Greedfall

Greedfall is an Action RPG from 2019 that stresses both processor and graphics hardware in different ways depending on resolution. This analysis examines the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the AMD Radeon RX 570, using only measured data to show exactly where this pairing excels and where it falls short.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is the foundation of this system, built on the Arrow Lake architecture with 14 cores and 14 threads. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and it draws a 65 W TDP. This is a desktop-class processor with a 24 MB shared L3 cache, and it ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs tested, which places it firmly in the upper tier of processors. Its average benchmark score of 46062 puts it within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, and it sits 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900HX. These are close margins, but the data shows the Core Ultra 5 235 is competitive with mobile flagship parts.

In synthetic tests, the processor delivers a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The multicore result matters for Greedfall because the game’s open-world environments and NPC simulations can scale across multiple threads. A PassMark multithread score of 37816 and a physics score of 2570 further underscore its capacity for handling concurrent workloads. The single-thread performance, measured at 4516 in PassMark's single-thread test, is equally important. Greedfall’s game logic and draw-call submission often rely on a single primary thread, so a strong single-core result helps maintain consistent frame pacing in crowded areas.

The 14-core count with no hyperthreading means the processor relies on physical cores rather than logical threads. For a game like Greedfall, which was released in 2019, this is generally sufficient. The data shows the CPU holds its own against rivals, but the real question is whether it becomes a bottleneck when paired with the RX 570. At lower resolutions, where the GPU has less work per frame, the CPU’s single-thread strength becomes more critical. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz gives it headroom to push frame rates, but the measured FPS in this game suggests the GPU often becomes the limiting factor before the CPU does.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is a much older piece of hardware, based on the Polaris 20 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture. It has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 1168 MHz with a boost clock of 1244 MHz, and the card draws 150 W. It ranks in the 74th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28766. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, which scores 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon R9 M295X, which scores 0.7% lower. The RX 570 also sits very close to the RX 470, which is 0.8% faster, showing that this is a mature but still relevant GPU for 1080p gaming.

The 4 GB VRAM is the most significant constraint here. Greedfall’s texture-heavy environments and character models can exceed 4 GB at higher settings, which forces the card to swap data to system memory, causing stutter. The memory clock runs at 1750 MHz, or 7 Gbps effective, which is adequate for the card’s class but not exceptional. The 2048 shading units and 32 ROPs deliver a peak pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s. These figures are modest by modern standards, but they align with the card’s original 2017 release.

The GPU’s score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 880, which is low compared to modern cards, but that test is more demanding than Greedfall’s engine. The Geekbench Vulkan score of 42752 and OpenCL score of 32084 show the card can handle compute tasks, but the real-world gaming performance is what matters here. The data shows the RX 570 is capable of playable frame rates at 1080p with medium settings, but it struggles beyond that. Its 4 GB memory and older architecture make it the primary bottleneck in this pairing, especially at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 73 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 drops that to 51 FPS, a 30% reduction. At 3840x2160, it falls to 30 FPS, another 41% drop from 1440p. This scaling is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RX 570’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors.

At Medium settings, the pattern is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The combo hits 57 FPS at 1080p, 40 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is 17 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 16 FPS. This near-linear scaling suggests the GPU is consistently the bottleneck, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames at all resolutions tested.

The High settings preset tells a slightly different story. At 1080p, the combo manages 52 FPS, which drops to 36 FPS at 1440p and 22 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 31%, and from 1440p to 4K is 39%. These are larger drops than at Low settings, indicating that the higher texture quality and effects are putting additional strain on the GPU’s 4 GB memory and compute units.

Ultra settings are the most demanding, with only 33 FPS at 1080p, 23 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset appears to include settings that the RX 570 simply cannot handle at playable frame rates, even at 1080p. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being marginal and 4K only viable at Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 2825 out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall. That places it in the bottom 4% of all tested configurations, which is a surprisingly low ranking given the CPU’s strength. The ranking reflects the GPU’s age and memory limitation more than the CPU’s capability. The Core Ultra 5 235 is a modern processor, but the RX 570 is a 2017 card that is end-of-life, and pairing them creates a significant imbalance.

The rank suggests that most other combos tested either have a stronger GPU or a more balanced pairing. The CPU’s high percentile rank (89th) does little to lift the combo’s overall standing because Greedfall’s performance is largely GPU-bound at the settings where this card can operate. The data shows that the combo’s average FPS across all tested resolutions is limited by the GPU, not the CPU. This is evident in the measured FPS, where the CPU’s strong single-thread performance does not translate into higher frame rates at 1080p Low, where the GPU is the limiting factor.

The ranking also indicates that this is not a combo you would choose for high-refresh-rate gaming or 4K output. It is a pairing that works for 1080p gaming at medium settings, but it does not compete with modern mid-range or high-end configurations. The 2825th rank out of 2938 is a clear signal that the GPU is the weak link, and any upgrade path should focus on replacing the RX 570 rather than the CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 73 FPS, which is smooth for most gameplay. Medium settings drop to 57 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. High settings average 52 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 33 FPS. The Medium preset offers the best balance between visual quality and playability, with the minimum staying above 45 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings average 51 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. Medium settings drop to 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS. High settings average 36 FPS, which is borderline for a game like Greedfall that benefits from consistent frame pacing. Ultra settings fall to 23 FPS, which is not recommended for any serious play.

At 3840x2160, the combo is largely out of its depth. Low settings average 30 FPS, which is barely playable and will feel stuttery in combat. Medium settings drop to 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS. High settings average 22 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 14 FPS. None of these are acceptable for a playable experience, and the data clearly shows that 4K is not viable with this GPU.

The minimum FPS values are only recorded for Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the minimum is 49 FPS, at 1440p it is 34 FPS, and at 4K it is 20 FPS. These minimums are important because they represent the worst-case frame dips during intense scenes, and they show that the combo can maintain a playable experience only at 1080p Medium or lower.

Settings Recommendations

The data suggests that the 1080p Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo. It delivers an average of 57 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS, which is smooth and consistent for an action RPG. The High preset at 1080p is also viable at 52 FPS, but the 5 FPS gain from Medium to High is not worth the potential for more frequent dips in crowded areas. Ultra at 1080p is not recommended, as the 33 FPS average is below the playable threshold for most users.

For 1440p, the Low preset at 51 FPS is the only option that provides a consistently playable experience. Medium at 40 FPS may be tolerable for some, but the minimum of 34 FPS means there will be noticeable stutter during combat or when loading new areas. High and Ultra at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall below 36 FPS.

At 4K, none of the presets are recommended. The Low preset at 30 FPS is technically playable but will feel sluggish, and the Medium preset at 24 FPS is too low for a game that requires precise timing. If you must play at 4K, the Low preset is the only option, but the data indicates that this combo is not designed for that resolution.

The best experience per the measured rows is 1080p Medium. It offers a solid frame rate with a minimum above 45 FPS, and the visual quality is acceptable for a game from 2019. If you prefer higher visual fidelity, 1080p High is a viable alternative, but be prepared for slightly lower minimum frame rates. For 1440p, stick to Low settings to maintain playability, and avoid 4K entirely with this GPU. The CPU is capable of more, but the RX 570’s 4 GB memory and older architecture limit the combo to 1080p as its primary target.