Greedfall

Greedfall is an Action RPG from 2019 that stresses both CPU and GPU depending on the settings and resolution you choose. Testing this title with the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti reveals a system that scales predictably, with the CPU’s strong single-thread performance and the GPU’s ample VRAM and bandwidth determining the final frame rates. The data shows this combo ranks in the 424th position out of 1705 tested combinations, placing it comfortably in the upper quarter of all systems tested for this game.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, drawing a 65W TDP. For a game like Greedfall, which was released well before this CPU’s launch on 2024-08-07, the high boost clock is more critical than the core count. The processor’s single-thread performance is exceptional, as shown by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 1280 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4459. This matters because Greedfall’s game logic and AI routines typically rely on fewer, faster threads rather than massively parallel workloads.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31588 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 17002. In the context of Greedfall, these figures suggest that even if the engine attempts to use additional threads for physics or streaming, the 9700X has ample headroom. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB per-core L2 cache help keep frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency in open-world traversal. The processor’s percentile ranking of 89 among all CPUs confirms it sits near the top tier, and its nearest rivals — the Intel Core i5-14500HX (0.2% faster) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (0.6% faster) — are statistically tied in overall average benchmark scores, meaning the 9700X offers no meaningful disadvantage in CPU-bound scenarios for this title.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with the GA102 chip, fabricated on an 8 nm process. It carries 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is particularly relevant for Greedfall at high resolutions and Ultra settings, where texture detail and draw distances demand larger memory pools. The card’s boost clock of 1665 MHz, combined with 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores, gives it a raw FP32 throughput of 34.10 TFLOPS. The data shows this GPU achieves a passmark G3D score of 26896, with a percentile ranking of 83 among all GPUs.

In Greedfall specifically, the RTX 3080 Ti’s nearest rival is the RTX 3090, which scores only 0.5% higher on average benchmarks — a negligible difference for gameplay. The card’s 12 GB VRAM is sufficient to handle the game’s highest texture packs without hitting memory ceilings, even at 4K resolution. The high memory bandwidth (912.4 GB/s) ensures that texture streaming at high speeds does not become a bottleneck when moving through dense environments. The GPU’s pixel rate of 186.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 532.8 GTexel/s are ample for a 2019 title, meaning the card is rarely the limiting factor until you push to 4K Ultra settings, where the frame rate drops significantly.

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 as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 248.5 FPS, but at 4K with the same Low settings, it drops to 103 FPS — a 58.5% reduction. This steep decline indicates that even at Low settings, the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The CPU’s influence is most apparent at 1080p, where frame rates exceed 200 FPS in Low and Medium settings, demonstrating that the Ryzen 7 9700X can feed the RTX 3080 Ti effectively without bottlenecking.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling. At High settings, the system delivers 124.8 FPS at 1440p but only 74.2 FPS at 4K — a 40.5% drop. At Ultra settings, the drop is similarly steep: from 77.3 FPS at 1440p to 45.3 FPS at 4K, a 41.4% reduction. These consistent drops across settings suggest that the RTX 3080 Ti’s raw compute power, rather than memory bandwidth or CPU throughput, is the limiting factor at 4K. The card’s 12 GB VRAM is not full, but the sheer pixel fill rate required at 3840x2160 overwhelms the GPU’s shading units. In contrast, the jump from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra settings (114.7 FPS to 77.3 FPS) shows a 32.6% reduction, which is proportionally less severe, indicating that the card still has headroom at 1440p for most presets.

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

At 1920x1080, the RTX 3080 Ti delivers excellent performance across all presets. Low settings produce 248.5 FPS, Medium yields 197.1 FPS, High reaches 176.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 114.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 133.8 FPS, showing that the game’s visual effects at 1080p have a significant impact on frame rate, but even the heaviest preset remains well above 100 FPS for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a tighter spread. Low settings achieve 171.9 FPS, Medium records 136.2 FPS, High hits 124.8 FPS, and Ultra falls to 77.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 94.6 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is starting to feel the resolution increase. The 1440p Ultra result of 77.3 FPS is still playable, but it marks the first preset where the card begins to struggle to maintain high refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limits become evident. Low settings yield 103 FPS, Medium produces 83 FPS, High averages 74.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45.3 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 57.7 FPS, but the absolute numbers are much lower. The 4K Ultra result of 45.3 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold, while High settings at 74.2 FPS remain acceptable for a slower-paced RPG. The data clearly shows that 4K requires a compromise: High settings are ideal for balanced visuals and performance, while Ultra is only viable if you accept sub-50 FPS gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X strong enough to avoid bottlenecking the RTX 3080 Ti in Greedfall?

A: Yes. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 9824 and the 3dmark_single_thread score of 1280 indicate the CPU can handle both light and heavy thread workloads. At 1080p Low settings, the system reaches 248.5 FPS, which is well beyond what the GPU can consistently render at higher settings, proving the CPU is not the limiting factor.

Q: Can the RTX 3080 Ti handle 4K Ultra settings in Greedfall?

A: The data shows 45.3 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth play. The card’s 12 GB VRAM and 912.4 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient, but the raw compute power (34.10 TFLOPS) is not enough to maintain high frame rates at this resolution and preset.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 Ti compare to its closest rival, the RTX 3090?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti scores 0.5% lower than the RTX 3090 in average benchmarks, making the two cards effectively identical for Greedfall. This means you should not expect a meaningful performance difference between them in this game.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming with this combo?

A: High settings at 1440p deliver 124.8 FPS, which is excellent for a high-refresh monitor. Ultra settings drop to 77.3 FPS, still playable but with a significant frame rate cost. Medium settings at 136.2 FPS offer a marginal improvement over High, so High is the best balance.

Q: Does the CPU’s 65W TDP limit its performance in long gaming sessions?

A: The data does not include thermal throttling measurements, but the CPU’s boost clock of 5.50 GHz and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31588 suggest it maintains high performance under load. The 65W TDP is low for a desktop CPU, which typically helps with sustained boost clocks.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti’s 12 GB VRAM enough for Greedfall at 4K?

A: Yes. The game’s highest preset (Ultra) at 4K shows 45.3 FPS, and the frame rate drops are due to compute limits, not memory capacity. The 12 GB VRAM with 912.4 GB/s bandwidth is more than adequate for this 2019 title’s texture requirements.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to clear recommendations based on your target resolution and frame rate preference. For 1080p, the system is almost overkill — even Ultra settings at 114.7 FPS are well above the 60 FPS threshold, so you can safely max out the game. The 248.5 FPS result at Low settings is only useful for competitive or high-refresh gameplay, which is not typical for an Action RPG.

For 1440p, High settings at 124.8 FPS provide the best experience, balancing visual fidelity with a frame rate that exceeds most 120Hz monitors. If you have a 144Hz display, Medium at 136.2 FPS gives you a slight edge, but the visual difference between Medium and High in Greedfall is noticeable. Ultra at 77.3 FPS is acceptable for a story-driven game, but the 47.5 FPS drop from High is steep for the added effects.

At 4K, High settings at 74.2 FPS are the recommended choice. This preset maintains a smooth, responsive frame rate while preserving the game’s detailed environments. Medium at 83 FPS is also viable if you prefer a higher frame rate cushion, but Low at 103 FPS sacrifices too much visual quality for a marginal performance gain. Ultra at 45.3 FPS is not recommended unless you prioritize maximum visual fidelity over playability, as the sub-60 FPS average will be noticeable in combat sequences. The data consistently shows that High settings offer the most balanced experience across all three resolutions, making it the default choice for this hardware combination.