Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti pairing. The benchmark data reveals a system that is heavily capable at lower resolutions but shows its limitations as pixel count climbs. This analysis examines the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to understand where the bottleneck lies and how this combination performs relative to other tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frames per second show a clear and dramatic decline as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system delivers an average of 176 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops that figure to 122 FPS, a significant 30.7% reduction. The step to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average falling to 73 FPS, which is 58.5% lower than the 1080p result. This steep curve indicates that the rendering load is scaling aggressively with pixel count, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. With Low settings, the system achieves 247 FPS at 1080p, 171 FPS at 1440p, and 102 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the same trend, with 112 FPS at 1080p, 78 FPS at 1440p, and 46 FPS at 4K. The fact that even the Low preset at 4K only manages 102 FPS, while the same preset at 1080p hits 247 FPS, strongly suggests that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The RTX 3080 Ti, with its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 912.4 GB/s bandwidth, is being pushed to its limits as the number of pixels that need to be shaded and textured multiplies.

When examining the scaling from 1440p to 4K, the performance drop is consistent at roughly 40% across all settings. For High settings, it goes from 122 FPS to 73 FPS, a 40.2% decrease. This linear and predictable drop is a hallmark of a GPU that is saturated with work. The data implies that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is not the primary constraint at these resolutions; its 20 cores and 20 threads are providing enough headroom for the GPU to be the deciding factor. The performance scaling pattern here points unequivocally to the graphics card as the bottleneck when moving to 4K, a conclusion reinforced by the fact that the CPU's strong multi-threaded scores in other benchmarks do not translate into higher FPS at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data offers a clear hierarchy of performance across the four presets, allowing for informed recommendations based on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset, with an average of 112 FPS, is entirely playable and provides the highest visual fidelity. The jump from High to Ultra at this resolution costs 64 FPS (from 176 to 112), but the result is still far above the threshold for smooth gameplay, making it the best choice for users with high-refresh-rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the High preset becomes the sweet spot. It delivers an average of 122 FPS, which is a 56.4% improvement over the Ultra preset's 78 FPS. The Medium preset is also a strong option, offering 134 FPS, but High provides a better balance of visual quality and performance. The 44 FPS difference between High and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, and for many, the visual gains from Ultra will not justify the performance hit.

The situation changes dramatically at 3840x2160. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable, with an average of 46 FPS. The High preset is the best recommendation here, as it is the highest quality setting that maintains a playable frame rate, averaging 73 FPS. Dropping to Medium yields 80 FPS, a modest 9.6% increase, which might not be worth the reduction in visual detail. The Low preset at 4K, averaging 102 FPS, exists for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, but High is the optimal compromise.

The data suggests that the user should tailor their settings to their resolution. For 1080p, Ultra is the clear winner. For 1440p, High provides the best experience per the measured rows, and for 4K, High is the only sensible choice for a balance of quality and performance. The 1440p Medium preset, with its min FPS of 114 and max of 155, also shows excellent frame time consistency, but High is a more robust choice. The measured data indicates that the system's capability is best utilized with a High preset at 2560x1440, which appears to be the resolution and settings combination where the CPU and GPU are best balanced.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960. These results place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating a very high-performing processor. However, its role in Greedfall is not to be the star of the show; it is to provide a stable platform for the GPU.

The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is likely the primary driver of performance, as the GPU is not as stressed. The FPS at this resolution reaches 247 on Low settings, which is very high. This suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve these frame rates. At 1440p and 4K, the CPU's influence wanes as the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The fact that the FPS drops consistently as resolution increases, regardless of CPU load, indicates that the CPU is not limiting the system in this game at higher resolutions.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 7 265 is very competitive. It is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and 0.7% faster than the AMD EPYC 7343. Its performance is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 4464P, which is 0.3% slower, and the AMD EPYC 9124, which is 0.7% faster. This places the CPU in a very tight performance band with these other processors. For Greedfall, this means that any of these CPUs would likely deliver similar results, and the choice between them would not be a major factor in the game's performance. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 20 cores are more than sufficient for the game's demands, which is likely why the bottleneck shifts to the GPU so clearly at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is ranked 744th out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the top 25.3% of all configurations, which is a solid result for a system with this hardware. The rank is determined by the measured FPS across all tested games, and in Greedfall, this combo performs well, particularly at 1440p.

The rank of 744 suggests that while this is a strong pairing, there are many other combos that achieve higher average FPS in this game. The RTX 3080 Ti, despite being an end-of-life product, is still a powerful GPU. However, its performance is not at the top of the charts, as evidenced by its 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs. The CPU's high percentile ranking (93rd) does not fully compensate for the GPU's slightly lower standing, resulting in a combo that is solid but not elite.

The data implies that the system is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates. At 4K, the combo's rank is likely dragged down by the GPU's inability to maintain high FPS at that resolution. The fact that the combo ranks 744th overall indicates that a significant number of other combos, likely featuring more powerful GPUs, can outperform it in this game. For a user with this setup, the expectation should be for excellent 1080p and 1440p performance, with playable but not exceptional 4K performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the key component for this game's visual output. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1665 MHz, and it has 10240 shading units. These specs make it a very capable card, but the data shows it is the limiting factor at 4K resolution.

The GPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Passmark G3D score of 26896 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 192697. It is in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, which is 0.8% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, which is 2% slower. Interestingly, it is 1.2% faster than the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB and 1.7% faster than the standard Tesla M40. This shows the RTX 3080 Ti is competitive with some newer and older prosumer cards, but it is not a top-tier performer in the current landscape.

In Greedfall, the GPU's role is to render the game's environments and characters. At 1080p and 1440p, it does this with ease, delivering frame rates well above 100 FPS on High settings. However, at 4K, the 12 GB of VRAM and the GPU's raw compute power are stressed. The 73 FPS average on High settings at 4K is a clear sign that the card is working hard. The 46 FPS average on Ultra settings at 4K is nearly unplayable, indicating the card's limits. The GPU's 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is substantial, but it is not enough to handle the 4K Ultra preset in this game. The data suggests that the RTX 3080 Ti is best suited for 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming, where it can fully utilize its capabilities without being overwhelmed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete breakdown of measured average FPS for all tested resolutions and settings:

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: 247 FPS
• Medium: 194 FPS (min 165, max 223)
• High: 176 FPS
• Ultra: 112 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: 171 FPS
• Medium: 134 FPS (min 114, max 155)
• High: 122 FPS
• Ultra: 78 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: 102 FPS
• Medium: 80 FPS (min 68, max 92)
• High: 73 FPS
• Ultra: 46 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern: for each resolution, the Low settings preset yields the highest FPS, and the Ultra preset yields the lowest. The Medium preset provides a balanced middle ground, with the only min and max FPS data points available in the pack. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium is a 21.5% decrease in FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra is a 36.4% decrease. At 4K, the decrease from Low to High is 28.4%, and from High to Ultra is 37.0%. This indicates that the Ultra preset is disproportionately demanding, likely due to advanced shading and post-processing effects. The 1440p Medium preset is notable for its frame time consistency, with a min of 114 and max of 155, which is a tighter range than the 1080p Medium preset's 165-223 range. This suggests that at 1440p, the system is more stable under load.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 247, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming at high settings?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the system averages 73 FPS, which is playable. However, the Ultra preset at 4K only averages 46 FPS, which is not ideal for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score that is 2% higher than the RTX 5070, indicating it is slightly faster in general benchmarks.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 122 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 78 FPS. This is a 56.4% improvement in FPS when using High settings over Ultra.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The FPS drops are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, and the CPU's high benchmark scores do not prevent the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations in Greedfall?

A: The combo is ranked 744th out of 2938 tested combos, placing it in the top 25.3% of all configurations.