Downfall

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for Downfall with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 reveal a predictable but steep performance curve as resolution climbs. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo delivers 112 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same preset drops the average to 80 FPS, a reduction of 32 frames. The jump to 3840x2160 High yields just 50 FPS average, cutting the 1440p figure nearly in half.

This scaling pattern indicates the RTX 5050 becomes the primary limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU has ample headroom, with the Low preset reaching 166 FPS average. The 1440p Low preset still manages 119 FPS, showing the GPU can handle reduced workloads comfortably. However, the 4K Ultra preset collapses to 31 FPS average, a figure that falls below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a horror title where responsiveness matters.

The delta between presets widens dramatically at 4K. At 1080p, the spread from Low to Ultra spans 96 FPS (166 down to 70). At 1440p, the spread narrows to 69 FPS (119 down to 50). At 2160p, the spread shrinks further to 43 FPS (74 down to 31). This compression at higher resolutions reflects the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute limits being reached, rather than any CPU constraint.

The Medium preset at each resolution provides the only rows with min and max FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the range is 116 to 157 FPS, a 41 FPS variance. At 1440p Medium, the range shrinks to 83 to 112 FPS, a 29 FPS variance. At 4K Medium, the range is 51 to 70 FPS, a 19 FPS variance. The shrinking variance at higher resolutions suggests frame pacing becomes more consistent as the GPU saturates, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

For a horror game like Downfall, the 4K Medium row at 61 FPS average represents the minimum viable configuration for high-resolution play, but users targeting 60 FPS or above will find the 1440p High preset at 80 FPS average more comfortable. The data shows that 1080p remains the sweet spot for this combo, with every preset except Ultra exceeding 112 FPS average.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H brings 16 cores and 22 threads to the table, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This Meteor Lake architecture chip, built on a 7 nm process, posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 3468 and multithread score of 24873 place it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs.

In Downfall, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU at most settings. The benchmark data shows frame rates scaling primarily with resolution and preset, which is the signature of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p Low, the 166 FPS average suggests the CPU can feed frames well above what the RTX 5050 can render at higher settings. The fact that 1080p Ultra drops to 70 FPS while 1080p Low hits 166 FPS points to GPU shader and memory load, not CPU threading limits.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T with an average score of 32707 and a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 at 32662 with a 0.1% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F at 32750 with a -0.2% delta. These close margins indicate the 155H sits in a competitive mid-range performance band, but none of these rivals appear in the measured FPS data for Downfall, so direct in-game comparison is not possible from this pack.

The CPU's L3 cache of 24 MB shared, combined with 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, should provide adequate data throughput for a horror game's asset streaming. The PassMark data compression score of 277353 and integer math score of 86870 suggest strong general compute capability, but the game's frame rates do not show signs of CPU bottlenecking even at the lowest resolution tested. The 1080p Low result of 166 FPS average, while not the absolute ceiling, demonstrates the CPU can sustain high frame delivery.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the dominant factor in this combo's Downfall performance. This Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU, built on a 5 nm TSMC process, carries 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 320.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GPU's 2560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs are clocked at 2317 MHz base and 2572 MHz boost. Its FP32 throughput of 13.17 TFLOPS places it in the 66th percentile among all GPUs.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes a consideration at 4K Ultra, where the 31 FPS average likely reflects both compute and memory pressure. The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL with a 21035 average score and -0.6% delta, the AMD Radeon HD 8970M at 21237 with -1% delta, and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT at 20713 with 1.6% delta. Notably, the RTX 5050's average benchmark score of 21035 sits between these older or lower-tier parts, yet its in-game performance at 1080p is robust.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s appears sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K results show a sharp drop-off. At 4K Medium, the 61 FPS average with a 51-70 FPS range suggests the GPU is working near its memory bandwidth ceiling. The 4K High result of 50 FPS average and 4K Ultra of 31 FPS average indicate that each step up in settings at 4K exacts a heavy toll, likely due to both shading load and VRAM capacity.

The RTX 5050's 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores are present but their impact on Downfall cannot be quantified from the provided data, as no ray tracing or DLSS-specific measurements are included. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with modern rendering paths, but the measured FPS values reflect standard rasterization workloads typical of a 2016 horror title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. The Low preset achieves 166 FPS average, which is the highest measured value across all resolutions and settings. Medium follows at 136 FPS average with a range of 116 to 157 FPS. High drops to 112 FPS average, and Ultra bottoms out at 70 FPS average. The 1080p row shows a clear linear degradation from Low to Ultra, with each preset step costing roughly 30 to 40 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates compress downward. Low still manages 119 FPS average, a solid result for 1440p. Medium delivers 97 FPS average with an 83 to 112 FPS range, making it the most playable 1440p preset. High falls to 80 FPS average, and Ultra reaches only 50 FPS average. The 1440p data shows a 69 FPS spread between Low and Ultra, indicating the GPU's performance headroom narrows as pixel count increases.

At 3840x2160, the results become marginal for smooth gameplay. Low achieves 74 FPS average, the only 4K preset above 60 FPS. Medium drops to 61 FPS average with a 51 to 70 FPS range, placing it on the edge of playability. High falls to 50 FPS average, and Ultra crashes to 31 FPS average. The 4K Medium row is the only 4K measurement with min and max values, showing a 19 FPS variance that suggests relatively stable frame delivery despite the low average.

Comparing presets across resolutions, the Low preset at 1080p (166 FPS) is 2.24 times faster than Low at 4K (74 FPS). The Medium preset scales from 136 FPS at 1080p to 97 FPS at 1440p to 61 FPS at 4K, a consistent degradation of roughly 30% per resolution step. The High preset shows a similar pattern: 112 FPS at 1080p, 80 FPS at 1440p, 50 FPS at 4K. Ultra is the most punishing, dropping from 70 FPS at 1080p to 50 FPS at 1440p to 31 FPS at 4K.

FAQ

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

A: The 1920x1080 resolution provides the most consistent performance, with all presets except Ultra exceeding 112 FPS average. The 2560x1440 Low preset at 119 FPS average is also viable, but 4K should only be attempted with Low or Medium settings.

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

A: Yes, but only at lower presets. The 4K Low preset achieves 74 FPS average, and 4K Medium reaches 61 FPS average with a 51 to 70 FPS range. The 4K High preset drops to 50 FPS average, and 4K Ultra falls to 31 FPS average, which is not suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153 (-0.6% delta), the AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237 (-1% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713 (1.6% delta). The NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379 (-1.6% delta).

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H sits in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32697. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-14600T with a score of 32707 and a 0% delta.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Downfall?

A: Based on the measured data, 8 GB appears adequate for 1080p and 1440p across all presets, with the 1080p Ultra preset still achieving 70 FPS average. At 4K, the performance drop to 31 FPS average on Ultra suggests VRAM capacity may contribute to the limitation, though the GPU's compute throughput is also a factor.

Q: Which preset provides the smoothest experience at 1440p?

A: The 2560x1440 Medium preset offers the best balance, with a 97 FPS average and a range of 83 to 112 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while maintaining visual quality. The Low preset at 119 FPS average is smoother but with reduced visual fidelity.

Settings Recommendations

For 1920x1080, the High preset at 112 FPS average is the recommended choice. It provides a substantial visual upgrade over Medium (136 FPS average) while still maintaining triple-digit frame rates. The Ultra preset at 70 FPS average is playable but offers diminishing returns for the 42 FPS cost. Users prioritizing maximum smoothness can select Low at 166 FPS average, but the visual compromise is significant for a horror game where atmosphere matters.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset stands out as the optimal configuration. The 97 FPS average with an 83 to 112 FPS range keeps frame times consistent and well above the 60 FPS threshold. High at 80 FPS average is also viable for those who prefer better visuals, but the drop to 50 FPS average on Ultra makes that preset unsuitable for consistent gameplay. Low at 119 FPS average is available for competitive or fast-paced segments, but the visual downgrade may detract from the horror atmosphere.

For 3840x2160, users must make compromises. The Low preset at 74 FPS average is the only 4K option that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. Medium at 61 FPS average with a 51 to 70 FPS range is borderline, with occasional dips below 60 FPS that could be noticeable. High at 50 FPS average and Ultra at 31 FPS average are not recommended for sustained play. Given the 4K constraints, the Medium preset offers the best visual fidelity while maintaining near-playable performance, but users may prefer to drop to 1440p High for a better overall experience.

The data indicates that the Medium preset provides the most consistent frame pacing across all resolutions, as evidenced by the min and max FPS values available only for Medium rows. This consistency is valuable in a horror game where frame hitches can break immersion. The 1080p Medium result of 136 FPS average with a 116 to 157 FPS range and the 1440p Medium result of 97 FPS average with an 83 to 112 FPS range both show narrower variances than would be expected from the preset's midpoint position.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination ranks 2977 out of 3716 tested combos in Downfall. This places the combo in the 20th percentile among all tested configurations, meaning roughly 80% of tested combos deliver higher frame rates in this game. The ranking reflects the RTX 5050's mid-range positioning, as the GPU sits in the 66th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU sits higher at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs.

The gap between the CPU's percentile (83) and the GPU's percentile (66) indicates the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing. The combo rank of 2977 out of 3716 suggests that while the CPU is capable of driving higher performance, the GPU holds back the overall result in Downfall. This is consistent with the resolution scaling data, which shows the GPU becoming the bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings.

The combo's position in the rankings does not tell the full story, as the measured FPS data shows it can deliver 166 FPS average at 1080p Low and 112 FPS average at 1080p High. These are strong results for a mobile CPU paired with an entry-level 50-series GPU. The 4K results are weaker, but the 74 FPS average at 4K Low demonstrates the combo's ability to handle high-resolution gaming when settings are scaled appropriately.

Given the GPU's nearest rivals — the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, AMD Radeon HD 8970M, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, and NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile — all scoring within 1.6% of the RTX 5050's average benchmark score, the 2977 ranking likely places this combo in a competitive cluster of mid-range configurations. The 3716 total combos represent a wide field, and a rank of 2977 indicates this pairing is positioned in the lower-middle tier for Downfall specifically, despite the CPU's strong synthetic performance.