Greedfall

Greedfall, an Action RPG from 2019, presents a demanding workload that scales heavily with both GPU and CPU resources. This analysis focuses on the combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and the AMD Radeon RX 9070. The data provided offers a clear picture of how this pairing handles the game across common resolutions and settings. The results are measured, not extrapolated, and show a system capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, with performance tapering off as resolution and visual fidelity increase.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a significant performance drop, characteristic of a GPU-bound title at higher resolutions. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 167 FPS at 1080p to 116 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 51 FPS (about 30.5%). Moving to 4K, the average drops further to 69 FPS, which is 98 FPS (about 58.7%) lower than the 1080p figure. This pattern indicates that the Radeon RX 9070 is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

The scaling is even more pronounced at the Ultra settings. The system averages 107 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 74 FPS at 1440p. When the resolution is set to 4K, the average drops to just 44 FPS, a 63 FPS (about 58.9%) reduction from the 1080p score.

At the Medium preset, the frame rates are higher across the board. The 1080p result is 184 FPS, which drops to 127 FPS at 1440p and 76 FPS at 4K. Here, the scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a 108 FPS loss, which is a 58.7% drop.

The Low preset shows the biggest scaling curve, with 234 FPS at 1080p, 162 FPS at 1440p, and 97 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 4K is 137 FPS, representing a 58.5% decrease.

The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are remarkably consistent across all presets, hovering between 58.5% and 58.9%. This consistency strongly suggests a single systemic bottleneck, with the GPU's rendering workload being the primary constraint. The CPU has less impact at higher resolutions as the GPU takes longer to process each frame.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070, based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture, is the main driver of these results. Its memory configuration is a key asset. The card features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. For a game like Greedfall, this large memory pool and high bandwidth help maintain stable frame pacing at 1440p, where the data shows the card is still well ahead of its 1080p numbers.

The card's clock speeds are also a factor. The base clock is 1330 MHz, but the boost clock runs up to 2520 MHz. The game clock, a more realistic sustained frequency during heavy loads, is 2070 MHz. The measured results show that this combination of high memory capacity and clock speeds allows for solid performance at 1440p High, with a 116 FPS average, but the 44 FPS average at 4K Ultra reveals the card's limits. The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting component in the system at these higher settings.

The GPU's performance percentile is 69, based on its average benchmark score of 23877. The data shows it is highly competitive, with a nearest rival being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, which has an average score of 24170 and a delta percentage of -1.2. This means the RX 9070 is performing within a narrow band of these other cards, but its 16 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth are the differentiating factors for modern titles.

Settings Recommendations

Choosing the right settings is crucial for a smooth experience, and the measured data provides clear guidance. For players with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset is the best balance. It provides an average of 167 FPS, a significant jump from the 107 FPS of the Ultra preset. The High preset maintains a high frame rate, and the visual difference from Ultra is often not worth the 60 FPS loss.

At 2560x1440, the High preset remains the sweet spot, with an average of 116 FPS. This is a good frame rate for a smooth experience. The Medium preset is also a strong option, delivering 127 FPS, but the High preset offers a better visual quality for a 11 FPS sacrifice. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as it drops to 74 FPS, which is a significant step down.

For 4K UHD, the choice is more difficult. The High preset gives a playable average of 69 FPS. The Medium preset increases this to 76 FPS, with measured minimum and maximum of 65 and 87 FPS, which provides a more consistent experience. The Low preset offers the highest frame rate at 97 FPS, but the reduction in detail is substantial. Given the data, the Medium preset at 4K is the best compromise, offering a 76 FPS average with a minimum of 65 FPS, ensuring a stable platform. The Ultra preset, at 44 FPS, is not a viable option for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific configuration of the Intel Core i9-14900K and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 1122 out of 3703 combo tests in Greedfall. This places the system in the top 30.3% of all tested combinations, a strong showing. The ranking is a combination of the CPU's high score and the GPU's performance. The CPU is in the 95th percentile against all tested CPUs, while the GPU is at the 69th percentile.

The high CPU percentile helps push the combo's rank, but the GPU might be the limiting factor when compared to other top-tier combinations. The data suggests that systems with a higher-performing GPU would rank better, as the CPU is already a top-tier part. The 1122 rank shows the system is a very capable performer, but not at the very top of the charts for this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a high-end processor with 24 cores and 32 threads, and its performance data shows it is a strong partner for the RX 9070. The high boost clock of 6.00 GHz is a key factor in its ability to feed the GPU a consistent stream of frames. The CPU's score of 39399.5 in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test and 2262.5 in the single-core test shows its raw strength, but the single-core score is the more important one for gaming.

The processor's large 36 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep data close, reducing latency. The high thread count and core count are not the primary drivers for Greedfall, which is a GPU-bound title. The CPU's single-core performance is what allows it to achieve the high frame rates seen at 1080p.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the data show a tight performance band. The Intel Core i9-14900KF has a delta of -0.3% in average score, meaning it is essentially identical. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is at -0.6%, and the AMD EPYC 7413 at -1.2%. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is the only one with a positive delta at 1.7%. This shows that the i9-14900K is well-positioned but not the absolute fastest, and its performance is not a bottleneck for this GPU. The data shows that the system is not CPU-limited, as the frame rates are consistent with GPU-heavy workloads.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to run this system for a 144Hz monitor?

A: The 1440p High preset is the best, with an average of 116 FPS. This is close to the 144Hz target and provides a good visual quality. The 1080p High preset is also an option at 167 FPS, but 1440p offers a better image.

Q: Is the system able to handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, at 4K High it averages 69 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset is safer, with a 76 FPS average and a minimum of 65 FPS, ensuring a stable experience.

Q: At which preset does the frame rate drop the most?

A: The drop from High to Ultra is the most significant. At 1080p, the High preset is 167 FPS, while Ultra is 107 FPS, a 60 FPS loss. At 1440p, the loss is 42 FPS (from 116 to 74), and at 4K, it's 25 FPS (from 69 to 44).

Q: Does the 16 GB VRAM make a difference at 4K?

A: The 16 GB of VRAM helps keep the frame rates stable. The 4K Medium preset shows a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS, indicating that the large VRAM pool prevents any severe hitches that can occur with lower memory.

Q: Which component limits performance the most?

A: The benchmark results show the GPU is the primary limiting component, especially at higher resolutions. The frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU has a high single-core score, but the GPU is the bottleneck.

Q: Is the High preset a good choice at 1080p?

A: Yes, the High preset at 1080p provides a 167 FPS average. The Medium preset is 184 FPS, and the Low is 234 FPS. High offers a good balance of visual quality and performance, and the difference between High and Ultra is a 60 FPS loss.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact measured average FPS for this combination across all tested resolutions and settings.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 234 FPS
• Medium: 184 FPS (min 156, max 211)
• High: 167 FPS
• Ultra: 107 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 162 FPS
• Medium: 127 FPS (min 108, max 147)
• High: 116 FPS
• Ultra: 74 FPS

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 97 FPS
• Medium: 76 FPS (min 65, max 87)
• High: 69 FPS
• Ultra: 44 FPS

The data provides a clear progression. The system is a high-end performer at 1080p and 1440p, and it can handle 4K, but with lower settings. The frame rates are consistent with the expected performance of the hardware, with the GPU being the primary limiting factor.