 FPS threshold. The differences between presets are: Low to Medium costs 35 FPS, Medium to High costs 28 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 48 FPS, showing that Ultra is the most demanding setting.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently provides the best minimum FPS data, with 133 FPS at 1080p, 95 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. These minimums are all within 15% of their respective averages, indicating stable performance without major frame drops. The Low and High presets lack minimum FPS data in the measured rows, but their averages suggest similar stability. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that falls below 40 FPS at any resolution (36 FPS at 4K), making it the least recommended setting for higher resolutions.