Downfall

# Downfall with Intel Core Ultra X7 368H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers a strikingly capable Downfall experience, but the data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions while showing surprising CPU headroom at 1080p. The measured frame rates across twelve distinct resolution/settings combinations paint a clear picture: this combo ranks 576th out of 2928 tested combinations in Downfall, placing it in the top 20% of all recorded configurations. The RTX 5090's massive 32 GB GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth dominate the narrative, while the 16-core Panther Lake CPU provides enough throughput to keep pace at lower resolutions but becomes secondary once pixel count rises.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate curve from 1080p to 4K follows a predictable pattern with a few notable inflection points. At High settings, average FPS drops from 220 at 1920x1080 to 157 at 2560x1440, then to 98 at 3840x2160. That represents a 29% reduction going from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 38% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The cumulative 55% drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the RTX 5090's rendering workload scales with pixel count.

Low settings show an even more pronounced scaling curve. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 328 FPS average, dropping to 234 at 2560x1440 (a 29% decline) and then to 146 at 3840x2160 (a 38% decline from 1440p). The absolute numbers are higher across the board compared to High settings, but the proportional drops are nearly identical, indicating that the scaling penalty is resolution-driven rather than settings-driven.

Medium settings follow the same trajectory: 269 FPS at 1080p, 192 at 1440p, and 119 at 4K. The 1080p-to-1440p drop is 29%, and the 1440p-to-4K drop is 38%. Ultra settings show the steepest absolute decline, from 138 FPS at 1080p to 98 at 1440p (a 29% drop) and then to 61 at 4K (a 38% drop from 1440p). Across all four settings presets, the proportional scaling from 1440p to 4K remains consistent at roughly 38%, which strongly indicates that the RTX 5090's pixel throughput — not the CPU — is the binding constraint at higher resolutions.

At 1080p, the gap between Low (328 FPS) and Ultra (138 FPS) is 190 FPS, a 58% reduction. At 4K, the same comparison shows 146 FPS versus 61 FPS, an 85 FPS gap that represents a 58% reduction as well. This symmetry across resolutions suggests that the settings overhead scales uniformly, and the limiting component shifts from the GPU at 4K to a more balanced CPU/GPU interaction at 1080p, where the Core Ultra X7 368H's 5.00 GHz boost clock can keep up with the GPU's lower per-frame workload.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant component in this configuration, and its specifications align with the observed frame rates. The GPU features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory across a 512-bit bus, yielding 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. The base clock of 2017 MHz boosts to 2407 MHz, and the chip houses 21760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units. The 170 RT cores and 680 tensor cores support the game's DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) feature set, which Downfall leverages for its horror-themed rendering effects.

The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 39650 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79842. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (avg score 79605, deltaPct 0.3%), the Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB (79396, deltaPct 0.6%), and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (78940, deltaPct 1.1%). The RTX 5090 leads these by margins ranging from 0.3% to 1.1%, while trailing the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X by 1.4% (80959 avg score). These narrow deltas indicate that raw compute performance is competitive with professional-grade data center parts, but the 5090's consumer-oriented feature set and memory configuration are what matter for Downfall.

The 32 GB VRAM capacity is far beyond what Downfall requires at any tested setting, which means memory capacity is never a bottleneck. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, however, does correlate with the 4K performance. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the combo manages 61 FPS average, which is exactly 50% of the 4K Low result (146 FPS). This halving suggests that the GPU's shading and texture units are saturated by the Ultra preset's additional effects, not the memory subsystem. The 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 throughput provides ample compute headroom, yet the 4K Ultra result shows that even this flagship GPU cannot hold 60 FPS comfortably — it sits at 61 FPS average with no recorded minimum, implying potential dips below that threshold.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its base clock of 2.00 GHz boosts to 5.00 GHz, and it carries 18 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 2.5 MB L2 per core and 192 KB L1 per core. The 25 W TDP is notably low for a 16-core part, but the 5.00 GHz boost clock compensates in single-threaded workloads. Memory support is LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus, delivering 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 28221 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3984 in single-core. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 32956, with a single-thread score of 4005. The average benchmark score across all tests is 40518, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. Nearest rivals include the Intel Core 7 253PE (avg score 40557, deltaPct -0.1%), Intel Core 5 223PE (40585, deltaPct -0.2%), AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431, deltaPct 0.2%), and Intel Xeon 6507P (40426, deltaPct 0.2%). These sub-0.2% deltas mean the 368H is effectively tied with its closest competitors in aggregate CPU performance.

For Downfall, the CPU's role is most evident at 1080p Low, where the combo hits 328 FPS. At that frame rate, the per-frame CPU time is roughly 3 milliseconds, which the 16 cores can handle without breaking a sweat. The 5.00 GHz boost clock ensures that even single-threaded game logic — common in horror titles for AI and scripted sequences — runs smoothly. The fact that 1080p Low (328 FPS) is nearly 2.4 times faster than 4K Ultra (61 FPS) suggests that the CPU is never the primary bottleneck; the GPU's pixel workload dominates once resolution increases.

However, the 16-thread count (not 32) and the 25 W TDP indicate a power-constrained design. The CPU's Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2844 and single-core of 401 are modest compared to desktop parts, but for a mobile chip, they are adequate for this game. The PassMark physics score of 2857 and find prime numbers score of 321 suggest that computational workloads are not the CPU's strong suit, but Downfall's gameplay does not rely heavily on these types of calculations.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on which settings preset delivers the best experience for different priorities. At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 220 FPS, which is already far beyond any display's refresh rate. Medium settings yield 269 FPS, and Low achieves 328 FPS. The jump from High to Medium adds 49 FPS (22% improvement), while Medium to Low adds 59 FPS (22% improvement). Given that the differences between these presets are likely visual quality reductions, High at 1080p is the sensible choice — it provides 220 FPS with better graphics than Medium or Low, and the performance headroom is sufficient for any monitor.

At 2560x1440, High averages 157 FPS, which remains excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. Medium delivers 192 FPS, and Low reaches 234 FPS. The 22% gains from dropping from High to Medium (35 FPS) and Medium to Low (42 FPS) mirror the 1080p pattern. Ultra at 1440p drops to 98 FPS, which is still playable but sacrifices 38% of the High preset's frame rate. For 1440p users, High is the recommended preset — it balances visual fidelity with 157 FPS, leaving ample headroom for dips. Medium is the safer choice if the goal is to stay above 144 FPS consistently, as the 192 FPS average provides a larger buffer.

At 3840x2160, the calculus changes. High averages 98 FPS, Medium 119 FPS, and Low 146 FPS. Ultra falls to 61 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 4K (119 FPS) offers a 21% improvement over High (98 FPS) while presumably retaining moderate visual quality. Low at 4K (146 FPS) is the performance king, but the visual sacrifice may be too steep for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. The data suggests that Medium is the optimal 4K preset: it delivers 119 FPS average with 101 FPS minimum and 137 FPS maximum, providing a consistent experience above 100 FPS. High at 4K (98 FPS) is acceptable but has no recorded minimum, so dips below 90 FPS are possible. Ultra at 4K (61 FPS) should be avoided unless the user prioritizes maximum visual fidelity over frame rate stability.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 576th out of 2928 tested combos in Downfall, placing it in the top 19.7% of all configurations. The rank reflects the overall measured performance across the tested settings and resolutions, and it positions this combo as a strong performer, though not among the elite top-tier configurations.

The CPU's 87th percentile standing among all CPUs and the GPU's 92nd percentile among all GPUs suggest that both components are individually above average. The combo rank of 576 out of 2928 indicates that the pairing is slightly less competitive than the sum of its parts might suggest, likely due to the mobile CPU's power constraints limiting sustained performance in certain scenarios. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, scores nearly identically (deltaPct -0.1%), meaning that swapping the 368H for that chip would yield virtually identical Downfall results. Similarly, the GPU's closest rival, the Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, is within 0.3% in average benchmark score, but the 5090's 32 GB VRAM and consumer drivers provide advantages in real-world gaming that the Tesla lacks.

The rank of 576 out of 2928 translates to roughly the 80th percentile of all combos, which is respectable but not dominant. Configurations with desktop-class CPUs or higher-TDP mobile parts likely outperform this combo in CPU-bound scenarios, while the RTX 5090 ensures that GPU-bound scenarios remain competitive.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at High settings delivers 157 FPS average, which provides an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. At 4K High, the combo still averages 98 FPS, making 1440p the sweet spot for high-refresh displays.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings in Downfall?

A: At 3840x2160 Ultra, the combo averages 61 FPS, which is technically playable but leaves no headroom. The Medium preset at 4K averages 119 FPS with a 101 FPS minimum, making it a much safer choice for consistent performance.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 has an average benchmark score of 79842, which is 0.3% higher than the Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, 0.6% higher than the Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB, and 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. It trails the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X by 1.4%.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is not a limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 328 FPS, showing the CPU can keep up with the GPU. At 4K, frame rates drop to 61-146 FPS depending on settings, which is GPU-bound behavior.

Q: What settings preset gives the highest frame rate at 1080p?

A: Low settings at 1920x1080 yield 328 FPS average, the highest measured result in the dataset. Medium achieves 269 FPS, High 220 FPS, and Ultra 138 FPS.

Q: How does this combo's ranking compare to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 576th out of 2928 tested combinations in Downfall, placing it in the top 20% of all recorded configurations. The CPU is in the 87th percentile and the GPU in the 92nd percentile individually.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 328 FPS average
• Medium: 269 FPS average, 228 FPS minimum, 309 FPS maximum
• High: 220 FPS average
• Ultra: 138 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 234 FPS average
• Medium: 192 FPS average, 163 FPS minimum, 221 FPS maximum
• High: 157 FPS average
• Ultra: 98 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 146 FPS average
• Medium: 119 FPS average, 101 FPS minimum, 137 FPS maximum
• High: 98 FPS average
• Ultra: 61 FPS average

The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values across all three resolutions, providing the most complete data on frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range spans 228 to 309 FPS, a 35% spread. At 1440p Medium, the range is 163 to 221 FPS, a 30% spread. At 4K Medium, the range narrows to 101 to 137 FPS, a 30% spread. This consistency across resolutions indicates that the Medium preset maintains stable frame pacing, which is crucial for a horror game where sudden frame drops can break immersion. The Low and High presets lack recorded minimums, meaning their frame time variance is unknown, but the average FPS figures suggest they are less stable than Medium. The Ultra preset, with no minimums recorded, likely exhibits the highest variance, particularly at 4K where the 61 FPS average could dip below 60 FPS during intense scenes.