Downfall

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 lands at rank 1,219 out of 3,716 tested combinations in Downfall. This places the combo in the 67th percentile of all systems tested, indicating a top-third finish that is respectable but not elite for this horror title. The ranking suggests that while this pairing is well above average, there are numerous other configurations that deliver higher frame rates in this specific game, likely due to the game's age and its responsiveness to raw single-thread performance.

The data shows a significant spread between the CPU and GPU performance percentiles. The processor sits in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the graphics card is in the 86th percentile among all GPUs. This discrepancy hints that the CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU in this pairing, which may influence where the bottleneck lies at different resolutions and settings in Downfall. The combo's overall rank is a synthesis of these components working together, and the measured frame rates provide the clearest picture of their collective behavior.

How This Combo Ranks

At position 1,219 out of 3,716 combos, the Ultra 7 265HX + RTX 4080 configuration performs in the upper third of all tested systems for Downfall. This is a strong showing, but the rank reveals that a substantial number of combinations—roughly two-thirds—deliver higher average frame rates in this game. The data indicates that Downfall is not particularly punishing on modern hardware, meaning that even mid-range systems can achieve high frame rates, which compresses the performance gap between top-tier and mid-tier configurations.

The CPU's percentile rank of 93 versus the GPU's 86 suggests that the processor has more headroom relative to its peers than the graphics card does. In practical terms, this means that when the GPU becomes the limiting factor—typically at higher resolutions and settings—the CPU is unlikely to hold it back. Conversely, at lower settings where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU's strong single-thread performance becomes more relevant for pushing frame rates to their maximum.

The nearest rivals for the CPU include the Intel Core i7-13790F and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, with average benchmark scores of 63,080 and 63,331 respectively, showing deltas of just 0.1% and -0.2% from the Ultra 7 265HX's average score of 63,173. This indicates that in synthetic benchmarks, these processors are virtually interchangeable. However, the measured FPS in Downfall reflects the real-world gaming performance, which can differ from synthetic averages due to game-specific optimizations and memory latency characteristics.

For the GPU, the closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER with a delta of 0.1%, meaning the two cards perform nearly identically in average benchmark scores. This is an important context for the measured results, as it suggests that the RTX 4080's performance in Downfall is representative of what one might expect from its immediate successor in the product stack, though the data here is specific to the non-SUPER variant.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 brings 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. In Downfall, a horror game from 2016, this amount of VRAM is far more than sufficient for storing textures and geometry at any resolution, including 4K. The data supports this: at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 53 FPS, which is a substantial reduction from the 104 FPS at Medium settings, indicating that the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are being heavily taxed by the highest preset rather than its capacity being exceeded.

The GPU's base clock of 2205 MHz and boost clock of 2505 MHz are key to its performance. At 1080p with Low settings, the card achieves 287 FPS on average, which demonstrates that the GPU can push frame rates to very high levels when the workload is light. The boost clock behavior is critical here; as the GPU's temperature and power headroom allow, it will maintain higher clocks to sustain these frame rates, and the data shows no signs of throttling at lower resolutions.

The RTX 4080's transistor count of 45,900 million and its 5 nm process node from TSMC contribute to its efficiency and raw throughput. With 9,728 shading units and 112 ROPs, the card is well-equipped for pixel-heavy workloads at high resolutions. The measured 4K performance at 85 FPS on High settings shows that the card can handle the game's visual demands when the settings are not at their absolute maximum, but the drop to 53 FPS at Ultra suggests that the game's Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly expensive on this hardware.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and setting combination for this hardware in Downfall?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at High settings delivers 137 FPS on average, which is a strong balance of visual quality and smoothness. At 1920x1080, High settings yield 192 FPS, while 4K at High drops to 85 FPS, so 1440p High offers the best trade-off between clarity and frame rate.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 perform at 4K Ultra settings in this game?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 53 FPS. This is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 1080p Low settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 287 FPS. This high number suggests that the GPU is not heavily loaded, and the CPU's single-thread performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5,737, becomes more significant in driving frame rates this high.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings produce 168 FPS on average, while High settings produce 137 FPS. This is a 31 FPS difference, or roughly an 18% reduction in frame rate for the visual upgrade that High settings provide.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest rival in terms of performance?

A: The nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which has an average benchmark score of 54,209 compared to the RTX 4080's 54,247, a delta of just 0.1%. This indicates that the two cards perform virtually identically in synthetic tests, and the measured FPS here can be considered representative of that performance tier.

Q: Does the 16 GB VRAM capacity ever become a limitation in Downfall?

A: The data does not show any indication of VRAM limitations. Even at 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate of 53 FPS is more likely limited by the GPU's compute throughput than memory capacity, as 16 GB is ample for a game from 2016.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4080 demonstrates its high-end capabilities across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 287 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and indicates that the GPU is not being stressed. Medium settings reduce this to 235 FPS, with a minimum of 199 FPS and a maximum of 270 FPS, showing a tight frame time distribution. High settings further reduce the average to 192 FPS, while Ultra settings bring it down to 120 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 167 FPS drop, which is a 58% reduction in performance as the visual fidelity increases.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings average 205 FPS, which is still very high and suitable for competitive play. Medium settings average 168 FPS, with a minimum of 142 FPS and a maximum of 193 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. High settings drop to 137 FPS, while Ultra settings fall to 86 FPS. The gap between Medium and Ultra at 1440p is 82 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding than Medium at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed harder. Low settings average 127 FPS, which is still playable on high-refresh-rate 4K monitors. Medium settings average 104 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS, providing a smooth experience for most players. High settings drop to 85 FPS, which is acceptable for slower-paced horror gameplay. Ultra settings bring the average down to 53 FPS, which is the only configuration in the data that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it marginal for smooth gameplay. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 74 FPS drop, a 58% reduction that mirrors the pattern seen at 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide substantial single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5,737. In Downfall, a game that is not heavily multithreaded, this single-core strength is crucial for maintaining high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less of a bottleneck.

The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce memory latency, which is important for game logic and physics calculations. At 1080p Low settings, the average frame rate of 287 FPS is likely limited by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with draw calls and game state updates. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4,500 is strong, and its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 2,409 further confirms its capability in lightly threaded workloads.

The CPU's TDP of 55 W is notable for a mobile processor, but the measured performance in this combo suggests that it can sustain high clocks under gaming loads without excessive power draw. The processor's integrated graphics, Arc Xe-LPG with 64 EU, are not relevant for this discrete GPU configuration, but they do indicate that the CPU is part of Intel's modern mobile lineup. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most measured configurations, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which are GPU-bound variables.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target frame rate and resolution. For 1920x1080, High settings provide 192 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that many monitors offer. Ultra settings at 1080p produce 120 FPS, which is still very smooth and offers the best visual quality. Given that the difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is only 72 FPS, and both are above 120 FPS, players with high-refresh-rate monitors may prefer Ultra for the improved visuals, while those with 144 Hz displays could choose High to maintain headroom.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 137 FPS are recommended for a balance of visual fidelity and performance. This frame rate is suitable for most gaming monitors, including those with 144 Hz refresh rates. Ultra settings at 1440p produce 86 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action; however, Downfall's horror genre is slower-paced, making 86 FPS acceptable. Medium settings at 168 FPS offer a smoother experience at the cost of some visual detail, which may be preferred by players who prioritize frame rate consistency.

For 3840x2160, High settings at 85 FPS are the best recommendation for a quality experience. This frame rate is above 60 FPS and provides smooth gameplay on most 4K displays. Ultra settings at 53 FPS are not recommended for consistent smoothness, as the frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings at 104 FPS offer better performance but with reduced visual quality; players with 4K displays that support variable refresh rates may find Medium to be the sweet spot for a stable experience. Low settings at 4K produce 127 FPS, but the visual downgrade is significant, making it less appealing than Medium or High.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data reveals how frame rate scales from 1080p to 4K across settings. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 192 at 1080p to 137 at 1440p, and then to 85 at 4K. This represents a 55 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 52 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K. The percentage reduction from 1080p to 4K is 56%, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the workload on the graphics card increases with pixel count.

At Low settings, the scaling is more dramatic. The average FPS drops from 287 at 1080p to 205 at 1440p, and then to 127 at 4K. This is a 160 FPS drop from 1080p to 4K, a 56% reduction that is similar to the High settings scaling. The consistency of this percentage across settings suggests that the frame rate scaling is directly proportional to the pixel count, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where the CPU is not limiting performance.

The Medium settings data provides minimum and maximum frame rates, which offer additional insight. At 1080p, the minimum is 199 FPS and the maximum is 270 FPS, giving a range of 71 FPS. At 1440p, the range is 51 FPS (142 to 193), and at 4K, the range is 31 FPS (89 to 120). This narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates that frame times become more consistent as the GPU is more fully utilized, reducing the impact of CPU-related frame pacing variations. The fact that the FPS drops are proportional to resolution increases points to the GPU as the dominant bottleneck in this combo for Downfall, particularly at 4K where the frame rates are lowest.