Greedfall

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 presents a stark illustration of component bottlenecking in Greedfall. The data indicates a system where the CPU’s immense processing capability is largely restrained by the GPU’s output limits, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates to understand where the performance ceiling lies.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and dramatic decline as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 52 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average to 36 FPS, a reduction of 16 frames. The jump to 4K (3840x2160) at High settings further crushes performance to just 22 FPS. This scaling pattern is steep; the transition from 1080p to 4K represents a 58% decrease in average frame rate.

This behavior strongly suggests that the AMD Radeon RX 570 is the limiting component in this configuration. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is far more capable than what the RX 570 can feed in terms of pixel throughput. As the resolution increases, the workload on the GPU’s pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth grows exponentially. The RX 570’s 224.0 GB/s bandwidth and 39.81 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply overwhelmed at 4K, resulting in the low 22 FPS average seen in the data.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. For instance, at Low settings, the average FPS scales from 73 at 1080p, down to 51 at 1440p, and finally to 30 at 4K. The relative performance drops are similar, reinforcing the conclusion that the GPU is the primary constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a much smaller performance delta between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU’s work doesn't increase with resolution. Instead, the data shows a consistent and significant penalty, meaning the GPU is working at its maximum capacity even at the lowest resolution, and the additional pixels at higher resolutions directly translate to lower frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 57 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, with minimum and maximum values of 49 FPS and 66 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate falls to 14 FPS, which is the lowest average recorded across all tested configurations.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the AMD Radeon RX 570 is the primary limiting factor. The steep frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, as the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution.

*Q: What is the best average FPS achieved by this combo in Greedfall?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 73 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the Ryzen 9 9900X3D provide a performance advantage in this specific test?

A: While the CPU has a high average benchmark score of 54762, its performance in this game is capped by the GPU. The frame rates are largely dictated by the RX 570's capabilities, not the CPU's processing power.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2825 out of 2938 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom portion of the database for Greedfall.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the decisive factor in this configuration's gaming performance. Its specifications highlight its position as an older, entry-level part. With 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, it provides 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The chip, Polaris 20, is built on a 14 nm process and has a boost clock of 1244 MHz. These specifications are modest by modern standards, and the benchmark results reflect that.

In Greedfall, the GPU's role is to render the game world at the requested resolution and settings. The data shows that its limits are quickly reached. At 1080p, it manages a playable 52 FPS on High settings, but its performance degrades sharply with more demanding settings. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 19 FPS (from 52 to 33), showing that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU. This is likely due to increased effects, draw distances, and texture quality that strain the 4 GB VRAM capacity and the GPU's compute units.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 74 versus all GPUs suggests it is not an entirely obsolete part, but its performance in this 2019 title shows its age. The data points to the RX 570 being overwhelmed at 1440p, where it cannot maintain 60 FPS even on Low settings (51 FPS average). At 4K, its performance is largely unplayable, with averages ranging from 14 FPS on Ultra to 30 FPS on Low. The GPU's 5.095 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is simply insufficient for the pixel workload at higher resolutions in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame field places this specific CPU-GPU pairing at 2825 out of 2938 tested combinations. This is a low rank, placing the combo in the bottom 4% of all tested systems for Greedfall. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance limitations, as the CPU is a high-end part.

To understand this, consider the CPU's standalone benchmarks. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54762, which is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. It is a top-tier processor. However, the GPU, the RX 570, has an average benchmark score of 28766, which is in the 74th percentile of all GPUs. While the GPU's percentile is decent, its absolute performance is far below what is needed to drive modern games at high resolutions. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-to-low-tier GPU creates an imbalance that is reflected in the low overall combo rank.

The nearest rivals for the CPU, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, have similar average scores (55093, a -0.6% delta), indicating the CPU is in good company. However, this does not help the in-game rank. The GPU's nearest rivals, like the AMD Radeon RX 470 (with a -0.8% delta), are also older parts, confirming the GPU's performance class. The rank of 2825 is a clear statement that this pairing is not optimized for Greedfall, and the bottleneck is almost entirely on the graphics card side.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a flagship processor, and its specifications are formidable. It features 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its 128 MB of L3 cache is a significant asset. In synthetic benchmarks, it performs exceptionally well, scoring 47737 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6739 in single-core. Its average benchmark score of 54762 places it in the 91st percentile.

However, in Greedfall, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The measured FPS data does not show any signs of CPU limitation. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates that are similar across different resolutions, as the CPU would be maxed out regardless of pixel count. This is not the case. Instead, the frame rates plummet as resolution increases, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck.

The data implies that the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is more than capable of feeding the RX 570 with draw calls and game logic data. The CPU is likely operating well below its maximum capacity. The performance ceiling is set by the GPU's rendering speed. Therefore, while the CPU is a high-performance part, its capabilities are largely untapped in this specific configuration. The 12 cores and 24 threads are overkill for a game where the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's high single-thread score of 6739 in Cinebench R23 suggests it could handle even the most CPU-intensive games, but it is not the constraint here.

Measured FPS Breakdown

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

At 1920x1080, the performance is as follows:

• Low: 73 FPS average.
• Medium: 57 FPS average (min 49, max 66).
• High: 52 FPS average.
• Ultra: 33 FPS average.

The 1080p results show a clear hierarchy. Low settings provide a smooth experience, while Ultra settings cut the frame rate to less than half. The 21 FPS difference between Low and Ultra (73 to 52 FPS) is substantial.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly:

• Low: 51 FPS average.
• Medium: 40 FPS average (min 34, max 46).
• High: 36 FPS average.
• Ultra: 23 FPS average.

At 1440p, even Low settings struggle to maintain 60 FPS, with an average of 51 FPS. The Ultra preset's 23 FPS average is barely playable. The drop from 1080p Low (73 FPS) to 1440p Low (51 FPS) is a 22 FPS loss, highlighting the GPU's struggle with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the performance is largely unplayable:

• Low: 30 FPS average.
• Medium: 24 FPS average (min 20, max 27).
• High: 22 FPS average.
• Ultra: 14 FPS average.

The 4K results are consistently low. Even at Low settings, the average is just 30 FPS. The Ultra preset's 14 FPS average is a slideshow. The difference between 1080p High (52 FPS) and 4K High (22 FPS) is a 30 FPS drop, a 58% reduction. This data quantifies the GPU's severe limitations at high resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo in Greedfall is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the user has a range of options.

For a target of 60 FPS, the Low preset is the only one that achieves it, with an average of 73 FPS. This provides a significant performance headroom. The Medium preset, with an average of 57 FPS, is very close to 60 FPS and offers a better visual quality. Given the minimum FPS of 49, there may be occasional dips, but it is generally a smooth experience. For users who prioritize a stable 60 FPS, Medium is a strong choice.

The High preset at 1080p delivers an average of 52 FPS. This is a compromise between visual fidelity and performance. It may be suitable for users who prefer higher graphical details and can tolerate a frame rate in the 50s. The Ultra preset, at 33 FPS, is not recommended for a good experience, as the frame rate is too low for a responsive action RPG.

At 1440p, the data suggests that only the Low preset, with an average of 51 FPS, is close to playable. The Medium preset at 40 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth. High and Ultra settings at this resolution drop below 36 FPS and should be avoided. At 4K, no preset provides a playable experience, with the highest average being 30 FPS on Low. The data clearly indicates that 1080p is the intended resolution for this hardware combination. For the best balance of visuals and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the recommended starting point, with Low being the fallback for a guaranteed 60+ FPS experience.