Greedfall

Greedfall, an Action RPG released on September 9, 2019, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics hardware. The tested configuration pairs the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X with the Intel Arc B390. The data for this combo shows that the system's overall position in the database is quite low, ranking at 2595 out of 2938 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 12% of results. This pairing yields performance that is primarily constrained by the graphics solution, as the CPU provides a solid foundation but the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates at most settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, and its 32 MB of L3 cache is a significant asset for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15476, while its single-core performance is also robust, scoring 1574.5 in the same test. The 3DMark results show a clear scaling from 2 threads (score of 1846) up to 16 threads (score of 7586), indicating that the processor can effectively utilize its full thread count when the game engine demands it.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 5800X is more than capable of handling this task, as benchmark results show its average score of 29123 places it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. This means it outperforms the vast majority of processors in the database. When compared to its nearest rivals, it is virtually tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, which has an average score of 29093, a difference of only 0.1%. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT is a close competitor as well, with a score of 28940, putting the 5800X ahead by 0.6%.

Given these results, the bottleneck in this system is unlikely to be the CPU. The processor’s high single-thread score of 2032 in Geekbench is particularly relevant for Greedfall, a game that frequently relies on a few primary threads for simulation and AI. The 5800X’s ability to deliver high performance on 2 to 4 threads, as shown by its 3DMark scores of 1846 and 3543 respectively, ensures that the game's critical paths are processed quickly. In essence, the CPU provides ample headroom, meaning that frame rate fluctuations observed in the measured FPS data are more likely to stem from the graphics card's limitations rather than processor stalls.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and Intel Arc B390 places this configuration at rank 2595 out of 2938 tested combos in the database for Greedfall. This is a very low ranking, placing the system in the bottom 11.7% of all tested hardware pairings. This position indicates that while the CPU is a high-end part, the GPU is severely limiting the overall gaming experience, preventing the system from achieving frame rates comparable to more balanced configurations.

The stark contrast between the CPU and GPU performance is the defining feature of this combo. The processor’s 81st percentile ranking highlights its capability, but the graphics card's 9th percentile ranking drags the entire system down. This extreme imbalance means that the measured frame rates are almost entirely a function of the GPU’s rendering power. For a player, this means that upgrading the CPU alone would yield no tangible benefit in this game, as the Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance ceiling. The data shows that this is a system where the processor is overqualified for the graphics solution, resulting in a combination that underperforms relative to what the CPU alone can offer.

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X compare to its closest rival in terms of overall CPU benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X has an average benchmark score of 29123, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H's score of 29093. It is also 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT, which scores 28940.

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Greedfall?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 84 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. At High settings for the same resolution, the average FPS drops to 60.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B390 perform better than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX?

A: Yes, the Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's score of 1463. The benchmark data indicates the Arc B390 is more capable.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X a high-performance processor for gaming?

A: Yes, its benchmark scores indicate strong performance. It earns a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15476 and a single-core score of 1574.5, and it is placed in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it outperforms most processors in the database.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low settings is 58, while on Ultra settings it drops to 27. This represents a significant decrease of 31 FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS is 16, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This makes the game unplayable at that configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Greedfall reveals a consistent pattern of performance scaling across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves playable frame rates at lower presets. The Low settings produce an average of 84 FPS, which is excellent for competitive or smooth gameplay. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 76 FPS, indicating some frame pacing variance. High settings yield an average of 60 FPS, which is still acceptable for most players. However, the Ultra preset sees a substantial drop to an average of 38 FPS, making it a less desirable option for a consistent experience.

At 2560x1440, the demands on the Intel Arc B390 become more apparent. The Low settings still provide a playable average of 58 FPS. The Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and maximum of 53. High settings average 42 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls to an average of 27 FPS, which is quite low and would likely result in noticeable stuttering.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is severely overtaxed. The Low settings average only 35 FPS. Medium settings are slightly lower at 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and maximum of 32. High settings manage an average of 25 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst performer, with an average of just 16 FPS, rendering the game effectively unplayable at this setting. The data clearly shows that the Arc B390 is not suited for 4K gaming, even at the lowest graphical presets, as it cannot maintain a stable 30 FPS.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting factor in this configuration. This integrated GPU, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and a 3 nm process node, has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent." This is a fundamental design constraint, as the GPU's performance is heavily influenced by the speed and latency of the system memory, which is typically much slower than dedicated VRAM.

The GPU's compute specifications show that it has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its theoretical performance is listed as 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS for FP16, but these figures do not translate into real-world gaming performance. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scored a mere 1482 points, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, indicating that its rendering capabilities are far below average.

The performance gap is clear when comparing it to its nearest rivals. The Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score of 1463), a legacy entry-level card. It is 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (score of 1446) and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710 (score of 1443). These are all very old, low-end GPUs, which illustrates that the Arc B390’s performance is closer to that of a decade-old entry-level solution than a modern gaming card. This explains why the measured frame rates in Greedfall are so low, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal gaming experience with this hardware is achieved by prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. The 1920x1080 resolution is the only one where this system can deliver consistently smooth gameplay. At this resolution, the Low preset provides the best performance with an average of 84 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience. The Medium preset is also a viable option, offering an average of 66 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for most players and provides a better visual balance.

The High preset at 1920x1080 averages 60 FPS, which is acceptable but puts the system right on the edge. For a more stable frame rate, the Medium preset is recommended over High, as it provides a higher average and a higher minimum (56 FPS) compared to the High preset's unspecified minimum. The Ultra preset at 1080p should be avoided, as the average of 38 FPS is too low for a comfortable experience, and the visual gains do not justify the significant performance hit.

For 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a consistently playable frame rate, with an average of 58 FPS. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, which may be tolerable for some, but the minimum of 39 FPS could lead to noticeable dips. At 3840x2160, none of the settings provide a playable experience, with the highest average being only 35 FPS on Low. Therefore, the best course of action is to run the game at 1080p with Medium settings, which offers a good compromise between visual quality and performance, ensuring a smooth experience without the need to compromise too heavily on graphical details.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a steep performance drop as resolution increases, which is a clear indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average FPS drops from 60 to 42, a reduction of 30%. This is a significant hit, but the frame rate remains somewhat playable. However, when moving to 3840x2160, the average FPS at High settings falls to 25, which is a 58% decrease from the 1080p result and a 40% decrease from the 1440p result.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 84 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p (a 31% drop), and then to 35 at 4K (a 58% drop from 1440p). This scaling behavior is typical of a system where the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are insufficient for higher resolutions. The CPU's performance is not the bottleneck here, as its scores are high and its capabilities are well-documented.

The resolution scaling analysis confirms that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary constraint. The processor is delivering frames as fast as it can, but the GPU simply cannot render them at higher resolutions. The frame rate drop is not linear; it accelerates as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU that is running out of fillrate and memory bandwidth. To improve performance, the only effective change is to lower the resolution or significantly reduce the graphical settings to alleviate the load on the GPU. The CPU has ample headroom, and no amount of CPU tuning will overcome the fundamental limitations of the graphics processor in this pairing.