Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B390 combination. The benchmark data shows this pairing is firmly bottlenecked by the integrated graphics solution, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay at higher resolutions, while the processor's capabilities remain largely untapped. The measured results place this combo in the 2595th position out of 2938 tested configurations, indicating performance in the bottom 12% of all pairings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data reveals a classic case of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 60 FPS. Dropping to 2560x1440 at the same settings yields 42 FPS, a 30% reduction, and moving to 3840x2160 produces just 25 FPS, a further 40% decline from the 1440p result. This steep drop-off is a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B390's rendering capabilities are exhausted early.

The scaling pattern becomes even more telling when examining the Low settings preset. At 1080p Low, the system manages 84 FPS, which is a playable frame rate. However, this falls to 58 FPS at 1440p and plummets to 35 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is 58% lower than the 1080p Low figure, demonstrating that even minimal graphical loads overwhelm the GPU at higher pixel counts. The data suggests that the limiting component is almost entirely the graphics processor, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames at these resolutions.

Comparing the resolution scaling across settings shows that the percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent regardless of quality level. From High settings, the 4K average is 58% lower than 1080p. From Medium settings, the 4K average of 27 FPS is 59% lower than the 66 FPS at 1080p. This uniformity reinforces that the bottleneck scales directly with pixel count, a signature of a GPU-limited scenario. For users targeting 4K, even the Low preset at 35 FPS will feel stuttery and inconsistent, making this resolution effectively unusable for this game with this hardware combo.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance. As an integrated graphics processor (IGP) on the Panther Lake chip, it operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a very low standing that is corroborated by the measured frame rates. The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning it borrows from the main system DDR5 memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This architecture inherently limits performance in memory-intensive scenarios like Greedfall's open-world environments.

The GPU's raw specifications—1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs—are modest by discrete graphics standards. Its FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, which is low for modern gaming. The data confirms this: at 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate collapses to 16 FPS. This is a 36% drop from the already-low 25 FPS at 4K High, showing that the GPU cannot handle the increased shading and texture demands of the Ultra preset. Even at 1080p, the Ultra preset only manages 38 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many consider the minimum for smooth play.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all legacy NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% ahead), GeForce 800M (1.5% ahead), GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% ahead), and GeForce GT 710 (2.7% ahead). This comparison underscores how far behind modern integrated graphics this part sits. The B390's performance ceiling appears to be around 84 FPS at 1080p Low, and any increase in graphical fidelity or resolution causes a rapid degradation. For Greedfall, the GPU is a hard limiting factor, and the data suggests that users should expect console-level or lower performance at best.

CPU Role

In stark contrast to the GPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor that is severely underutilized in this configuration. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), it has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exemplary: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32172 and a single-core score of 2253, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 22174. The processor's 64 MB of L3 cache and 89.6 GB/s of dual-channel DDR5 memory bandwidth provide ample data throughput for game logic and physics.

The CPU's role in Greedfall with this GPU is largely passive. The frame rates are so low due to the GPU bottleneck that the CPU never needs to work hard. For example, at 1080p Low, the 84 FPS average is likely still below what the CPU could deliver if the GPU were faster. The processor's PassMark multi-thread score of 54643 and single-thread score of 4672 place it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it can handle any modern game's CPU demands. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1286 and 2-thread score of 2519 show strong per-core performance, which is critical for games that rely on a few primary threads.

The lack of CPU bottleneck is evident in the scaling pattern. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect frame rates to remain similar across resolutions at the same settings. Instead, we see dramatic drops from 1080p to 4K, confirming the GPU is the sole constraint. The Ryzen 9 9900X's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9015 (-0.1% delta) and Intel Core i9-14900 (-1.1% delta), showing it is competitive with top-tier server and desktop parts. In this pairing, the CPU's power is wasted, as the integrated GPU cannot translate its processing capability into higher frame rates. The data indicates that pairing this CPU with a discrete GPU would yield vastly different results, but with the B390, the CPU is effectively idle.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2595th out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall, placing it in the bottom 11.7% (2595/2938). This is a poor ranking that reflects the GPU's limitations, not the CPU's capabilities. The ranking is heavily skewed by the fact that most tested combos use discrete graphics cards, which are inherently faster than the IGP.

The data suggests that this combo's performance is equivalent to what one might expect from an older entry-level laptop or a low-power desktop without a dedicated GPU. The 1080p High average of 60 FPS is the only "playable" result, and it barely meets the standard for smooth gameplay. The 1440p and 4K results are all below 60 FPS, with 4K Ultra at 16 FPS being effectively a slideshow. Compared to the full database of combos, this pairing sits far below the median, and the percentile ranking of the GPU (9th) is a strong predictor of the combo's overall standing.

The discrepancy between the CPU's ranking (92nd percentile) and the combo's ranking (bottom 12%) highlights a severe imbalance. This is a textbook case of a bottleneck, where the slowest component dictates overall performance. Users with this combo would likely see a massive improvement in Greedfall by simply adding any discrete GPU, even a modest one, as the CPU has enormous headroom. The combo ranking accurately reflects the gaming experience: frustratingly low frame rates at higher resolutions and settings, with only 1080p Low offering a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Greedfall at 60 FPS on 1080p High settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is exactly 60 FPS. This is the highest resolution and settings combination that achieves this target.

Q: What is the best performance this combo can achieve in Greedfall?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 84, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that provides a significant buffer above 60 FPS.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X or the Intel Arc B390 the limiting factor?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is the clear bottleneck. Frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases (60 FPS at 1080p High to 25 FPS at 4K High), which is a signature of GPU limitation. The CPU's benchmark scores are in the top 8% of all processors, indicating it is not the constraint.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals in the database?

A: The B390's closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1.3% higher in 3DMark Steel Nomad. Other close rivals include the GeForce 800M (1.5% ahead) and the GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% ahead). These are all legacy parts from over a decade ago.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware in Greedfall?

A: Technically, the game runs, but the results are very poor. At 4K Low, the average is 35 FPS, and at 4K High, it drops to 25 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average is just 16 FPS, which is not a playable experience.

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

A: This combo ranks 2595th out of 2938 total tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the bottom 12% of all pairings, consistent with the GPU's low 9th percentile ranking.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Ultra: Average 16 FPS. This is the lowest recorded result and is unplayable.
• High: Average 25 FPS. A slight improvement over Ultra but still far below acceptable smoothness.
• Medium: Average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and maximum of 32 FPS. The frame time variance is noticeable.
• Low: Average 35 FPS. The best 4K result, but still below the 60 FPS target.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Ultra: Average 27 FPS. This is the same as 4K Medium, indicating the GPU is struggling with the Ultra preset's demands.
• High: Average 42 FPS. A playable but not smooth experience, with noticeable dips in busy scenes.
• Medium: Average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and maximum of 53 FPS. The minimum FPS suggests occasional stutters.
• Low: Average 58 FPS. Close to the 60 FPS target, but not quite there.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Ultra: Average 38 FPS. Below the 60 FPS threshold, making this preset a poor choice.
• High: Average 60 FPS. Exactly at the target, offering a viable playing experience.
• Medium: Average 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and maximum of 76 FPS. The minimum FPS indicates some dips below 60.
• Low: Average 84 FPS. The best result overall, providing a smooth and consistent experience.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low and High are the only configurations that deliver acceptable performance. All 1440p results are below 60 FPS, and 4K results are uniformly poor. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a slight improvement over High (66 vs 60 FPS) but with a lower minimum FPS, suggesting potential frame pacing issues. For users prioritizing smoothness, 1080p Low is the recommended setting, while those seeking better visuals can use 1080p High at exactly 60 FPS.