Greedfall

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) and manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, with a 120 W TDP. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 pool is particularly relevant for gaming workloads, where repeated data access patterns benefit from the high-capacity cache.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 9800X3D demonstrates strong multi-threaded scaling. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 34004, while the single-core score is 4800. The Geekbench multi-core result is 18413, with a single-core score of 3341. The 3DMark suite shows a progression from 1212 in single-thread testing to 8252 in 8-thread and 10067 in max-thread workloads, indicating that the processor maintains efficiency as thread counts increase. The PassMark multi-thread score is 40009, with a single-thread score of 4430.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the 9800X3D is essentially tied at the top of its segment. It sits 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon 6353P (deltaPct -0.1) and 0.1% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 225. It trails the Intel Core i9-13900HK and Intel Core i5-13600KF by 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively. These deltas are within the noise of typical benchmark variation, meaning the 9800X3D's CPU-side performance is not a differentiator when paired with the RTX 3070 in Greedfall — the processor is not the bottleneck at most settings.

The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 90, placing it in the top decile of processors. This is consistent with its measured average benchmark score of 37780, which is nearly identical to the rival scores listed above. For Greedfall, an Action RPG released in 2019, the game's engine is not particularly demanding on multi-core processors; the 8-core/16-thread configuration is more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The high single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 4800) ensures that the game's primary simulation thread — often a limiting factor in RPGs — is handled with ample headroom.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the measured average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 147.2 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and indicates a smooth experience at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D scores 34004 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its closest rival, the Intel Xeon 6353P, is only 0.1% faster in average benchmark score (37811 vs 37780). This is a negligible difference, effectively making them performance equals in CPU-bound tasks.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile rank among all GPUs, and what does that imply for gaming?

A: The RTX 3070 has a percentile rank of 72, meaning it outperforms 72% of all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 28238, which places it in the upper-midrange tier, capable of high-refresh 1080p and solid 1440p gaming.

Q: At what resolution and settings does the combo dip below 60 FPS?

A: The only measured configuration below 60 FPS is at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 38.0. All other tested settings at 4K (High: 60.5, Medium: 65.0, Low: 84.9) stay above the 60 FPS line.

Q: How does the GPU's DirectX 12 performance compare to its DirectX 11 performance?

A: In PassMark testing, the RTX 3070 scores 85 in DirectX 12 and 182 in DirectX 11. This suggests the card has stronger legacy DirectX 11 throughput, which is relevant for Greedfall if the game uses an older API path.

Q: What is the CPU's launch MSRP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a launch MSRP of $479.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 147.2 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average drops to 102.7 FPS — a 30.2% reduction in frame rate. At 3840x2160, the average falls to 60.5 FPS, which is a further 41.1% drop from 1440p. This steep decline as resolution increases is the hallmark of a system where the GPU is the primary limiting factor.

The Low settings row reinforces this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 202.2 FPS, which is far beyond what most displays can refresh. At 1440p Low, it drops to 139.5 FPS, and at 4K Low, it still manages 84.9 FPS. The fact that even at Low settings the frame rate scales down with resolution indicates that the GPU's pixel throughput — its 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 20.31 TFLOPS FP32 compute — is what determines the ceiling. The CPU, with its 8 cores and high single-thread score, is not saturating at these frame rates.

For Ultra settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 93.2 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it falls to 67.3 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it collapses to 38.0 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is a 59.2% drop from 1080p Ultra, which shows that the RTX 3070's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus are insufficient for the highest preset at 4K. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s becomes a constraint when texture and shading demands increase at Ultra settings.

This data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any tested configuration. Even at 1080p Low, where the frame rate exceeds 200 FPS, the 9800X3D's single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 4800) is sufficient to avoid limiting the GPU. The system behaves as a GPU-bound pairing, with the RTX 3070's capabilities defining the playable envelope.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 achieves a rank of 789 out of 1705 tested combinations in Greedfall. This places it in the 46.3rd percentile of all combos — slightly below the midpoint of the database. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual component strengths: the CPU is in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. The discrepancy suggests that Greedfall's performance is heavily weighted toward GPU capabilities, and the RTX 3070's mid-range position drags the overall combo ranking down.

The combo rank of 789 means that 916 other combinations deliver higher average FPS in this game. Those higher-ranked combos almost certainly feature faster GPUs (e.g., RTX 3080 or better), since the CPU is already near the top of its class. The 9800X3D's performance headroom is evidenced by its benchmark scores being within 0.7% of its nearest rivals, meaning any difference in combo rank is attributable to the GPU, not the processor.

For context, the GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (0.9% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (1% faster), and the AMD FirePro S7150 (0.6% slower). These deltas are small, but the RTX 3070's percentile rank of 72 indicates that many GPUs outperform it. The combo rank reflects this reality: it is a competent mid-to-high-end pairing, but not a top-tier configuration for Greedfall.

The data shows that the combo's measured average FPS at 1440p High (102.7) and 1080p High (147.2) are strong results, but the 4K Ultra performance (38.0 FPS) is below the 60 FPS playability threshold. This mix of strengths and weaknesses places the combo in the middle of the pack, where it competes with other RTX 3070-based systems.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS rows provide a clear picture of where this combo delivers the best balance of visual quality and performance. Starting at 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 93.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the highest visual fidelity. The High preset at 1080p achieves 147.2 FPS, which is a significant jump but comes with slightly reduced settings. For most users, Ultra at 1080p is the recommended choice because it maintains a smooth frame rate while maximizing graphical detail.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more nuanced. The High preset averages 102.7 FPS, which is excellent for a 27-inch monitor or similar display. The Ultra preset drops to 67.3 FPS, which is still playable but approaches the edge of the 60 FPS comfort zone. The Medium preset (114.5 FPS) offers a middle ground, but High provides a better visual experience with a 10.3% FPS penalty compared to Medium. The recommended preset at 1440p is High, as it delivers a frame rate that comfortably exceeds 100 FPS while retaining most of the game's visual enhancements.

For 4K, the options are more constrained. The High preset averages 60.5 FPS, which is right at the 60 FPS target — adequate but with little headroom for demanding scenes. The Medium preset (65.0 FPS) offers a slight safety margin, while the Low preset (84.9 FPS) provides a significantly smoother experience at the cost of visual quality. The Ultra preset (38.0 FPS) is not recommended for 4K, as it falls well below the playability threshold. The data indicates that High or Medium are the best choices at 4K, with High being preferable if the user accepts occasional dips below 60 FPS.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset consistently delivers the highest frame rates (202.2 FPS at 1080p, 139.5 FPS at 1440p, 84.9 FPS at 4K), but these come with substantial graphical reductions that are unnecessary given the combo's capabilities. The sweet spot is High settings at 1440p, which offers a 102.7 FPS average — a balance that leverages the RTX 3070's strengths without overstressing its 8 GB memory buffer. For users prioritizing frame rate above all else, the Medium preset at 1080p (158.5 FPS) or 1440p (114.5 FPS) provides excellent responsiveness with moderate visual fidelity.