Greedfall

Greedfall on the Intel Core i5-9400 + Intel Arc B370 presents a study in hardware bottlenecks. The data shows a system where the integrated graphics solution is the clear limiting factor, with the CPU showing significant headroom even at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, placing the combo within the broader database context.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases, a pattern that strongly indicts the GPU as the primary constraint. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 54 FPS at 1920x1080 to 38 FPS at 2560x1440, a drop of 16 FPS. The subsequent jump to 3840x2160 brings the average down to 22 FPS, which is a further reduction of 16 FPS. This linear descent indicates that the rendering workload at higher pixel counts is overwhelming the graphics processor.

The scaling pattern becomes even more telling when examining the Low preset. Here, the average FPS goes from 76 at 1080p to 53 at 1440p, a reduction of 23 frames. Moving to 4K, the average plummets to 31 FPS, another 22-frame loss. The fact that the absolute FPS drop between resolutions is nearly identical for both High and Low settings suggests that the bottleneck is not related to texture quality or shader complexity, but rather to the raw pixel throughput and fill-rate capabilities of the GPU. Lowering the settings reduces the per-pixel work, but the sheer number of pixels at 4K still saturates the render output units.

This behavior is classic for a system where the GPU is the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a much smaller FPS delta between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU had more time to render frames. Instead, the FPS scales almost inversely with the pixel count, which indicates that the GPU is working at its maximum capacity even at the lowest settings. The data suggests that the Arc B370's 20 ROPs and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in an Action RPG like Greedfall. The CPU, in contrast, is likely idle waiting for the GPU to finish each frame.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor with specifications that explain its performance ceiling. Its memory is designated as "System Shared," which means it relies on the main system memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This architecture makes bandwidth "System Dependent," which can be a disadvantage in a game like Greedfall that likely streams large amounts of texture data. The lack of dedicated VRAM means the GPU competes with the CPU for memory access, potentially creating additional latency and reducing effective throughput.

The clock speeds show a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz. This wide range indicates a power-saving design that can ramp up when needed. However, the sustained performance under load will depend on thermal headroom and power delivery, which are constrained by the 25 W TDP. This low power envelope is a clear indicator of its integrated nature, designed for efficiency over absolute performance. The GPU's benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is a quantitative confirmation of its low-end positioning.

The architecture is Xe3-LPG on a 3 nm process, with 1280 shading units and 10 RT cores. While the DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) is modern, the raw computational power is limited. The FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is modest, and the texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s is a bottleneck for games that rely on detailed surface textures. In Greedfall, the measured FPS at 1080p Medium (60 FPS) and 1080p High (54 FPS) shows that the GPU can handle the game at lower resolutions, but the performance collapses as the resolution increases. This suggests that the GPU's fill-rate and memory bandwidth constraints are the dominant factors, not the CPU or the game's CPU logic.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Core i5-9400 and Arc B370 ranks 2699th out of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it in the bottom 8.1% of all systems in the database, a position that reflects the GPU's limitations. The rank is a holistic measure that includes all tested resolutions and settings, and it shows that this combo is far from optimal for this title.

The CPU's individual standing is much higher than the combo's rank. The Core i5-9400 sits in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (deltaPct -0.2 from the i5's perspective) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (deltaPct 0.4). This indicates that the CPU is a mid-range part that is not the primary cause of the low combo ranking. The GPU, however, is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being older parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (deltaPct -0.2) and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (deltaPct -0.7). The disparity in these percentile rankings is stark.

The data implies that if the GPU were swapped for a more capable part, the combo's rank in Greedfall would improve substantially, as the CPU has the headroom to support it. The low combo rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's inability to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings. The Core i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 9 MB of shared L3 cache, is a competent processor for gaming, but it is being held back by the integrated graphics. This is a classic case of a system's overall gaming performance being dictated by its weakest link, and the data clearly shows that the Arc B370 is that weak link.

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

The measured FPS table provides a complete picture of the system's performance across twelve different configurations. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 35 at Ultra to 76 at Low. The Medium preset delivers 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. High achieves 54 FPS. This shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the system approaches playable levels, and only at the lower presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages fall noticeably. Low produces 53 FPS, High drops to 38 FPS, and Medium sits at 41 FPS (with a min of 35 and max of 48). Ultra is nearly unplayable at 24 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 30% across the board, which aligns with the increase in pixel count from approximately 2.1 million to 3.7 million. This further confirms that the GPU is the constraint, as the performance scales with pixel throughput.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles severely. Low yields only 31 FPS, Medium averages 25 FPS (with a min of 21 and max of 28), and High drops to 22 FPS. Ultra is a slideshow at 14 FPS. None of these averages reach the threshold for smooth gameplay, and even the low preset is below 60 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: the system is only viable at 1080p, and even then, the Ultra preset is not playable. The min FPS data available for Medium settings shows that the frame rate can dip lower than the average, at 51 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K, which suggests occasional hitches even in the mid-range preset.

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

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This configuration yields an average of 60 FPS, which is the standard for smooth gameplay. The minimum of 51 FPS is also acceptable, as it stays above the 30 FPS playability threshold and does not show severe stuttering. While the Low preset at 1080p achieves a higher average of 76 FPS, the visual fidelity loss is likely not worth the extra performance, given that Medium maintains a solid 60.

The High preset at 1080p averages 54 FPS, which is playable but not ideal, as it dips below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it only manages 35 FPS at 1080p and drops to 14 FPS at 4K. At 2560x1440, the Low preset at 53 FPS is the only one that approaches playability, but its visual quality will be noticeably reduced. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 41 FPS, which is borderline, and the min FPS of 35 suggests it may feel choppy.

The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p. The Medium preset offers the best balance, as it provides a 60 FPS average without the significant graphical compromises of Low. The High preset is a secondary option for those who prioritize visuals over a perfect frame rate, but the 6 FPS difference between Medium and High is likely not worth the drop from 60 to 54. For a game like Greedfall, which is an Action RPG with a focus on exploration and dialogue, maintaining a consistent frame rate is more important than pushing the highest settings. The data clearly indicates that 1080p Medium is the sweet spot.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake family, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935, indicate it is a capable mid-range CPU for its generation. The 47th percentile ranking for all CPUs suggests it is a solid, though not exceptional, performer. In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role appears to be secondary, as the GPU is the clear bottleneck.

The evidence for this is the FPS scaling pattern. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see the FPS remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU's workload is independent of resolution. Instead, the FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, which indicates that the GPU is saturated. The CPU is likely not being fully utilized, as it waits for the GPU to render each frame. The 6 cores and 6 threads are sufficient for the game's logic, and the boost clock of 4.10 GHz provides adequate single-thread performance.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s is a potential concern, as the GPU shares the system memory. However, this is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck, as the GPU's raw fill-rate limits are more severe. The CPU's cache hierarchy, with 9 MB of shared L3 cache, helps reduce memory latency, but the game's performance is still hampered by the GPU. In summary, the data shows that the Core i5-9400 is not the constraint in this system. Its performance headroom is confirmed by its average benchmark score of 2254, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, but its partner GPU is holding it back from achieving higher frame rates in Greedfall.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with Medium settings provides the best experience, with an average of 60 FPS and a minimum of 51 FPS. This is the only configuration that hits the 60 FPS target while maintaining acceptable visual quality.

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

A: No. At 3840x2160, all settings produce averages below 31 FPS. The Low preset averages 31 FPS, while Ultra drops to 14 FPS, making the game unplayable at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, has a deltaPct of -0.2, meaning it is effectively a dead heat. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is also close, at a deltaPct of 0.4.

Q: Is the GPU the main reason the combo ranks low?

A: Yes. The combo ranks 2699th out of 2938, but the GPU itself is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU is in the 47th percentile, indicating the GPU's low performance is the primary factor dragging the combo's rank down.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 76 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 35 FPS. This is a difference of 41 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual settings.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated VRAM?

A: No. The Intel Arc B370's memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's main memory. Its bandwidth is designated as "System Dependent," which can be a limiting factor for texture-heavy games.