Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG, presents a fascinating case study for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination. The measured data reveals a system capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, yet one that is clearly constrained by its graphics processor as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, examining the roles of the CPU and GPU, the impact of settings, and how this specific combo ranks among the thousands tested.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a mobile powerhouse built on the Zen 4 architecture (Dragon Range codename). It features 16 cores and 32 threads, a configuration that provides substantial multi-threaded headroom. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz can boost up to 5.40 GHz, allowing for strong single-threaded performance when needed. The processor operates within a 55 W TDP and is manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC, which contributes to its efficiency. The CPU's large 64 MB L3 cache is a key asset for gaming, as it helps reduce memory latency by storing frequently accessed data closer to the cores.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role appears to be one of a capable and stable foundation. The data indicates that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 160 FPS. As the resolution increases, the frame rate drops significantly, suggesting that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this scenario. The sheer core count and high boost clock ensure that the game's logic, AI, and physics calculations are handled without creating a performance ceiling that would limit the GPU's output at lower resolutions. The benchmark results, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and a single-core score of 6030, reinforce its position as a high-performance part, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 8945HX is virtually tied with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, showing a negligible 0.1% difference in average benchmark score. This indicates that for CPU-bound tasks, this processor is at the very top of the mobile heap.

However, the FPS data tells a story where the CPU's immense power is not the limiting factor. The progression from 160 FPS at 1080p Low to 114 FPS at 1080p High shows a 46 FPS drop, a change driven by the increased graphical load on the GPU. The CPU is capable of feeding frames far faster than the GPU can render them at higher settings, meaning the system's performance is primarily dictated by the graphics card. The Ryzen 9 8945HX's job is to ensure that even in complex scenes with multiple NPCs and dynamic events, the frame pacing remains consistent and the GPU is never starved of data. With 32 threads, it is well-equipped to handle any background tasks or game engine overhead without impacting the main game thread's performance.

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

The measured FPS data across different presets provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this hardware combination in Greedfall. The goal is to find a balance between visual fidelity and a smooth, playable frame rate. The data shows that the Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding an average of 73 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 51 FPS at 1440p and a stutter-prone 30 FPS at 4K. While 73 FPS is generally acceptable, the significant performance cost at higher resolutions makes it a less versatile choice.

The High preset offers a compelling middle ground. At 1080p, it delivers an average of 114 FPS, a figure that is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a responsive experience. This performance scales down to a still very playable 79 FPS at 1440p. The High preset appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, offering a substantial visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining frame rates that are suitable for a fast-paced Action RPG. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 41 FPS (from 114 to 73), a significant penalty for what is often a marginal visual improvement.

For players who prioritize the highest possible frame rates or who are playing on a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor, the Low preset is an option, but it is not recommended for the best experience. The data shows that Low settings yield 160 FPS at 1080p, but this comes at the cost of visual quality. The Medium preset, with an average of 126 FPS at 1080p, provides a better visual experience than Low while still offering a very high frame rate. However, the High preset is the recommended starting point. It provides a robust 114 FPS at 1080p and 79 FPS at 1440p, demonstrating the best overall performance per visual investment. The data suggests that the High preset is the most balanced choice, preventing the GPU from being overburdened while still showcasing the game's art style effectively.

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

The resolution scaling data provides a clear picture of the system's bottleneck. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS on High settings drops from 114 to 79, a 30.7% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the average FPS further drops from 79 to 47, a 40.5% decrease. This pattern of diminishing frame rates as pixel count increases is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound system. The rendering load on the GPU scales with the number of pixels, and the RTX 4060's performance degrades as it is asked to fill more and more of the screen.

The CPU's performance remains constant across resolutions, as its workload (game logic, draw calls) is largely independent of resolution. Therefore, the frame rate at 4K is almost entirely limited by the GPU's fill rate, pixel processing power, and memory bandwidth. The RTX 4060, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, faces a significant challenge at 4K. The 47 FPS average at 4K High is below the ideal 60 FPS target, indicating that this combo is not suited for native 4K gaming in Greedfall. The gap between the 1080p and 4K performance is vast, highlighting that the RTX 4060 is primarily a 1080p and 1440p card.

This scaling behavior is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, at Medium settings, the FPS drops from 126 at 1080p to 87 at 1440p and then to 52 at 4K. Even at Low settings, where the GPU has less work to do, the frame rate plummets from 160 at 1080p to 66 at 4K. This universal trend across all presets confirms that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the definitive limiting component. The Ryzen 9 8945HX is more than capable of handling the CPU-side workload at any resolution, but it is the GPU that cannot keep up with the increasing pixel demands. The data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, a more powerful graphics card would be required, or the resolution must be lowered.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is ranked 1765 out of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it in the 60th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it performs better than a majority of combinations but is not at the top tier. This ranking is a function of the GPU's performance, as the CPU is a top-tier mobile part. The RTX 4060, while a solid mainstream option, is not a high-end enthusiast GPU, and its performance is what anchors this combo's overall standing.

The ranking suggests that while this system will handle Greedfall well at 1080p and 1440p, there are many other combinations that will provide higher frame rates. Combos featuring more powerful GPUs, such as the RTX 4080 or RTX 4090, would naturally rank higher. The position of 1765 out of 2938 is a reflection of the balance between a high-end CPU and a mid-range GPU. The CPU is clearly not holding the system back, as evidenced by its performance in synthetic benchmarks where it ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs.

The GPU's average benchmark score places it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, which is slightly higher than its combined ranking. This shows that the GPU's relative performance is the primary determinant of the combo's rank. The data implies that for users seeking to improve this system's performance in Greedfall, the most impactful change would be to upgrade the graphics card. The CPU has ample headroom to support a more powerful GPU without becoming a bottleneck. This ranking, therefore, serves as a guide, indicating that this is a well-balanced 1080p/1440p gaming system, but not one built for maximum graphical fidelity at 4K.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and is the other half of this combo. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. Its 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs define its raw processing power. The GPU's performance is directly reflected in the measured FPS. At 1080p High, it manages 114 FPS, but this drops to 47 FPS at 4K High, demonstrating the limitations of its 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface at higher resolutions.

The 8 GB of VRAM is a critical factor in Greedfall, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p, 8 GB is generally sufficient for most games, but at 4K, textures and geometry can exceed this capacity, forcing the GPU to use slower system memory and causing performance stutters. This is evident in the 4K Medium result, where the average FPS is 52, but the minimum FPS is 44, showing some frame time inconsistency. While the 47 FPS average at 4K High is playable on some displays, the GPU is clearly under pressure. The RTX 4060's performance is more in line with a 1080p and 1440p card, where it provides excellent frame rates.

The GPU's role is evidently the primary bottleneck in this system. The data shows a clear performance ceiling that is independent of the CPU's capabilities. The RTX 4060's performance, as measured by its average benchmark score, places it in the 61st percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790, showing a negligible -0.2% difference, and the AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU, which is 0.3% faster. This comparison highlights that the RTX 4060 is a competent, mid-range performer. In Greedfall, its performance is adequate for smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, but it is not designed for the demands of 4K gaming. The card's 115 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU indicate a power-efficient design, but this efficiency comes at the cost of raw performance when compared to higher-tier models.

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

Q: What is the expected average frame rate for this combo in Greedfall at 1080p on High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 114 FPS at 1920x1080 resolution with the High settings preset.

Q: Can this system run Greedfall smoothly at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 47 FPS on High and 30 FPS on Ultra. While the High preset is playable, the system is not ideal for a consistent 4K experience, as the Ultra preset dips below 30 FPS.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest average frame rate at 1440p?

A: The Low preset provides the highest average FPS at 2560x1440 resolution. The data shows an average of 111 FPS on Low, followed by 87 FPS on Medium and 79 FPS on High.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX compare in performance to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the Ryzen 9 8945HX and Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX are nearly identical. The data shows a deltaPct of 0.1, meaning the AMD processor is only 0.1% faster on average.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo in Greedfall?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded in the measured data is 44 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution on Medium settings. The next lowest is 74 FPS at 2560x1440 on Medium settings.

Q: What is the total number of combos this system is ranked against?

A: The comboRankInGame data shows this system is ranked 1765 out of a total of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following section details the exact measured average FPS for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination in Greedfall.

1920x1080

• Low: The average frame rate is 160 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS.
• High: The average frame rate is 114 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 73 FPS.

2560x1440

• Low: The average frame rate is 111 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS.
• High: The average frame rate is 79 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 51 FPS.

3840x2160

• Low: The average frame rate is 66 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS.
• High: The average frame rate is 47 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 30 FPS.