Greedfall

Greedfall, an Action RPG released in 2019, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware. In this analysis, we examine the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050. The data provides a clear picture of how this combination handles the game across various resolutions and settings, revealing a system that is largely balanced but with distinct characteristics at different quality levels.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and significant drop in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 114 FPS at 1080p to 79 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 35 FPS. Moving further to 4K, the average drops to 47 FPS, which is 67 FPS lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern indicates that the rendering load is increasing substantially with pixel count, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

The transition from 1080p to 1440p represents a 30.7% decrease in average FPS at High settings, while the jump from 1440p to 4K results in a 40.5% decrease. This non-linear scaling suggests that the RTX 5050 is being progressively more taxed as the resolution increases. At 1080p, the system achieves high frame rates, but the headroom shrinks considerably at 1440p and becomes marginal at 4K, where the average FPS dips below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the baseline for smooth gameplay.

The fact that 4K performance is less than half of 1080p performance (47 FPS versus 114 FPS) strongly indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions. The pixel throughput required for 4K is overwhelming the RTX 5050's capabilities, leading to a significant frame rate penalty. The data shows that this combo is not well-suited for 4K gaming at High settings, as the average frame rate of 47 FPS will likely result in noticeable stuttering or a less fluid experience in a fast-paced Action RPG.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). Its base clock is 4.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor achieves a strong multi-core score of 32172 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 2253 in the same test. These figures indicate substantial processing power that is unlikely to bottleneck the GPU in most gaming scenarios.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, particularly at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the system reaches an average of 160 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough frames to maintain high performance. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 73, which is a playable frame rate and indicates that the CPU is not severely limiting the system, even when the GPU is under a heavier load.

The CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 1286, is likely beneficial for Greedfall's game logic and AI calculations. However, the data shows that the frame rate scales almost exclusively with resolution and settings, which are GPU-centric variables. The consistent FPS drops when moving from Low to Ultra settings at any given resolution point to the GPU being the bottleneck, not the CPU. The Ryzen 9 9900X provides enough headroom to ensure that the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor in this pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of running the game at any preset with acceptable performance. The High preset yields an average of 114 FPS, which is excellent for a smooth experience. However, the Ultra preset drops to 73 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant 36% performance loss for likely marginal visual gains.

For a balance of visual quality and performance at 1080p, the High preset is the recommended choice. It offers a frame rate well above 60 FPS and is likely to look nearly as good as Ultra to most players. The Medium preset at 126 FPS is also a viable option for those who prefer higher frame rates, potentially for a 144Hz monitor. The Low preset, while providing 160 FPS, is likely too visually compromised for a modern Action RPG.

At 2560x1440, the situation changes. The High preset produces an average of 79 FPS, which is a solid result for this resolution. This is the recommended setting for 1440p, as it maintains a frame rate that is above 60 FPS and provides a high level of visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 50 FPS falls below the 60 FPS mark and may not be ideal for consistent smoothness. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is a good alternative for those who want a higher frame rate buffer, but High offers the best balance.

At 3840x2160, the options are more constrained. The High preset delivers 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 30 FPS is not recommended for general play, as it will feel sluggish. The Medium preset at 52 FPS is the only 4K option that approaches playability, but even it is not ideal. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, the data suggests that the Low preset at 66 FPS would be necessary, but this comes with significant visual compromises. For most users, 1440p High settings will provide the best overall experience, offering a good mix of visual quality and performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Greedfall, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combo ranks 1776 out of 2938 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is a reflection of the RTX 5050 being an entry-level GPU, despite being paired with a high-end CPU. The rank indicates that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the overall gaming experience is dictated by the GPU's limits.

The CPU itself performs well in a vacuum, with an average benchmark score of 57498, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9015, which has a score of 57555 and is only 0.1% faster. This shows that the Ryzen 9 9900X is a highly competitive processor. However, the GPU's performance is far more modest. The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, which is 0.6% faster.

The combination of a very strong CPU and a mid-pack GPU results in a system that is unbalanced for gaming. The combo's rank of 1776 suggests that many other systems, likely with more balanced CPU-GPU pairings, achieve better performance in Greedfall. This ranking highlights that the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor, and the substantial processing power of the Ryzen 9 9900X is not fully utilized in this game title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary determinant of this combo's gaming performance. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 2572 MHz, and it has 2560 shading units. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 17326 in Passmark G3D and 2502 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12. These scores are respectable for a modern entry-level GPU but are far from the top of the performance charts.

The GPU's role in Greedfall is clear when examining the FPS data. The frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings, which are the two primary factors that affect GPU load. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is 87 FPS (160 FPS vs 73 FPS), a massive 54% reduction. This is a classic sign of a GPU that is being pushed to its limits. The 8 GB VRAM buffer may also be a factor at higher settings and resolutions, where texture memory demands can be high.

The RTX 5050's performance relative to its rivals is modest. It is, for example, only 1.6% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT in the average benchmark score. This places it in a competitive but not dominant position. In Greedfall, this translates to a GPU that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming at high settings, but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The data suggests that its 13.17 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 205.8 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for mainstream gaming, but not for high-end, high-resolution play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS values for this combo provides a detailed look at its performance envelope.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 160 FPS average
• Medium: 126 FPS average (with a min of 107 and max of 144)
• High: 114 FPS average
• Ultra: 73 FPS average

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 111 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average (with a min of 74 and max of 100)
• High: 79 FPS average
• Ultra: 50 FPS average

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 66 FPS average
• Medium: 52 FPS average (with a min of 44 and max of 60)
• High: 47 FPS average
• Ultra: 30 FPS average

The Medium preset is the only one for which min and max FPS data was recorded. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate varies between 107 and 144 FPS, showing a stable range. At 1440p Medium, the range is 74 to 100 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range expands to 44 to 60 FPS, which is a wider spread and suggests less consistent performance at that resolution.

The data clearly shows a pattern: the system is very capable at 1080p, offering high frame rates at all settings. At 1440p, it remains playable, but the Ultra preset begins to struggle. At 4K, it is only the Low preset that can maintain an average above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 30 FPS, is effectively unplayable for a smooth experience.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 47. To get closer to 60 FPS, you would need to use the Low preset, which achieves an average of 66 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as it only produces an average of 30 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: The High preset is the most balanced option for 2560x1440, delivering an average of 79 FPS. This provides a good mix of visual quality and smooth performance, staying above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset drops to 50 FPS, while the Medium preset offers a higher 87 FPS but with reduced visual fidelity.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 57498. This is 0.1% slower than the AMD EPYC 9015, which scores 57555, and 0.2% faster than the AMD EPYC 7313, which scores 57399. It is also 1.1% faster than the Intel Core i9-14900, which scores 58115, and 1.4% faster than the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, which scores 58323.

Q: Is the GPU more likely to be the bottleneck than the CPU?

A: Yes. The data shows that frame rates scale dramatically with resolution and settings, which are GPU-bound tasks. For example, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 87 FPS. This indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's high multi-threaded performance (32172 in Cinebench R23) provides sufficient headroom.

Q: What are the measured minimum FPS values for the Medium preset at different resolutions?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum FPS is 107. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 74 FPS. At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum falls to 44 FPS. These are the only settings for which min and max FPS data was captured.

Q: Where does this specific combo rank among all tested systems for Greedfall?

A: This combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 1776 out of 2938 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all systems, indicating that the GPU's performance is a limiting factor for this game.