Downfall

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture with a 3 nm process node. Its base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide a substantial frequency range, which is relevant for a horror title like Downfall that typically relies on a mix of single-threaded game logic and multi-threaded background tasks. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache help keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency that can affect frame pacing in a genre where sudden load spikes matter.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra 7 265 demonstrates strong multi-core capability with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42,216 and a single-core score of 5,960. The PassMark multi-thread score of 49,682 and single-thread score of 4,689 further reinforce that this processor handles both heavily threaded workloads and latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks competently. The CPU's percentile rank of 93 against all CPUs places it in the upper tier of desktop processors, meaning it is unlikely to bottleneck the GPU in most gaming scenarios.

The nearest rivals provide context: the AMD EPYC 4464P scores 64,823 on average, just 0.3% higher, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F scores 64,438, 0.3% lower. The AMD EPYC 7343 and EPYC 9124 sit 0.7% above and 0.7% below, respectively. These marginal deltas indicate the Core Ultra 7 265 is positioned in a dense performance cluster where small benchmark differences do not translate into meaningful gaming disparities. In Downfall, the measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, where CPU overhead is typically highest, the combo achieves 295 FPS average — a figure that strongly suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions.

The CPU's 65 W TDP and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for feeding a modern GPU. The 20 lanes of PCIe Gen 5 connectivity ensure the GPU has a high-bandwidth path to the CPU. Given that Downfall is a 2016 horror game, its CPU demands are likely modest by modern standards, and the Core Ultra 7 265's combination of high single-core boost and 20 threads provides headroom that keeps frame rates high across all tested settings.

# GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9070, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 48 chip, features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock of 2520 MHz and game clock of 2070 MHz, combined with 3,584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 128 ROPs, provide substantial raw compute power. The 56 ray tracing cores enhance visual effects, though Downfall's 2016 release predates widespread RT implementation, so this capability is largely unused in this title.

The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 25,381 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,290 place it in the 69th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals show tight competition: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z scores 23,736 (0.6% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 6800S scores 24,063 (0.8% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile scores 23,628 (1.1% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER scores 24,170 (1.2% higher). These small deltas suggest the RX 9070 performs in a similar tier to these older or mobile parts in synthetic tests, but the measured FPS in Downfall tells a more nuanced story.

At 4K Ultra settings, the combo averages 55 FPS, which is playable but not smooth by modern standards. Dropping to High at 4K yields 88 FPS, a significant improvement. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for Downfall at any resolution, as the game's textures and geometry are not demanding by current standards. The 644.6 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that even at 4K, the GPU can feed its shading units without stalling. The GPU's 220 W TDP and dual-slot design are consistent with a performance-oriented card, and the PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides ample bandwidth.

In Downfall specifically, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 295 FPS, indicating the GPU is barely taxed. As resolution and settings increase, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, with the frame rate dropping to 55 FPS at 4K Ultra. The 36.13 TFLOPS FP32 compute capability is more than enough for this title, and the GPU's performance headroom means that the limiting factor at 4K Ultra is likely the game's engine optimization rather than the hardware itself.

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

The measured FPS data reveals clear scaling patterns across resolutions and settings. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 295 FPS at 1080p to 210 FPS at 1440p and 131 FPS at 4K. This represents a 29% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 38% drop from 1440p to 4K. The absolute FPS values remain high throughout, indicating that at Low settings, neither component is severely stressed.

At Medium settings, the frame rates are 241 FPS at 1080p, 172 FPS at 1440p, and 107 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 29%, and from 1440p to 4K is 38%, showing similar scaling percentages to Low settings. The minimum FPS at Medium settings provides additional insight: at 1080p, the minimum is 205 FPS; at 1440p, it is 146 FPS; and at 4K, it is 91 FPS. These minimums are all well above playable thresholds, suggesting consistent frame delivery.

High settings show a more pronounced scaling: 198 FPS at 1080p, 141 FPS at 1440p, and 88 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 29% from 1080p to 1440p and 38% from 1440p to 4K, consistent with the Low and Medium patterns. Ultra settings demonstrate the steepest drop: 123 FPS at 1080p, 88 FPS at 1440p, and 55 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28%, and from 1440p to 4K is 37%.

The consistent scaling percentages across all settings indicate that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, while the CPU maintains sufficient headroom. The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly 29% from 1080p to 1440p and 38% from 1440p to 4K suggests that the GPU's rendering load scales predictably with pixel count. At 1080p Low, the 295 FPS average is likely near the CPU's maximum frame delivery capability, but the CPU's 93rd percentile ranking and high single-thread scores suggest it could push even higher if the GPU were faster.

The data indicates that this combo is GPU-limited at 1440p and 4K across all settings, while at 1080p, the GPU still has headroom but the combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates. For a horror game like Downfall, where smoothness and responsiveness are critical for immersion, the 88 FPS at 4K High and 141 FPS at 1440p High represent strong performance, while the 55 FPS at 4K Ultra indicates that the highest settings may require compromises for fluid gameplay.

# FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Downfall?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 295 FPS at 1080p with Low settings. The next highest is 241 FPS at 1080p with Medium settings, followed by 210 FPS at 1440p with Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the combo averages 55 FPS, which is the lowest across all tested configurations. The consistent scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K across all settings indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU's performance headroom is sufficient.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64,640. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, scores 64,823, which is 0.3% higher. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F scores 64,438, 0.3% lower, and the AMD EPYC 7343 scores 64,202, 0.7% lower.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, High settings average 141 FPS, while Ultra settings average 88 FPS. This represents a 38% reduction in frame rate when moving from High to Ultra, which is a significant trade-off for the visual improvements.

Q: Does the RX 9070's 16 GB VRAM cause any issues in Downfall?

A: No. Downfall is a 2016 horror game with modest VRAM requirements, and the 16 GB GDDR6 memory with 644.6 GB/s bandwidth is more than sufficient at all tested resolutions and settings. The data shows no anomalies that would suggest VRAM limitations.

Q: How does the RX 9070's synthetic benchmark score compare to the RTX 2080 SUPER?

A: The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23,877, which is 1.2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER's score of 24,170. In the PassMark G3D test, the RX 9070 scores 25,381, while the RTX 2080 SUPER is not individually listed in the GPU benchmarks.

# How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 829th out of 2,928 tested combos in Downfall. This places the combo in the 72nd percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms roughly 72% of all CPU-GPU combinations tested in this game. This ranking reflects a strong pairing where both components contribute effectively to the game's performance.

The rank of 829 out of 2,928 indicates that while this combo is above average, it is not at the very top of the performance hierarchy. This is consistent with the GPU's 69th percentile ranking among all GPUs and the CPU's 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs. The CPU's high percentile suggests it is providing ample headroom, while the GPU's mid-tier percentile is the more likely limiter on overall combo performance.

In the context of Downfall, a 2016 horror game, the combo's ranking is respectable but not exceptional. The game's age means that even mid-range modern hardware can achieve high frame rates, and the combo's 829th rank reflects that many other combos with more powerful GPUs or CPUs achieve higher scores. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo delivers excellent playability at all tested settings, with even the lowest average of 55 FPS at 4K Ultra being playable.

The combo's ranking relative to other tested configurations suggests that users looking for higher frame rates in Downfall would benefit more from a stronger GPU than a stronger CPU, as the GPU's percentile rank is significantly lower than the CPU's. The data supports this conclusion: at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 55 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor, while the CPU maintains high utilization headroom.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and performance priorities. At 1080p, all settings provide playable frame rates, with Low at 295 FPS, Medium at 241 FPS, High at 198 FPS, and Ultra at 123 FPS. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, Medium or High settings offer the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, as both exceed 190 FPS and provide smooth gameplay.

At 1440p, the recommended settings are High, which averages 141 FPS. This provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (172 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra at 1440p averages 88 FPS, which is playable but represents a 38% reduction compared to High. For users prioritizing visual fidelity over raw frame rate, Ultra at 1440p is a viable option, but High is the better overall choice.

At 4K, High settings with an average of 88 FPS is the recommended configuration. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, as Medium (107 FPS) offers only marginal visual improvements while Low (131 FPS) sacrifices significant visual fidelity. Ultra at 4K averages 55 FPS, which is at the edge of playability and may cause discomfort for some users in a horror game where smoothness is important for immersion.

The data indicates that the Medium settings at each resolution provide the best minimum frame rates: 205 FPS at 1080p, 146 FPS at 1440p, and 91 FPS at 4K. These minimums ensure consistent frame delivery without sudden drops, which is crucial in a horror game where stuttering can break immersion. For users who prioritize frame time consistency over maximum frame rate, Medium settings are the safest choice.

In summary, the recommended settings are: 1080p Medium or High, 1440p High, and 4K High. These configurations provide the best combination of visual quality and performance, with minimum frame rates that keep the experience smooth and responsive. The Ultra preset is only recommended for users with displays that cannot exceed 60 Hz at 1440p, as the 88 FPS average is sufficient for such displays.