Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting challenge for the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 pairing. The benchmark data reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rate gameplay at 1080p but becomes increasingly constrained as resolution demands on the GPU escalate. This analysis examines the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to determine the optimal configuration and the role each component plays in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 114 FPS at 1080p to 79 FPS at 1440p, a significant 30.7% reduction. Moving to 4K, the average further drops to 47 FPS, which is a 58.8% decrease from the 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, placing a massive load on the GPU's rendering pipeline.

The scaling pattern suggests that Greedfall is heavily GPU-bound at 4K. The jump from 1080p to 1440p results in a 35 FPS loss, while the jump from 1440p to 4K results in a 32 FPS loss. While these absolute drops are similar, the percentage drop is more severe at the higher resolution step, confirming that the RTX 5050's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated. The Intel Core i7-14700K, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is unlikely to be a bottleneck here, as the frame rate is clearly scaling with the GPU's workload rather than the CPU's processing power.

At the Low preset, the trend continues, with the average FPS going from 160 at 1080p to 111 at 1440p and finally to 66 at 4K. The 4K Low result is still playable, but it highlights how much graphical fidelity must be sacrificed to maintain a reasonable frame rate at this resolution. The data indicates that for a smooth 60+ FPS experience at 4K, the user would need to accept the Low preset, as the Medium preset averages only 52 FPS and the High preset dips to 47 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is nearly unplayable at 30 FPS, showing that this combination is not suited for maximum settings at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance between visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 appears to be the sweet spot for this combination. The data shows an average of 87 FPS at 1440p Medium, with a minimum frame rate of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This provides a fluid experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays, while still offering a significant visual upgrade over the Low preset. The 74 FPS minimum also suggests that frame pacing is stable enough to avoid noticeable stutters during intense gameplay.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the recommended choice, delivering an average of 114 FPS. This is a substantial improvement over the Medium preset's 126 FPS but offers much better visual fidelity. The 114 FPS average is ideal for high refresh rate monitors, and the performance headroom suggests that the GPU is not fully taxed, leaving room for potential background tasks or future driver optimizations. While the Ultra preset at 1080p achieves 73 FPS, the visual jump from High to Ultra is often minimal in this title, and the 41 FPS drop makes it a less attractive option for competitive or fast-paced play.

For 4K gaming, the data clearly suggests that only the Low preset provides a consistently playable experience, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset at 52 FPS is borderline, and the High preset at 47 FPS may be acceptable for slower, story-driven moments, but it will likely feel sluggish during combat. The Ultra preset at 30 FPS is not recommended for any scenario. Therefore, users with a 4K display should prioritize the Low or Medium preset, accepting a reduction in visual effects to maintain a functional frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the decisive component in this configuration's gaming performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s, which is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The benchmark data supports this, as the performance drop from 1440p to 4K is steep, indicating that the GPU is struggling to feed the frame buffer with texture and geometry data. The GPU's 2560 shading units and 32 ROPs are also taxed heavily at 4K, as evidenced by the Ultra preset's 30 FPS average.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz, are relatively high, but they cannot compensate for the memory bandwidth and capacity limitations at 4K. The benchmark scores for the RTX 5050 place it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M, which are older, less powerful parts. This context underscores that the RTX 5050 is an entry-level to mid-range card, and its performance in Greedfall at 4K is consistent with that positioning.

The data shows that the GPU is the clear bottleneck in this system for Greedfall. The CPU, with its high single-thread performance (2160 in Cinebench R23) and multi-core prowess (33440.5 in Cinebench R23), is more than capable of feeding the GPU at all tested settings. This is evident in the 1080p results, where the frame rates are high enough that a weaker CPU would likely start to limit performance. However, the consistent scaling of FPS with resolution changes confirms that the RTX 5050's rendering capabilities, not the CPU's processing power, define the performance ceiling.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination holds a rank of 1776 out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the lower half of all configurations, which is expected given the GPU's entry-level status. The rank of 1776 suggests that while this setup is capable of running the game, there are numerous other combinations that deliver higher average frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

The CPU itself is a high-end part, ranking in the 94th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 69355. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, both of which are flagship or near-flagship parts. This indicates that the i7-14700K is not the limiting factor in this combo. Instead, the GPU, ranking in the 66th percentile with an average score of 21035, is the component that drags down the overall ranking. The performance delta between the RTX 5050 and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (which is 1.6% faster), is small, showing that it is in a competitive but crowded performance tier.

The combo's rank of 1776 out of 2938 means that roughly 60% of tested configurations outperform it. This is a direct consequence of the GPU choice. For a user with this CPU, upgrading the GPU would yield a significant improvement in Greedfall's performance. The data implies that the CPU has substantial headroom to support a more powerful graphics card, as it is not a bottleneck at any of the tested settings. This combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates, but it is not a top-tier performer for 1440p or 4K enthusiast-class gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Greedfall with this CPU and GPU?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At the High preset, the average frame rate is 114 FPS, which is excellent for smooth gameplay. At 2560x1440, the High preset drops to 79 FPS, which is still playable but not as fluid, and at 3840x2160, the High preset averages only 47 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. The only playable 4K preset is Low, which averages 66 FPS. The Medium preset averages 52 FPS, and the High preset averages 47 FPS. The Ultra preset is not viable, with an average of only 30 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a bottleneck for the RTX 5050 in this game?

A: No. The benchmark results show that performance scales consistently with resolution changes, which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The i7-14700K ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and its performance is far superior to what is needed to feed the RTX 5050 in this title.

Q: How does the RTX 5050's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, has an average score of 21153, which is 0.6% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% faster, while the AMD Radeon HD 8970M is 1% slower.

Q: What settings should I use for a competitive edge?

A: For maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1920x1080 provides an average of 160 FPS. However, for a better balance of visuals and performance, the High preset at 1080p with 114 FPS is recommended, as it offers a much better image quality while still maintaining a high frame rate.

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

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 averages 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 50 FPS. This is a 36.7% performance drop for the Ultra preset, which may not be justified by the visual improvements it offers.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are as follows:

• Low: 160 FPS
• Medium: 126 FPS (minimum 107 FPS, maximum 144 FPS)
• High: 114 FPS
• Ultra: 73 FPS

At 2560x1440, the measured average frame rates are as follows:

• Low: 111 FPS
• Medium: 87 FPS (minimum 74 FPS, maximum 100 FPS)
• High: 79 FPS
• Ultra: 50 FPS

At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates are as follows:

• Low: 66 FPS
• Medium: 52 FPS (minimum 44 FPS, maximum 60 FPS)
• High: 47 FPS
• Ultra: 30 FPS

The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions, with Low being the fastest and Ultra being the slowest. The minimum and maximum FPS data for the Medium preset at each resolution provides insight into frame consistency. At 1080p, the range is 107 to 144 FPS, a 37 FPS spread. At 1440p, the range narrows to 74 to 100 FPS, a 26 FPS spread. At 4K, the range is 44 to 60 FPS, a 16 FPS spread. This suggests that while the average frame rate drops with resolution, the frame pacing becomes more consistent, likely due to the GPU being more uniformly loaded.