Greedfall

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 in Greedfall presents a classic high-resolution GPU-bound scenario. The 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, base clocked at 3.60 GHz and boosting to 4.40 GHz. Its 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide a solid foundation for gaming, but its age relative to the RTX 4090 is apparent in the benchmark results. The processor's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19087 and single-core score of 2694 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a capable chip, yet its nearest rivals—such as the Intel Core i5-12600 with a deltaPct of -0.1—show that performance is tightly clustered around this tier.

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

The Ryzen 7 3700X's 8-core, 16-thread configuration is more than sufficient for Greedfall's engine, which is an Action RPG from 2019. The game does not appear to be heavily multithreaded, as evidenced by the frame rates scaling more with resolution than with CPU load. At 1080p, the CPU must feed frames quickly, and the 3700X manages this admirably, but the RTX 4090 is clearly the bottleneck at lower resolutions. The processor's boost clock of 4.40 GHz is modest by modern standards, and its single-thread performance, while respectable, limits the absolute maximum frame rate in CPU-limited scenarios. However, the data shows that at 1440p and 4K, the GPU takes over as the primary limiter, and the 3700X's 32 MB of L3 cache helps maintain consistent frame pacing. The processor's TDP of 65 W and 7 nm process node from TSMC mean it runs cool, but its performance ceiling is reached at 1080p with Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 158.3, suggesting the CPU is struggling to keep up with the RTX 4090's raw power.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of tested configurations, this combo ranks 69th out of 1705 combinations, placing it in the top 4% of all tested systems. This is a strong showing, but it is not at the very top, which would be dominated by newer, higher-clocked CPUs. The 3700X's percentile rank of 85 versus all CPUs, combined with the RTX 4090's 91st percentile ranking, means this setup is well above average. The nearest CPU rivals—the Intel Core i5-12600 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT—have average scores within 0.1% of the 3700X, indicating that in synthetic benchmarks, these processors are nearly identical. However, in Greedfall, the combo's rank of 69 suggests that the 3700X is holding back the RTX 4090 slightly, as newer CPUs with higher single-thread scores would likely push this combo higher. The data indicates that the 3700X is not a bottleneck at 4K, but at 1080p, it limits the RTX 4090 from reaching its full potential.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 295.4 FPS, but at 1440p Low, it drops to 244 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 143.6 FPS. This represents a 51% drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a typical signature of a GPU-limited scenario. The RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are being utilized heavily at higher resolutions. Conversely, at Ultra settings, the drop from 1080p to 4K is from 158.3 FPS to 64.9 FPS, a 59% decrease. This larger percentage drop at Ultra settings indicates that the GPU is working harder with more complex shaders and effects. The 3700X's role becomes less significant as resolution increases; at 4K, the CPU is barely stressed, as the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The data shows that the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K, with the crossover point occurring somewhere between 1080p and 1440p.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 295.4 FPS, Medium yields 272.6 FPS, High drops to 251.4 FPS, and Ultra falls to 158.3 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is significant, a 37% reduction, indicating that Ultra settings introduce heavy effects that tax the CPU. At 2560x1440, the frame rates are still excellent: Low hits 244 FPS, Medium 192 FPS, High 173 FPS, and Ultra 114.2 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is 28%, showing that the GPU is starting to become more involved. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are more moderate: Low averages 143.6 FPS, Medium 115.8 FPS, High 105.5 FPS, and Ultra 64.9 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only one below 60 FPS, and it is noticeably lower than the 1440p Ultra score of 114.2 FPS, a 43% reduction. This suggests that the RTX 4090 is powerful, but 4K Ultra in Greedfall is demanding, and the 3700X's single-thread performance may contribute to the lower-than-expected result.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high frame rates?

A: Based on the data, 1440p is the sweet spot. At 1440p High, the combo averages 173 FPS, and even at Ultra, it maintains 114.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. 4K is playable, but Ultra settings drop to 64.9 FPS, which is close to the margin.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p compared to 4K?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is more of a limiting factor, as seen in the 158.3 FPS Ultra result versus the 295.4 FPS Low result. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, with the CPU having less impact on frame rates.

Q: Which settings preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: At 1440p, the High preset at 173 FPS offers a great balance. At 4K, the High preset at 105.5 FPS is preferable over Ultra, which drops to 64.9 FPS, providing a smoother experience with minimal visual loss.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 being fully utilized with the Ryzen 7 3700X?

A: The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU limits the GPU, as frame rates are lower than what the RTX 4090 could achieve with a faster CPU. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU is more fully utilized, as evidenced by the scaling patterns.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, Low settings average 143.6 FPS, while Ultra settings average 64.9 FPS. This is a 78.7 FPS difference, indicating that Ultra settings are significantly more demanding on the GPU.

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

A: The combo ranks 69th out of 1705 tested combos, placing it in the top 4%. This is a strong result, but the CPU's age means it does not reach the top tier, which would require a newer processor.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, prioritize 1440p with the High preset. At 2560x1440, High settings yield 173 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed, while Ultra at 114.2 FPS is also acceptable. If playing at 4K, the High preset at 105.5 FPS is the recommended choice, as it stays well above 60 FPS and avoids the significant performance hit of Ultra, which drops to 64.9 FPS. At 1080p, the High preset at 251.4 FPS is excellent, but the Ultra preset at 158.3 FPS still provides a high refresh rate experience. The data indicates that Medium settings offer diminishing returns, with only a 21 FPS difference between Medium and High at 1440p, so High is the better value. For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p provide 295.4 FPS, but this sacrifices visual fidelity. Ultimately, the High preset at 1440p is the most balanced option, delivering high frame rates without compromising visual quality.