Downfall

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination delivers a strong showing in Downfall, ranking in the top tier of tested hardware configurations. The data places this combo at rank 447 out of 2928 tested combos, putting it in the top 15% of all systems evaluated. That ranking is driven by a balanced pairing where the CPU's high single-thread performance and the GPU's substantial memory bandwidth complement each other well, resulting in high frame rates even at demanding 4K resolutions. This is not a system that struggles to keep up; rather, it is one that provides a consistently fluid experience across the board, with the only notable compromise appearing at the absolute highest preset and resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's position at 447 out of 2928 tested combinations is a clear indicator of its capability. This percentile placement suggests that the pair outperforms the vast majority of tested systems in Downfall, a horror title that appears to scale well with both CPU and GPU resources. The ranking is not merely a function of the GPU's raw power; the CPU's performance profile also plays a critical role in ensuring the system does not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

The CPU's own benchmark percentile versus all CPUs is 90, and its average benchmark score is 48995. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (scoring 49196, a delta of -0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (scoring 49228, a delta of -0.5%), and the Intel Core i5-14600K (scoring 48618, a delta of 0.8%). These deltas are extremely tight, all within 1% of the Ultra 5 245's average score, indicating that this processor sits in a highly competitive performance tier. The GPU similarly holds its own, with an average benchmark score of 43223, placing it within 1% of rivals like the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43262, delta -0.1%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (43667, delta -1%).

In the context of Downfall, this combination's high ranking suggests that it is well-suited to handle the game's demands. The measured FPS data confirms this, showing that the system can push well beyond 60 FPS at 4K on High settings. The combination of a strong CPU and a robust GPU ensures that neither component is severely underutilized, allowing the system to perform near its theoretical maximum. It is a pairing that demonstrates the benefits of a balanced build, avoiding the pitfalls of a severe bottleneck that would drag the overall rank down.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. For Downfall, a game that appears to favor high single-thread performance, the boost clock is a critical asset. The CPU's single-core benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4394. These numbers indicate that the CPU can handle the primary game logic and physics calculations with ease, providing a solid foundation for high frame rates.

The CPU's multi-core performance is also robust, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and Passmark multithread score of 38706. While Downfall may not be a heavily multi-threaded title, having 14 cores ensures that background tasks and any game engine threads that do scale will not cause stuttering or frame drops. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the CPU's performance is nearly identical. The delta percentages against the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G are -0.5% and -0.4%, respectively, meaning the Ultra 5 245 is slightly behind but effectively in the same class. Against the Intel Core i5-14600K, it is 0.8% ahead. This tight grouping means that the CPU choice is not a differentiator in Downfall; instead, it provides a consistent baseline of performance that allows the GPU to stretch its legs. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance is sufficient to feed the GPU, preventing a CPU-bound scenario that would limit frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary driver of frame rates in this combo. It is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. This memory bandwidth is particularly important for Downfall at higher resolutions, as it allows the GPU to quickly access textures and geometry data, preventing stutters in demanding scenes.

The GPU's benchmark scores are solid, with a Passmark G3D score of 29995 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 172795. Its performance is closely matched with its nearest rivals, all of which are within a 1% delta. For instance, the RTX 4070 SUPER is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, but also 1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile. This indicates that the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER holds its own against even a mobile flagship, making it a very capable part for 1440p and 4K gaming.

In Downfall, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU is strong enough to keep the GPU well-fed, but at 4K, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors. The data shows that the GPU can handle 4K High settings at an average of 104 FPS, which is a very playable frame rate for a horror title. The 12 GB of VRAM is also a plus, ensuring that the game does not run out of memory at high resolutions with high-quality textures. The GPU's performance is the backbone of this combo's high ranking, and it delivers consistent, high frame rates across the board.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. On Low settings, it averages 348 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 284 FPS with a minimum of 242 and a maximum of 327. High settings see a further reduction to 233 FPS, while Ultra settings still manage a very high 146 FPS. These numbers are all far beyond what is needed for a smooth experience, even on high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains extremely strong. Low settings yield an average of 248 FPS. Medium settings provide an average of 203 FPS, with a minimum of 173 and a maximum of 234. High settings average 167 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 104 FPS. This indicates that the combo is well-suited for 1440p gaming, offering high refresh rates on all but the most demanding preset.

At 3840x2160, the GPU starts to feel the pressure, but the results are still impressive. Low settings average 155 FPS. Medium settings see a drop to 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 and a maximum of 145. High settings average 104 FPS, which is still very playable. The Ultra preset is the only one that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 65 FPS. This shows that the RTX 4070 SUPER is capable of 4K gaming, but users will need to make a choice between maximum visual fidelity and higher frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K is revealing. At 1080p with Medium settings, the system averages 284 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that number drops to 203 FPS, a reduction of approximately 28.5%. Stepping up to 4K, the average falls to 126 FPS, which is a further 37.9% drop from the 1440p result. This pattern indicates that the system is becoming increasingly GPU-bound as resolution increases.

The scaling on High settings follows a similar trend. From 233 FPS at 1080p, it drops to 167 FPS at 1440p (a 28.3% decrease), and then to 104 FPS at 4K (a 37.7% decrease from 1440p). The consistent percentage drops between resolutions suggest that the scaling is smooth, without any sudden bottlenecks. The CPU's performance is sufficient to keep up with the GPU's demands at all resolutions, as the frame rate drops are directly proportional to the increase in pixel count.

This behavior confirms that the limiting component at higher resolutions is the GPU. The RTX 4070 SUPER's memory bandwidth and compute power are the primary factors determining the frame rate. At 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures it is not a bottleneck, but as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the system's performance scales accordingly. For users targeting 4K, this means that the GPU will be working at its limit, while the CPU has headroom to spare.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p and 1440p users with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or higher), the High preset is the clear sweet spot. At 1080p, it delivers 233 FPS, and at 1440p, it provides 167 FPS. This preset offers a significant visual improvement over Medium without sacrificing the high frame rates needed for a competitive or immersive experience.

For 4K users, the High preset is also the best choice, as it averages 104 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 4K, while visually stunning, drops the average to 65 FPS, which may be acceptable for a slower-paced horror game but is less ideal for maintaining a perfectly smooth frame rate. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 126 FPS, is an option for those who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, but the High preset offers a better balance.

The Ultra preset is best reserved for 1080p gaming, where it still achieves 146 FPS. At higher resolutions, the performance cost is too steep, and the difference between High and Ultra may not be as noticeable in a dark, atmospheric horror game. The Low preset is only recommended for competitive play or if the user is trying to maximize frame rate on a very high refresh rate display (e.g., 240Hz or higher), as it pushes the system to its absolute limits, hitting 348 FPS at 1080p. For most users, the High preset across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K provides the most consistent and enjoyable experience, ensuring the game looks great while maintaining smooth, responsive gameplay.