Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG from Spiders, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. This combination delivers a wide range of performance depending on how you configure the game's graphics settings. The measured data shows a system that is overwhelmingly capable at standard high-refresh-rate resolutions but can be pushed to its limits when extreme settings are enabled at 4K. The benchmark results for this pairing demonstrate a clear hierarchy where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases, while the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures high frame rates in less demanding scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K highlights a classic shift in system bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 250.7 FPS, indicating that the CPU and GPU are working with significant overhead. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average drops to 173.8 FPS, which is a substantial decrease of roughly 31%. This scaling suggests that even at 1440p, the GPU is beginning to take on more work, but the frame rate remains exceptionally high. When jumping to 4K at Low settings, the average falls to 100.4 FPS, a further drop of about 42% from 1440p. This pattern confirms that the RTX 3080 Ti is the limiting factor at 4K, as the workload on the graphics card increases exponentially with pixel count.

The scaling behavior is even more pronounced when comparing higher quality presets. With High settings, the system achieves 178.7 FPS at 1080p, 123.1 FPS at 1440p, and 75 FPS at 4K. The transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a 31% performance loss, while moving from 1440p to 4K incurs a 39% loss. This indicates that the game's High preset introduces a more balanced load between the CPU and GPU at 1440p, but the 4K resolution still heavily favors GPU-bound performance. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with a 112.4 FPS average at 1080p, dropping to 75.5 FPS at 1440p (a 33% decrease), and then falling to 47.4 FPS at 4K (a 37% decrease from 1440p). The data clearly shows that for Greedfall, the RTX 3080 Ti's capabilities are best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where it can push very high frame rates, while 4K gaming requires a compromise in settings to maintain smooth gameplay.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its benchmark scores indicate a strong performer, with a single-thread score of 3925 in Passmark and a multi-thread score of 27575. In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data suggests that this processor is rarely the limiting factor, especially at lower resolutions. The high frame rates seen at 1080p, such as 250.7 FPS on Low settings, are only achievable if the CPU can process the game's instructions quickly enough. The i5-12600KF's 3DMark results, including a single-thread score of 1016 and a 4-thread score of 3806, demonstrate its capability to handle the primary game thread efficiently.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals shows it is a balanced choice. Its average benchmark score is 27827, which puts it nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27829, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-12600K (27851, -0.1% delta). This indicates that the "KF" variant offers essentially the same processing power as its more common counterpart. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide a solid foundation for gaming. In Greedfall, the CPU's strong single-thread performance is crucial for maintaining high frame rates, as the game likely does not scale perfectly across all 16 threads. The data shows that the CPU can keep up with the GPU at 1080p, but as resolution increases and the GPU becomes the bottleneck, the CPU's workload becomes relatively less demanding, allowing it to maintain high frame rates even at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. Its GA102 chip, built on an 8 nm process, includes 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores. The GPU's boost clock is 1665 MHz, and it has a TDP of 350 W. In Greedfall, the GPU's role is straightforward: it is responsible for rendering the game's visuals, and its performance directly dictates the frame rates at higher resolutions and settings. The benchmark data shows that the RTX 3080 Ti is a powerful card, but it is not infallible at 4K with the Ultra preset, where it delivers only 47.4 FPS. This indicates that Greedfall's Ultra settings are particularly demanding, likely due to heavy use of volumetric effects, shadows, and post-processing.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 41224, which places it just behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (41441, -0.5% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (41610, -0.9% delta). This suggests that the RTX 3080 Ti is a top-tier card, but not the absolute fastest. In Greedfall, the 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for all tested configurations, as there are no signs of memory-related stuttering or performance drops. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s is also ample for the game's textures at 4K. The data reveals that the GPU's performance scales predictably with resolution, and the only time it struggles is when the Ultra preset is combined with 4K resolution. For most other scenarios, the RTX 3080 Ti provides a smooth and highly playable experience, with frame rates well above 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Looking at the measured frame rates, the system's performance is categorized by resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from a low of 112.4 on Ultra to a high of 250.7 on Low. The Medium preset produces an average of 195 FPS, while High yields 178.7 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, all settings are highly playable, and even the most demanding preset (Ultra) provides a frame rate suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. The difference between Low and Ultra is 138.3 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset significantly increases the GPU workload, but the hardware still handles it well.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain impressive. The Low preset delivers an average of 173.8 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings produce 137.5 FPS, and High settings achieve 123.1 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 75.5 FPS, which is still smooth for most players but represents a significant reduction from the other presets. The data at 1440p suggests that the RTX 3080 Ti is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU is likely not limiting performance at this resolution. The gap between Medium and High is only 14.4 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 47.6 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset introduces a disproportionately large performance hit.

At 4K (3840x2160), the system's performance is more constrained. The Low preset yields an average of 100.4 FPS, which is excellent for 4K gaming. Medium settings produce 83.4 FPS, and High settings drop to 75 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 47.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for a fully smooth experience. The data shows a clear trend: each increase in settings from Low to Ultra at 4K results in a noticeable frame rate drop, with the Ultra preset being the only one that pushes the system to its limits. The difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low is 150.3 FPS, highlighting the massive impact of resolution on the GPU workload.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Greedfall, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti holds a rank of 420 out of 1705 total combos. This places it in the top 25% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a high-performing configuration. The rank reflects the overall capability of the system across all tested scenarios, not just the highest settings. The combo's position is influenced by its strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, where it can achieve very high frame rates, but it is held back by its lower performance at 4K Ultra settings. The rank of 420 suggests that there are many other combinations that can outperform it, likely with more powerful GPUs like the RTX 3090 or newer cards, but it also means that this combo is more capable than the majority of systems tested.

The ranking is a useful metric for understanding the system's overall standing, but it does not tell the whole story. The data shows that for players who prioritize high frame rates at 1440p, this combo is an excellent choice, as it can easily exceed 120 FPS on High settings. For 4K gaming, the system is still viable, but users will need to stick to Medium or High settings to maintain playable frame rates. The combo's rank of 420 out of 1705 indicates that it is a solid performer, but not a top-tier enthusiast configuration. The fact that it is outranked by 419 other combos suggests that there is room for improvement, but the i5-12600KF and RTX 3080 Ti together provide a balanced and powerful platform for Greedfall.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's resolution and performance goals. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is viable, delivering an average of 112.4 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. However, the data shows that the High preset at 178.7 FPS provides a significantly smoother experience with a marginal visual difference, making it a better choice for competitive or fast-paced play. The Medium preset at 195 FPS offers even higher frame rates, but the visual quality reduction may not be worth the extra 16 FPS over High. For most players at 1080p, the High preset is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended setting, as it delivers an average of 123.1 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 75.5 FPS is still playable, but the drop from High to Ultra is substantial, and the visual improvements may not justify the 47.6 FPS loss. The Medium preset at 137.5 FPS is a viable alternative for those who want a bit more headroom, but the High preset offers a better balance. For 4K gaming, the High preset at 75 FPS is the best option, as it provides a smooth experience with good visual quality. The Medium preset at 83.4 FPS is also a strong contender, offering slightly better performance with a minor visual compromise. The Ultra preset at 47.4 FPS should be avoided, as it falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stutter. The Low preset at 100.4 FPS is excellent for maximizing frame rate, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. In summary, the High preset is the recommended choice for most users at 1440p and 4K, while 1080p users can comfortably use Ultra if they prefer maximum detail.