Greedfall

Greedfall, an Action RPG from 2019, presents an interesting test for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT combination. The measured FPS data across resolutions and settings reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rates, but whose performance curve is heavily dictated by the graphics settings chosen. The data indicates that this pairing is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, while 4K Ultra remains a demanding target.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K shows how the performance burden shifts from the CPU to the GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces an average of 248 FPS. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is feeding the GPU efficiently, but the workload is not yet fully saturating the graphics card. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 172 FPS, a reduction of about 31%. This is a significant scaling factor, but the frame rate remains exceptionally high. Finally, at 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS falls to 103. This represents a 40% drop from 1440p, clearly indicating that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern becomes more pronounced at higher settings. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 177 at 1080p to 123 at 1440p (a 30% drop), and then to 73 at 4K (a 41% drop from 1440p). This consistent ~40% penalty when moving from 1440p to 4K across both Low and High settings highlights the raw pixel-pushing demands of 4K resolution. The data suggests that while the Ryzen 9 9900X is powerful enough to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions, the RX 9070 XT's workload becomes the limiting factor at 4K.

The most dramatic scaling is observed at Ultra settings. The average FPS plummets from 113 at 1080p to 78 at 1440p, and then to a demanding 47 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than half of the 1080p Ultra performance, signifying a steep performance cliff. This indicates that the combination of 4K resolution and Ultra preset creates a workload that severely challenges the GPU, resulting in a playable but not optimal experience for fast-paced action.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the dominant factor in this system's gaming performance, particularly at higher resolutions. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, the card has a substantial memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. This is a critical specification for Greedfall, as the game's open-world environments and texture detail can consume significant video memory. The generous memory allocation helps prevent texture swapping and stuttering, especially when moving from 1080p to 4K.

The GPU's clock speeds are also noteworthy. The boost clock is rated at 2970 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. The measured FPS data shows that these high clocks translate into strong raw performance, as evidenced by the 73 FPS average at 4K High settings. The architecture, based on RDNA 4.0 and built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, delivers a high transistor density of 151.0M / mm², which contributes to its efficiency and throughput.

While the card's raw performance is clear from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 7260, its benchmark percentile ranking is more nuanced. The GPU's `percentileVsAllGpus` is 55, and its average benchmark score of 13543 places it near rivals like the AMD Radeon HD 7770M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, with deltaPct values of 0.1 and 0.2 respectively. This data suggests that while the card is capable in this specific game, its general-purpose benchmark performance is not as dominant as its high-end specifications might imply. The measured FPS in Greedfall, however, shows a very capable gaming experience, indicating that the card is well-optimized for this title's specific rendering demands.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for this combo at 1440p on High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT at 2560x1440 on High settings is 123 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 on High settings it achieves an average of 73 FPS, which is playable. However, at Ultra settings, the average drops to 47 FPS, which may be less desirable for a smooth experience.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from High to Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 123 on High to 78 on Ultra, a decrease of 45 FPS or roughly 37% of the High setting's performance.

Q: What is the best resolution for maximizing frame rate?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 248 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate in the data. Even at 1080p Ultra, it maintains 113 FPS.

Q: Is there a big difference between Medium and High settings at 1080p?

A: The data shows a moderate difference. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 195 FPS, while High averages 177 FPS. The 18 FPS difference is a small trade-off for potentially better visual fidelity.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems for Greedfall?

A: This specific combination of AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is ranked 912 out of 3703 tested combos for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data provides a clear matrix of performance across all tested configurations.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales inversely with visual quality. The Low preset yields an average of 103 FPS. Moving up the quality ladder, Medium produces an average of 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. The High preset averages 73 FPS. The most demanding setting, Ultra, brings the average down to 47 FPS. This shows a clear and steep decline in performance as the preset increases, with a 54% drop in average FPS from Low to Ultra.

The 2560x1440 results show a similar pattern but with higher overall frame rates. Low settings run at an average of 172 FPS. The Medium preset achieves 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 155 FPS. High settings deliver a strong 123 FPS average. The Ultra preset, while still playable, drops to an average of 78 FPS. The performance gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is about 55%, which is comparable to the 4K scaling.

At 1920x1080, the system is clearly CPU-bound at lower settings. The Low preset produces an exceptional 248 FPS average. The Medium preset hits 195 FPS, with a minimum of 166 FPS and a maximum of 224 FPS. High settings still provide a very high 177 FPS average. Even at the Ultra preset, the system maintains an average of 113 FPS. This resolution demonstrates that the combo has more than enough power for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, with even the most demanding preset keeping well above the 100 FPS threshold.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X provides the foundational processing power for this system. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it is a formidable processor for multi-threaded workloads. Its benchmark scores are impressive, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32172 and a Geekbench multicore score of 22174. This level of multi-threading capability ensures that the CPU is rarely the bottleneck in gaming scenarios, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential.

The CPU's single-thread performance is also crucial for gaming. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2253 and Geekbench single-core score of 3010 indicate strong per-core performance. This is reflected in the high frame rates observed at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 248 FPS, a scenario where the CPU's ability to process game logic and draw calls is often the limiting factor. The fact that the frame rate here is so high suggests the Ryzen 9 9900X is handling the game's single-threaded tasks with ease.

The `percentileVsAllCpus` is 92, placing it in the top tier of processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14900, have very similar average benchmark scores, with a deltaPct of -1.1. This indicates that the Ryzen 9 9900X is on par with the best consumer CPUs available. The combination of high single-thread and multi-thread performance makes it an ideal partner for a high-end GPU like the RX 9070 XT, ensuring that the system can deliver high frame rates across a variety of game types and resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the best choice for a balanced experience. It provides an average of 73 FPS, which is smooth and well above the standard 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset offers a more comfortable margin with 81 FPS and a minimum of 69 FPS, which is a safer option for ensuring consistent performance in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, at 47 FPS, is not recommended as it falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in a less fluid experience.

For 1440p gaming, the High preset is the standout recommendation. It delivers 123 FPS, a sweet spot that allows for high refresh rates without sacrificing significant visual quality. The Medium preset at 135 FPS is also excellent if maximum frame rates are the priority. The Ultra preset, at 78 FPS, is still very playable and offers the best image quality, making it a viable option for users who prefer visuals over a higher frame rate.

For 1080p gaming, all presets are viable. The Ultra preset at 113 FPS is the best choice to fully utilize the system's capabilities and get the best visual experience. It provides a frame rate high enough for most high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset at 177 FPS is an excellent choice for competitive play, and the Low preset at 248 FPS is only necessary for the absolute maximum frame rate on a very high refresh rate display.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware configurations for Greedfall, this specific pairing performs admirably. The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is ranked 912 out of 3703 tested combos, placing it in the top 25% of all systems evaluated for this game.

This ranking confirms the balance between the CPU and GPU. The Ryzen 9 9900X's high single-thread and multi-thread performance ensures that the system can push high frame rates, while the RX 9070 XT's 16 GB of memory and high clock speeds handle the graphical load, especially at 1440p and 4K. While the GPU's general benchmark percentile is modest at 55, the in-game performance data shows that it is well-tuned for Greedfall's specific engine and rendering paths.

The ranking of 912 out of 3703 indicates that there are many systems that can outperform this combo, likely those with more powerful (and often more expensive) GPUs. However, the data also shows that this combination provides a very strong gaming experience, capable of high frame rates at mainstream resolutions. It is a high-end pairing that sits comfortably above the median, offering a level of performance that will satisfy most users looking to play Greedfall with high visual fidelity.