Greedfall

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 is a balanced mid-range combination for Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG. The CPU, a 14-core, 20-thread Raptor Lake Refresh part with a 3.50 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost clock, sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU, an RDNA 2.0 part with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, sits in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. This performance gap is crucial: at lower resolutions, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but as resolution increases, the load shifts, revealing the CPU's strength. The data shows a system that delivers playable frame rates at 1440p in most settings, but struggles with Ultra settings at 4K, making it a practical choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-14600K provides the foundational processing power for this combo. With 14 cores and 20 threads, it offers substantial multi-threading capability, which is reflected in its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32881. Its single-thread performance is equally strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4642, and a Geekbench single-core score of 2803. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory ensure it can feed data to the GPU efficiently. The processor also has a 125 W TDP and uses an Intel Socket 1700, featuring integrated UHD Graphics 770, though the discrete GPU handles rendering in this test.

In Greedfall, the CPU's role becomes evident when examining the frame rate at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system hits 140.4 FPS. This high frame rate, relative to the GPU's 8.9 TFLOPS FP32 performance, suggests the CPU is capable of keeping up with the GPU's output. However, the CPU is not the limiting factor here. The data indicates the RX 6600 is the bottleneck at 1080p, as the performance delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles (93rd vs 69th) is significant. The CPU's 5.30 GHz boost clock is more than sufficient for the game's logic and AI, allowing the GPU to reach its maximum potential. The i5-14600K's nearest rivals, like the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, show a negligible 0.2% difference in average benchmark score, confirming that this CPU is not holding back the system in any meaningful way.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 6600 in Greedfall?

A: No. The i5-14600K ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the RX 6600 ranks in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Since the GPU is significantly weaker relative to its peers, it is the limiting component in this configuration.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60+ FPS experience?

A: At 1920x1080, all tested settings except Ultra (65 FPS) exceed 100 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low (98.4 FPS), High (69.3 FPS), and Medium (74.3 FPS) all achieve above 60 FPS, making 1440p viable for most settings.

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

A: The i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 49166. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, scores 49062, a delta of 0.2%. The Intel Core i5-14600KF scores 49367, which is -0.4% relative to the 14600K, meaning the K variant is slightly faster.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings in Greedfall?

A: It depends on resolution. At 1080p, Ultra delivers 65 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 46.1 FPS. At 4K, Ultra is only 28.5 FPS, which is not a playable experience.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the GPU and does it affect performance?

A: The RX 6600 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 128-bit bus width, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The data shows this configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 28.5 FPS, indicating the GPU is overwhelmed.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern that identifies the GPU as the primary constraint. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves 101.4 FPS. This is a strong result. Moving to 2560x1440 at High settings, the frame rate drops to 69.3 FPS, a reduction of about 31.6%. The scaling continues at 3840x2160, where High settings yield only 44.1 FPS. This pattern—a significant drop at each resolution step—is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

The data for Low settings further confirms this analysis. At 1080p Low, the system hits 140.4 FPS, which is a high frame rate that likely approaches the CPU's limit. However, at 1440p Low, the frame rate is 98.4 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 55.4 FPS. The performance degradation from 1080p to 1440p (a 30% drop) and from 1440p to 4K (a 44% drop) is much larger than what a CPU bottleneck would cause. A CPU bottleneck would show flat or near-identical FPS across resolutions. The data instead shows a consistent decline, which points directly to the GPU's pixel-pushing capabilities. The RX 6600's 159.4 GPixel/s pixel rate and 8.9 TFLOPS FP32 performance are simply not enough to maintain high frame rates as pixel count increases, particularly at 4K Ultra, where the system falls to 28.5 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific configuration of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 6600 ranks 1346 out of 1705 tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the bottom 21% of all combinations tested. This ranking is logical given the GPU's performance tier. While the CPU is a high-end part (93rd percentile), the GPU is a mid-range part (69th percentile), and the overall combo ranking reflects the weaker component's limits. The rank suggests that many other combinations, likely those with higher-end GPUs, will achieve better frame rates.

This ranking is not a negative verdict for the hardware itself, but rather a reflection of the balance of this particular pairing. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as its Passmark multithread score of 38682, are excellent, but in a GPU-bound game like Greedfall, the GPU dictates the final performance. The combo's rank of 1346 out of 1705 indicates there is headroom for a more powerful GPU to take advantage of the CPU's capabilities. The data shows that users with this CPU could upgrade to a faster graphics card without worrying about a CPU bottleneck. The GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 890M, has a delta of 0%, showing that the RX 6600 is at the bottom of its performance class.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

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

1920x1080: At this resolution, the system is at its best. With Low settings, the average FPS is 140.4. Medium settings deliver 112 FPS, and High settings result in 101.4 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, producing an average of 65 FPS. All settings at 1080p are playable, with even Ultra exceeding the 60 FPS threshold.

2560x1440: At 1440p, performance is still solid for most settings. Low settings achieve 98.4 FPS, which is an excellent result. Medium settings yield 74.3 FPS, and High settings drop slightly to 69.3 FPS. These three settings all provide a smooth experience above 60 FPS. Ultra settings, however, fall below the smooth threshold at 46.1 FPS, making them less ideal for fast-paced action.

3840x2160: At 4K, the system struggles. Low settings are the only option that approaches playability, with an average of 55.4 FPS. Medium settings drop to 46.2 FPS, and High settings fall further to 44.1 FPS. Ultra settings are not viable, with an average of only 28.5 FPS, which is well below the minimum for a smooth experience. The data shows that 4K gaming is not a realistic target for this combination, except at the lowest settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For a 1080p display, the data supports using High settings, which delivers 101.4 FPS. This is a smooth, high-quality experience. Ultra settings are possible, but the drop to 65 FPS means a significant loss of fluidity for a modest visual gain. Medium settings at 112 FPS are also a valid choice for competitive play, but High offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

For a 1440p display, High settings are the clear recommendation. At 69.3 FPS, it provides a smooth experience that is close to the 60 FPS baseline. Medium settings at 74.3 FPS are also good, but High is the sweet spot for visual quality. Ultra settings at 46.1 FPS should be avoided, as the frame rate is below the threshold for a comfortable experience. Low settings at 98.4 FPS are an option for players who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual sacrifice is substantial.

For a 4K display, the options are limited. Low settings are the only choice that provides a near-playable experience at 55.4 FPS. Medium settings at 46.2 FPS and High settings at 44.1 FPS are too slow for a responsive game. Ultra settings at 28.5 FPS are not a viable option. The data suggests that for 4K, a lower resolution like 1440p with High settings is the better path, as it offers a far superior frame rate. The best overall experience per the measured rows is 1440p with High settings, which balances visual quality with a playable 69.3 FPS.