Greedfall

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination in Greedfall demonstrates a classic balance between CPU and GPU capabilities, with the data revealing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system delivers exceptional frame rates that highlight the strength of the processor, while at 4K, the graphics card becomes the primary limiting factor, pulling performance down to more moderate levels.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic scaling curve from 1080p to 4K, indicating a system that is well-matched for high-refresh-rate gaming at lower resolutions but becomes GPU-bound at higher pixel counts. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 238 FPS at 1920x1080 to 165 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 98 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 59% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which is a substantial decline that points squarely at the graphics card as the limiting component in this scenario.

The High preset tells a similar story, with average FPS falling from 170 at 1080p to 118 at 1440p, and then to 70 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is 59%, mirroring the Low preset’s scaling almost exactly. This consistency across different quality levels suggests that the resolution scaling is driven by pixel throughput rather than specific rendering features.

Ultra settings exhibit the steepest relative decline, going from 108 FPS at 1080p down to 45 FPS at 4K. That 58% reduction is slightly less severe than the other presets, but the absolute numbers are much lower, indicating that the combination of Ultra quality and 4K resolution pushes the RTX 3080 to its limits.

The Medium preset, which is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, shows a 59% drop in average FPS from 1080p (187 FPS) to 4K (77 FPS). The minimum FPS at 1440p is 110, while at 4K it falls to 66, demonstrating that frame pacing also degrades as resolution climbs.

What the scaling reveals is a system where the CPU has ample headroom at 1080p, allowing the GPU to run at very high utilization. As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the pixel fill rate demand grows, and the RTX 3080’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth become the decisive factors. The consistent 58-59% scaling pattern across all presets indicates that resolution is the dominant variable, not the specific graphics settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, is the clear performance ceiling at higher resolutions in Greedfall. With 8704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, the card has substantial raw compute resources. The boost clock of 1710 MHz and base clock of 1440 MHz provide the operating frequencies, while the 10 GB GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus delivers 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth.

The GPU’s role becomes evident when examining the 4K results. At Ultra settings, the average FPS is just 45, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players consider acceptable. Even at High settings, 4K yields only 70 FPS, showing that the card is working hard but cannot maintain high frame rates at maximum quality. The memory capacity of 10 GB appears sufficient for this 2019 Action RPG, but the bandwidth and compute limitations are exposed at 3840x2160.

The RTX 3080’s percentile ranking of 68 among all GPUs places it in the upper tier, though its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA P106-100 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, with average score deltas of just -0.3% to -0.4%. This suggests that while the card is capable, it is not at the absolute top of the performance hierarchy. The GPU’s 29.77 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 465.1 GTexel/s texture rate are substantial, but Greedfall’s demands at 4K Ultra exceed what this card can deliver for smooth gameplay.

The 4K Low preset result of 98 FPS indicates that when the graphics load is reduced, the GPU can still push high frame rates. This shows that the card is not fundamentally underpowered, but rather that the Ultra preset’s additional effects and geometry are too demanding at high resolution. The GPU’s support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with modern rendering paths, but the measured data speaks to real-world performance that falls short at maximum quality settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 with Arrow Lake architecture, provides the processing foundation for this combo. With 14 cores and 14 threads, the CPU has a 3.40 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock, enabling strong single-threaded performance that benefits Greedfall’s game logic and physics. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth help feed the GPU efficiently.

The CPU’s benchmark results are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The PassMark multi-thread score of 37816 and single-thread score of 4516 further confirm its capabilities. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 89 among all processors places it well above average, with nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX, showing delta percentages of just 0.1% to 0.2% in average benchmark scores.

In Greedfall, the CPU’s role is most apparent at 1080p resolution, where the frame rates are remarkably high. At Low settings, the 1080p average of 238 FPS demonstrates that the processor can feed the GPU far beyond typical display refresh rates. Even at High settings, 170 FPS at 1080p indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution. The 14-core configuration with 14 threads (no hyperthreading) provides sufficient parallel processing for the game’s AI and simulation tasks.

The CPU’s lack of hyperthreading means each core handles one thread, but the high boost clock of 5.00 GHz compensates for this in single-threaded workloads. Greedfall, being an older title, likely does not scale perfectly across 14 cores, but the strong single-core performance ensures that the main game thread runs efficiently. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and efficient 3 nm process node from TSMC contribute to thermal headroom, though the measured FPS data does not directly reflect temperature or power behavior.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and RTX 3080 combination produces outstanding results across all settings. Low settings achieve an average of 238 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 187 FPS with a minimum of 159 FPS and maximum of 215 FPS. High settings deliver 170 FPS average, while Ultra settings still manage 108 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system has substantial headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors, with even Ultra settings comfortably exceeding 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU beginning to assert its influence. Low settings produce 165 FPS average, dropping to 130 FPS on Medium with a 110 FPS minimum and 149 FPS maximum. High settings average 118 FPS, while Ultra settings fall to 75 FPS. The 1440p results show that high-refresh-rate gaming is still viable, but Ultra quality demands compromise.

At 3840x2160, the GPU bottleneck becomes pronounced. Low settings average 98 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium drops to 77 FPS with a 66 FPS minimum. High settings manage 70 FPS, while Ultra settings produce just 45 FPS average. The 4K Ultra result is the weakest measured, falling below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for a smooth experience.

The measured data reveals that the sweet spot for this combination is 1440p with High settings, delivering 118 FPS average with no reported minimum FPS issues. At 4K, High settings at 70 FPS are the best balance between visual quality and fluidity, while Ultra at 45 FPS is only suitable for players who prioritize image quality over frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 1064 out of 3703 tested combos in Greedfall, placing it in the 71st percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects a system that is well above average for this game, though not in the top tier. The rank of 1064 suggests that there are 1063 other combinations that deliver better performance, likely featuring higher-end GPUs or more powerful CPUs.

Given the CPU’s high percentile ranking of 89 and the GPU’s ranking of 68, the combo’s overall position is dragged down by the graphics card. The CPU is clearly capable of supporting higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 1080p results, but the GPU limits the system’s ceiling at higher resolutions. This is typical of a pairing where the processor outpaces the graphics card in relative performance.

The combo’s rank in the middle of the upper third indicates that for Greedfall specifically, this system is a solid performer but not exceptional. Players seeking higher 4K Ultra frame rates would need a more powerful GPU, while those playing at 1080p would find this combo more than adequate. The data suggests that the RTX 3080 is the component holding back the system, particularly at 4K Ultra where the 45 FPS result is the weakest measured.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings are the clear choice, delivering 108 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The headroom at 1080p means players can enable maximum quality without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 118 FPS provide an excellent balance between visual fidelity and performance. Ultra at 75 FPS is also viable for players who prefer maximum quality, but High offers a more comfortable margin above the 60 FPS minimum. Medium at 130 FPS is the choice for high-refresh-rate displays, ensuring frame rates stay above 110 FPS even in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, High settings at 70 FPS are the recommended choice, as they deliver playable performance with good visual quality. Medium at 77 FPS is marginally better for frame rate, but High’s visual improvements justify the small performance cost. Ultra at 45 FPS is not recommended for general play, as it falls below the 60 FPS target and would result in a noticeably less fluid experience. Low at 98 FPS is an option for players who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual compromise is significant.

The Medium preset’s measured minimum FPS values provide additional insight. At 1080p, the minimum of 159 FPS shows excellent frame pacing, while at 1440p the minimum of 110 FPS remains solid. At 4K, the minimum of 66 FPS is close to the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that occasional dips could be noticeable. For the best overall experience, High settings at 1440p offer the strongest combination of frame rate stability and visual quality, with the 118 FPS average providing ample headroom above the minimums.