Greedfall

Greedfall pairs an 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D with a 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, a combination whose benchmark results show a clear split between CPU headroom and GPU limitation. The CPU, built on the Zen 5 architecture and codenamed Granite Ridge, operates with a 4.70 GHz base clock and a 5.60 GHz boost clock, while the GPU, based on the Turing architecture with a TU106 chip, runs at a 1365 MHz base and 1680 MHz boost. Measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal that this system delivers playable performance at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth motion at 4K, particularly under Ultra settings.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D provides substantial processing power for Greedfall, an Action RPG that relies on consistent frame pacing rather than extreme multi-threaded workloads. With 8 cores and 16 threads, the CPU offers enough parallelism to handle the game's background simulation and entity management without becoming a bottleneck. Its 4.70 GHz base clock ensures a solid minimum level of performance, while the 5.60 GHz boost clock allows for rapid single-threaded bursts, which are often critical for game logic and draw call submission. The CPU's L3 cache totals 96 MB (shared), a large pool that helps keep frequently accessed game data close to the cores, potentially reducing memory latency during active gameplay.

Benchmark data indicates the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a high-end part, sitting at the 92nd percentile against all CPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 58386 places it in a tight cluster with several rivals. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (avg score 58323) and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900 (avg score 58115), while trailing the Intel Xeon w5-2545 by 0.2% (avg score 58504) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 by 0.7% (avg score 58826). These marginal differences show the CPU is competitive with top-tier parts, but its role in Greedfall's measured results is secondary. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where CPU load is typically highest relative to GPU work, the system achieves 138 FPS, indicating the processor is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The CPU's strength is further evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22807 and single-core score of 2228, which suggest ample headroom for the game's demands.

The CPU's memory support for DDR5 over a dual-channel bus provides 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for a game released in 2019. The 4 nm process node from TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die, contributes to efficiency that allows the CPU to maintain high clocks without excessive thermal load. However, the measured FPS data shows that changing resolution from 1080p to 4K at the same settings yields significant frame rate drops—for example, High settings drop from 99 FPS at 1080p to 41 FPS at 4K—which points to the GPU, not the CPU, as the primary constraint. The CPU's 120 W TDP and support for PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes ensure it can feed the GPU data quickly, but the RTX 2060's older PCIe 3.0 x16 interface does not fully utilize this capability. Overall, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D delivers far more compute power than Greedfall requires, making it a non-factor in the frame rate differences observed across settings and resolutions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the decisive component in this combination, and its specifications explain the measured performance envelope. The GPU features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data shows it becomes a constraint at 4K, where higher resolution textures and larger frame buffers demand more capacity. The GPU's clock speeds—1365 MHz base and 1680 MHz boost—are modest by modern standards, and its 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units define its raw throughput. The RTX 2060's FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s indicate it can handle Greedfall's visual effects at lower resolutions, but the game's Ultra preset pushes the GPU to its limits.

The GPU's benchmark profile places it at the 58th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rivals show it is closely matched with older and newer parts: it is statistically tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (avg score 15283, deltaPct 0%), 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon 680M (avg score 15270), 0.6% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (avg score 15199), and 0.8% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (avg score 15171). These small deltas confirm the RTX 2060 is a mid-range card that performs near its peers, but in Greedfall, the measured FPS reveals its limitations. At 1080p Ultra, the GPU produces 63 FPS, which drops to 44 FPS at 1440p Ultra and 26 FPS at 4K Ultra. This steep decline illustrates how the GPU's compute and memory resources are overwhelmed as resolution increases.

The 6 GB VRAM capacity is a notable weakness in this context. At 4K Medium, the system manages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, but the Ultra preset at 4K falls to 26 FPS, suggesting that texture data exceeds the available memory or that the GPU's shading units cannot sustain the workload. The RTX 2060's 12 nm process node, with 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die, is less efficient than newer GPUs, but its 160 W TDP and dual-slot design are reasonable for a 2019 part. The GPU's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with Greedfall's engine, but the measured data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck in all scenarios. Even at 1080p Low, where the system reaches 138 FPS, the CPU could likely deliver more, but the GPU caps the frame rate. The RTX 2060's performance in PassMark G3D (14111) and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 (1242) further confirms its mid-tier status, and its 4K results—sub-60 FPS across all settings—demonstrate that this GPU is not suited for high-resolution play in this title.

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

The measured FPS data shows a consistent and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, which points directly to the GPU as the limiting component. At High settings, the system delivers 99 FPS at 1080p, 68 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. This represents a 31% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 40% drop from 1440p to 4K. The pattern is similar at Low settings: 138 FPS at 1080p, 96 FPS at 1440p, and 57 FPS at 4K. Medium settings show 109 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K, with minimum FPS values of 92, 64, and 38 respectively. Ultra settings exhibit the steepest decline: 63 FPS at 1080p, 44 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-bound system. When the CPU is the limiting factor, frame rates typically remain stable or drop only slightly as resolution increases, because the CPU's work does not change with pixel count. Here, the frame rate drops sharply with each resolution step, indicating that the GPU's rendering throughput—its pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s—is being saturated. The RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM also plays a role; at 4K, the game likely exceeds the memory capacity, causing additional overhead. The fact that even Low settings at 4K produce only 57 FPS, while 1080p Low produces 138 FPS, suggests that the GPU's raw compute power, rather than just memory, is the bottleneck. The data shows that the system is not CPU-limited at any resolution, as the Ryzen 7 9850X3D's performance headroom is evident from its benchmark scores, which far exceed what Greedfall requires.

The scaling also reveals that the gap between settings narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 75 FPS (138 vs 63), but at 4K, the difference shrinks to 31 FPS (57 vs 26). This compression occurs because the GPU becomes the sole constraint at 4K, regardless of quality settings; the graphics card cannot maintain higher frame rates even when visual fidelity is reduced. This is a classic sign of a GPU that is overmatched by the resolution, and it confirms that upgrades to the CPU would not improve 4K performance in this game. The 4K Medium minimum FPS of 38 and maximum of 52 show some variability, but the overall trend is clear: the RTX 2060 is the limiting component across all measured configurations.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the target resolution and the player's preference for smoothness versus visual quality. At 1080p, all presets are playable, but the data suggests Medium is the best balance. Medium yields 109 FPS average with a minimum of 92 FPS and maximum of 125 FPS, providing a smooth experience with a solid margin above 60 FPS. High settings at 1080p achieve 99 FPS, which is also acceptable, but Medium offers a higher minimum frame rate, which reduces the risk of stutter during intense combat or exploration. Ultra at 1080p drops to 63 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but the lower minimum (not measured, but implied by the pattern) could lead to occasional dips. Low settings at 1080p reach 138 FPS, but the visual degradation is likely not worth the extra frame rate for most players.

At 1440p, High settings produce 68 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. Medium at 1440p delivers 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, making it the recommended preset for this resolution. The 75 FPS average provides a comfortable buffer above 60 FPS, and the minimum of 64 FPS ensures consistent performance. Low settings at 1440p reach 96 FPS, but again, the visual trade-off is significant. Ultra at 1440p falls to 44 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and likely to feel sluggish, so it is not recommended. For players who prioritize visual fidelity, High at 1440p is acceptable, but Medium is the safer choice for maintaining frame pacing.

At 4K, none of the presets achieve 60 FPS, so the recommendation is to lower expectations. Medium at 4K yields 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, which is borderline playable but may cause noticeable stutter. Low at 4K produces 57 FPS, which is closer to playable but still not smooth. High at 4K drops to 41 FPS, and Ultra at 4K falls to 26 FPS, both of which are too low for a good experience. Given these numbers, the best experience at 4K is Low settings, which offers the highest average FPS (57) and avoids the worst frame drops. However, the data indicates that 4K is not a viable option for this combination, and players should target 1080p or 1440p for optimal results. Across all resolutions, Medium provides the best balance of performance and visual quality, with the minimum FPS figures from the measured rows supporting this choice.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Greedfall, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2313 out of 2938 total combos. This places it in the bottom 21% of all tested systems, which is a surprisingly low position given the CPU's high-end status. The rank reflects the GPU's limitations, as the RTX 2060's 58th percentile standing drags down the overall performance of the combo. The CPU's 92nd percentile ranking is not enough to compensate for the GPU's mid-tier capabilities, and the measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. In practical terms, this combo outperforms many older or lower-end systems, but it falls short of the majority of tested configurations, which likely include more powerful GPUs paired with similar or lesser CPUs.

The rank of 2313 indicates that, while the system is fully functional and capable of playing Greedfall at 1080p and 1440p, it is not competitive with the upper echelon of tested combos. The data shows that the combo's performance is limited by the GPU's 6 GB VRAM and its compute throughput, as evidenced by the steep FPS drops at 4K. A player using this system would see better results at lower resolutions, but the overall ranking suggests that most other tested combos achieve higher frame rates, particularly at higher quality settings. The CPU's performance is not the issue—its benchmark scores are competitive with top-tier parts—but the GPU's age and specifications hold the combo back. This ranking is a clear indicator that, for Greedfall, the RTX 2060 is the weak link, and any upgrade to the GPU would significantly improve the system's position in the database.

FAQ

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

A: The system achieves an average of 99 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, according to the measured data.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system for Greedfall?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and compute limits cause FPS to drop significantly with resolution, while the Ryzen 7 9850X3D has ample headroom, as shown by its 92nd percentile CPU ranking.

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

A: Medium settings at 2560x1440 provide an average of 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, making it the recommended preset for smooth performance at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems in Greedfall?

A: It ranks 2313 out of 2938 tested combos, placing it in the lower portion of the database due to the GPU's mid-tier performance (58th percentile).

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Greedfall?

A: At 4K, even Low settings only reach 57 FPS, and Ultra drops to 26 FPS, so 4K is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average score of 15290, which is 0% different from the GTX 580 (15283), 0.1% ahead of the Radeon 680M (15270), 0.6% behind the RTX 3050 OEM (15199), and 0.8% behind the RX 7600 (15171).