Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i5-11400F and Intel Arc B390 combination. The measured frame rates across resolutions reveal a system that is consistently constrained by the graphics processor, with the CPU providing ample headroom. This analysis examines the scaling behavior, component roles, and overall ranking of this pairing based strictly on the provided benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K clearly identifies the Intel Arc B390 as the primary bottleneck in this configuration. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces an average of 60 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average drops to 42 FPS, a reduction of 18 FPS or 30%. The jump to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, yielding just 25 FPS on average, which is a further 17 FPS decline from the 1440p result. This steep and consistent drop as resolution increases is a classic indicator of GPU-limited performance.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At Low settings, the system achieves 84 FPS at 1080p, 58 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K. This scaling shows that even when graphical load is minimized, the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low is a 49 FPS loss, representing a 58% reduction in performance. This is a stark illustration of the pixel throughput demands placed on the Arc B390.

The scaling factor between each resolution step is telling. From 1080p to 1440p, the frame rate drops by roughly 30% at all settings. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is even more severe, averaging around 40% across presets. This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth or raw fill rate is being saturated at higher resolutions. The Intel Arc B390, with its system-shared memory and dependent bandwidth, struggles as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The data indicates that 1080p is the only viable resolution for smooth gameplay, and even then, only at lower presets. The 60 FPS average at 1080p High is playable, but the 38 FPS at 1080p Ultra shows the limits of the GPU. At 1440p, the system falls below 60 FPS even on Low, making it unsuitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. The 4K results, ranging from 16 FPS at Ultra to 35 FPS at Low, are universally below playable thresholds, confirming that this resolution is out of reach for this combination.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the defining component in this system's gaming performance. Its benchmark data shows a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile is reflected in the measured FPS. The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts, including the GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463 (1.3% higher) and the GeForce GT 710 with a score of 1443 (2.7% lower). This positioning confirms the Arc B390 is at the entry-level segment of the GPU market.

The GPU's specifications explain its performance ceiling. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. While the boost clock is respectable, the card is limited by its other characteristics. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. These figures, while numerically specific, translate directly to the frame rate drops observed when resolution increases, as the GPU must process more pixels and textures.

The memory configuration is a significant limiting factor. The Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width is also listed as "System Shared," and bandwidth is described as "System Dependent." This architecture means the GPU's performance is tied to the CPU's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. For a game like Greedfall, which requires frequent texture streaming, this shared memory arrangement creates a bottleneck that prevents higher frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions where memory demand is greater.

The GPU's performance at different settings highlights its limitations. At 1080p, the difference between Low (84 FPS) and Ultra (38 FPS) is 46 FPS, showing the significant impact of graphical fidelity on this GPU. At 4K, the spread narrows to 19 FPS (35 FPS Low vs 16 FPS Ultra), indicating that the GPU is so overwhelmed at this resolution that settings adjustments have less impact. The GPU is also an integrated part (IGP) of the processor, using the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, which further constrains its thermal and power envelope to 80 W.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F provides more than sufficient processing power for this game, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling. With 6 cores and 12 threads, base clock of 2.60 GHz, and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, the CPU is not the limiting factor in any of the measured scenarios. The CPU's benchmark scores are robust, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and a single-core score of 2024. These scores place the CPU in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, a stark contrast to the GPU's 9th percentile.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database show its competitive position. The AMD EPYC 7H12 scores 17120 (0.3% higher), while the Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17239 (0.4% lower). This grouping suggests the 11400F performs around the same level as these varied processors. For gaming, the CPU's single-thread performance is often more critical, and the Geekbench single-core score of 1777, along with a 3DMark single-thread score of 868, indicates it can handle game logic and draw calls without issue.

The evidence for CPU headroom is in the FPS data. If the CPU were the bottleneck, frame rates would plateau or drop as settings are lowered, because the GPU would be waiting on the CPU. Instead, the data shows that lowering settings from Ultra to Low at any given resolution increases FPS. At 1080p, Low yields 84 FPS while Ultra yields 38 FPS, a 46 FPS difference that can only be attributed to GPU workload. This pattern is consistent across all resolutions, confirming the CPU is delivering frames as fast as the GPU can render them.

The CPU's memory support also plays a role. It uses DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This is the same memory the GPU relies on for its "System Shared" memory pool. While the CPU can utilize this bandwidth efficiently, the GPU's dependency on it for both system and graphics tasks could create latency issues. However, the benchmark results show that even with this shared arrangement, the CPU is not the primary constraint. The Core i5-11400F is an end-of-life product with a launch MSRP of $157, but its processing capabilities remain relevant for this workload.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured average frame rates at 3840x2160 range from 16 FPS at Ultra settings to 35 FPS at Low settings. These figures are well below the standard 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, making 4K unplayable with this hardware.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset yields an average of 60 FPS, which is the most demanding playable setting. The Low preset achieves 84 FPS and Medium achieves 66 FPS, but Ultra drops to 38 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: How much of a performance drop is seen from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 60 FPS at 1080p to 42 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 30%. At Low settings, the drop is from 84 FPS to 58 FPS, also a 30% decrease. This consistent reduction indicates a GPU bottleneck.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F or the Intel Arc B390 the limiting factor?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is the clear limiting factor. The GPU ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 71st percentile. The FPS scaling with resolution and settings changes confirms the GPU is saturated, while the CPU has excess capacity.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463, putting the Arc B390 1.3% ahead. The GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, which is 2.7% lower than the Arc B390.

Q: What is the impact of changing graphics settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 27 FPS at Ultra to 58 FPS at Low. The Medium preset achieves 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. None of these settings reach 60 FPS, indicating the GPU is the primary constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2595 out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall. This places the pairing in the bottom 12% of all systems tested for this specific game. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited performance, as the CPU is well above average. The disparity between the CPU's 71st percentile ranking and the combo's low overall rank underscores how severely the GPU drags down the system's gaming capability.

The rank of 2595 indicates that the vast majority of other tested combinations deliver higher average frame rates in Greedfall. This is expected given the Arc B390's position in the GPU hierarchy, where it sits near the bottom with a 9th percentile ranking. The system is effectively held back by its graphics solution, preventing the capable CPU from demonstrating its full potential in this title. The combo's performance is more in line with entry-level laptops or budget desktops than with a system featuring a dedicated mid-range CPU.

The data suggests that this combo is best suited for older or less demanding games, or for esports titles that are CPU-bound. For a game like Greedfall, which has significant graphical demands, the combo fails to provide a consistent 60 FPS experience at 1080p with high settings. The ranking reflects this reality, showing that users with this hardware would need to make significant compromises on resolution and settings to achieve playable frame rates. The 2595th position out of 2938 is a clear statement that this is not a gaming-focused combination.

The high rank number (2595) means lower performance, as ranks are numbered with 1 being the best. This places the combo in the bottom percentile of performance. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340, are wasted in this configuration because the GPU cannot translate that processing power into higher frame rates. The bottleneck is so pronounced that even at 1080p Low, the system only manages 84 FPS, a figure that many other combos would exceed with ease.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average frame rates for the Intel Core i5-11400F and Intel Arc B390 in Greedfall. All figures are directly from the benchmark results.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 84. Medium settings produce an average of 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 76. High settings yield an average of 60 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, resulting in an average of 38 FPS. These numbers show a clear progression where each step up in quality costs a significant amount of performance.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop across the board. Low settings average 58 FPS. Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High settings average 42 FPS. Ultra settings drop to an average of 27 FPS. The system falls below the 60 FPS threshold even at Low settings, demonstrating the GPU's struggle with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the performance is marginal at best. Low settings average 35 FPS. Medium settings average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 32. High settings average 25 FPS. Ultra settings plummet to an average of 16 FPS. None of these settings provide a playable experience, as even the lowest setting cannot maintain a stable 30 FPS.

The frame time consistency also degrades with resolution. At 1080p Medium, the variance between minimum and maximum is 20 FPS (56 to 76). At 1440p Medium, the variance is 14 FPS (39 to 53). At 4K Medium, the variance is 9 FPS (23 to 32). While the absolute variance shrinks, the relative variance grows as the average FPS drops, leading to less stable frame pacing at higher resolutions. The data shows a system that is firmly entry-level, with its best case scenario being 1080p at medium to high settings for a playable experience.