Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, based on measured data. The combination produces a wide range of frame rates, from highly playable at 1080p to challenging at 4K Ultra, revealing a system where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck at higher settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and substantial impact from resolution changes. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 126 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops the average to 88 FPS, a 30% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 52 FPS, which is 59% lower than the 1080p result. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases, with the RTX 5070's rendering load scaling almost linearly with the number of pixels.

The scaling is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. The system produces 81 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and only 33 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than half the 1080p Ultra figure, demonstrating the extreme pressure placed on the GPU by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings. This suggests that Greedfall's Ultra preset includes effects that are disproportionately expensive at higher resolutions, such as advanced lighting or post-processing.

At the Low preset, the scaling is more moderate but still significant. The system delivers 177 FPS at 1080p, 123 FPS at 1440p, and 73 FPS at 4K. The relative drop from 1080p to 4K is 59%, which is similar to the High preset. This consistency across presets confirms that resolution is the dominant factor in performance scaling, regardless of the quality settings. The 4K Low result of 73 FPS is still playable, but it shows that even the lowest settings cannot fully compensate for the immense pixel count of 4K.

The data clearly shows that the RTX 5070 is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller performance gap between 1080p and 1440p, as the GPU would have more headroom at lower resolutions. Instead, the consistent and substantial drops with each resolution increase indicate that the GPU's rendering capabilities are being saturated. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, appears to have sufficient processing power to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions and presets, as the FPS scales almost perfectly with pixel count.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the centerpiece of this system's gaming performance. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a 672.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. This bandwidth is crucial for feeding the GPU's 6144 shading units and 48 RT cores at high resolutions. The 12 GB frame buffer is a critical factor at 4K, where high-resolution textures and complex scenes can consume a large amount of video memory.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2325 MHz and a boost of 2512 MHz, are relatively high for a modern graphics card. This, combined with the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, allows the RTX 5070 to achieve a peak FP32 performance of 30.87 TFLOPS. This raw compute power is what drives the high frame rates seen at 1080p and 1440p. The data shows the GPU is capable of 177 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating that it has significant headroom when not bound by memory or pixel fill rate.

The GPU's role becomes more complex at higher settings. The 4K Ultra result of 33 FPS is a clear indicator that the card is overextended. While the 12 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for most of Greedfall's assets, the combination of 4K resolution and the Ultra preset's demanding effects pushes the GPU's compute and memory subsystems to their limits. The measured data for the Medium preset, which shows a 4K average of 58 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS and maximum of 66 FPS, suggests a more balanced workload where the GPU is still the bottleneck but not to the point of being unplayable.

The RTX 5070's performance relative to other GPUs is notable. It sits in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs based on average benchmark scores. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score include the AMD Radeon Pro 580 and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100, with delta percentages of 0.1% and 0.8%, respectively. This indicates that while the RTX 5070 is a high-performing card, it is not in the absolute top tier, which is reflected in its struggle with 4K Ultra settings. The GPU's passmark G3D score of 29137 confirms its strong DirectX performance, but the 4K Ultra results show that Greedfall can still overwhelm it.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p with High or Medium settings provides the best balance. The system achieves 88 FPS at 1440p High and 96 FPS at 1440p Medium, both of which are smooth and responsive. While 1080p offers higher frame rates, the visual fidelity of 1440p is a significant upgrade.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 73, which is playable. At 4K High, the average drops to 52 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The 4K Ultra preset is not recommended, as it yields only 33 FPS, which is likely to feel unresponsive.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between the Low and Ultra presets?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 177 on Low to 81 on Ultra, a 54% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is from 123 to 56 FPS, a 54% reduction. At 4K, the drop is from 73 to 33 FPS, a 55% reduction. This shows that the Ultra preset consistently demands about 55% more GPU performance than Low.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H a bottleneck for the RTX 5070 in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's 16 cores and 22 threads, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, appear to be sufficient to keep the GPU fed at all tested settings.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Medium presets?

A: The difference is moderate. At 1080p, the average FPS is 126 on High and 139 on Medium, a 10% improvement. At 1440p, it is 88 on High and 96 on Medium, a 9% improvement. At 4K, it is 52 on High and 58 on Medium, an 11% improvement. The Medium preset offers a small but consistent performance gain.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 2044th out of 3703 tested combos for Greedfall, placing it in the 55th percentile. This indicates that it is a mid-to-upper-tier system for this game, capable of high refresh rates at 1080p and solid performance at 1440p, but not a top-tier contender for 4K Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination in Greedfall. The data is presented by resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080:

• Low: 177 FPS average
• Medium: 139 FPS average (minimum 118 FPS, maximum 160 FPS)
• High: 126 FPS average
• Ultra: 81 FPS average

At 1080p, the system is clearly GPU-limited at all presets, but with ample performance. The jump from Low to Medium is 38 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High is only 13 FPS. The significant drop occurs from High to Ultra, a 45 FPS reduction. This suggests that the Ultra preset enables several very demanding features that have a disproportionate impact on performance.

2560x1440:

• Low: 123 FPS average
• Medium: 96 FPS average (minimum 82 FPS, maximum 111 FPS)
• High: 88 FPS average
• Ultra: 56 FPS average

At 1440p, the system still provides high frame rates for all presets. The Low preset remains above 120 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium and High presets are both well above 60 FPS, providing a smooth experience for most players. The Ultra preset, at 56 FPS, is just at the threshold of what is considered playable for a single-player RPG.

3840x2160:

• Low: 73 FPS average
• Medium: 58 FPS average (minimum 49 FPS, maximum 66 FPS)
• High: 52 FPS average
• Ultra: 33 FPS average

At 4K, the system's performance is significantly constrained. Only the Low preset achieves a frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 58 FPS, is playable but may exhibit occasional dips. The High preset at 52 FPS is still playable, but the Ultra preset at 33 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. The 12 GB of VRAM on the RTX 5070 is a likely factor here, as 4K Ultra textures can consume a large portion of the frame buffer.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1440p is the recommended configuration. The data shows an average of 96 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS of 82 also indicates that the frame rate is stable, with no significant dips. This setting provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, allowing players to enjoy Greedfall's world without compromising on responsiveness.

Players with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors should consider the High preset. The system achieves 126 FPS at 1080p High, which is sufficient to take advantage of 120Hz or 144Hz displays. While the Ultra preset offers higher visual fidelity, the 45 FPS drop from High to Ultra is a steep price to pay for the marginal visual improvement. The Medium preset at 1080p, with its 139 FPS average, is also a viable option for those who prioritize frame rate over all else.

For 4K displays, the Low preset is the only one that delivers a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 73 FPS. The Medium preset, at 58 FPS, is acceptable for slower-paced exploration, but it may feel less responsive during combat. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for 4K, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold that is generally considered optimal for action RPGs. The data suggests that players with 4K displays should either lower their expectations for visual quality or consider a more powerful GPU.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for players with high-end 1080p or 1440p monitors who prioritize visual fidelity and can tolerate frame rates below 60 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the system achieves 56 FPS, which is just playable. At 1080p Ultra, the 81 FPS average is more comfortable. However, the significant performance cost of the Ultra preset, as evidenced by the steep drop from High, makes it a niche choice for this hardware combination.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H plays a supporting role in this system's gaming performance. The measured data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in Greedfall, as evidenced by the consistent frame rate scaling with resolution. The CPU's 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, provide ample processing power for the game's logic and physics.

The CPU's single-threaded performance, indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1759, is sufficient for Greedfall's main thread. The game, like most Action RPGs, has a primary thread that handles game logic and input. The Ultra 7 165H's high boost clock ensures that this thread is well-served. In the measured data, there is no indication of CPU-bound performance, as the FPS scales predictably with GPU load.

The CPU's multi-threaded performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14551. While Greedfall may not heavily utilize all 22 threads, the headroom provided by the CPU ensures that background processes do not interfere with game performance. The CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 25933 and its 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirm that it is a capable processor. However, in the context of this game, its role is secondary to the RTX 5070.

The CPU's integrated graphics, Arc Xe-LPG 128EU, are not relevant for this analysis, as the system is using the discrete RTX 5070. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s is also not a limiting factor, as the game's performance is clearly GPU-bound. The data suggests that the Ultra 7 165H is a well-matched partner for the RTX 5070 in Greedfall, providing sufficient performance without becoming a bottleneck at any tested resolution or setting.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination ranks 2044th out of 3703 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it squarely in the middle of the pack, at the 55th percentile. This ranking reflects the system's balanced performance, which is capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p but falls short of top-tier 4K performance.

The GPU's individual ranking provides context for this result. The RTX 5070 is in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it is a high-performing card. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon Pro 580 and AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with delta percentages of 0.1% and 0.8%, respectively. This suggests that the RTX 5070 is a solid mid-to-high-end GPU, but not a flagship.

The CPU's ranking is similar, at the 84th percentile. The Core Ultra 7 165H is closely matched with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, which has an average score just 0.5% higher. This indicates that the CPU is also a capable mid-to-high-end part. The combination of two solid mid-to-high-end components results in a system that is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K Ultra results show its limitations.

The combo's rank of 2044 out of 3703 suggests that there are many systems that outperform it, likely those with higher-end GPUs like the RTX 5080 or RTX 5090, which are better equipped for 4K Ultra settings. However, the rank also shows that this combo outperforms a significant portion of tested systems, particularly those with older or lower-tier components. For a mobile CPU paired with a desktop-class GPU, this result is respectable, indicating that the system is well-balanced for its target resolution and settings.