Greedfall

The Intel Core i7-12700K pairs with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 to deliver a 1080p experience that is largely GPU-bound in Greedfall, with the CPU's substantial thread count ensuring headroom even at lower settings. The processor, part of the Alder Lake-S generation, features 12 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory indicate a flexible platform, though the game itself is from 2019 and does not strain modern multi-threaded workloads. Benchmark data shows the chip achieving a 3DMark max-threads score of 9979 and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784, placing it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-13600T and Intel Core i7-12700KF, are separated by less than 0.5% in average benchmark score, suggesting that any performance differences in Greedfall would be negligible. The single-thread performance, reflected in a Geekbench single-core score of 2308 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4013, is more than adequate for the game's logic and AI, which typically rely on fewer cores.

The GPU role is more pronounced, as the AMD Radeon RX 9060, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 44 chip, provides the graphical horsepower. It operates with a game clock of 2400 MHz and a boost clock of 2990 MHz, paired with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a critical factor; at 4K resolution with Ultra settings, the card's 8 GB frame buffer becomes a limiting resource, as evidenced by the average FPS dropping to 31. The GPU's 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs deliver a pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s, but the data indicates that texture-heavy scenes at high resolutions overwhelm the memory subsystem. In the Passmark G3D benchmark, the RX 9060 scores 17631, placing it in the 59th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, is just 0.7% ahead in average score, while the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is only 1% behind, illustrating that this card sits in a competitive mid-range tier where settings and resolution dictate the playable experience.

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

The Core i7-12700K's hybrid architecture, while not explicitly leveraged by Greedfall's engine, provides ample compute resources for the game's simulation and physics. The data shows the CPU's multi-threaded capability is robust, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 34404 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 15790. For an Action RPG from 2019, the primary CPU demand is maintaining a stable frame delivery, especially when numerous NPCs or environmental effects are present. The measured FPS at 1080p with Low settings reaches 167 average, which is well above the refresh rate of most displays, indicating the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution. Even at 4K, where the GPU load increases, the CPU's headroom remains sufficient; the performance drop from 1080p to 4K is almost entirely attributable to the graphics card's fill rate and memory bandwidth, not the processor. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 12229 and single-core score of 1726 further confirm that the i7-12700K can handle both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads without yielding a performance deficit in this title.

The relationship between CPU clocks and game performance is evident in the frame pacing. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that the game's primary thread, often the render thread, receives the highest possible single-core speed. This is reflected in the 3DMark single-thread score of 1043, which, while not directly a game benchmark, correlates with the CPU's ability to process draw calls quickly. In Greedfall, where the engine may not be fully optimized for multi-core scaling, this single-thread strength is crucial for avoiding frame hitches. The data shows that at 1440p High, the average FPS is 83, and at 1080p High, it is 119, demonstrating that the CPU can feed the GPU adequately until the GPU's own limits are reached at higher resolutions. The processor's 125 W TDP and active production status suggest it is a mainstream part, but its performance relative to rivals like the Core i7-13700T, which is only 0.3% behind in average score, shows it remains competitive for this workload.

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

The Radeon RX 9060's role is defined by its 8 GB VRAM capacity and clock speeds, which directly influence the measured FPS across settings. At 1080p, the GPU can leverage its boost clock of 2990 MHz to achieve high frame rates; the data shows 167 FPS at Low settings, which drops to 119 FPS at High, indicating that the shading units and TMUs are not yet saturated. However, the 8 GB frame buffer becomes a constraint as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS plummets to 31, a 74% reduction from 1080p Low, which is a classic sign of VRAM capacity exhaustion and memory bandwidth limitations. The 288.0 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable for a 128-bit bus, is insufficient for the texture data required at 3840x2160 with Ultra presets, forcing the GPU to swap data more frequently. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 17631 and its 59th percentile ranking place it below the RTX 3060 Ti, and the measured results reflect this positioning; the card is capable of smooth 1080p and 1440p gameplay but struggles with 4K unless settings are lowered.

The clock speeds also explain the scaling between Medium and High settings. At 1080p, the average FPS at Medium is 131, while at High it is 119, a difference of 9%. This suggests that the GPU's compute units, which number 1792 shading units, are the primary driver at these settings, and the boost clock can maintain high utilization. At 4K, the gap between Medium (54 FPS) and High (49 FPS) narrows to 9%, but the absolute numbers are lower, indicating that memory bandwidth is becoming the limiting factor rather than raw compute. The game clock of 2400 MHz is the sustained frequency during gaming, and the data implies that this is sufficient for 1440p, where the average FPS at High is 83, a figure that is playable for most users. The GPU's RT cores, 28 in number, are not heavily utilized in Greedfall, as the game does not feature ray tracing, so the focus remains on rasterization performance, which is where the RX 9060 shows its strengths and weaknesses relative to its peers.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation, particularly at higher settings. From 1080p to 1440p at High settings, the average FPS drops from 119 to 83, a 30% decrease, which is consistent with the increase in pixel count (from 2.07 million to 3.69 million pixels). This drop is proportional and indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU can handle the increased draw calls without a significant frame time penalty. Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings, the FPS falls from 83 to 49, a 41% decrease, which is steeper than the pixel count increase (from 3.69 million to 8.29 million pixels, a 124% increase). This disproportionate drop suggests that beyond raw pixel count, the memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity are being strained, causing the GPU to stall. The 8 GB VRAM is likely insufficient for 4K High textures, leading to texture streaming issues that reduce average FPS.

At Low settings, the scaling is more linear. The FPS at 1080p Low is 167, at 1440p Low it is 116, and at 4K Low it is 69. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 30%, and from 1440p to 4K is 40%, which is similar to the High settings scaling. However, the absolute FPS at 4K Low (69) is still above 60, indicating that with reduced texture quality and effects, the GPU can maintain a playable frame rate. This demonstrates that the RX 9060's compute performance is sufficient for 4K, but the memory subsystem is the bottleneck at higher presets. The data also shows that at 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 31, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience, reinforcing the conclusion that 8 GB of VRAM is the primary constraint. The limited data points, such as the min FPS of 46 at 4K Medium, further suggest that frame pacing suffers when memory pressure increases, leading to stutter. Overall, the resolution scaling confirms that for this combo, 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots, with 4K requiring significant compromises in settings to remain playable.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p with High settings yields an average FPS of 83, which is smooth, while 1080p with High yields 119 FPS. 4K is playable only at Low settings (69 FPS) or Medium (54 FPS), but Ultra (31 FPS) is not recommended.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has a score of 16129, making the RTX 3060 Ti 0.7% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is 1% slower with a score of 15852.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No, the data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 31, which is a 74% drop from 1080p Low, and this is due to the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth being insufficient, not the CPU's processing power.

Q: What is the measured FPS difference between Medium and High settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Medium settings yield an average FPS of 131, while High settings yield 119 FPS. This is a 12 FPS difference, indicating that High settings are achievable without a major performance hit.

Q: Does the Core i7-12700K's multi-threaded performance impact Greedfall's frame rates?

A: The CPU's multi-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784, ensures it can handle the game's background tasks. However, the measured FPS at various resolutions shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, so the CPU's threads are not a constraint in this title.

Q: What is the frame rate range at 4K Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 4K Medium is 54, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 62. This indicates some variability, but the average is above 30, providing a borderline playable experience.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and playability, the data supports using High settings at 1440p. This configuration delivers an average FPS of 83, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the visual improvement over Medium (91 FPS) is noticeable. At 1080p, High settings are also recommended, as the 119 FPS average ensures a responsive experience, and the drop from Medium (131 FPS) is minimal in absolute terms. For users with 4K displays, Low settings are the only viable option for consistent frame rates, with 69 FPS average, while Medium is playable but with potential dips to 46 FPS. Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution, as the frame rates drop to 76 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 31 FPS at 4K, which are too low for a smooth experience, especially in an action RPG where combat requires responsiveness. The measured data also shows that the jump from High to Ultra at 1440p results in a 30 FPS loss, which is a significant degradation for marginal visual gains. Therefore, High settings at 1440p or 1080p provide the optimal experience, while 4K users should prioritize Low settings to maintain playability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 3840x2160 (4K), the average FPS is 49 at High, 69 at Low, 54 at Medium, and 31 at Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 46 and a maximum of 62, showing some frame pacing variance. At 2560x1440, the average FPS improves significantly: 83 at High, 116 at Low, 91 at Medium, and 53 at Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution shows a minimum of 77 and a maximum of 105, indicating a stable experience. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 119 at High, 167 at Low, 131 at Medium, and 76 at Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum of 112 and a maximum of 151, suggesting that even at 1080p, Ultra settings cause a substantial drop. The data shows a consistent pattern: Low settings provide the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra in descending order, with the gap between High and Ultra widening as resolution increases. This breakdown confirms that the RX 9060 is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with High settings, where it can maintain frame rates above 80 FPS, while 4K is reserved for Low or Medium presets.