Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for older hardware. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 processor paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, based strictly on measured frame rate data. The combination of a modern 14-core CPU with a legacy 4 GB GPU creates a significant performance bottleneck, the extent of which is clearly illustrated by the benchmark results across different resolutions and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound system. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 73 FPS. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that approaches a high-refresh experience. However, the playability drops off sharply when moving to higher resolutions.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rate at Low settings falls to 50 FPS, a 31.5% reduction from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern indicates that the graphics card is being pushed to its limits as the pixel count increases. The trend becomes more pronounced at 4K. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS plummets to 30, which is a 40% drop from the 1440p figure and a 58.9% drop from 1080p. This non-linear decline in performance is a clear indicator that the GeForce GTX 1650's 4 GB memory buffer and 128-bit memory interface are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data required for 4K rendering.

The data suggests that the limiting component in this pairing is overwhelmingly the GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, with its high benchmark scores (e.g., a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4516), is far more capable than the GTX 1650. While the CPU's performance percentile of 89 places it in the top tier of processors, the GPU's percentile of 40 indicates it is only average. When the resolution scales from 1080p to 4K, the CPU has to do relatively less work per frame, yet the frame rate drops dramatically. This proves that the GPU's rendering throughput, not the CPU's processing power, is the primary constraint on performance in Greedfall.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this specific hardware combination in a very low position globally. The comboRankInGame field shows a rank of 2844 out of 2938 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it in the bottom 3.2% of all tested systems, a stark illustration of its limited capability for this title. This low rank is consistent with the GPU's individual performance, as it sits at the 40th percentile compared to all other GPUs.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database further contextualize its standing. The GeForce GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 7472. This is nearly identical to the Intel UHD Graphics 750, which has an average score of 7441 and a deltaPct of 0.4%. This means the discrete GTX 1650 is only 0.4% faster than an integrated graphics solution, highlighting how dated its architecture is. It is also 1% slower than the Intel Arc A310, which has an average score of 7550 and a deltaPct of -1. This positions the GTX 1650 as a very entry-level part in the current landscape.

The CPU, in contrast, is a powerhouse. Its average benchmark score of 46062 places it in elite company. It is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (deltaPct of 0.1%) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (deltaPct of -0.1%). This indicates that the processor is not the reason for the low in-game rank. The data strongly suggests that the combo's rank is entirely dragged down by the GPU's inability to keep pace with modern game rendering demands at higher resolutions. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is a major limitation, as it restricts texture detail and resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend heavily on the target resolution. The data shows a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and playable frame rates. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, the only viable option is 1080p with Low settings, which yields an average of 73 FPS. This provides enough headroom to avoid significant drops below 60 FPS in less demanding scenes.

At 1080p, Medium settings produce an average of 57 FPS, which is very close to the 60 FPS target. The minimum FPS for this setting is 48, which suggests occasional stutters. This is a viable choice for players who prioritize visual quality over a perfectly stable frame rate. High settings at 1080p drop the average to 52 FPS, which is still playable but further from the ideal. Ultra settings at 1080p are not recommended, as the average drops to 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset is the only one that provides a decent average of 50 FPS, but Medium settings drop to 40 FPS, and High reduces to 36 FPS. These are all playable but not ideal. Ultra settings at 1440p are not recommended, with an average of only 23 FPS. At 4K, all settings are effectively unplayable, with averages ranging from a low of 14 FPS on Ultra to a high of 30 FPS on Low. The analysis suggests that for the best balance of visual quality and performance, 1080p Medium is the highest preset that should be considered. For a smoother experience, dropping to Low settings at 1080p is the most reliable choice.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table and analysis provide a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average FPS is 73. This is the highest recorded frame rate in the entire dataset and indicates a playable, if not perfectly smooth, experience.
• Medium: The average FPS is 57, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 66. This shows a significant performance drop from Low but remains a viable option for many players.
• High: The average FPS is 52. This is a modest reduction from Medium, indicating that the High preset introduces additional load that the GPU struggles to handle.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 33. This is a substantial drop and falls below the 60 FPS target, making it the least desirable preset at this resolution.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average FPS is 50. This is a considerable drop from the 1080p Low setting, showing the impact of increased pixel count.
• Medium: The average FPS is 40, with a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 45. This provides a playable experience but with more frequent frame drops.
• High: The average FPS is 36. This is a marginal improvement over Medium, but it is still below the 40 FPS mark.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 23. This is not recommended for a smooth experience, as it falls well below playable thresholds.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average FPS is 30. This is the only 4K setting that reaches 30 FPS, which is the bare minimum for console-like playability.
• Medium: The average FPS is 24, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. This is a choppy experience.
• High: The average FPS is 21. This is not a playable experience.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 14. This is the worst performance recorded and is essentially a slideshow.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the GTX 1650 is only capable of providing a smooth experience at 1080p with lower settings. Any attempt to increase resolution or visual fidelity results in a rapid decline in frame rate, making the game unenjoyable.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the decisive factor in this system's Greedfall performance. Its specifications, while modest, help explain the measured results. The GPU has a 4 GB GDDR5 memory buffer, which is a significant constraint for modern games. At 4K, the high memory bandwidth requirement for textures and geometry exceeds what this card can provide, leading to the low frame rates seen in the data. The memory clock is listed as 2001 MHz, with an effective data rate of 8 Gbps, providing a total bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. This is simply not enough for the data throughput required at higher resolutions.

The GPU's core clocks are 1485 MHz base and 1665 MHz boost, which are typical for this generation. With 896 shading units, it has a theoretical FP32 performance of 2.984 TFLOPS. This raw compute power is insufficient for the complex pixel and vertex shading required by Greedfall's High and Ultra presets, particularly at 1440p and 4K. The card's 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors show it is designed for low-power systems, not high-end gaming.

The GPU's benchmark scores corroborate this. Its Passmark G3D score is 7880, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is a very low 305. These scores indicate a fundamental lack of performance for modern DirectX 12 workloads. The card's percentile ranking of 40 places it below the majority of other GPUs, confirming its entry-level status. The data shows that the GPU's architectural age (Turing, 12 nm process) and its small memory pool are the primary reasons for the low frame rates observed in Greedfall. The CPU is not the bottleneck; the GPU simply cannot render the game fast enough.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Greedfall at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset, where the average FPS is 73. At Medium settings, the average drops to 57 FPS, which is close to but not consistently at 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides an acceptable gaming experience. At 2560x1440, even the Low preset only averages 50 FPS, and at 3840x2160, all settings fall below 30 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 7472. It is only 0.4% faster than the Intel UHD Graphics 750 (score of 7441) and 1% slower than the Intel Arc A310 (score of 7550). This shows it is barely faster than some integrated graphics solutions.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 processor a limiting factor?

A: No. The CPU's benchmark scores are very high, with an average score of 46062 and a percentile ranking of 89. It is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX. The low frame rates are entirely due to the GPU's performance limitations.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 73 on Low settings to 33 on Ultra settings. This is a performance reduction of 54.8%, showing the massive load that the Ultra preset places on the GPU.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this setup?

A: Technically, the game will run, but it is not a viable experience. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 30 on the Low preset, with Medium, High, and Ultra averaging 24, 21, and 14 FPS, respectively. These are all below playable thresholds.