Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 pairing. The measured data for this combo reveals a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, but with some notable bottlenecks that shift between the CPU and GPU depending on the configuration. This analysis examines the measured FPS rows to understand where the limits lie and what the performance profile means for this specific hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which is expected for a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 226 at 1080p to 157 at 1440p, and finally to 94 at 4K. This represents a 30% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 40% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling suggests that the RTX 4080 is the primary limiting component as pixel count rises, since the CPU has ample headroom at lower resolutions.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens dramatically at higher resolutions. At 1080p, Low settings produce 318 FPS while Ultra produces 145 FPS, a difference of 173 FPS. At 4K, Low settings yield 131 FPS while Ultra drops to 60 FPS, a difference of 71 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes saturated with pixel work, making the settings-based performance difference less pronounced in absolute terms, though still significant in percentage terms.

Looking at the Medium settings rows, which include min and max FPS data, the scaling pattern remains consistent. At 1080p Medium, the average is 249 FPS with a range of 212 to 287 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average falls to 173 FPS with a range of 147 to 199 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 103 FPS with a range of 88 to 119 FPS. The consistent frame-time behavior across resolutions suggests the system maintains stability without major stuttering, even as the workload increases.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, since the GPU is capable of producing extremely high frame rates that exceed what the Ryzen 9 7900X can feed in some scenarios. The jump from 226 FPS at High 1080p to 157 FPS at High 1440p is a 30% drop, which aligns with the pixel count increase of 78% from 1080p to 1440p. This non-linear scaling suggests the GPU is not the only constraint at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and it has 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. For Greedfall, a title from 2019, this hardware is substantially more powerful than what would have been available at the game’s release, which explains the high FPS numbers observed across all settings.

The RTX 4080’s performance relative to its nearest rivals shows it sits in a tight competitive group. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 54247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER (54209), 1.1% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54828), 2.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55698), and 2.7% lower than the AMD Radeon 8060S (55757). This places the RTX 4080 in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of graphics cards tested.

At 4K Ultra, the RTX 4080 achieves 60 FPS average, which is exactly at the threshold for smooth gameplay. The fact that Ultra settings at 4K produce exactly 60 FPS while High produces 94 FPS suggests a significant performance cost for the Ultra preset’s additional graphical effects. The GPU’s 16 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for Greedfall’s texture requirements, as the data shows no signs of memory-related performance collapses even at 4K Ultra.

The RTX 4080’s memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s appears adequate for this game, as the FPS scaling from 1440p to 4K at Medium settings (173 to 103 FPS, a 40% drop) closely tracks the pixel count increase of 125%. This suggests the GPU’s memory subsystem is not a bottleneck in Greedfall, and the performance degradation is primarily due to the increased pixel shading workload.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and RTX 4080 combination ranks 254th out of 3703 tested combos in Greedfall, placing it in the top 6.9% of all configurations. This is a strong showing, but not exceptional, given that many high-end combos exist in the database. The rank reflects the overall FPS performance across all measured settings and resolutions, weighted toward the higher settings that most users would employ.

The CPU’s average benchmark score is 53288, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score include the AMD EPYC 7313P (53206, 0.2% higher), Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (53469, 0.3% lower), Intel Xeon 634 (52974, 0.6% higher), and Intel Core i7-14700F (53620, 0.6% lower). These small deltas indicate the Ryzen 9 7900X is performing exactly in line with its expected tier.

The combo’s rank of 254 suggests that while this is a high-performing system, there are many other combinations that produce higher FPS in Greedfall. Given the RTX 4080’s 86th percentile GPU ranking and the CPU’s 91st percentile ranking, the combined system should theoretically perform near the top, but the 254th rank indicates that other factors, such as memory configuration or driver optimizations, may play a role in the final ranking.

The data shows that this combo is more than capable of running Greedfall at high frame rates, but it does not dominate the leaderboard. The rank of 254 out of 3703 means that 253 other combos achieve better overall performance, which is likely due to the fact that Greedfall is not a particularly demanding game by modern standards, allowing even mid-range GPUs to achieve high FPS when paired with strong CPUs.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS measured is 318 at 1080p with Low settings. At High settings, the average is 226 FPS, and at Ultra, it drops to 145 FPS.

Q: Does the combo maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is exactly 60, which meets the minimum standard for smooth gameplay. The Medium settings at 4K provide 103 FPS average, with a minimum of 88 and maximum of 119 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER’s 54209. This places the two cards essentially at parity in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings produce 220 FPS average, while Ultra settings produce 100 FPS average. This represents a 120 FPS difference between the two presets.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 7900X a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU may limit performance, as FPS values exceed 300 in some settings. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor, with FPS scaling more closely with pixel count.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 254th out of 3703 tested combinations, placing it in the top 6.9% of all systems tested in Greedfall.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel configuration and has a measured bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. For Greedfall, a game released in 2019, this CPU provides far more processing power than the title requires.

The CPU’s benchmark results show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29300 and a single-core score of 2016.5. The Geekbench multicore score is 19267, and the single-core score is 2617. These scores indicate the 7900X excels in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, which is relevant for Greedfall’s engine that may not fully utilize all 24 threads.

The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 318 FPS average, which is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame delivery capability. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 249 FPS, and at High, it drops to 226 FPS. The relatively small difference between Medium and High at 1080p (23 FPS) compared to the difference between Low and Medium (69 FPS) suggests that the CPU is becoming the limiting factor as settings increase, since the GPU has headroom to render more frames.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the Intel Core i7-14700F, which scores 53620 (0.6% higher), and the Intel Xeon 634, which scores 52974 (0.6% lower). These small deltas indicate that the 7900X is performing as expected for its tier, and the CPU is not a weak link in this system for Greedfall.

At 4K Ultra, the CPU’s role diminishes significantly, as the GPU is clearly the bottleneck with 60 FPS average. The CPU’s 24 threads are likely underutilized at this resolution, as the game’s workload is dominated by pixel shading rather than game logic or physics. The data suggests that for Greedfall, the Ryzen 9 7900X provides more than enough processing power, and users would see no benefit from a stronger CPU at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best experience for this combo. At 1080p, all settings presets produce playable frame rates, with Low at 318 FPS, Medium at 249 FPS, High at 226 FPS, and Ultra at 145 FPS. The High preset offers a balanced experience, with frame rates well above 200 FPS and presumably better visual quality than Medium.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 157 FPS average, which is excellent for smooth gameplay. Medium provides 173 FPS, and Ultra drops to 100 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra costs 57 FPS, which may not be worth the visual improvement for users with 144Hz displays. The Low preset at 220 FPS is unnecessary for most users, as the additional visual fidelity from High is worth the 63 FPS sacrifice.

At 4K, the High preset achieves 94 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for most displays. Ultra drops to exactly 60 FPS, which is playable but leaves no headroom for frame drops. Medium provides 103 FPS, which is the best option for users who want smooth 4K gameplay with some visual compromises.

The data indicates that the High preset is the optimal choice for this combo across all resolutions. At 1080p, it provides 226 FPS, at 1440p it provides 157 FPS, and at 4K it provides 94 FPS. These frame rates are all above the 60 FPS threshold, and the visual quality is likely superior to Medium while not incurring the significant performance cost of Ultra. For users with high-refresh-rate displays at 1080p or 1440p, the Medium preset offers slightly higher frame rates with minimal visual compromise.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate and have displays that support variable refresh rates. At 4K, the 60 FPS average is borderline, and any demanding scene could cause frame drops below the playable threshold. The Medium preset at 4K provides a 43 FPS advantage over Ultra, making it the safer choice for consistent performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 318 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 249 FPS average, with a minimum of 212 and maximum of 287 FPS. High settings produce 226 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 145 FPS average. The performance spread from Low to Ultra is 173 FPS, indicating that settings have a substantial impact at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a clear reduction from 1080p. Low settings produce 220 FPS average, Medium settings yield 173 FPS with a range of 147 to 199 FPS, High settings produce 157 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 100 FPS. The performance spread from Low to Ultra is 120 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p, suggesting the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly, reflecting the increased pixel workload. Low settings produce 131 FPS average, Medium settings yield 103 FPS with a range of 88 to 119 FPS, High settings produce 94 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 60 FPS. The performance spread from Low to Ultra is 71 FPS, which is the narrowest of all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is heavily constrained at 4K.

The Medium settings rows are the only ones with min and max FPS data, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p, the range is 75 FPS (212 to 287), at 1440p the range is 52 FPS (147 to 199), and at 4K the range is 31 FPS (88 to 119). The narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates more consistent frame times when the GPU is the bottleneck, while at 1080p, the CPU may cause more variance in frame delivery.

The data shows that the combo is capable of running Greedfall at high frame rates across all tested configurations, but the experience varies significantly by resolution and settings. The 4K Ultra preset is the most demanding, producing exactly 60 FPS average, while the 1080p Low preset produces 318 FPS, which is more than five times higher. This substantial range of performance highlights the flexibility of the RTX 4080 and Ryzen 9 7900X combination, allowing users to choose between maximum visual quality and maximum frame rate based on their display capabilities and personal preferences.