Greedfall

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 in Greedfall lands in the lower tier of tested hardware combinations. The combo ranks 2672 out of 2938 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 9% of the database. This is not a configuration built for high-refresh or high-resolution dominance; it is a pairing that requires deliberate settings management to achieve a playable experience. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary constraint across all resolutions, with the CPU's strong synthetic scores providing little benefit in this particular Action RPG at the settings where the graphics card is overwhelmed.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark position for this pairing is firmly in the lower quartile of all recorded combinations. With a rank of 2672 out of 2938, the system sits ahead of only 266 other combos tested. This placement reflects a significant bottleneck: the Radeon RX 580's performance ceiling is reached well before the Core Ultra 5 225's processing power is taxed. In practical terms, this means the measured frame rates are almost entirely a function of GPU load, not CPU capability.

Looking at the GPU's standalone standing, the RX 580 holds a 53rd percentile rank among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12928. Its nearest rivals in the database are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (scoring 12940, a 0.1% difference), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (12986, 0.4% higher), and the AMD Radeon 740M (12870, 0.5% lower). These deltas are negligible, indicating the RX 580 is performing exactly as expected for its class. However, that class is simply not equipped for the demands of Greedfall at high settings on a 4K display, as the measured FPS data confirms.

The CPU, by contrast, is a far more capable component. The Core Ultra 5 225 sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36938. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093, -0.4%). The processor is not the limiting factor here; the data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the frame rate only reaches 81 FPS, which is still below what this CPU could theoretically support in a less GPU-bound title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the decisive component in this combo's gaming performance. It features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU core runs at a base clock of 1257 MHz and a boost clock of 1340 MHz, with memory clocked at 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective). With 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, this Polaris 20 chip is a legacy architecture that the data shows struggles with modern titles.

In Greedfall, the GPU's memory capacity is sufficient, but its raw compute power is not. The measured results show a dramatic drop-off as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU hitting its fillrate and shader limits. The 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is simply not enough to feed the pixel pipeline at 4K, resulting in an average of just 24 FPS at High settings. Even at the lowest settings, the 4K resolution yields only 34 FPS, indicating that the GPU is the bottleneck regardless of quality presets. The GPU's 53rd percentile rank and its close rivalry with mobile and older desktop parts like the GTX 1660 SUPER underscore its mid-range status from several generations ago.

The GPU's compute performance, as measured by Passmark at 3488, is also a factor. Greedfall is an Action RPG with complex environments and particle effects, but the data suggests that the RX 580's 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for smooth gameplay at higher resolutions. The frame times at Medium settings show a minimum of 22 FPS at 4K, indicating noticeable stutter. This is not a GPU that can maintain a consistent frame rate under load; it is a component that requires significant graphical compromises to playable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This configuration yields an average of 81 FPS, which is the only measured setting that approaches high-refresh territory. The Medium preset at 1080p drops the average to 64 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS, which is also playable. However, the Low preset provides a 17 FPS advantage over Medium, which is a significant margin for a game like this.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. The Low preset delivers an average of 56 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced combat. The High preset at 1440p drops to 40 FPS, which is borderline. For a stable experience, the Low preset at 1440p is the maximum viable option. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended; the data shows it produces an average of only 15 FPS at 4K, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 37 FPS at 1080p. These numbers are below the threshold for acceptable gameplay.

The best balance of visual quality and performance is the Medium preset at 1920x1080. While Low offers higher frame rates, the Medium preset's 64 FPS average with a 54 FPS minimum is a more visually coherent experience. The frame time data for Medium shows a range of 54 to 73 FPS, which indicates reasonable consistency. For players prioritizing smoothness above all else, Low at 1080p is the clear choice. For those wanting better shadows and textures, Medium at 1080p is the highest setting that maintains a playable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are uniformly poor. The Low preset achieves an average of 34 FPS, while Medium drops to 26 FPS (with a minimum of 22 and maximum of 30). High is slightly worse at 24 FPS, and Ultra is unplayable at 15 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 19 FPS, showing that the GPU is so constrained that even reducing the render load yields only marginal gains.

At 2560x1440, the performance is more usable. The Low preset produces an average of 56 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution to cross the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 44 FPS (with a range of 38 to 51), High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra falls to 26 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 30 FPS drop, indicating that the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, but the reduction in pixel count from 4K allows for a playable experience at lower presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo finally shows its potential in the lower settings. Low delivers an average of 81 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium achieves 64 FPS (with a minimum of 54 and maximum of 73), High drops to 58 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37 FPS. The jump from Ultra to Low is 44 FPS, a substantial difference that highlights the GPU's inability to handle the higher-quality shaders and post-processing effects. The data shows that the RX 580 is only comfortable at 1080p with reduced settings.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset. The measured average at 1920x1080 Low is 81 FPS. At Medium, the average drops to 64 FPS, and at High it falls to 58 FPS, so 60 FPS is not consistently achievable at those higher settings.

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

A: No. The measured results at 3840x2160 show an average of 34 FPS at Low settings and 24 FPS at High settings. The Ultra preset yields only 15 FPS. None of these are considered playable for a smooth experience.

Q: What is the limiting factor for performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the primary bottleneck. The CPU, an Intel Core Ultra 5 225, ranks in the 85th percentile of all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 53rd percentile. The frame rates scale with resolution and settings in a way that points entirely to GPU load.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 12928. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, scores 12940, a difference of only 0.1%. The GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12986, which is 0.4% higher. All three are effectively tied in performance.

Q: What is the best setting for a consistent frame rate?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 Medium provides a minimum of 54 FPS and an average of 64 FPS. This is the highest setting that offers a minimum above 50 FPS. The Low preset offers higher averages but comes with a visual quality trade-off.

Q: Does the CPU's performance affect the gaming results?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 scores 25891 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3655 in single-core, placing it well above average. However, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the constraint; the GPU's performance limits are reached first, making the CPU's power largely unused in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU features 20 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, providing 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Its synthetic benchmark scores are strong: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role is largely passive. The game's engine, as reflected in the measured data, is not heavily reliant on the processor's threading capabilities. With only 10 threads, the Core Ultra 5 225 is more than sufficient for the game's logic, AI, and physics. The measured frame rates do not show any signs of CPU limitation, such as frame rate plateaus that do not improve with lower resolutions. For example, the jump from 1440p Low (56 FPS) to 1080p Low (81 FPS) is a 25 FPS increase, which indicates that the GPU is being relieved, not that the CPU is hitting a ceiling.

The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 4412 score in Passmark single-thread tests, ensures that the game's primary thread is never starved. However, the GPU's 53rd percentile rank means that the overall experience is capped by the Radeon RX 580. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield significant frame rate improvements, while upgrading the CPU would yield none for this title. The Core Ultra 5 225 is a robust processor that is wasted in this pairing, as the GPU cannot keep up with its potential.