Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination. This pairing of a flagship 14th Gen processor with a high-end Ampere graphics card produces a dataset that reveals distinct performance ceilings depending on resolution and settings. The benchmark results indicate a system that can dominate at 1080p and 1440p but is brought to heel by the demands of 4K Ultra, offering a clear picture of where each component's influence begins and ends.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti in Greedfall places this specific configuration at rank 459 out of 1705 tested combos. This puts the pairing in the top 27% of all systems in the database for this game, a solid position that reflects the strength of its core components. However, the rank is not higher, which suggests that other combinations—likely with more recent GPUs—can achieve better frame rates in this title. The data shows that while this is a high-performing setup, it is not the absolute pinnacle for Greedfall.

The ranking implies that the RTX 3080 Ti, while powerful, is the limiting factor in this duo. The i9-14900K is a top-tier CPU, ranking in the 97th percentile against all other processors, with an average benchmark score of 79824. This places it in a dead heat with rivals like the AMD EPYC 7413, which scores 80041 (a delta of -0.3%), and the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79245 (a delta of 0.7%). The GPU, on the other hand, sits in the 83rd percentile against all GPUs, with a lower average score of 41224. This discrepancy in relative standing suggests that to climb higher in the Greedfall rankings, a more robust GPU would be the necessary upgrade path.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the workhorse of this combination, and its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides a substantial 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a critical asset for Greedfall, which, as an open-world RPG, must stream large textures and geometry. The GPU's core clocks are set at a base of 1365 MHz and a boost of 1665 MHz, and it features 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. These specifications translate to a raw compute capability of 34.10 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, which is the primary metric for traditional rasterization workloads like those in Greedfall.

The data shows the GPU's performance ceiling is clearly defined by the game's settings. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate plummets to 47.7 FPS, suggesting the card is being saturated by the combined load of high resolution and maximum graphical fidelity. Conversely, at 4K Low, the average jumps to 103 FPS, demonstrating that the card has ample headroom when the visual load is lightened. This indicates that the RTX 3080 Ti's performance in Greedfall is heavily dependent on the settings preset, with its high memory bandwidth and compute power only fully utilized under less demanding conditions. The GPU's theoretical peak is rarely the bottleneck; rather, it's the game's specific demands at each preset that dictate the final frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 178.9 at 1080p to 123.3 at 1440p, a significant 31% reduction. The gap narrows when moving to 4K, where the average is 74.5 FPS, a further 40% drop from 1440p. This non-linear decline is a classic sign of the GPU becoming increasingly the primary bottleneck. The CPU has less work to do as resolution increases, but the GPU must render exponentially more pixels, which is where the RTX 3080 Ti starts to show its limits.

This pattern is even more pronounced at Ultra settings. The frame rate at 1080p is 111.8 FPS, which drops to 78.9 FPS at 1440p (a 29% decrease) and then to 47.7 FPS at 4K (a 40% decrease from 1440p). The data strongly suggests that at 4K, the system is almost entirely GPU-bound. The i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, is far from being a limiting factor at this resolution. Instead, the RTX 3080 Ti's raw pixel-pushing power is the sole determinant of performance, and its inability to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra signifies a hard performance wall for this combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive matrix of average frame rates across all tested settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast, with the average FPS ranging from a high of 246.6 on Low settings to a still-impressive 111.8 on Ultra. The High and Medium presets deliver 178.9 and 194.8 FPS respectively, showing that the i9-14900K and RTX 3080 Ti can easily push past the refresh rate of most high-end monitors at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's exertion. The Low setting yields 170.4 FPS, while High and Medium produce 123.3 and 134.9 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 78.9 FPS, which is still a playable experience but marks the first point where the frame rate dips below 100 FPS. At 3840x2160, the scaling becomes steep. Low and Medium settings manage 103 and 82.7 FPS, respectively, while High drops to 74.5 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of 47.7 FPS, which is on the edge of smooth gameplay. These numbers illustrate a clear hierarchy: the system is overkill for 1080p, comfortable for 1440p, and only suitable for 4K at lower settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a powerhouse, with 24 cores (8 Performance and 16 Efficient) and 32 threads, boosting up to 6.00 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 49872 and a single-core score of 7040. In Greedfall, a game that is not known for being heavily multi-threaded, the CPU's immense single-thread performance is a key asset. The data, however, suggests that its role is to ensure the GPU is never starved of data, especially at lower resolutions.

At 1080p, the CPU's influence is more pronounced, as the system is capable of producing very high frame rates. The jump from 178.9 FPS at High settings to 246.6 FPS at Low settings shows that the CPU can handle the game's logic and draw calls at an extremely high rate. However, as resolution increases, the CPU's workload relative to the GPU decreases. The fact that the frame rates at 4K are so much lower indicates that the i9-14900K is not the bottleneck; the RTX 3080 Ti is simply unable to keep up with the pixel output demands. The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache likely help maintain smooth frame pacing, but its raw power is more than sufficient for Greedfall, effectively removing it from the performance equation at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use for this combo in Greedfall?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 offers the best balance of performance and visual fidelity. At High settings, it delivers 123.3 FPS, while even Ultra settings maintain a playable 78.9 FPS, which is a significant step up from the 47.7 FPS seen at 4K Ultra.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K Low settings, the average FPS is 103, and at Medium it is 82.7. However, at High settings, it drops to 74.5 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 47.7 FPS, which may be below the target for smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti is the limiting factor. The i9-14900K ranks in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 83rd percentile. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, indicating that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 Ti compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41224. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, has a score of 41441, which is a -0.5% difference. This shows the 3080 Ti is nearly identical in raw compute performance to the 3090.

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

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 246.6 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra, it achieves 111.8 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the maximum visual quality preset.

Q: How does the i9-14900K's multi-core performance compare to its rivals?

A: Its average benchmark score is 79824. The AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041, a delta of -0.3%, and the Intel Core i9-14900KF scores 79245, a delta of 0.7%. This indicates the i9-14900K is statistically tied with its closest competitors in multi-core workloads.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination in Greedfall depends heavily on the display resolution. For 1920x1080 users, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as the system maintains a high average of 111.8 FPS, allowing for maximum visual detail without sacrificing smoothness. The High and Medium presets offer even higher frame rates (178.9 and 194.8 FPS) but are unnecessary when the Ultra preset is still so performant.

For 2560x1440 displays, the High preset presents the best balance. It delivers a strong 123.3 FPS, which is excellent for a 144Hz monitor. The Ultra preset is also viable at 78.9 FPS, but the 36% drop in performance compared to High may not justify the marginal visual improvements. The Medium preset at 134.9 FPS is a good alternative if a higher frame rate is preferred over the High preset's visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the recommendation is to use the Medium preset, which yields an average of 82.7 FPS. This provides a smooth and playable experience. The High preset at 74.5 FPS is also acceptable, but the Low preset at 103 FPS is the only way to get a frame rate above 100 FPS at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 47.7 FPS should be avoided, as the frame rate is too low for a responsive and fluid experience in an action RPG.