Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting stress test for the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti combination. The measured data reveals a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, showcasing a clear transition from a CPU-bound scenario at lower resolutions to a GPU-bound one at 4K. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is capable of delivering high frame rates across the board, but the experience is heavily dependent on the chosen quality preset and target resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate performance of this hardware combo in Greedfall demonstrates a classic scaling curve. At 1920x1080, the system is massively over-provisioned, with the Low preset hitting an average of 214 FPS. This high frame rate at 1080p suggests that the CPU is doing the heavy lifting, as the GPU has plenty of headroom to render frames quickly. Moving up to 2560x1440, we see a significant drop, but the averages remain exceptionally high, with the Low preset still delivering 149 FPS. The most dramatic shift occurs when jumping from 1440p to 4K, where the load clearly transfers to the GPU. At 3840x2160, the average FPS at Low settings falls to 89, which is a substantial 40% decrease from the 1440p result.

This scaling behavior indicates that the limiting component changes with resolution. At 1080p and 1440p, the high frame rates are likely constrained by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with draw calls, especially on the Zen 5 architecture's 6 cores. However, at 4K, the pixel throughput demands of the RTX 3070 Ti become the primary bottleneck. The difference between 1440p and 4K at the High preset is telling: 106 FPS drops to 63 FPS, a 40.5% reduction. This steep decline underscores that the GPU is fully saturated at 4K, and the performance is now dictated by the graphics card's raw rendering power rather than the processor.

The 1080p to 4K scaling on the Ultra preset further illustrates this point. The average FPS plummets from 98 at 1080p to 68 at 1440p, and finally to 40 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only average below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this combination is not suitable for maximum quality at that resolution. The data shows a system where 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots for high refresh rate gaming, while 4K requires a compromise in settings to achieve smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is the defining component for Greedfall's visual fidelity. Its 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s, which is sufficient for the game's textures and effects at 1440p. The data shows that at 4K, the card's 8 GB frame buffer may become a limiting factor, as the high-resolution textures and post-processing effects can quickly consume available VRAM. However, the benchmark results show playable averages even at 4K with lowered settings, suggesting the memory allocation is manageable.

The card's clock speeds, with a base of 1575 MHz and a boost of 1770 MHz, are typical for the Ampere architecture. These clocks, combined with the 6144 shading units, deliver a raw compute throughput of 21.75 TFLOPS. This raw power is what allows the card to achieve 89 FPS at 4K Low settings. The GPU's percentile rank of 75 places it above the majority of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 29945 puts it in a competitive position. It is a mere 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6800 and 0.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, showing that it sits in a well-contested performance tier.

In Greedfall specifically, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. The transition from 1440p High (106 FPS) to 4K High (63 FPS) represents a 40.5% performance loss, a clear indication that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The card's 8 GB of VRAM is adequate for 1080p and 1440p with all settings maxed, but at 4K Ultra, the combination of resolution and effects likely exceeds the memory capacity, contributing to the low 40 FPS average. This suggests that the RTX 3070 Ti is best utilized at 1440p for a high-refresh experience, or at 4K with settings tuned down to Medium or Low.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, plays a crucial role in ensuring the GPU is fed with data. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz, built on the Zen 5 architecture, provide strong single-threaded performance. This is critical for Greedfall, which, like many Action RPGs, relies heavily on a single main thread for game logic and physics. The CPU's benchmark scores support this, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 1253 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2923, indicating excellent per-core performance.

The CPU's performance in multi-threaded workloads is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17528.5. This ensures that background tasks and the game's secondary threads are handled without issue. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter. The jump from 1080p High (153 FPS) to 1080p Low (214 FPS) is a 39.8% increase, which is far larger than what would be expected from GPU-side changes alone. This indicates that at Low settings, the GPU is rendering frames so quickly that it is waiting on the CPU to process the game state.

The Ryzen 5 9600X's percentile rank of 81 against all CPUs places it in the top fifth of processors. Its average benchmark score of 29713 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE, which has a deltaPct of just 0.2%. This shows that the 9600X's single-thread performance is on par with higher-core-count parts in this specific workload. In Greedfall, this means the 6-core processor is sufficient to drive high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but its 12 threads are not enough to prevent a CPU bottleneck at very high FPS (above 150). The result is that the CPU's role is to keep the GPU busy at lower resolutions, while at 4K, its workload is light enough to become a non-factor.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Greedfall at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only with adjusted settings. The data shows an average of 63 FPS at 4K High and 70 FPS at 4K Medium. However, pushing to 4K Ultra results in a 40 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS target. For a smooth 4K experience, Medium or High presets are recommended.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution is the sweet spot. The data shows an average of 106 FPS on High and 149 FPS on Low settings, which are well-suited for 144Hz displays. At 1080p, the system exceeds 150 FPS on High and reaches 214 FPS on Low, making it ideal for 240Hz panels.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to its direct competitors in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti's average benchmark score of 29945 is effectively tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile, which is just 0.1% faster. It is 0.5% faster than the RTX 2080 Ti and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6800, placing it in a tight performance cluster.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 9600X a bottleneck for the RTX 3070 Ti in this game?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the large FPS gains when lowering settings. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (3dmark single-thread score of 1253) prevents it from becoming a major issue at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the expected performance at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 117 FPS at 1440p Medium, with a minimum of 99 FPS and a maximum of 134 FPS. This indicates a very stable experience with no significant frame drops.

Q: How does the CPU perform in multi-threaded synthetic workloads?

A: The Ryzen 5 9600X achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17528.5 and a Passmark multithread score of 30027. Its performance in 3dmark_16_threads is 7585, showing that its 6 cores and 12 threads are competitive with other mainstream desktop processors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. The Low preset yields an average of 214 FPS, which is the highest recorded average in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 168 FPS, with a minimum of 143 FPS and a maximum of 194 FPS, showing tight frame times. The High preset averages 153 FPS, still well above the 144Hz threshold. The Ultra preset is the only one to drop below 100 FPS, averaging 98 FPS, which is still highly playable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the scores remain impressive. The Low preset averages 149 FPS, a 30.3% drop from 1080p Low, which highlights the increased GPU load. The Medium preset averages 117 FPS, with a minimum of 99 FPS and a maximum of 134 FPS. The High preset averages 106 FPS, which is excellent for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, providing a smooth experience for 60Hz displays but not for high-refresh monitors.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is severely stressed. The Low preset averages 89 FPS, which is the only 4K preset to exceed 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS, placing it right at the edge of playability. The High preset averages 63 FPS, which is playable but with no headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset averages 40 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a consistent experience.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p and 1440p are excellent for high-refresh gaming, while 4K is only viable with settings at Medium or below.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience depends on your display's resolution and refresh rate.

For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual fidelity, as it still averages 98 FPS. This provides a great balance of image quality and performance, ensuring the game looks its best without sacrificing smoothness. The High preset at 153 FPS is preferable for players with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors who prioritize frame rate over maximum quality.

For 2560x1440 displays, the High preset is the best overall choice. It delivers an average of 106 FPS, which is perfect for 100Hz or 144Hz monitors, and it offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium. For those with 60Hz displays, the Ultra preset at 68 FPS is recommended, as it provides the best image quality while staying above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 117 FPS is a good option for high-refresh 1440p monitors, but the visual compromise may not be worth the extra FPS.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point. It averages 70 FPS, which is a smooth experience for most players, and it includes enough visual detail to be immersive. The High preset at 63 FPS is also viable, but it leaves less headroom for frame drops during intense combat. The Low preset at 89 FPS is the best choice for players who want the highest possible frame rate at 4K, but it will noticeably reduce texture quality and draw distances. The Ultra preset should be avoided due to its 40 FPS average, which is below the playable threshold for most users.

In summary, the data suggests that this system is best paired with a 1440p 144Hz monitor, using the High preset, to achieve an optimal balance of visual quality and performance. For 4K, a 60Hz display with Medium settings provides the best playable experience.