Greedfall

# Greedfall with Intel Core Ultra 5 135H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 to deliver a solid Greedfall experience, though the results are heavily dictated by the GPU's performance ceiling rather than the CPU's capabilities. The combo ranks 2044th out of 3703 tested configurations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database, but the measured frame rates tell a more nuanced story. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 177 FPS, which drops to 81 FPS at Ultra settings, indicating that the RTX 5070 is the primary bottleneck as graphical demands increase. The CPU, with its 14 cores and 18 threads, provides ample headroom for this 2019 Action RPG, but the data shows that even at 1440p, frame rates remain respectable, with the GPU consistently being the limiting factor across most resolution and settings combinations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H is a Meteor Lake mobile processor with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 14 cores and 18 threads, combined with 18 MB of shared L3 cache, position it as a capable multi-threaded performer, though its benchmark scores place it near the middle of the pack. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11875.5 and single-core score of 1700 indicate that it can handle the AI and physics calculations typical of an Action RPG like Greedfall, but the game's engine appears to be more GPU-bound, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling across different settings.

The PassMark multithread score of 22422 and single-thread score of 3521 put the CPU in the 81st percentile among all CPUs tested, which suggests it is a strong performer for gaming workloads. However, in Greedfall specifically, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU. At 1080p Low, the system hits 177 FPS, which is far above what most displays can refresh, indicating that the CPU is not holding back performance even at lower graphical settings. The data shows that as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, frame rates drop significantly, which is a classic sign of GPU bottlenecking rather than CPU limitation.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X with an average score of 29123 (0.1% higher) and the Intel Core i5-13500HX with an average score of 29270 (0.6% higher). These deltas are negligible, meaning the Core Ultra 5 135H performs essentially on par with these desktop and mobile alternatives in synthetic benchmarks. In Greedfall, this parity translates to consistent frame pacing, as the CPU can feed the GPU without introducing stutter or frame drops, even at 4K Ultra where the average FPS dips to 33.

The 28W TDP of the Core Ultra 5 135H is worth noting, as it is a mobile chip designed for efficiency, yet it still delivers enough performance to avoid becoming a bottleneck in this game. The PassMark data compression score of 251651 and floating-point math score of 54867 suggest that the CPU has robust computational throughput, which helps maintain stable frame rates in busy scenes with multiple NPCs or complex scripting. Overall, the CPU's role in this combo is to provide a stable foundation, while the RTX 5070 dictates the visual fidelity and resolution scaling.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Greedfall with this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p High provides the best balance, delivering 88 FPS average while maintaining visual quality. At 1080p, the system exceeds 126 FPS on High, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays, but 1440p offers a more immersive experience without sacrificing smoothness.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 29093 is within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (29123) and Intel Core i5-13500HX (29270). The differences are negligible, meaning the Core Ultra 5 135H performs on par with these alternatives in multi-threaded workloads.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K High, the average FPS is 52, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. For 4K, Medium settings at 58 FPS is the most viable option.

Q: Which setting preset provides the most consistent frame pacing?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p shows a minimum FPS of 118 and a maximum of 160, with an average of 139. This narrow range indicates stable frame pacing compared to other settings, making Medium the most consistent choice across resolutions.

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

A: The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 177 FPS, which is extremely high, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 33 FPS. This scaling pattern is characteristic of GPU limitation, as the CPU would maintain similar frame rates if it were the bottleneck.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its nearest rivals in overall GPU performance?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 40377 places it within 2% of the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318) and AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063). These deltas are small, indicating that the RTX 5070 is a mid-range performer in the database's context.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 2044th out of 3703 tested combinations, placing it in the 55th percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects the overall balance of the CPU and GPU, but it is important to note that the ranking considers all games and workloads, not just Greedfall. In this specific game, the combo's performance is more competitive, as the measured FPS at 1080p High (126) and 1440p High (88) are both solidly playable.

The rank of 2044 suggests that there are many faster combos, but the data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 135H and RTX 5070 are well-matched for Greedfall's requirements. The CPU's 81st percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs show that both components are above average, yet the combo rank is dragged down by the GPU's mid-range standing relative to other tested hardware.

The nearest GPU rivals, including the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (0.1% higher score) and AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (0.8% higher), are professional-grade cards that likely perform differently in gaming workloads. The RTX 5070's PassMark G3D score of 29137 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077 indicate that it is a capable gaming GPU, but it does not reach the top tier of performance. For Greedfall, this translates to smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring settings compromises.

Compared to the 3703 total combos, the 2044th rank means that roughly 45% of configurations are slower, but this places the combo in the middle of the pack overall. In Greedfall specifically, the measured FPS at 1080p Medium (139) is higher than many combos would achieve, suggesting that the game's optimization favors this hardware pairing. The rank should be interpreted as a general indicator of performance across all games, while the measured FPS provides game-specific insight.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance. Low settings produce an average of 177 FPS, which is exceptional for any game. Medium settings reduce the average to 139 FPS, with a minimum of 118 and maximum of 160, showing consistent frame delivery. High settings yield 126 FPS average, while Ultra settings drop to 81 FPS. The 96 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p demonstrates that graphical settings have a significant impact on performance, but even at Ultra, the frame rate remains playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales predictably. Low settings produce 123 FPS average, which is still very smooth. Medium settings deliver 96 FPS average with a minimum of 82 and maximum of 111, indicating slight frame variance under load. High settings drop to 88 FPS average, while Ultra settings fall to 56 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a roughly 30% reduction in frame rates across all settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly stressed. Low settings produce 73 FPS average, which is playable for most users. Medium settings drop to 58 FPS with a minimum of 49 and maximum of 66, showing noticeable frame dips in demanding scenes. High settings yield 52 FPS average, while Ultra settings fall to 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 40 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K highlights the GPU's limitations at this resolution.

The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows in absolute terms. At 1080p, the difference is 96 FPS, at 1440p it is 67 FPS, and at 4K it is 40 FPS. This suggests that the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck at higher resolutions, limiting the impact of graphical settings on performance.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important insights about the limiting component. At High settings, the FPS drops from 126 at 1080p to 88 at 1440p (a 30% reduction) and then to 52 at 4K (a 41% reduction from 1440p). This scaling pattern is typical of GPU-bound workloads, where the increased pixel count directly impacts rendering performance.

At Low settings, the scaling is similar: 177 FPS at 1080p, 123 FPS at 1440p (a 30% drop), and 73 FPS at 4K (a 41% drop from 1440p). The consistent percentage reductions across settings indicate that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The RTX 5070's 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for Greedfall at all resolutions, but the 192-bit memory bus and 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance limit the card at 4K.

The CPU's role in resolution scaling is minimal, as the core count and clock speeds remain constant regardless of resolution. The Core Ultra 5 135H's boost clock of 4.60 GHz provides sufficient single-thread performance, as evidenced by the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1700. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would theoretically be most stressed, the system achieves 177 FPS, which is far above the display refresh rate of most monitors.

The data indicates that Greedfall is not particularly CPU-intensive, as the frame rates scale almost entirely with GPU load. At 4K Ultra, the 33 FPS average suggests that the GPU is working at its limits, while the CPU likely has headroom to spare. This is confirmed by the PassMark physics score of 1482, which is modest compared to the CPU's other benchmarks, indicating that the game's physics and AI calculations are not overly demanding.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, High settings at 1440p are recommended. This configuration delivers an average of 88 FPS, which is smooth for an Action RPG, while maintaining good graphical fidelity. The 1440p resolution provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p without the performance penalty of 4K.

For users with high-refresh-rate displays, Medium settings at 1080p are the optimal choice. The 139 FPS average, with a minimum of 118 and maximum of 160, ensures consistent frame delivery that can take advantage of 144Hz monitors. The Medium preset also shows the narrowest FPS range across all tested configurations, indicating stable frame pacing.

At 4K, Medium settings are the most viable option, delivering 58 FPS average. While this is below the 60 FPS threshold, it is playable for a story-driven RPG. High settings at 4K (52 FPS) are also acceptable, but the 6 FPS difference between Medium and High does not justify the visual improvement for most users. Ultra settings at 4K (33 FPS) should be avoided, as the frame rate drops below playable levels.

The Low preset is only recommended for competitive play or when maximum frame rates are required, as it sacrifices significant visual quality for performance. At 1080p Low, the 177 FPS average is impressive, but the graphical downgrade is noticeable. For most players, the Medium or High presets provide the best experience, balancing visual fidelity with smooth gameplay across all resolutions.