Greedfall

Greedfall is a 2019 Action RPG that stresses both CPU and GPU depending on the settings and resolution. This analysis examines the Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B390, using measured data from 12 benchmark rows. The results show a configuration that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides sufficient headroom at 1080p. The data reveals a clear narrative: the Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck for this specific combo, and its performance characteristics dominate the experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance cliff as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 84 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 58 FPS, a reduction of 26 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 35 FPS. This represents a 58% performance loss from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, indicating that the rendering workload scales aggressively with pixel count.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. With Medium settings, the averages are 66 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K. High settings yield 60 FPS at 1080p, 42 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings produce the lowest numbers: 38 FPS at 1080p, 27 FPS at 1440p, and 16 FPS at 4K. The consistent drop between each resolution step, roughly 20-30 FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p and another 15-20 FPS from 1440p to 4K, suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

The data indicates that the limiting component is unambiguously the GPU. The Intel Core i5-12400 has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz and 6 cores, which should be sufficient for this title's CPU demands. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is characteristic of a graphics-bound scenario, where the frame rate is determined by how quickly the GPU can process pixels rather than how fast the CPU can issue draw calls. Notably, the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions: a 46 FPS difference at 1080p (84 vs 38) versus a 19 FPS difference at 4K (35 vs 16). This compression at 4K suggests that the GPU is saturated even at Low settings, leaving little room for additional graphical features.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this configuration. Its specifications are modest: 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The boost clock is 2500 MHz, with a base clock of 300 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system's RAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical limitation, as the GPU cannot leverage dedicated VRAM bandwidth.

The GPU's benchmark profile is weak. It scores 1482 in the 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all legacy NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (1463 score, 1.3% delta), GeForce 800M (1460 score, 1.5% delta), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446 score, 2.5% delta), and GeForce GT 710 (1443 score, 2.7% delta). This positioning underscores that the Arc B390 is not a performance part; it sits at the very bottom of the GPU hierarchy.

The 12 RT cores and 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance are nominal, but the shared memory architecture likely cripples real-world throughput. In Greedfall, the measured FPS reflects this: even at 1080p Low, the combo only reaches 84 FPS, which is far below what a modern discrete GPU would achieve. The 4K Ultra result of 16 FPS is nearly unplayable, and the 4K Medium result of 27 FPS with a minimum of 23 FPS shows severe frame time inconsistency. The GPU is the clear bottleneck at every resolution and preset combination tested.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 2595 out of 2938 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems for Greedfall. This is a poor ranking, reflecting the GPU's weak standing. The Intel Core i5-12400, by contrast, is a much stronger component. It ranks in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest CPU rivals are the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697 score, -0.1% delta), Intel Core i7-1355U (18730 score, -0.3% delta), AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18811 score, -0.7% delta), and Intel Core i3-14100F (18519 score, 0.9% delta). The i5-12400 is effectively on par with these parts, with deltas under 1%.

The discrepancy between the CPU's 72nd percentile ranking and the combo's bottom-12% ranking is stark. This indicates that the GPU is holding the entire system back. If the i5-12400 were paired with a more capable GPU, the combo ranking would likely improve dramatically. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor; the Arc B390 is. For Greedfall, this specific pairing results in a system that cannot deliver smooth frame rates at any resolution above 1080p Low, despite having a competent processor.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, producing an average of 84 FPS. This is the only configuration that consistently exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 66 FPS on average, with a minimum of 56 FPS, which is playable but with occasional dips below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings at 1080p produce 60 FPS average, which is acceptable for a title like Greedfall.

At 2560x1440, the options are more limited. Low settings produce 58 FPS, which is borderline. Medium settings drop to 46 FPS, and High to 42 FPS. None of these are ideal for a smooth experience. At 3840x2160, all settings produce sub-35 FPS averages, with Ultra at 16 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K is not viable with this combo.

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the 1080p Medium preset is the recommended choice. It provides a 66 FPS average with a minimum of 56 FPS, offering a slight visual improvement over Low while maintaining playability. The 1080p High preset is also viable at 60 FPS average, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, so Medium is safer. Users with a 1440p monitor should stick to Low settings to stay near 60 FPS, and 4K should be avoided entirely.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Greedfall?

A: The best resolution is 1920x1080. At this resolution, Low settings achieve 84 FPS average, Medium achieves 66 FPS, and High achieves 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the highest average is 58 FPS on Low. At 3840x2160, the highest average is 35 FPS on Low.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710 (1443). It ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The Intel Core i5-12400 ranks in the 72nd percentile of CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683. The combo ranks 2595 out of 2938, which is in the bottom 12%. The GPU's weak performance, with a 9th percentile ranking, drags the combo down.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 66, with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 76. This is the most balanced preset for smooth gameplay.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Greedfall?

A: No. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only produce 35 FPS average. Medium settings produce 27 FPS average, High produces 25 FPS, and Ultra produces 16 FPS. These frame rates are not playable.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. It is 0.1% slower than the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697), 0.3% slower than the Intel Core i7-1355U (18730), 0.7% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18811), and 0.9% faster than the Intel Core i3-14100F (18519).

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen series, based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU supports a 65W TDP and features 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Its memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus. The processor also includes UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics, though the discrete Arc B390 is used for gaming.

In benchmark tests, the i5-12400 demonstrates solid multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R23 scores are 15989 for multi-core and 2257 for single-core. Geekbench scores are 8564 for multi-core and 1848 for single-core. The 3dmark scores show scaling from 1692 at 2 threads to 5890 at max threads. These numbers indicate that the CPU is capable of handling modern games without being a bottleneck.

In Greedfall, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic. The data suggests that the i5-12400 is more than adequate for this task. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 84 FPS, which is a reasonable ceiling for this GPU. If the GPU were faster, the CPU could likely push higher frame rates, given its 72nd percentile ranking. The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 and Intel Core i7-1355U, all within 0.7% of its average score. This places the i5-12400 in a strong position, but its potential is unrealized in this pairing due to the Arc B390's limitations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across 12 configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 84 FPS. Medium settings produce 66 FPS average, with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 76. High settings produce 60 FPS average. Ultra settings produce 38 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline of roughly 18-22 FPS per preset step, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings produce 58 FPS average. Medium settings produce 46 FPS average, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High settings produce 42 FPS average. Ultra settings produce 27 FPS average. The gap between Low and Ultra is 31 FPS, which is smaller than the 46 FPS gap at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is nearing its limits even at Low settings.

At 3840x2160, the results are marginal. Low settings produce 35 FPS average. Medium settings produce 27 FPS average, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 32. High settings produce 25 FPS average. Ultra settings produce 16 FPS average. The range between Low and Ultra is only 19 FPS, showing that the GPU is heavily saturated at this resolution. The 4K Medium minimum of 23 FPS is particularly notable, as it indicates significant frame pacing issues.

The overall pattern is clear: the combo is only playable at 1080p, with Low and Medium settings offering the best results. At 1440p, only Low settings approach playability. At 4K, all settings are below acceptable thresholds. The data shows a system that is severely GPU-limited, with the CPU providing ample headroom that cannot be utilized. This is a configuration suited for 1080p gaming at modest settings, and nothing more.