Greedfall

Greedfall is an Action RPG that is more demanding on the GPU than the CPU, and the data for the Intel Core i7-14700K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combo reflects this balance. The benchmark results show a system that is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K on higher presets. The Core i7-14700K, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, provides ample processing headroom, while the RTX 2060 SUPER, with its 8 GB of VRAM and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings to determine the best way to play.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This configuration is part of the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. The CPU has a substantial 33 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps with game logic and asset streaming. In terms of raw compute power, its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and single-core score of 2160 place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier performer.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role is to handle the game's simulation, AI, and physics. The data suggests that this is not a demanding task for the i7-14700K. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 152 FPS, which is the highest recorded frame rate. This high score indicates that the CPU is not limiting performance even at lower resolutions where the GPU has less work to do. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355, which is 0.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9115 and -0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. This shows it is a top-tier processor that will not be a bottleneck in this game.

The processor's high single-thread performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4472, is particularly relevant for gaming. Greedfall, like most games of its era, relies heavily on a few main threads. The i7-14700K's boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensures that these threads execute quickly. The multi-core performance, with a Passmark multithread score of 52392, also ensures that background tasks and the game's many secondary systems do not cause frame drops. The measured FPS data shows that even at 4K with Low settings, the system achieves 63 FPS, which is above the threshold for smooth play. This indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor even when the GPU is under significant load.

However, the CPU's power is not the primary story in these benchmark results. The frame rates are consistently high at 1080p, but they drop significantly at 4K, which points to the GPU being the main constraint. The CPU is ready to push far more frames than the GPU can render at higher resolutions. The data shows the system is not CPU-bound at any resolution tested, as the lowest average FPS of 29 at 4K Ultra is still a scenario where the GPU is clearly the limiting component. The i7-14700K is a future-proof component for this game, leaving headroom for more powerful GPUs.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a mid-range graphics card from the Turing architecture, built on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, with a memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It features 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs, and its FP32 performance is rated at 7.181 TFLOPS. This card has a 175 W TDP and was launched with an MSRP of 399 USD. In the overall GPU hierarchy, it sits in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18093.

In Greedfall, the GPU is the primary driver of performance. The measured FPS data shows a clear correlation between resolution, settings, and frame rate. At 1080p, the GPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, with an average of 152 FPS on Low settings and 108 FPS on High settings. This indicates that the card has enough raw power for 1080p gaming. However, the 8 GB of VRAM becomes a consideration at higher resolutions and settings. While the data does not show VRAM capacity being exceeded, the significant drop in performance at 4K suggests the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are being saturated.

The GPU's scores relative to its rivals put its performance into perspective. Its average benchmark score of 18093 is just -0.4% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and -1.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX 460. This shows it is a competitive card in its class, but it is not a high-end performer. The benchmark results for Greedfall reflect this. At 4K with High settings, the card averages only 45 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a smooth experience. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 29, which is below the threshold for comfortable play.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is a key factor in its performance at higher resolutions. As the resolution increases, the amount of texture data and geometry that needs to be processed increases, putting more strain on the memory subsystem. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck in this system. When comparing the 1080p and 4K results, the frame rate at 4K is less than half of the 1080p frame rate for most settings, which is a clear indication that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the increased pixel count. The RTX 2060 SUPER is a solid card for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not suited for 4K gaming on high presets.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how performance scales with resolution. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160 results in a significant and consistent drop in frame rates across all settings. This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound system. The CPU is powerful enough to maintain high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering capabilities are exhausted as the pixel count increases.

At 1080p, the system is clearly capable of high refresh rate gaming. The average FPS ranges from 152 on Low settings to 69 on Ultra settings. At 1440p, the average FPS drops to a range of 105 on Low to 48 on Ultra. This is a reduction of about 30% to 40% compared to 1080p. At 4K, the average FPS drops further to a range of 63 on Low to 29 on Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, with the 4K frame rates being roughly half of the 1080p frame rates for the same settings.

This scaling behavior indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates to be more consistent across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. The fact that the frame rates drop so dramatically with resolution confirms that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting and is being pushed to its limits. For example, the 4K High setting average of 45 FPS is only 41% of the 1080p High average of 108 FPS. This is a strong indicator that the GPU is the primary constraint.

The data also shows that the performance drops are not linear. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is less severe than the difference between 1440p and 4K. This is typical of graphics cards, as the fill rate and memory bandwidth requirements increase exponentially with resolution. The 4K Ultra result of 29 FPS is particularly telling, as it shows the card is completely overwhelmed at the highest settings. For a smooth gaming experience, users will need to prioritize either lower resolutions or lower settings, as the GPU cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K.

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

The following data represents the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination. The minimum and maximum FPS are provided where available, offering a glimpse into frame time consistency.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS of 152. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this system, indicating a very playable experience.
• Medium: Average FPS of 119, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 137. This shows a solid frame rate with some minor dips.
• High: Average FPS of 108. This is still a very smooth experience for most players.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 69. This is a playable frame rate, but the drop from High is significant.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS of 105. This remains a high frame rate, suitable for fast-paced gameplay.
• Medium: Average FPS of 83, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 95. This is a good balance of visual quality and performance.
• High: Average FPS of 75. This is a playable frame rate, though not as high as 1080p.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 48. This is the first setting where the frame rate dips below 60 FPS, indicating a less smooth experience.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS of 63. This is the only 4K setting that achieves a playable frame rate above 60 FPS.
• Medium: Average FPS of 49, with a minimum of 42 and a maximum of 57. This is playable but with noticeable frame pacing issues.
• High: Average FPS of 45. This is a borderline playable experience, but it may feel sluggish in combat.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 29. This is not a playable experience for most users, as the frame rate is too low for a smooth action RPG.

These numbers show that the system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with even Ultra averaging 69 FPS. At 1440p, the Low, Medium, and High settings all provide playable frame rates, but Ultra dips below 60 FPS. At 4K, only the Low setting provides a consistently playable experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Greedfall at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 4K Ultra is 29, which is not a playable frame rate for a smooth experience. The RTX 2060 SUPER is not powerful enough for this configuration.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system to maintain a 60+ FPS average?

A: The data shows that a 60+ FPS average is achievable at 1080p on all settings (Low: 152, Medium: 119, High: 108, Ultra: 69) and at 1440p on Low (105) and Medium (83) settings. At 1440p High, the average FPS is 75, which is also above 60.

Q: How significant is the performance drop when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The performance drop is substantial. For example, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 108 at 1080p to 45 at 4K, which is a decrease of over 58%. This confirms the GPU is the main limiting factor.

Q: Does the Core i7-14700K bottleneck the RTX 2060 SUPER in this game?

A: No. The benchmark results indicate the system is GPU-bound. The highest frame rates are achieved at 1080p, and they drop significantly with resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU provides enough headroom.

Q: Is the 8 GB of VRAM on the RTX 2060 SUPER a problem for Greedfall?

A: The measured data does not show VRAM capacity being exceeded, as the game runs at all tested settings. However, the significant performance drops at 4K suggest the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute are being stressed, which is related to the VRAM's capabilities.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset averages 105 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 48 FPS. This is a difference of 57 FPS, showing a large performance cost for the highest visual settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this system depends on the player's target resolution and preference for smoothness versus visual fidelity.

For players with a 1080p monitor, the High preset is the recommended choice. It provides an average of 108 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it offers significantly better visual quality than the Low or Medium presets. The Ultra preset, at 69 FPS, is also playable, but the performance cost of the extra visual effects may not be worth the frame rate drop for all players. For those seeking the absolute smoothest experience, the Low preset at 152 FPS is an option, but it comes with a significant visual downgrade.

For players with a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It averages 83 FPS, which is a very smooth experience, and it provides a good balance of visual quality and performance. The High preset, at 75 FPS, is also a good option if you prefer higher visual fidelity and can tolerate a slightly lower frame rate. The Ultra preset, at 48 FPS, is not recommended, as the frame rate dips below 60 FPS and can feel less responsive in combat.

For players attempting 4K on this system, the options are limited. The Low preset is the only setting that provides an average FPS above 60, at 63 FPS. This is the recommended choice for a playable 4K experience. The Medium preset, at 49 FPS, is borderline playable but may have noticeable stutters. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they produce average frame rates of 45 and 29, respectively, which are too low for a satisfying action RPG experience.

Ultimately, the data suggests that this system is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p. At these resolutions, players can enjoy high visual settings with smooth frame rates. The RTX 2060 SUPER is capable of delivering a great experience at these resolutions, but it is not suited for 4K gaming with high settings.