Downfall

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER to deliver a surprisingly balanced 1080p and 1440p experience in Downfall, though 4K Ultra demands more than this GPU can reliably provide. The data shows a combo that ranks in the 56th percentile of tested configurations, with clear scaling patterns that point to the RTX 2070 SUPER as the primary constraint at higher resolutions and settings. This pairing is best treated as a high-refresh 1080p machine or a solid 1440p performer, with 4K reserved for reduced settings.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 brings 14 cores and 14 threads to the table, running at a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boosting up to 5.10 GHz. This is a desktop part built on Intel's Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache configuration includes 24 MB of shared L3 cache, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 192 KB of L1 per core. In synthetic benchmarks, this processor posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648, numbers that place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs tested. Its average benchmark score of 48995 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which sits just 0.5% higher, and the Intel Core i5-14600K, which is 0.8% higher. This tells us the Ultra 5 245 is a high-tier CPU that will rarely bottleneck a mid-range GPU in most gaming workloads.

For Downfall, a horror title from 2016, the CPU's role is largely about maintaining consistent frame pacing rather than pushing raw FPS. The game's measured FPS at 1080p Low reaches 210 avg FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most displays and indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor at that setting. Even at 1080p Medium, the 172 avg FPS shows the processor has plenty of headroom. The single-thread performance of 4648 in Cinebench R23 is strong, which matters for a genre that often relies on single-threaded game logic and AI pathfinding. The fact that the CPU scores 90th percentile versus all CPUs, while the GPU only scores 65th percentile, suggests the processor is the stronger component in this pairing. This means at lower resolutions and settings, the RTX 2070 SUPER will hit its limits long before the Ultra 5 245 does, a conclusion supported by the FPS scaling patterns discussed later.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (0.4% lower average score) and the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (0.6% higher), all within a 1.2% band. This clustering indicates that the Ultra 5 245 is a well-rounded performer that trades blows with other mid-to-high-range desktop and workstation parts. For Downfall, none of these CPUs would likely produce dramatically different results because the game is not particularly CPU-intensive. The 14 threads ensure that any background tasks or streaming overhead won't cause stutter, and the 5.10 GHz boost clock provides snappy response in moment-to-moment gameplay. The 65 W TDP means this CPU runs cool enough that thermal throttling is unlikely to be an issue, even with a capable air cooler.

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

*Q: What is the combo's overall rank in Downfall among tested configurations?*

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 + RTX 2070 SUPER combo ranks 1653 out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall. This places it in the upper-middle range, meaning it outperforms roughly 56% of all tested pairings but trails the top-tier configurations that pair high-end CPUs with flagship GPUs.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Downfall?*

A: Yes, but only with significant settings compromises. At 4K High, the combo averages 63 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Medium, it averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS. However, 4K Ultra drops to 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. 4K Low is the best 4K option at 94 FPS, but the visual quality trade-off is substantial.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals in the database?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20282, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (1% higher score), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (1.2% higher), the Intel Arc B570 (1.3% higher), and the Intel Arc A750 (1.5% higher). All of these GPUs perform within a 1.5% band, making them functionally equivalent in most scenarios.

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1440p is the sweet spot. At 1440p High, the combo averages 101 FPS, and at 1440p Medium it averages 123 FPS with a minimum of 105 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on high-refresh monitors while still offering good visual fidelity. 1080p is also excellent for competitive play, with 141 FPS at High settings.

*Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combo for Downfall?*

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The RTX 2070 SUPER scores in the 65th percentile of GPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores in the 90th percentile of CPUs. This is evident in the FPS scaling: from 1080p to 4K at the same settings, FPS drops significantly, indicating the GPU is being saturated. The CPU's 210 FPS at 1080p Low shows it can push far more frames than the GPU can render.

Q: What is the launch MSRP difference between the CPU and GPU?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has a launch MSRP of $270, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER has a launch MSRP of 499 USD. This indicates the GPU was the more expensive component at launch, which aligns with the benchmark data showing the GPU is the performance bottleneck.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 141 avg FPS. Moving to 1440p High, FPS drops to 101 avg, a reduction of about 28%. At 4K High, FPS falls further to 63 avg, which is a 55% drop from 1080p High. This steep decline with increasing resolution is the classic signature of a GPU-limited system. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions because the CPU workload doesn't change much with pixel count.

The Low settings tell a similar story. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 210 avg FPS, which is an extremely high number that suggests the CPU is doing most of the work. At 1440p Low, it drops to 150 avg FPS, a 29% reduction, and at 4K Low it reaches 94 avg FPS, a 55% reduction from 1080p. The percentage drops are nearly identical between Low and High settings, reinforcing that the GPU is the consistent limiter. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is being saturated as resolution increases, which explains the scaling pattern.

The Medium settings provide the only rows with min and max FPS data, which offers insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the combo averages 172 FPS with a minimum of 146 and maximum of 198. At 1440p Medium, it averages 123 FPS with a minimum of 105 and maximum of 141. At 4K Medium, it averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 and maximum of 88. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 65, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold, but the gap between min and max (23 FPS) is wider than at 1440p (36 FPS) — actually, the 4K gap is smaller, showing that higher resolution tends to smooth out frame variance because the GPU is consistently saturated.

This scaling data indicates that for a 60 FPS target, this combo can handle 4K at Medium settings, but for higher refresh rates, 1440p is the practical limit. The Ultra settings are particularly demanding: 1080p Ultra drops to 88 FPS, 1440p Ultra to 63 FPS, and 4K Ultra to 39 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is nearly half of the 1080p Ultra result, showing that the RTX 2070 SUPER simply doesn't have the compute power for the most demanding configuration. The GPU's FP32 performance of 9.062 TFLOPS and 64 ROPs are the likely culprits, as they limit fill rate and pixel throughput at high resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo's rank of 1653 out of 2928 tested configurations places it in the 56th percentile of all pairings tested in Downfall. This is a solid, mid-tier result that reflects the balance between a strong CPU and a mid-range GPU. The CPU's 90th percentile standing is dragged down by the GPU's 65th percentile, resulting in a combined score that is above average but not exceptional. Notably, the combo outperforms roughly 43% of all tested configurations, which means there are many weaker pairings that would struggle to hit playable frame rates, but also a significant number of stronger ones that would offer a smoother experience.

Looking at the GPU's nearest rivals provides context for this rank. The RTX 2070 SUPER's average score of 20282 is nearly identical to the Intel Arc B570 (20556) and the Intel Arc A750 (20582), both of which are modern budget offerings. If those GPUs were paired with a similarly strong CPU, they would likely achieve comparable ranks in Downfall. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM is a potential limitation compared to newer cards, but for a 2016 horror game, it's generally sufficient at 1080p and 1440p.

The CPU's nearest rivals also inform the rank. The Intel Core i5-14600K, which scores 0.8% higher on average, is a popular gaming CPU that would likely produce slightly better results in CPU-bound scenarios. However, since Downfall is GPU-bound at most settings, the difference would be negligible. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900, with a 0.5% higher score, would also perform similarly. This suggests that the combo's rank is primarily determined by the GPU, not the CPU.

The rank of 1653 also implies that the combo sits in the middle of the pack for 1440p gaming. The data shows 1440p High at 101 FPS and 1440p Medium at 123 FPS, which are respectable numbers for a mid-range pairing. For comparison, a top-tier combo might push 1440p Ultra beyond 144 FPS, but this combo's 63 FPS at 1440p Ultra shows its limits. The rank reflects this: good enough for most gamers, but not for enthusiasts chasing maximum frame rates at maximum settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for this combo across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the combo averages 172 FPS with a minimum of 146 FPS, which is far above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh monitors. At 1440p Medium, it averages 123 FPS with a minimum of 105 FPS, providing a smooth experience that takes advantage of the extra resolution. Even at 4K Medium, it averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS, which is playable on a standard 60 Hz display.

The High preset is a reasonable alternative for those who want better visuals. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 141 FPS, and at 1440p High, it delivers 101 FPS. Both are above 60 FPS, but the 1440p High result might not be ideal for a 120 Hz monitor since it doesn't consistently hit that refresh rate. At 4K High, the 63 FPS average is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but it's a marginal result that could drop below in intense scenes. For the best experience, Medium is recommended, with High as a viable option at 1080p only.

The Low preset is only recommended for competitive players who prioritize frame rate over visuals. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 210 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it hits 150 FPS. These numbers are excellent for high-refresh gaming, but the visual quality drop is significant. At 4K Low, the 94 FPS result is surprisingly good, but the game will look noticeably worse than at Medium settings.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for this combo. At 1080p Ultra, the FPS drops to 88, which is acceptable but not ideal for high-refresh monitors. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 63 FPS, which is borderline. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 39 FPS, which is unplayable for a smooth experience. The performance cost of Ultra settings is too high for the RTX 2070 SUPER, and the visual improvement over Medium is unlikely to justify the frame rate penalty. For the best experience, stick with Medium at 1440p, or High at 1080p if you prefer better graphics.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo is comprehensive, covering four settings presets at three resolutions. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. At Low settings, it averages 210 FPS, which is the single highest result in the entire dataset. At Medium settings, it averages 172 FPS with a minimum of 146 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS, showing tight frame pacing. At High settings, it averages 141 FPS, and at Ultra settings, it drops to 88 FPS. The 1080p results show that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh gaming, with even the Ultra preset remaining above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show the GPU's increasing workload. At Low settings, the combo averages 150 FPS, a 29% drop from 1080p Low. At Medium settings, it averages 123 FPS with a minimum of 105 FPS and a maximum of 141 FPS, which is still excellent for most monitors. At High settings, it averages 101 FPS, and at Ultra settings, it drops to 63 FPS. The 1440p Medium result is particularly notable for its minimum of 105 FPS, which ensures a smooth experience even in demanding scenes. The 1440p Ultra result of 63 FPS is exactly at the 60 FPS threshold, making it a borderline choice.

At 3840x2160, the combo's limitations become apparent. At Low settings, it averages 94 FPS, which is surprisingly playable. At Medium settings, it averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS, providing a consistent experience above 60 FPS. At High settings, it averages 63 FPS, which is marginal but playable. At Ultra settings, it drops to 39 FPS, which is below the playability threshold. The 4K data shows that this combo can handle 4K gaming, but only at Medium settings or lower. The gap between Medium and Ultra at 4K is significant, with a 38 FPS difference, highlighting the heavy cost of Ultra settings on this GPU.

The overall pattern is clear: the RTX 2070 SUPER is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. The CPU provides ample headroom, as evidenced by the 210 FPS result at 1080p Low. For the best experience, the combo should be used at 1440p Medium or 1080p High, where it delivers frame rates well above 60 FPS with good visual quality. At 4K, Medium settings are the maximum recommended, as the 77 FPS average and 65 FPS minimum provide a stable experience without dropping below the playability threshold.