Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination. This pairing of a high-end 12-core processor with a flagship Blackwell GPU produces frame rates that span from the comfortably playable to the exceptionally high, depending entirely on the resolution and quality settings selected. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's considerable headroom becomes more apparent at 1080p. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance metrics to provide a clear picture of what users can expect from this specific hardware configuration in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system delivers an average of 235 FPS on High settings. Moving to 1440p, that figure drops to 163 FPS, a reduction of approximately 31%. When scaling further to 4K, the average FPS falls to 97, which is a 41% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 59% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline as resolution increases is the hallmark of a system where the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the primary limiting factor. The compute load on the GPU scales with pixel count, and the data indicates that the RTX 5080's rendering throughput is the bottleneck, not the CPU.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, on Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 150 FPS at 1080p to 104 FPS at 1440p (a 31% decrease), and then to 62 FPS at 4K (a 40% decrease from 1440p). This proportional drop across all quality levels reinforces that the performance ceiling is set by the GPU's fill rate and shader processing capabilities. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is not being stressed to its limit in this scenario. The data suggests that at 4K, the RTX 5080 is working near its maximum capacity, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is likely operating well below its potential, waiting for the GPU to feed it frames.

The implication is clear: for users targeting 4K gaming, the RTX 5080 is the component that will determine the experience. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D provides ample processing power to avoid becoming a bottleneck, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's workload at this resolution. At 1080p, the scales tip slightly, but the GPU still remains the dominant constraint, as evidenced by the fact that even at Low settings, the frame rate scales down predictably with resolution. The data does not show a scenario where the CPU's performance ceiling is reached, even at the lowest resolution and settings tested.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear set of options for different performance targets. For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset, with an average of 150 FPS, is a viable choice for those prioritizing visual fidelity. However, the High preset at 235 FPS offers a substantial increase in smoothness, which is often more beneficial for action RPG combat. The Medium preset at 259 FPS and Low at 329 FPS are available for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, but the visual downgrade may not be worth the frame rate gain for most players in a single-player title like this.

At 1440p, the High preset at 163 FPS is arguably the sweet spot. It provides a high level of detail while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 144Hz refresh rate common on many monitors. The Ultra preset at 104 FPS is still very playable and offers the maximum visual quality, but the drop from 163 to 104 FPS is significant. The data suggests that the Medium preset at 179 FPS provides diminishing returns over High, so High is the recommended balance of image quality and performance at this resolution.

For 4K gaming, the situation is more constrained. The Ultra preset yields an average of 62 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The High preset at 97 FPS is a much better target, providing a smooth and responsive experience while still maintaining a high level of graphical detail. The Medium preset at 107 FPS offers a minor improvement over High with a slight reduction in quality. Given the data, the High preset at 4K is the recommended choice to achieve a solid 60+ FPS experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. The Low preset at 136 FPS is an option for maximum smoothness, but the visual compromise is substantial and likely unnecessary given the High preset's performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination is placed at rank 188 out of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall. This puts the system in the top 6.4% of all tested hardware configurations, indicating a very strong performance tier. The data shows that this is a high-end setup that outperforms the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in this specific game.

The CPU's individual benchmark scores support this high ranking. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and a Geekbench multicore score of 22884. Its nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmark average score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which is 0.6% behind, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, which is 1.3% behind. The AMD processor's 91st percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicates that it is a top-tier part.

Similarly, the RTX 5080's synthetic benchmarks, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 8637 and a Passmark G3D score of 36565, position it as a high-performance GPU. Its percentile ranking of 87 versus all GPUs shows it is also a top performer. The combination of these two parts, both ranking in the top percentiles of their respective categories, results in a composite ranking that is among the best for this game. The high rank of 188 out of 2938 confirms that this is a formidable pairing for Greedfall.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for this combo at 4K with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 at 3840x2160 resolution with High settings is 97 FPS.

Q: How does the performance at 1080p Ultra compare to 4K Ultra?

A: At 1080p with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 150 FPS. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 62 FPS. This represents a 59% reduction in performance when moving to 4K.

Q: Is this CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p?

A: The data shows a significant frame rate drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p and again from 1440p to 4K. This scaling pattern indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the primary limiting component at these resolutions, as the workload increases with pixel count.

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

A: Based on the measured data, the High preset at 2560x1440 provides an average of 163 FPS, which offers an excellent balance of visual quality and high frame rates. The Ultra preset at 104 FPS is also viable for maximum quality.

Q: Does the data show any frame time data for the Medium preset?

A: Yes, the measured FPS data includes minimum and maximum FPS values for the Medium preset. At 1080p, the range is 220 to 297 FPS. At 1440p, it is 152 to 206 FPS. At 4K, it is 91 to 123 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in Greedfall?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination is ranked 188th out of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall, placing it in the top 6.4% of all tested systems.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the dominant component in this configuration for Greedfall. Its 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for the textures and assets in this title. The data shows that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the primary factor in the frame rate differences between resolutions.

The RTX 5080's core configuration includes 10752 shading units, 336 texture mapping units, and 112 ROPs. Its base clock is 2295 MHz, with a boost clock of 2617 MHz. These specifications translate to a pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is rated at 56.28 TFLOPS. These figures indicate a GPU with immense raw processing power, which is reflected in the high frame rates seen at 1080p and 1440p.

The GPU's role becomes clear when observing the frame rate scaling. The fact that 4K Ultra produces an average of 62 FPS, while 1080p Ultra produces 150 FPS, suggests that the GPU is being pushed to its limits at the higher resolution. The 4K High preset at 97 FPS is a more comfortable operating point for the GPU, indicating that reducing the quality settings is an effective way to alleviate the load on the RTX 5080. The data confirms that the GPU is the performance gatekeeper in this setup, and its 87th percentile ranking versus all GPUs aligns with its observed behavior in this game.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D serves as the supporting foundation for the RTX 5080 in this benchmark. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, this processor has substantial compute headroom. Its 128 MB of L3 cache is a defining feature, aiding in reducing memory latency for game data. However, in this specific test, the CPU does not appear to be the bottleneck.

The evidence for this is the consistent frame rate drop as resolution increases. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would be more similar across resolutions, as the CPU's workload is relatively constant regardless of pixel count. Instead, we see a clear decline in FPS from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. For example, the 1080p High average is 235 FPS, while the 1440p High average is 163 FPS. The CPU is able to feed the GPU with frames at a rate high enough to not impede performance at 1080p, as evidenced by the 329 FPS result on Low settings.

The CPU's synthetic benchmark scores, such as the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and the Passmark multithread score of 56154, place it in the 91st percentile versus all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, has a similar average score, with a deltaPct of -0.6%. This shows that the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a top-tier processor, but its performance potential is not fully utilized in this game at higher resolutions. It provides a stable platform without introducing frame pacing issues or becoming a limiting factor, allowing the RTX 5080 to operate at its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact average FPS measurements for Greedfall with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average FPS is 329.
• Medium: Average FPS is 259, with a minimum of 220 and a maximum of 297.
• High: Average FPS is 235.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 150.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average FPS is 228.
• Medium: Average FPS is 179, with a minimum of 152 and a maximum of 206.
• High: Average FPS is 163.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 104.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average FPS is 136.
• Medium: Average FPS is 107, with a minimum of 91 and a maximum of 123.
• High: Average FPS is 97.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 62.

The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions, with Low settings delivering the highest frame rates and Ultra the lowest. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, providing a frame time window. The performance deltas between presets are substantial, particularly at 4K, where the difference between Ultra (62 FPS) and Low (136 FPS) is more than double. This indicates that users have a wide range of tuning options to achieve their desired performance target.