Greedfall

Greedfall, an Action RPG from 2019, places significant demands on the graphics subsystem, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT with the Intel Arc B370 illustrates a severe bottleneck. The benchmark data shows a system where the integrated-class GPU is the primary limiting factor across all resolutions and settings, with the capable eight-core processor largely underutilized in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system produces an average of 54 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same High preset drops the average to 38 FPS, a reduction of 16 FPS or approximately 30%. The jump to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average falling to 22 FPS, which is a further 42% decrease from the 1440p result. This progressive decline is not linear; it accelerates at higher resolutions, which points directly at the fill-rate and memory bandwidth limitations of the Intel Arc B370.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the system achieves 76 FPS at 1080p, but this plummets to 53 FPS at 1440p and then to 31 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at Low settings represents a 41% performance hit. This pattern strongly suggests that the limiting component is the GPU's rendering throughput, not the CPU. A system limited by the processor would show much smaller FPS deltas between resolutions, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's pixel-pushing duties increase exponentially.

The data indicates that 1080p is the only viable resolution for this combo, and even then, achieving high frame rates requires sacrificing visual fidelity. The 4K results, with a maximum average of just 31 FPS at Low settings, are below playable thresholds for most users. The resolution scaling behavior confirms that the Intel Arc B370, with its 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs, is fundamentally underpowered for Greedfall's demands at higher resolutions. The system is firmly in "esports" territory for this game, where lowering resolution and settings is mandatory to achieve smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive component in this configuration. Its benchmark profile is minimal, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This score is remarkably close to its nearest rivals, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), which are legacy parts from a different era. The B370's performance class is clearly at the entry-level, and its integrated nature (IGP) is a significant handicap for a demanding title like Greedfall.

The GPU's specifications reinforce this assessment. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, but its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on system RAM for graphics memory. This architecture is inherently bandwidth-limited compared to dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means performance can vary wildly based on the system's RAM configuration. In this case, the Ryzen 7 5800XT supports DDR4 memory with a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, which is shared between the CPU and GPU, creating a potential bottleneck.

With 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, the B370's raw processing power is limited. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are modest figures that explain the significant FPS drops at 4K. The GPU's FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, which is low by modern standards. The benchmark results show that this GPU struggles to maintain 30 FPS at 1080p with High settings (54 FPS average), and the situation deteriorates rapidly. The 14 FPS average at 4K Ultra is a direct consequence of the GPU being overwhelmed by the pixel count and shader complexity, confirming that the B370 is the primary bottleneck in this pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2699 out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This is a very low ranking, and it is almost entirely attributable to the GPU. The CPU, by contrast, is a high-performing part; its average benchmark score of 29879 places it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. This stark contrast between a top-tier CPU and a bottom-tier GPU creates an extreme imbalance that is reflected in the combo's poor in-game ranking.

The data shows that this pairing is severely bottlenecked by the graphics card. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (29868, 0.0% delta) and AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (29713, +0.6% delta), have similar average scores, yet the in-game performance would be vastly different if paired with a more capable GPU. The combo's rank is determined by the actual measured FPS, which is limited by the B370. This ranking serves as a warning that a powerful CPU cannot compensate for an underpowered GPU in a GPU-intensive game like Greedfall. The system is effectively wasting the potential of the Ryzen 7 5800XT, as the GPU is unable to feed frames fast enough to utilize the CPU's processing power.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal setting for this combo is a balance between visual quality and playability. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 76 FPS, which is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p produces 60 FPS, which is playable but may experience dips, as indicated by the min FPS of 51. The High preset at 1080p drops to 54 FPS, which is still reasonably playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

For a more visually appealing experience, the Medium preset at 1080p is the recommended choice. It provides a 60 FPS average, which is the standard for smooth gameplay, and the minimum FPS of 51 suggests that it will stay within a playable range. The High preset at 1080p (54 FPS) is a viable alternative if the user prioritizes visuals over a guaranteed 60 FPS. However, the Ultra preset at 1080p is not recommended, as the average FPS drops to 35, which is a significant step down and likely to be a jarring experience.

At 2560x1440, the only acceptable setting is Low, which produces 53 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p (41 FPS) is borderline, and High (38 FPS) and Ultra (24 FPS) are too slow for a smooth experience. All 4K presets are effectively unplayable, with the highest average being 31 FPS at Low settings. The data clearly shows that the user should stick to 1080p with Medium or High settings to get the best experience. Pushing to a higher resolution results in a disproportionate loss of performance, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Greedfall with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 35 at Ultra to 76 at Low. Moving to 2560x1440 drops the maximum average to 53 FPS (Low), and 3840x2160 results in a maximum average of just 31 FPS (Low), making it unplayable.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT or the Intel Arc B370 the bottleneck?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck. The GPU's performance is in the 5th percentile, and its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. The CPU, on the other hand, is in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. The steep FPS drops with increasing resolution are characteristic of a GPU-bound system, confirming the graphics card is the limiting factor.

Q: Can I achieve a stable 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Yes, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 76 FPS. At Medium settings, the average is exactly 60 FPS, though the minimum FPS is 51, so there may be occasional dips below 60. The High preset averages 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1184. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186 (-0.2% delta) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1190 (-0.5% delta). This places the B370 in the same performance class as these older, entry-level GPUs.

Q: What is the performance at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The measured data shows an average FPS of 14 at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset. This is far below any playable threshold and indicates that the GPU is completely overwhelmed at this resolution and settings combination. The 4K resolution is not viable for this game with this hardware.

Q: Is the CPU's performance affecting the game's FPS?

A: The CPU is a high-end part, but the data suggests its performance is not the limiting factor. The FPS scales dramatically with resolution, which is a sign of a GPU bottleneck. The Ryzen 7 5800XT is likely capable of much higher frame rates if paired with a more powerful GPU, but the Intel Arc B370 prevents it from reaching its potential in this title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a high-performance desktop processor, built on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer) using a 7 nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This configuration is well-suited for modern gaming, and its benchmark scores reflect its strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 23794 in multi-core and 3359 in single-core, while in PassMark it achieves 28053 in multithread and 3535 in single-thread. These are strong results, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs.

However, in Greedfall, the CPU's role is muted by the GPU's limitations. The CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 959 and PassMark single-thread score of 3535, is more than sufficient for this game's logic. The game's frame rate is constrained by the GPU's ability to render frames, not the CPU's ability to issue draw calls. The data shows that the system is heavily GPU-bound, meaning the CPU is likely idling for a significant portion of the time, waiting for the graphics card to finish its work.

The Ryzen 7 5800XT's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 16 threads provide ample headroom for the game's background tasks and AI. The CPU's memory support for DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is also adequate. The bottleneck is not the CPU's processing power or memory bandwidth but the graphics card's inability to keep up. The CPU's performance is, in effect, being wasted in this configuration, as it could easily drive a much more powerful GPU to produce higher frame rates. The pairing of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is severely unbalanced, and the resulting gameplay experience is far below what the CPU alone is capable of facilitating.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and Intel Arc B370 combination in Greedfall, across all tested resolutions and settings.

1920x1080:

• Ultra: 35 FPS (average)
• High: 54 FPS (average)
• Medium: 60 FPS (average, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS)
• Low: 76 FPS (average)

2560x1440:

• Ultra: 24 FPS (average)
• High: 38 FPS (average)
• Medium: 41 FPS (average, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS)
• Low: 53 FPS (average)

3840x2160:

• Ultra: 14 FPS (average)
• High: 22 FPS (average)
• Medium: 25 FPS (average, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS)
• Low: 31 FPS (average)

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern. At 1080p, the system is capable of providing playable frame rates, especially at Medium and Low settings. The jump to 1440p results in a roughly 30% performance reduction at most settings, and the jump to 4K reduces performance by another 40% or more. The Ultra preset is never playable, with the highest average being 35 FPS at 1080p. This comprehensive breakdown confirms that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting factor and that users will need to prioritize 1080p and lower settings to achieve a smooth experience in Greedfall.