Greedfall

AMD Ryzen 7 7700 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a highly playable 1080p experience in Greedfall, though 4K Ultra demands are far beyond this combination's comfort zone. The data shows a system where the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the 8-core CPU provides ample headroom for the game's engine. This analysis breaks down the measured results across three resolutions and four quality presets.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, indicating a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 99 FPS at 1920x1080 to 68 FPS at 2560x1440, a 31% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 41 FPS, which is 59% lower than the 1080p result. This pattern is consistent across all settings, with the gap widening as resolution increases.

At Low settings, the scaling is slightly less aggressive: 138 FPS at 1080p, 96 FPS at 1440p, and 57 FPS at 4K. The 1080p-to-1440p drop is 30%, and the 1080p-to-4K drop is 59%. The consistency of these percentages across presets suggests that the limiting factor shifts entirely to the GPU once resolution climbs, regardless of how much graphical load is reduced. The RTX 2060's 6 GB of VRAM and 336.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth become the bottleneck, as the CPU's workload does not scale with pixel count.

Ultra settings amplify this effect dramatically. At 1080p, Ultra averages 63 FPS, which is 36% lower than High. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 44 FPS, and at 4K, it collapses to 26 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is 59% lower than the 1080p Ultra result, matching the scaling pattern seen elsewhere. This indicates that the RTX 2060 is simply overwhelmed by the combination of 4K pixel throughput and Ultra-level shading complexity, with the 26 FPS average falling below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

The measured data also shows that the frame rate ceiling at 1080p is not CPU-limited. With Low settings producing 138 FPS, there is no indication of a CPU bottleneck, as the Ryzen 7 7700's 16 threads can easily feed frames to the GPU at this level. The scaling curve therefore reflects the GPU's raw throughput capabilities, not any processor constraint.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is a 7000-series desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 4 architecture. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. The processor's benchmark results confirm strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 18760 and a single-core score of 1930. The 3DMark results also show scaling: 8484 with 16 threads, 6933 with 8 threads, and 3931 with 4 threads, indicating efficient thread utilization.

In Greedfall, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 138 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would require solid single-thread performance. The single-core 3DMark score of 1049 and Geekbench single-core score of 2525 suggest the processor can handle the game's game logic and draw call submission without becoming a bottleneck. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache also aids in reducing memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

The 65 W TDP and 5 nm process node from TSMC indicate an efficient processor, but these characteristics have no direct bearing on the measured FPS in this benchmark. The passmark multithread score of 34470 and the average benchmark score of 40081 place it at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, which is a robust result. However, in this specific game, the data shows no scenario where the CPU limits performance, as even the highest FPS at 1080p Low does not show a plateau that would indicate a processor constraint.

Comparing to nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 7700 sits within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, Intel Core 5 221E, and AMD Ryzen 9 270 in average benchmark score. This proximity suggests that for CPU-bound scenarios, swapping to any of these processors would yield negligible FPS differences. But in this game, the GPU is the active constraint, so the CPU's relative ranking among these rivals has little practical impact on the measured results.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It features 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, though Greedfall does not heavily leverage ray tracing. The GPU's base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 1750 MHz, which translates to 14 Gbps effective.

The GPU's benchmark scores show moderate performance relative to its peers. The Passmark G3D score is 14111, with a DirectX 12 score of 53 and a DirectX 11 score of 110. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1242, and the Geekbench Vulkan score is 65846. The GPU sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, AMD Radeon 680M, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, and AMD Radeon RX 7600, all within 0.8% of its score.

In Greedfall, the GPU's 6 GB VRAM is a critical factor. At 4K Ultra, the GPU cannot maintain playable frame rates, averaging only 26 FPS. This suggests that the memory capacity and bandwidth are insufficient for the high-resolution textures and effects. The FPS drop from 1080p High (99 FPS) to 4K High (41 FPS) underscores the GPU's limited rasterization throughput at higher pixel counts. The 201.6 GTexel/s texture rate and 80.64 GPixel/s pixel rate are the theoretical limits that the game's engine approaches at 4K.

The RTX 2060's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) aligns with modern API usage, but the game's performance is not constrained by API compatibility. The measured data shows that at 1440p Medium, the system averages 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, which is a smooth experience. However, at 4K Medium, the average drops to 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, indicating that the GPU is stretched thin. The 6 GB VRAM may also cause texture streaming issues at 4K, as the game's engine tries to load high-resolution assets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2932 out of 3703 tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the lower 21st percentile of all possible pairings, meaning that 79% of tested combinations achieve higher average performance in this game. The rank is primarily driven by the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is well above average in its own benchmarks.

The CPU's strong standing—87th percentile among all CPUs—does not compensate for the GPU's 58th percentile ranking. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where the GPU can maintain high frame rates. At 1440p, the system remains usable with Medium or High settings, but at 4K, only Low settings approach playability (57 FPS average).

Relative to other combos, the 2932 rank suggests that many users with newer GPUs or higher-end cards will outperform this setup. However, the combo's performance is not an outlier; it reflects a mid-range GPU from the previous generation paired with a current-generation mid-range CPU. The CPU's headroom means that upgrading the GPU later would yield significant FPS gains without changing the processor.

The nearest rival GPUs, such as the RTX 3050 OEM and RX 7600, have similar average benchmark scores, so swapping to those cards would produce nearly identical results in this game. The combo's rank is therefore more a function of the GPU class than the specific CPU pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Greedfall?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At High settings, the average FPS is 99, and at Medium it is 109, both well above smooth gameplay thresholds. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 68 on High and 75 on Medium, which is playable but less comfortable. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only reach 57 FPS average.

Q: Can this system run Greedfall at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 57. At Medium settings, the average drops to 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, which may cause stutter. At High and Ultra, the averages are 41 FPS and 26 FPS respectively, which are below the 60 FPS target and not recommended for smooth play.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance in this game?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700 does not appear to limit performance in the measured scenarios. The highest FPS recorded is 138 at 1080p Low, which is a high frame rate that would stress a weaker processor. The CPU's 16 threads and 5.30 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling across settings at the same resolution.

Q: What is the impact of Ultra settings on frame rate?

A: Ultra settings cause a significant performance hit. At 1080p, Ultra averages 63 FPS compared to 99 FPS on High, a 36% reduction. At 1440p, Ultra averages 44 FPS versus 68 on High, and at 4K, Ultra averages 26 FPS versus 41 on High. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM and bandwidth are insufficient for Ultra-level detail at higher resolutions.

Q: How does this combo compare to similar GPU pairings?

A: The RTX 2060's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the GTX 580, Radeon 680M, RTX 3050 OEM, and RX 7600, all within 0.8% of its score. In Greedfall, these GPUs would produce nearly identical FPS results, so the combo rank would be similar. The CPU's performance is not a differentiator here.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium?

A: The measured minimum FPS at 2560x1440 Medium is 64, with an average of 75 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. This indicates that the system can maintain a playable frame rate in most scenes, though there may be occasional dips during intense combat or exploration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This preset yields an average FPS of 109, with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 125, providing a smooth and stable gameplay experience. High settings at 1080p average 99 FPS, which is also excellent, but the slightly lower average and lack of a reported minimum make Medium a safer choice for consistent frame pacing.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings are the recommended choice, as they average 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS. High settings at 1440p average 68 FPS, which is acceptable, but the lower minimum risk makes Medium preferable. Low settings at 1440p average 96 FPS, but the visual quality reduction may not be worth the extra frame rate.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that only Low settings are viable, with an average of 57 FPS. Medium settings at 4K average 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may feel sluggish. Ultra settings should be avoided entirely at 4K, as the 26 FPS average is unplayable. At 1080p, Ultra settings average 63 FPS, which is playable but not recommended over High or Medium given the performance cost.

The best experience per the measured rows is the 1920x1080 Medium preset, which balances visual fidelity with a high average FPS and a respectable minimum FPS. High settings at 1080p are a close second, offering better visuals with a minor FPS trade-off.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured data shows the following: Low settings average 138 FPS, Medium averages 109 FPS with a minimum of 92 and maximum of 125, High averages 99 FPS, and Ultra averages 63 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 54% reduction in average FPS, with the largest single drop occurring between High and Ultra, a 36% decrease.

At 2560x1440, Low settings average 96 FPS, Medium averages 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 and maximum of 87, High averages 68 FPS, and Ultra averages 44 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 54%, with the High to Ultra transition again being the steepest at 35%. The minimum FPS at Medium is 64, which is still within playable range.

At 3840x2160, Low settings average 57 FPS, Medium averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 and maximum of 52, High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 54%, consistent with other resolutions. The minimum FPS at Medium is 38, which is below the 40 FPS threshold for smooth play, indicating that 4K Medium is borderline.

Across all resolutions, the relative performance gap between Low and Ultra remains consistent at approximately 54%, confirming that the GPU is the scaling bottleneck. The CPU's performance does not introduce any variance in this pattern, as the frame rates scale linearly with pixel count and graphics load. The RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are the defining limits, particularly at 4K where the combination of high resolution and Ultra settings pushes the system to its lowest measured performance of 26 FPS.