Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 action RPG from Spiders, places distinct demands on a desktop system. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, using measured frame rate data to determine how each component contributes to the experience across resolutions and settings. The data shows a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh 1080p gaming, but which encounters predictable limits as resolution scales upward.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock is 2.40 GHz, which can boost up to 5.30 GHz, and it carries 30 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 3 MB of L2 per core. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42,216 points and a single-core score of 5,960 points. Its PassMark single-thread rating of 4,689 and multithread rating of 49,682 further establish its capability as a high-end desktop part.

The CPU’s performance percentile sits at 93, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of all processors in the database. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score are AMD EPYC server chips, including the EPYC 4464P (0.3% slower) and the EPYC 9124 (0.7% faster), as well as the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which is essentially identical with a 0.3% higher average score. This positioning indicates that the 265 offers compute headroom that far exceeds what a typical action RPG requires.

In Greedfall, the CPU's role is largely about maintaining a stable frame delivery floor. The measured data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 160 FPS average. This is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset, and it is the scenario where the CPU is most likely to be the primary driver of performance. The fact that the system reaches this level suggests the 20-core processor is not a bottleneck at standard resolutions. However, the architecture’s lack of hyperthreading (20 cores, 20 threads) is a design choice, but the high boost clock of 5.30 GHz ensures single-threaded tasks, which are common in game logic, are handled efficiently. The data supports the conclusion that this CPU provides ample performance for Greedfall, as evidenced by the frame rates scaling more with GPU load than with CPU load as settings increase.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU built on a 5 nm process, featuring 2,560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 2,317 MHz and boosts to 2,572 MHz. The card is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its compute capabilities include 13.17 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 20 RT cores for ray tracing.

This GPU holds a 66th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database, placing it in the mid-to-upper tier. Its average benchmark score of 21,035 is closely matched by rivals such as the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (1.6% slower) and the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (0.6% slower). The NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% faster, placing the 5050 in a competitive segment for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming.

The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor in Greedfall. At 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 30 FPS, which is the lowest recorded in the dataset. This is not just a compute limitation but also a memory bandwidth and capacity issue. The 320.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p, but the demands of 4K textures and effects can exceed the 8 GB buffer, causing stutters and frame drops. The measured data shows a significant performance cliff between Medium and Ultra at 4K, with average FPS falling from 52 to 30, a 42% drop. This suggests that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the CPU has already proven its capability at lower settings. The RTX 5050 is clearly oriented toward 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high refresh rates, but it struggles to maintain playable frames at 4K with maximum quality.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. At Low settings, the average frame rate scales from 160 FPS at 1080p, to 111 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 66 FPS at 4K. This represents a 31% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 41% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, indicating that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are struggling to keep up with the increased pixel count.

At High settings, the pattern is similar: 114 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K. The drops are 31% and 41% respectively, mirroring the Low setting results. This consistency suggests that the resolution is the dominant factor, not the specific quality preset. The Medium settings show a slightly different trend, with 126 FPS at 1080p, 87 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 40%, again showing the steep cost of 4K rendering.

The Ultra settings reveal the most severe scaling. Starting at 73 FPS at 1080p, it drops to 50 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 30 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 40%, but the absolute numbers are much lower, indicating that the combination of high resolution and maximum quality settings overwhelms the RTX 5050. The data shows that the limiting component at 4K is definitively the GPU. The CPU’s performance is consistent, as evidenced by the high frame rates at lower resolutions, and it is not the cause of the frame rate collapse at higher pixel counts. The system is effectively CPU-bound at 1080p, but transitions to being GPU-bound as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions. The data is measured, not estimated, and the combination ranks 1776th out of 2938 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the lower half of all systems tested for Greedfall.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers strong performance across the board. With Low settings, the average FPS is 160, which is exceptionally high and indicates a smooth experience with minimal graphical fidelity. Medium settings yield 126 FPS average, with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS, showing a stable frame time distribution. High settings produce 114 FPS average, still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings are the most demanding, bringing the average down to 73 FPS, which remains playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease but remain respectable. Low settings average 111 FPS, ensuring a high-refresh experience. Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS, which is a solid result for the resolution. High settings average 79 FPS, which is playable and smooth. Ultra settings drop to 50 FPS average, which is borderline for a smooth experience, as dips below 60 FPS can be noticeable in action sequences.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to struggle. Low settings average 66 FPS, which is playable but no longer high-refresh. Medium settings average 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS, indicating occasional stutters. High settings average 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and will feel less fluid. Ultra settings average only 30 FPS, which is a poor experience for an action RPG, as the frame rate is too low for responsive combat. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, and even then, it is not ideal for competitive or fast-paced gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 73, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. This indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and RTX 5050 combination can handle the game at its highest quality preset at this resolution.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings yield an average of 87 FPS, while High settings yield an average of 79 FPS. The difference is 8 FPS, or roughly 9%, which is a modest cost for the visual improvements offered by the High preset.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, where the average FPS is 66. At Medium settings, the average drops to 52 FPS, and at High it is 47 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as the average FPS is only 30, which is too low for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21,035. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% slower, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is 0.6% slower. The NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% faster. This places the 5050 in a tight competitive group with these cards.

Q: What is the impact of the 8 GB VRAM on performance?

A: The 8 GB VRAM is likely a limiting factor at 4K resolution. The significant frame rate drop from Medium (52 FPS) to Ultra (30 FPS) at 3840x2160 suggests that the memory capacity and bandwidth are overwhelmed by the high-resolution textures and effects, causing a severe performance penalty.

Q: At which resolution is the system most balanced?

A: The system is most balanced at 2560x1440. At this resolution, the CPU and GPU work together to produce playable frame rates across all settings, with High settings averaging 79 FPS and Ultra averaging 50 FPS. It offers a better visual experience than 1080p without the severe performance penalties seen at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system depends on the user's display resolution and performance priorities.

For 1920x1080 users, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The average of 73 FPS is well above the 60 FPS target, and the minimum frame rate, while not recorded, is unlikely to cause major issues given the high average. This provides the best visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. For those with high-refresh monitors (144Hz or above), the Medium preset offers an average of 126 FPS, which will better utilize the display’s capabilities, though High settings at 114 FPS are also a strong choice for a balance of quality and speed.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 79 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for an action RPG. The Ultra preset at 50 FPS average is playable but may feel less fluid during combat, and the Medium preset at 87 FPS offers only a marginal performance gain over High. Therefore, High provides the best visual-to-performance ratio at this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that this system is not well-suited for high-quality gaming. The Low preset is the only setting that achieves an average above 60 FPS (66 FPS), making it the only viable option for a consistent experience. Medium settings at 52 FPS are borderline, and High and Ultra are not recommended due to sub-50 FPS averages. Users with 4K displays should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p to unlock higher quality presets, as the gain in visual detail from the Higher presets at 4K is offset by the significant loss in frame rate. The measured data clearly indicates that the RTX 5050 is best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where it can provide a high-quality gaming experience.