Greedfall

Greedfall, an Action RPG from 2019, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, using benchmark data to interpret how this combination handles the game across various resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is 246.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K scores 32,881 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X's average score of 49,062 in the composite benchmark average.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 49.6 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s, utilizing 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for Greedfall?

A: This combo ranks 498th out of 1,705 tested combinations, placing it in the top third of all tested systems.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the CPU?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the primary driver of frame rates in Greedfall, particularly at higher resolutions. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is substantial for a game from 2019 that was designed around the hardware of its era. The GPU's boost clock reaches 2970 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz, indicating high sustained performance potential.

The data shows that the GPU's capabilities scale significantly with settings. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial, with the average FPS dropping from 246.4 to 113.2. This 133.2 FPS gap highlights how much headroom the GPU has at lower resolutions, where it is less likely to be the limiting factor. However, at 3840x2160, the GPU's workload increases dramatically, as evidenced by the Ultra setting producing only 49.6 FPS. This suggests that at 4K with maximum settings, the RX 9070 XT is being pushed to its limits.

The GPU's architecture, RDNA 4.0, is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC with 53,900 million transistors. This modern design contributes to its efficiency and performance, but Greedfall's engine may not fully utilize all its features. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is capable of high frame rates, but the game's optimization and the demands of Ultra settings at 4K create a bottleneck that prevents it from maintaining playable performance in that specific configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 246.4 at 1920x1080 to 173.4 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 73 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average FPS falls further to 103.3. This represents a 58% decrease in performance from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, indicating the GPU is becoming more stressed as pixel count increases.

The scaling at Ultra settings is even more dramatic. The average FPS at 1080p is 113.2, which drops to 80.7 at 1440p and then plummets to 49.6 at 4K. This 63.6 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at Ultra settings suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions, as the additional pixel workload overwhelms its processing capabilities. The data implies that the transition from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing, with a 31.1 FPS drop at Ultra settings.

The pattern indicates that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU may still have some influence on performance, especially at lower settings where frame rates exceed 170 FPS. However, at 4K, the GPU's workload becomes so dominant that the CPU's role is minimized. The data suggests that for this game, 4K Ultra is a challenging target, while 1440p offers a more balanced experience across all settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT ranks 498th out of 1,705 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it in the upper 29% of all tested systems, indicating it is a solid performer but not at the absolute top tier. The ranking suggests that while this combo delivers high frame rates in many scenarios, there are other configurations that can achieve even better results.

The CPU alone sits in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 82nd percentile against all GPUs. This discrepancy suggests that the GPU may be the weaker link in this pairing, potentially limiting the system's overall ranking. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600KF, has an average benchmark score that is 0.4% higher, indicating the KF variant offers marginally better performance. The GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 575, is 0.1% behind, showing that the RX 9070 XT is competitively positioned among its peers.

The rank of 498 out of 1,705 implies that while this combo is strong, it is not exceptional. The data suggests that for Greedfall, a game that is not particularly demanding by modern standards, this combo is more than sufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but it may not be the optimal choice for 4K Ultra gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. Low settings produce 246.4 FPS, Medium settings yield 192.6 FPS, High settings deliver 176.1 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 113.2 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the combo is capable of exceeding 100 FPS even at the highest quality settings, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low settings produce 173.4 FPS, Medium settings yield 132.7 FPS, High settings deliver 120.4 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 80.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 92.7 FPS, showing that settings choices have a significant impact on performance.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more modest. Low settings produce 103.3 FPS, Medium settings yield 77.3 FPS, High settings deliver 73.1 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 49.6 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS, indicating that this is the most demanding scenario for the combo. The data shows a consistent trend: each resolution increase and each settings tier up results in a measurable performance hit, with the most significant drops occurring at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, Ultra settings at 113.2 FPS provide an excellent experience, as the frame rate remains well above 60 FPS. This is the recommended choice for users with high-refresh-rate displays who want maximum visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 120.4 FPS offer a strong balance between visual quality and performance. Ultra settings at 80.7 FPS are still playable, but the 39.7 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the visual improvement for all users. Medium settings at 132.7 FPS are also a viable option for those prioritizing higher frame rates.

For 3840x2160, High settings at 73.1 FPS provide a smooth experience, while Ultra settings at 49.6 FPS fall below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in noticeable stuttering. The data suggests that High settings are the best choice for 4K gaming, as they maintain playable frame rates without sacrificing too much visual quality. Low settings at 103.3 FPS are also viable for users who prioritize performance over visuals.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K features 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This configuration provides strong multi-threaded performance for gaming and productivity tasks. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB L2 cache per core help reduce latency and improve data access speeds.

In Greedfall, the CPU's role is most apparent at lower resolutions and settings, where frame rates exceed 170 FPS. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS of 246.4 suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's performance has less impact on the final frame rate.

The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,881 and single-core score of 4,642 indicate strong performance across both metrics. Its 93rd percentile ranking against all CPUs confirms that it is a high-end processor. The data suggests that for Greedfall, the i5-14600K is more than sufficient to avoid becoming a limiting factor, even at high frame rates. The CPU's 20 threads and 5.30 GHz boost clock ensure that it can handle the game's physics and AI calculations without impacting overall performance.