Greedfall

Greedfall on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT presents a clear case of GPU-bound scaling. The measured frame rates show that as resolution increases, the performance penalty is steep and consistent, indicating that the graphics card is the primary limiting component in this pairing. The CPU, while powerful, has ample headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU’s ceiling becomes evident at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals a classic GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 148 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low preset drops the average to 103 FPS, a reduction of 45 FPS. At 4K Low, the average falls to 61 FPS, which is less than half of the 1080p Low result. This steep decline across just two resolution steps strongly suggests the RX 5700 XT’s rendering throughput is the bottleneck.

The trend holds across other settings. With High settings, the average FPS goes from 106 at 1080p, to 73 at 1440p, down to 44 at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p High is 33 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K High is 29 FPS. These are consistent deltas, pointing to a predictable scaling curve where the GPU’s pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated. The RX 5700 XT has 64 ROPs and a 256-bit memory bus delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is adequate for 1080p but increasingly strained at higher pixel counts.

The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is particularly telling. This is the only preset where the average dips below 30 FPS, making it effectively unplayable for smooth action. The difference between 4K Low (61 FPS) and 4K Ultra (28 FPS) is a 33 FPS swing, showing that the Ultra preset’s extra effects impose a heavy cost on the GPU. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in these tests; even at 1080p Low, the 148 FPS average is likely near the GPU’s maximum output, not the CPU’s. The Ryzen 9 7900X’s 12 cores and 24 threads, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, are more than capable of handling the game’s logic at these frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 4 architecture and built on a 5 nm process. Its base clock is 4.70 GHz and it boosts to 5.60 GHz. The processor has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, which is substantial for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 29,300 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,016.5 in single-core. Its PassMark multithread score is 51,406, and it sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs tested.

Given these specifications, the Ryzen 9 7900X is far from a bottleneck in Greedfall. The game’s measured FPS at 1080p Low is 148, which is high but not exceptionally so for a modern processor. The data suggests that the CPU has enough single-thread performance and core count to handle the game’s AI, physics, and game logic without causing frame drops. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 2,016.5 indicates strong per-thread performance, which is often more important for older game engines that may not scale well across many cores.

The processor’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD EPYC 7313P (0.2% higher average score) and the Intel Core i7-14700F (0.6% lower average score). These close deltas show that the Ryzen 9 7900X is in a competitive tier for multi-threaded workloads, but for Greedfall specifically, the CPU’s role is secondary. The game was released in 2019 and likely does not utilize all 24 threads effectively. The measured FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is almost entirely due to GPU load, not CPU limits. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across resolutions at the same settings, which is not the case here.

The 148 FPS at 1080p Low is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. This suggests the CPU can push frame rates well above 144 Hz at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot keep up at higher resolutions. The Ryzen 9 7900X’s memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s with DDR5 support is also ample for feeding the GPU data. In summary, the CPU is a strong performer that provides a solid foundation, but it is not the component determining the FPS limits in this game.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is based on the RDNA 1.0 architecture and the Navi 10 chip, built on a 7 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. It contains 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is rated at 9.754 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 121.9 GPixel/s.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 16,361. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (0.1% higher) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (0.3% lower). These scores indicate that the RX 5700 XT is a mid-range performer by modern standards, which aligns with the measured FPS in Greedfall.

The GPU’s role in this game is decisive. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 117, with a minimum of 99 and a maximum of 134. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 81, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. At 4K Medium, the average is 48, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 55. The Medium preset provides the most complete data with min/max values, showing a clear degradation in frame pacing as resolution increases.

The 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Greedfall’s textures at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the game may be pushing against the memory limit. The 28 FPS average at 4K Ultra suggests that the GPU is heavily overloaded, likely due to a combination of pixel shader workload and memory bandwidth constraints. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor at 4K, where the GPU must access more texture data per frame.

The GPU’s boost clock of 1905 MHz is respectable, but the architecture’s raw compute power is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The data shows that the RX 5700 XT is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates across all settings, and 1440p gaming at lower to medium presets. At 4K, the GPU struggles, especially with the Ultra preset, which is expected given its age and performance class.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ranks 2,754 out of 3,703 tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the lower-mid range of all possible pairings, which is surprising given the CPU’s high performance. The ranking suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor, dragging the overall combo down despite the powerful processor.

This rank of 2,754 out of 3,703 means that approximately 74% of all tested combinations perform better in this game. The data implies that many other GPUs, even those paired with weaker CPUs, can achieve higher frame rates in Greedfall. The RX 5700 XT’s 59th percentile ranking among all GPUs is a strong indicator that its performance is below average for modern titles, and Greedfall is no exception.

The combo’s performance is consistent with the GPU’s synthetic benchmark results. The RX 5700 XT’s average score of 16,361 is close to its rivals, but it lacks the headroom of higher-end cards. The CPU’s high percentile (91st) does not compensate for the GPU’s mid-range standing. In practical terms, this combo is best for 1080p gaming at high refresh rates, but it will not compete with systems using more powerful GPUs at higher resolutions.

The rank also reflects the age of the components. The GPU was released in 2019 with a launch MSRP of 399 USD, and the CPU was released in 2022 with a launch MSRP of $549. The mismatch in generation and performance class is evident in the game’s results. The CPU is capable of much higher frame rates, but the GPU cannot deliver them. This is a classic case of an unbalanced pairing where the processor is overqualified relative to the graphics card.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution, as it delivers the highest frame rates across all settings. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 148 FPS, and at 1080p High, it averages 106 FPS. At 1440p, performance drops significantly, and at 4K, it is only playable at Low settings.

Q: How does the Ultra preset affect performance?

A: The Ultra preset causes a massive performance hit. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 68, which is 38 FPS lower than High. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 47 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 28 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended for higher resolutions.

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

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The FPS scales down steeply with resolution, which indicates GPU limitation. The CPU’s high benchmark scores, including a 29,300 multi-core Cinebench R23 result, show it has ample headroom. If the CPU were the bottleneck, frame rates would be similar across resolutions.

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

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 61 FPS. At Medium, it drops to 48 FPS, and at High, it averages 44 FPS. At Ultra, it falls to 28 FPS, which is below playable standards. For a smooth experience, 1080p or 1440p is preferable.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 99 and the maximum is 134. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 69 and the maximum is 93. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 41 and the maximum is 55.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested combinations?

A: It ranks 2,754 out of 3,703 total combos. This puts it in the lower-mid range, meaning most other combinations deliver better performance in Greedfall. The GPU’s mid-range standing is the primary reason for this ranking.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution with the High preset. At this setting, the average FPS is 106, which is smooth for most displays. The High preset offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, as it is only 11 FPS lower than the Medium preset (117 FPS) but likely provides better graphics. The Low preset at 1080p yields 148 FPS, but the visual quality may be too compromised for an immersive experience.

For users with 1440p monitors, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It averages 81 FPS, which is playable, and the minimum of 69 FPS ensures that frame drops are not severe. The High preset at 1440p averages 73 FPS, which is also acceptable, but the Medium preset provides a higher minimum frame rate. The Low preset at 1440p (103 FPS) is an option for competitive play, but the Medium preset is the sweet spot for visual fidelity.

At 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 61 FPS. The Medium preset dips to 48 FPS, which may be borderline for some users, and High drops to 44 FPS. Ultra is not recommended at any resolution due to its poor performance. For the best overall experience, the 1080p High preset is the most balanced, providing high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is organized by resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 148 FPS. The Medium preset averages 117 FPS, with a minimum of 99 and a maximum of 134. The High preset averages 106 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 68 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 103 FPS. The Medium preset averages 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. The High preset averages 73 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 47 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 61 FPS. The Medium preset averages 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 55. The High preset averages 44 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 28 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution and settings increase. The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data, providing a clear picture of frame pacing. The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is the lowest in the entire dataset, highlighting the GPU’s limitations. The 1080p Low result of 148 FPS is the highest, demonstrating the CPU’s ability to drive high frame rates when the GPU is not the constraint.