Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting test of balance between a six-core Zen 2 processor and a flagship Blackwell GPU. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, operates at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. This CPU, built on the 7 nm process, records a single-thread score of 696 in 3dmark and a max-thread score of 4603, indicating a solid foundation for handling game logic. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 2124 points single-core and 15045 points multi-core, placing it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs. The processor's performance is closely matched by rivals, with the Intel Core i5-11400 averaging a mere 0.1% higher score and the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS trailing by 0.2%, suggesting that the 3600 is not a bottleneck in this pairing. Its 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for the game's demands, ensuring that the CPU can feed frames to the GPU without significant stalling.

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

The Ryzen 5 3600's configuration is central to understanding the frame rates observed in Greedfall. With six physical cores and twelve threads, the processor leverages its Zen 2 architecture to manage the game's background tasks and AI computations. The boost clock of 4.20 GHz is critical for maintaining high average frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU is more likely to be the limiting factor. Benchmark data shows a 3dmark 2-thread score of 1361 and a 4-thread score of 2579, demonstrating that the CPU scales reasonably with increased thread usage, which is typical for a game of this era. The 8-thread score of 3844 is notably higher, indicating that Greedfall can utilize multiple cores effectively, though the max-thread score of 4603 is only slightly above the 8-thread result, suggesting diminishing returns beyond eight threads.

This CPU performance directly impacts the measured FPS. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 281.5 FPS, which is the highest recorded, showing that at this resolution and setting, the CPU is keeping up with the GPU's output. However, at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 71.3, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and graphical loads. The CPU's role shifts from a potential limiter at 1080p to a supporting player at 4K, where its 76th percentile ranking ensures it does not drag down the overall experience. The processor's performance relative to its nearest rivals—all within a 0.3% delta—confirms that it is a stable, mid-range component that pairs well with a high-end GPU without creating a significant performance ceiling in this specific title.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant force in this pairing, and its specifications explain the high frame rates across all tested settings. Equipped with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, the GPU offers 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Greedfall's textures and assets, even at 4K resolution. The GPU's boost clock of 2407 MHz, combined with 21760 shading units, delivers the raw compute power necessary for the game's rendering. Its 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 176 ROPs ensure that pixel fill rates are not a constraint, as evidenced by the pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s.

The GPU's benchmarks show a Passmark G3D score of 39650 and a 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14411, placing it in the 94th percentile of all GPUs. This high percentile is reflected in the measured FPS, where even at 4K Ultra, the combo maintains 71.3 FPS, a playable level. The RTX 5090's nearest rivals, including the RTX 5090 D with a 0.1% higher score and the RTX 5050 Mobile with a 0.2% higher score, are within a 1.6% delta, showing that this specific card is at the top of its class. The GPU's memory clock of 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective) and 32 GB VRAM mean that Greedfall's largest texture sets can be loaded without swapping, contributing to consistent frame times. At 2560x1440 High settings, the combo hits 182.3 FPS, and at 1080p High, it reaches 254.5 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU is capable of high refresh rate gaming at lower resolutions, with the CPU stepping in as the secondary factor.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this CPU-GPU combo in Greedfall?

A: The highest average FPS is 281.5, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3600 compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-11400?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 has an average benchmark score of 18150, which is 0.1% higher than the Ryzen 5 3600's score, indicating nearly identical performance.

Q: What is the performance drop when moving from High to Ultra settings at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 109.3 on High settings to 71.3 on Ultra settings, a significant reduction of 38 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 5090's 32 GB of VRAM a factor in Greedfall's performance?

A: While the data does not isolate VRAM usage, the 32 GB capacity with 1.79 TB/s bandwidth ensures that memory bandwidth is not a bottleneck, allowing the GPU to maintain high frame rates across all settings.

Q: How does the combo rank among other tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 67th out of 1705 tested combinations, placing it in the top 4% of all tested systems for Greedfall.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p and 1440p at Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the average FPS is 258.8, while at 2560x1440 Medium, it is 198.7, showing a 60.1 FPS decrease when moving to the higher resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 secures the 67th position out of 1705 combinations for Greedfall. This ranking is impressive, placing the system in the top 4% of all tested configurations. The data indicates that the RTX 5090's raw power is the primary driver of this high ranking, as the CPU's 76th percentile standing is overshadowed by the GPU's 94th percentile performance. The combo's rank suggests that while the CPU is not the absolute fastest, it is more than adequate to support the GPU's capabilities in this game.

The measured FPS values support this ranking. At 4K Ultra, the system produces 71.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1440p Ultra, it jumps to 114.1 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it reaches 163.3 FPS. These numbers indicate that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors at lower resolutions and for 4K gaming with some settings adjustments. The ranking also reflects the balance of the components; the CPU's close proximity to its rivals (within 0.3% delta) means that swapping to a slightly faster processor would not yield a substantial improvement in frame rates, as the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting. This is a classic example of a high-end GPU paired with a mid-range CPU that does not create a significant bottleneck, resulting in a top-tier ranking for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

Analyzing the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, the optimal experience depends on the target display and desired visual fidelity. For 4K gaming, the High preset offers the best balance, delivering an average of 109.3 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 71.3 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 4K provides 120.2 FPS, a marginal improvement over High, but the visual quality difference may justify sticking with High for better image quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset yields 182.3 FPS, making it ideal for 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces 114.1 FPS, which is also suitable for high refresh rates. For 1080p, the High preset achieves 254.5 FPS, which is excellent for 240Hz displays, though the Ultra preset at 163.3 FPS is still sufficient for most high-refresh-rate monitors. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 281.5 FPS, but this comes at a significant visual cost. The data suggests that for most users, the High preset at any resolution provides the best combination of frame rate and visual quality, with Ultra being a viable option for those prioritizing graphics over raw FPS. The Medium preset offers a middle ground, with performance close to High but with reduced visual effects. Based on the measured rows, the High preset is the recommended starting point, with adjustments to Ultra or Medium based on personal preference and display capabilities.