Greedfall

Greedfall places the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination in a curious position. The data shows a system that can handle the 2019 Action RPG with ease at lower resolutions, but the scaling curve reveals a sharp cliff as settings and pixel counts rise. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) to understand where this pairing excels and where it strains, using only the supplied benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 tells a clear story about which component is driving performance. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 137 at 1080p to 95 at 1440p, then falls further to 57 at 4K. That represents a 58% reduction in average FPS from the lowest to the highest resolution tested. The pattern is consistent across all settings presets: the gap between 1080p and 1440p is substantial, but the jump to 4K is where the most significant performance degradation occurs.

Looking at the Low preset, the system produces 192 FPS at 1080p, 133 FPS at 1440p, and 79 FPS at 4K. The scaling here is more linear than at higher settings, suggesting that at Low, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU adequately. However, at Ultra, the numbers collapse dramatically: 87 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and just 36 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset at 4K cuts the 1080p result by more than half, indicating a render-bound scenario.

The Medium preset offers the most complete data, with minimum and maximum FPS recorded alongside averages. At 1080p, Medium averages 151 FPS with a minimum of 128 and a maximum of 173. At 1440p, this becomes 105 FPS average with a range of 89 to 120. At 4K, the average drops to 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72. The minimum FPS values at each resolution show that frame pacing remains relatively stable, with the 4K minimum only slightly below the average, suggesting no sudden stutters but a consistent load.

What does this scaling imply about the limiting component? The 1080p to 1440p deltas are proportionally similar across settings, but the 4K results show a disproportionate collapse at Ultra versus Low. At Low 4K, the system still manages 79 FPS, which is a playable level. At Ultra 4K, it falls to 36 FPS, which is below typical smoothness thresholds. This pattern points to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at 4K, especially with higher quality presets that increase pixel shading and texture work. The RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus width appear sufficient for lower presets but struggle under the combined load of 4K resolution and Ultra effects.

The CPU's role in this scaling is less pronounced. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D's 6 cores and 12 threads with a 3.00 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost clock are consistent throughout. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau at higher resolutions where the GPU waits on the processor. Instead, the FPS continues to decline steadily, indicating that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting at 4K. At 1080p, the 192 FPS Low result suggests the CPU is not holding back even at high frame rates, but the Ultra preset's drop to 87 FPS shows the GPU starting to strain even at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination ranks 1258 out of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it in the 57th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 43% of combinations perform better in this specific game. The rank is a composite measure that accounts for all resolution and settings combinations, but the data suggests this is a mid-pack performer rather than a top-tier configuration.

This ranking is somewhat surprising given the component specifications. The RTX 5060 sits in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs in the broader benchmark database, while the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is in the 85th percentile among CPUs. Yet in Greedfall, the combination lands below both individual percentile scores. This indicates that the game's engine does not fully utilize the strengths of these components, or that the 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes a limiting factor at higher settings.

The nearest rival comparisons for the CPU show it trading blows with other mid-range processors. The Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945, a 0.2% delta from the 5500X3D's 37018 average benchmark score. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is similarly close at 36938, also 0.2% behind, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 and Intel Core i9-12900T are within 0.3% above. These are essentially identical scores, meaning the 5500X3D's 96 MB of shared L3 cache does not provide a meaningful advantage in the generic benchmarks, though it may help in specific game engines.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5060's nearest rivals are a mixed bag. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26401, just 0.3% higher, while the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is also 0.3% higher at 26421. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary is 0.8% higher at 26553, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is 1.2% lower at 26011. These deltas are small, indicating that the RTX 5060's 20891 Passmark G3D score is in a crowded performance band. The combination rank of 1258 reflects this: the system is solid but not exceptional, and Greedfall's specific demands push it toward the middle of the pack.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Greedfall at 4K smoothly?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS is 62 with a minimum of 53, which is playable but not consistently smooth. High settings drop to 57 average, while Ultra falls to 36 average. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the Low preset's 79 average FPS is the only reliable option.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: The data shows 1440p offers the best balance. At High settings, it produces 95 average FPS, and even Ultra manages 61 average. The minimum recorded FPS at Medium 1440p is 89, suggesting good stability. 1080p is smoother but the gains over 1440p are less dramatic than the visual quality difference.

Q: How does the RTX 5060's 8 GB VRAM affect Greedfall?

A: The measured results show a significant drop from Medium to Ultra at each resolution. At 4K, the difference is 62 to 36 average FPS, a 42% reduction. This likely reflects the game exceeding the 8 GB memory capacity at Ultra settings, forcing the GPU to manage memory more aggressively.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5500X3D holding back the RTX 5060 in this game?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 192 average FPS, which suggests the CPU can drive high frame rates. The bottleneck appears to shift to the GPU as resolution increases, with the 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS being far below what the CPU alone would limit. The CPU's performance is not the primary constraint.

Q: What preset offers the most consistent frame times?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p, the range is 128 to 173 with a 151 average. At 1440p, it's 89 to 120 with a 105 average. At 4K, it's 53 to 72 with a 62 average. These ranges indicate stable performance without major spikes.

Q: How does this combo compare to the average tested system?

A: Ranking 1258 out of 2938 means it performs better than approximately 57% of tested combinations. This is slightly below the midpoint, reflecting that while the individual components are above average in their respective percentile rankings, Greedfall's optimization does not favor this specific pairing.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data supports a clear recommendation hierarchy. For players prioritizing frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 192 average FPS, which is far beyond any display's refresh rate needs. Even at 1440p, Low produces 133 average FPS, making it a viable choice for high-refresh monitors. The 4K Low result of 79 average FPS is also respectable for those with 4K displays who want smoothness over detail.

For a balanced experience, Medium at 1440p stands out. The 105 average FPS with a minimum of 89 and maximum of 120 provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, and the visual upgrade from Low is significant. At 1080p, Medium's 151 average FPS is equally strong, and the 128 minimum ensures no noticeable dips. The Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot where the RTX 5060's capabilities align with the game's demands.

High settings are playable at 1080p and 1440p, with 137 and 95 average FPS respectively. The 4K High result of 57 average FPS is borderline; players with adaptive sync displays may find it acceptable, but those seeking consistent 60 FPS will need to lower settings. The jump from Medium to High yields diminishing returns in performance, suggesting the extra visual fidelity comes at a steep cost.

Ultra is only recommended for 1080p, where it still manages 87 average FPS. At 1440p, the 61 average FPS is technically playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. At 4K, the 36 average FPS is below acceptable thresholds for most players. The Ultra preset appears to be designed for future hardware, as the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus of the RTX 5060 are insufficient for this game at high resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest results. The Low preset leads with 192 average FPS, followed by Medium at 151 (minimum 128, maximum 173), High at 137, and Ultra at 87. The gap between Low and Ultra is 105 FPS, a 55% reduction. The Medium preset's minimum of 128 FPS shows that even in demanding scenes, the system stays well above 60 FPS. The Ultra result of 87 average FPS is the first sign of strain, but it remains playable.

At 2560x1440, performance drops across all presets. Low averages 133 FPS, Medium averages 105 (minimum 89, maximum 120), High averages 95, and Ultra averages 61. The Medium minimum of 89 FPS is still comfortable, but the Ultra average is now below 60, indicating that this resolution pushes the GPU harder. The difference between Low and Ultra is 72 FPS, a 54% reduction from the 1080p spread.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles at higher presets. Low averages 79 FPS, Medium averages 62 (minimum 53, maximum 72), High averages 57, and Ultra averages 36. The Medium minimum of 53 FPS is below 60, and the Ultra average of 36 FPS is barely half of the 1080p Ultra result. The Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60, and even it shows a significant drop from the 1440p Low result.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently offers the best frame pacing, with the only recorded minimum and maximum values. The 4K Medium range of 53 to 72 FPS suggests that while average performance is acceptable, there are moments where the frame rate dips noticeably. The 1080p Medium range of 128 to 173 is tight, indicating excellent stability at lower pixel counts.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D brings 6 cores and 12 threads, built on the Zen 3 architecture with a 7 nm process from TSMC. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz are modest by modern standards, but the 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a defining feature. This cache is designed to reduce memory latency, which can benefit games that repeatedly access the same data.

In Greedfall, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU. The Passmark single-thread score of 2941 and multithread score of 20363 place it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals—the Ryzen 5 5600F, Intel Core Ultra 5 225, Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and Core i9-12900T—all score within 0.3% of the 5500X3D's average of 37018. This suggests that in generic workloads, the CPU is competitive with other mid-range options.

The game's performance scaling points to the CPU being sufficient at all tested resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 192 average FPS indicates the CPU can feed the GPU with enough frames. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions at the same settings, as the CPU workload would remain constant. Instead, the FPS drops consistently as resolution increases, confirming that the GPU becomes the limiting factor.

The 5500X3D's 105 TDP and DDR4 memory support (with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth) are adequate for this game. The lack of a vCache3d field in the data means the 3D V-Cache technology is not present, but the 96 MB L3 cache is still substantial. The data does not show any CPU-specific bottlenecks in Greedfall, suggesting that the processor's 6 cores are sufficient for the game's threading model.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 2280 MHz with a boost of 2497 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The GPU has 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, with 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores.

In Greedfall, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM capacity appears to be a critical factor. The Passmark G3D score of 20891 places it in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs, but its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550, which are not typically considered high-end parts. This suggests that the RTX 5060's raw compute power is moderate, and the 128-bit memory bus limits bandwidth compared to wider-bus competitors.

The measured FPS data shows the GPU struggling at 4K Ultra, with a 36 average FPS. This is a 59% reduction from the 1080p Ultra result of 87 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K produces 62 average FPS, which is nearly identical to the 1440p Ultra result of 61 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is render-bound at 4K, and the Ultra preset's additional effects (likely including higher quality shadows, textures, and post-processing) exceed what the 8 GB VRAM can efficiently handle.

The RTX 5060's 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is respectable, but the 48 ROPs may limit fill-rate-dependent scenes. The 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate and 299.6 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the pixel workload quadruples from 1080p, stressing the ROPs. The 145 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU are modest, indicating this is a power-efficient card that relies on architectural efficiency rather than brute force.

The GPU's benchmark scores show a mixed profile: the Passmark G3D score of 20891 is strong, but the DirectX 12 score of 77 and DirectX 11 score of 200 are relatively low. This suggests that Greedfall's DirectX 11-based engine may not fully utilize the GPU's architecture. The Vulkan score of 113321 and OpenCL score of 112787 are higher, but Greedfall likely uses an older API path, which could explain the performance gaps at higher settings.