Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents a varied performance landscape depending on the resolution and quality preset selected. This analysis examines the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, using measured frame rate data to determine the optimal configurations for this specific hardware combination. The benchmark results indicate a system that is highly capable at lower resolutions but faces significant challenges when pushed to maximum settings at 4K.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1440p offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The High preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 100.3 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while 1080p reaches up to 205.3 FPS on Low settings.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High at 1080p?

A: The data shows a substantial performance cost for the Ultra preset. At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 145.9 FPS, but selecting Ultra drops the average to 95.1 FPS. This is a significant reduction of over 50 FPS for the increased graphical fidelity.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 3840x2160, the High preset achieves a playable average of 63 FPS. However, the Ultra preset at the same resolution drops to an average of 40.7 FPS, which may not provide a consistently smooth experience for all users.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Medium settings at 1440p?

A: The performance gap is noticeable. The Low preset at 2560x1440 averages 144.3 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 109.5 FPS. This represents a 34.8 FPS difference, indicating that the Medium preset offers a more balanced visual upgrade for a moderate performance hit.

Q: Is the Core i5-14600KF a bottleneck for the RTX 3070 in this game?

A: The data does not suggest a significant bottleneck. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, indicated by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4643, allows the GPU to scale effectively across different resolutions, as seen in the substantial FPS increases when lowering resolution at the same settings.

Q: How does this combo's rank compare to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 781 out of 1705 tested combinations. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer for this specific title, it outperforms the majority of other hardware pairings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core processor with 20 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In Greedfall, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The benchmark results show that this processor is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 3070 at most settings. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 205.3, a figure that is unlikely to be limited by the CPU's processing power.

The CPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks provides context for its gaming capabilities. It scores 32889 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4643 in single-core tests. This strong single-core performance is often more critical for gaming than raw multi-core throughput. The processor's percentile ranking of 93 among all CPUs further confirms its high-end status. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is virtually tied with the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, with deltaPct values of 0.4 and 0.6 respectively, meaning it is slightly faster on average. This indicates that the 14600KF provides a solid foundation for high-refresh-rate gaming, as evidenced by the triple-digit frame rates achievable at 1440p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is built on the Ampere architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1725 MHz. The memory is the primary differentiator in this game's performance scaling. The 8 GB capacity becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings, which is evident in the performance drop at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's compute power is substantial, with an FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS. However, the benchmark data in Greedfall shows that memory bandwidth and capacity are more critical. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 63 on High to 40.7 on Ultra. This significant 22.3 FPS decline suggests that the Ultra preset at 4K requires more memory bandwidth or capacity than the RTX 3070 can efficiently provide. The GPU's overall performance percentile of 72 places it mid-range compared to all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, is only 0.9% slower on average, showing this is a competitive but not dominant graphics card for demanding titles.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is ranked 781 out of 1705 tested combos for Greedfall. This places the system in the 54th percentile of all tested hardware pairings, meaning it performs better than the median system. This ranking is a holistic view that balances the CPU's strong 93rd percentile with the GPU's more modest 72nd percentile.

This rank suggests that while the CPU is a top-tier part, the GPU is the component that defines the overall gaming experience for this title. The ranking reflects a system that is capable of excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p but will not be among the top performers when pushed to 4K with maximum settings. The deltaPct comparisons for the individual components are telling; the CPU is essentially tied with the i5-14600K, while the GPU is slightly outperformed by the AMD FirePro S7150 by 0.6%. These minor differences in component-level performance translate into a mid-pack ranking when combined for a specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. For this analysis, the High preset is used as the baseline for comparison.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its highest performance ceiling. The Low preset averages 205.3 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth. The Medium preset averages 163.1 FPS, and the High preset averages 145.9 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, averages 95.1 FPS. This represents a 34.8% drop in performance from High to Ultra, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 144.3 FPS, a 30% decrease from the 1080p Low result, highlighting the increased pixel count. The Medium preset averages 109.5 FPS, and the High preset averages 100.3 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 64.7 FPS, which is a 35.6 FPS drop from the High preset. This indicates that the Ultra preset at 1440p is a borderline case for 60 FPS gaming.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. The Low preset averages 81.8 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset averages 64.4 FPS, and the High preset averages 63 FPS, showing a very small difference of 1.4 FPS between these two settings. The Ultra preset averages 40.7 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold for smooth gameplay. The steep drop from High (63 FPS) to Ultra (40.7 FPS) suggests that the Ultra preset at 4K is extremely demanding, likely due to memory constraints.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this hardware combo depends heavily on the target resolution.

For 1920x1080, the High preset is highly recommended. It delivers an average of 145.9 FPS, which is far beyond the 60 FPS requirement for a smooth experience. While the Ultra preset is playable at 95.1 FPS, the significant performance drop suggests that the visual improvements may not be worth the cost, especially if the user has a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Low preset is not recommended unless maximum frame rates are the sole priority.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the clear winner. It provides an average of 100.3 FPS, offering a great balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset is a viable alternative for those wanting to ensure the highest possible frame rates, averaging 109.5 FPS. The Ultra preset, with an average of 64.7 FPS, is technically playable but may produce occasional dips below 60 FPS, making it a less stable option.

For 3840x2160, the High preset is the maximum recommended setting, averaging 63 FPS. This provides a console-level experience in terms of frame rate. The Medium preset is nearly identical in performance at 64.4 FPS, so users should select High for better visuals with no performance penalty. The Ultra preset should be avoided, as the 40.7 FPS average is below what most consider playable for an action RPG. The Low preset is an option for those who prefer higher frame rates over visual fidelity, yielding 81.8 FPS.