Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG from Spiders, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, utilizing measured frame rate data to interpret the balance between the CPU and GPU across a range of settings. The data reveals a configuration that is capable of delivering smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, but which encounters limitations at 4K, particularly with the highest quality settings. The following sections break down the resolution scaling, frame rate figures, and the specific roles played by each component in this benchmark.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the transition from 1080p to 1440p results in an average frame rate drop from 114 FPS to 79 FPS, a reduction of approximately 30%. Moving from 1440p to 4K at the same High preset sees a further decline, with the average FPS falling from 79 to 47, which is another significant reduction of roughly 40%. This trend indicates that the rendering load on the GPU is scaling steeply with the pixel count, a characteristic typical of modern game engines.

This pattern is consistent across all four tested presets. With Low settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 160, which falls to 111 at 1440p and then to 66 at 4K. Medium settings show a similar trajectory, starting at 126 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 87 FPS at 1440p, and finally reaching 52 FPS at 4K. The most demanding preset, Ultra, yields 73 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and only 30 FPS at 4K. The consistent and substantial drops at each step up in resolution strongly suggest that the GPU is the primary limiting component in this configuration. The RTX 5050, with its 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus, is being tasked with an increasing number of pixels, and the frame rate suffers accordingly.

The relationship between resolution and frame rate is not linear, indicating a growing burden on the graphics processor. For instance, the gap between 1080p and 1440p performance is larger than the gap between 1440p and 4K in percentage terms for some presets, but the overall trend is unmistakable. The data implies that at 1080p, the system has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates, but as the resolution climbs, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become increasingly saturated. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU's capabilities are not the primary constraint on performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with the High preset?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination produces an average of 114 FPS in Greedfall at 1920x1080 with the High preset.

Q: How does the performance at 4K Ultra compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 30 FPS, whereas at 1080p Ultra, the average is 73 FPS. This represents a substantial performance drop of over half when moving to the higher resolution.

Q: Is the system capable of running Greedfall at 1440p with a 60 FPS average?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 2560x1440 with the High preset, the average FPS is 79, and with the Medium preset, it is 87. Both of these exceed the 60 FPS threshold, indicating smooth gameplay is achievable at this resolution.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 30 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with the Ultra settings preset.

Q: Does the system achieve a 144 FPS average at any tested configuration?

A: No. The highest average frame rate recorded is 160 FPS at 1080p with Low settings. The closest to 144 FPS is the 126 FPS average at 1080p with Medium settings, which has a maximum FPS of 144.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 111 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 50 FPS. This shows a performance cost of 61 FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Greedfall, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 holds the rank of 1776 out of 2938 total combos. This places the configuration in the 60th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a majority of other combinations but is not near the top of the performance charts. This ranking is a holistic measure that considers performance across various resolutions and settings, providing a single data point for overall capability.

The rank reflects a system that is competent for this game but not exceptional in the grand scheme of tested hardware. It is positioned in the upper-middle tier, suggesting that while it can handle the game, there are many other combinations that deliver higher frame rates. The percentile ranking of the CPU is 86, indicating it is a high-performing processor relative to all other CPUs in the database. The GPU's percentile is lower at 66, which suggests that the graphics card is more of a limiting factor in this pairing than the processor. This aligns with the resolution scaling data, which points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck.

The rank of 1776 out of 2938 combos can be interpreted as a solid mid-pack result. It indicates a balanced system where the CPU is strong enough to support the GPU without holding it back, but the overall performance is capped by the RTX 5050's capabilities. When compared to other systems, this combo will deliver playable frame rates at mainstream resolutions, but users seeking the highest possible performance or 4K Ultra settings would need to look at more powerful graphics cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates provides a detailed view of the system's performance landscape. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system shows its strength. The Low preset achieves an average of 160 FPS, while Medium and High presets deliver 126 FPS and 114 FPS, respectively. The Ultra preset, which demands the most from the hardware, still manages an average of 73 FPS. The minimum FPS recorded at this resolution is 107 FPS, which occurs on the Medium preset, indicating that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate does not drop below a smooth threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, a common high-refresh-rate gaming resolution, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 111 FPS, Medium averages 87 FPS, and High averages 79 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 50 FPS, which is playable but not as fluid as the lower presets. The minimum FPS for the Medium preset at this resolution is 74, with a maximum of 100, showing a consistent performance window. At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to 52 FPS. The High preset averages 47 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of just 30 FPS. The minimum FPS for the Medium preset at 4K is 44, with a maximum of 60.

This data paints a comprehensive picture. For a 60 FPS target, the system is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p at most settings. At 4K, only the Low preset comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, while Medium and High settings fall below it. The Ultra preset at 4K is not viable for smooth gameplay, as its average frame rate is below the standard 30 FPS threshold for playability. The measured data shows a clear hierarchy of performance, with resolution having a more significant impact than settings within each resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 plays the central role in this configuration's gaming performance, as evidenced by the significant frame rate swings across different resolutions. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a key factor in the performance at higher resolutions, as the demand for texture data and frame buffer space increases. The 8 GB capacity can become a limiting factor at 4K with high-detail textures, potentially causing performance dips or texture streaming issues.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz, are relatively high, helping to drive its 13.17 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power. This raw compute capability is sufficient for Greedfall at lower resolutions, but the 4K results show that the shading units and ROPs (32 in total) are overwhelmed by the pixel workload. The average frame rate drop from 73 FPS at 1080p Ultra to 30 FPS at 4K Ultra highlights the GPU's struggle to maintain performance as the pixel count quadruples. The RTX 5050's performance percentile of 66 places it in the mid-range of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 21035 is closely matched by rivals such as the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.

The GPU's role is also reflected in its nearest rivals, which include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M. The deltaPct values are small, within 1.6% of the RTX 5050's average score, indicating that its raw compute performance is comparable to these older or lower-tier products. However, in Greedfall, the combination of its memory bandwidth and architecture results in the specific frame rates observed. The data suggests that for this game, the GPU is the definitive performance ceiling, and any increase in resolution or settings directly taxes its resources.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a high-end desktop processor that provides a robust foundation for gaming, but the data indicates it is not the limiting factor in this benchmark. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it offers substantial multi-threaded performance, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20485 and a Passmark multithread score of 37161. Its high single-core performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 3023 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 1280, is crucial for game logic and frame pacing.

The CPU's capabilities are far beyond what Greedfall requires, especially when compared to the GPU's workload. The processor's percentile rank of 86 among all CPUs shows it is a high-tier performer, and its average benchmark score of 37943 places it in close competition with CPUs like the Intel Core i9-14901E and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with delta percentages of only 0.1%. This indicates that the 9700X can feed the RTX 5050 with data without creating a bottleneck, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential.

The CPU's role is to prepare frames and handle game simulation, which it does with significant headroom. Evidence of this is that the frame rate scales almost entirely with resolution and GPU settings, rather than CPU load. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's work would be the limiting factor. Instead, we see a dramatic drop in FPS as resolution increases, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's rendering workload. Therefore, the Ryzen 7 9700X is a supporting component here, providing a stable and fast platform for the RTX 5050 to deliver its best performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is viable, with an average of 73 FPS. However, for users with a 144 Hz or higher refresh rate monitor, the Medium preset is more appropriate, as it delivers an average of 126 FPS with a maximum of 144 FPS, ensuring the display's capabilities are fully utilized. The High preset also provides a good balance at 114 FPS, but Medium offers a significant frame rate boost for a modest visual compromise.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice for a smooth experience, providing an average of 79 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Medium preset is also excellent, with an average of 87 FPS, and it may be preferable for those who prioritize higher frame rates over slight visual improvements. The Ultra preset at 1440p, averaging 50 FPS, is playable but may not be smooth enough for all users; it is best reserved for players who value image quality above all else and can tolerate a lower frame rate.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests that this configuration is not ideal for high-quality settings. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset, at 52 FPS, is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets, at 47 FPS and 30 FPS respectively, fall below the standard for smooth gameplay. For the best experience at 4K, users should select the Low preset to maintain a playable frame rate, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a significant improvement in visual fluidity. The Medium preset at 4K, with a minimum FPS of 44, may result in noticeable stuttering in demanding scenes, making the Low preset the safest choice for a consistent experience.