Greedfall

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. In the context of Greedfall, an Action RPG that is not traditionally considered a CPU-heavy title, the 5800X sits at the 84th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating strong overall compute capability. Its multi-threaded performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,571, ensures that background tasks and game logic do not create bottlenecks. However, the game’s frame rates across all tested settings and resolutions suggest that the CPU is more than sufficient to feed the GPU.

The relationship between the CPU’s single-thread and multi-thread scores is telling. With a 3DMark single-thread score of 943 and a 3DMark 16-thread score of 7,586, the processor demonstrates a balanced profile. Greedfall’s engine typically leverages a few threads heavily, and the 5800X’s high single-core boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures that the primary game thread runs efficiently. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 277 FPS, a figure that is unlikely to be constrained by an 8-core processor. The CPU’s 32 MB of L3 cache also aids in keeping frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency and improving frame pacing.

Comparatively, the 5800X’s average benchmark score of 27,606 places it within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 (score 27,535) and just 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-13700H (score 27,716). This proximity indicates that Greedfall is not sensitive to the small performance deltas between these CPUs at the tested settings. The data suggests that the CPU role is to provide a stable platform, allowing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER to be the primary determinant of frame rates. The CPU’s 84th percentile ranking also implies that it outperforms the majority of installed processors, making it a capable partner for the GPU in this title.

In practice, the measured FPS at 1080p Ultra (128.6 FPS) versus 4K Ultra (50.7 FPS) shows a clear scaling pattern that points to GPU limitation at higher resolutions. The CPU’s consistent performance across resolutions—where even at 4K Low the system hits 113.9 FPS—confirms that it is not the limiting factor in any scenario. The processor’s 16 threads and high boost clock are sufficient to maintain frame delivery, even when the GPU is saturated at 4K Ultra.

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FAQ

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

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X has an average benchmark score of 27,606. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, scores 27,535, which is a 0.3% difference. The Intel Core i7-13700H scores 27,716, placing it 0.4% ahead, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 27,708, also 0.4% ahead. These deltas are negligible for gaming performance.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking among all tested processors?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X ranks in the 84th percentile among all CPUs in the database. This means it performs better than 84% of tested processors, indicating a high level of overall capability that is well-suited for modern gaming.

Q: At what resolution does the CPU stop being the primary driver of performance in Greedfall?

A: The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 277 FPS, while at 4K Low it drops to 113.9 FPS. This 163.1 FPS drop is far larger than any CPU limitation would cause, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary performance driver as resolution increases. The CPU’s role is consistent across all resolutions.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER in this game?

A: No. The benchmark results show that the system achieves 199.6 FPS at 1080p High and 138.8 FPS at 1440p High. These high frame rates, coupled with the CPU’s 84th percentile ranking, indicate that the CPU does not constrain the GPU in Greedfall at any tested setting.

Q: What is the significance of the 105 TDP for this CPU in gaming workloads?

A: The 105 TDP is a power envelope that the CPU can sustain under load. In Greedfall, the CPU’s workload is moderate, and the 105 TDP allows for sustained boost clocks of up to 4.70 GHz, which helps maintain consistent frame rates without thermal throttling. The data shows stable performance across all resolutions.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance relate to the game’s FPS at 1080p?

A: The 5800X has a 3DMark single-thread score of 943 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3,445. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 277 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests that the CPU’s single-thread performance is more than adequate to handle the game’s primary thread at these frame rates.

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Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Greedfall reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system delivers 277 FPS on Low, 216.2 FPS on Medium, 199.6 FPS on High, and 128.6 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these figures drop to 191.5 FPS (Low), 153.7 FPS (Medium), 138.8 FPS (High), and 87.7 FPS (Ultra). At 4K, the performance falls further to 113.9 FPS (Low), 91.5 FPS (Medium), 81.9 FPS (High), and 50.7 FPS (Ultra).

The percentage drops from 1080p to 4K are substantial. For example, the Low preset drops from 277 FPS to 113.9 FPS, a reduction of 58.9%. The High preset drops from 199.6 FPS to 81.9 FPS, a 59% reduction. The Ultra preset sees the largest relative drop from 128.6 FPS to 50.7 FPS, a 60.6% decrease. These consistent percentage drops across all presets indicate that the scaling is driven by pixel count and GPU fill rate, not by CPU limitations. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates at 1080p would be similar to those at 4K, which is not the case.

The data strongly suggests that the limiting component is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. At 1080p, the GPU has spare capacity, allowing the CPU to push frame rates to 277 FPS. As resolution increases, the GPU’s workload grows, and frame rates drop proportionally. The only scenario where the GPU is clearly saturated is at 4K Ultra, where the frame rate falls to 50.7 FPS. This is a typical pattern for a high-end CPU paired with a high-end GPU, where the GPU becomes the primary determinant of performance at resolutions above 1080p.

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How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER achieves a rank of 293 out of 1,705 tested combos in Greedfall. This places the combo in the top 17.2% of all configurations tested. The high ranking is consistent with the CPU’s 84th percentile and the GPU’s 84th percentile, indicating that both components are well-matched for this title.

The combo’s rank of 293 suggests that there are 292 other configurations that deliver higher average frame rates in this game. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo is capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 4K High (81.9 FPS) and 1440p Ultra (87.7 FPS), which is a strong result for a demanding resolution. The rank is influenced by the fact that Greedfall is not a heavily optimized title, and the combination of a strong CPU and a strong GPU still yields excellent performance.

The nearest rival GPUs to the RTX 4070 SUPER include the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (score 42,653, 0.2% higher) and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (score 42,723, 0.3% higher). The CPU’s nearest rivals show very similar average scores, with the Ryzen 7 5800 being 0.3% slower. This proximity means that small changes in either component would not significantly alter the combo’s rank in this game. The data indicates that the combo is well-balanced, with neither component dragging down the overall ranking.

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Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. On Low settings, the average FPS is 277. Moving to Medium, the average FPS drops to 216.2, a 21.9% reduction. High settings yield 199.6 FPS, which is 27.9% lower than Low. Ultra settings produce 128.6 FPS, a 53.6% reduction from Low. These figures show that the GPU has significant headroom at 1080p, allowing the CPU to drive very high frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings produce 191.5 FPS, which is 30.9% lower than the 1080p Low result. Medium settings yield 153.7 FPS, a 28.9% drop from the 1080p Medium figure. High settings deliver 138.8 FPS, a 30.4% reduction from 1080p High. Ultra settings result in 87.7 FPS, a 31.8% drop from 1080p Ultra. The consistent 30% reduction across presets indicates that the GPU is becoming more constrained at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are the lowest. Low settings produce 113.9 FPS, which is 58.9% lower than the 1080p Low result. Medium settings yield 91.5 FPS, a 57.7% drop from 1080p Medium. High settings deliver 81.9 FPS, a 59.0% reduction from 1080p High. Ultra settings result in 50.7 FPS, a 60.6% drop from 1080p Ultra. The percentage drops are consistent across all settings, confirming that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K.

The data shows a clear progression: 1080p offers the highest frame rates, 1440p offers a substantial but playable reduction, and 4K drops below 60 FPS only at Ultra settings. The 4K Low result of 113.9 FPS remains very playable, indicating that the combo can handle 4K with reduced settings.

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Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but the High preset (199.6 FPS) offers a strong balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset (128.6 FPS) is also viable, but the 71 FPS difference between High and Ultra is substantial for a marginal visual improvement. For players with high-refresh-rate monitors, Low (277 FPS) or Medium (216.2 FPS) will maximize frame rates, but High is the recommended sweet spot.

At 1440p, the High preset (138.8 FPS) is the best choice for most users. It provides a smooth experience well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset (87.7 FPS) is also playable, but the 51.1 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not be worth the graphical gains. Medium (153.7 FPS) and Low (191.5 FPS) are options for those prioritizing frame rate over visuals, but the High preset offers the best overall balance.

At 4K, the Ultra preset (50.7 FPS) falls below 60 FPS, which may be a concern for some players. The High preset (81.9 FPS) is the recommended choice, as it maintains a playable frame rate well above 60 FPS while still providing high-quality visuals. The Medium preset (91.5 FPS) offers additional headroom, and Low (113.9 FPS) is the best option for those who want to maximize frame rates at 4K. The data indicates that High is the optimal setting for a 4K experience, as it provides a 61.5% increase in frame rate over Ultra while retaining most of the visual fidelity.