Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG, presents a unique stress test for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B390. The measured data reveals a system where the graphical processor is the overwhelming bottleneck, resulting in a performance profile that is constrained at every resolution and settings level. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the scaling behavior, component roles, and optimal configurations for this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, indicating a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 60 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings reduces the average to 42 FPS, a 30% decline. Pushing further to 3840x2160 at High settings results in a 25 FPS average, which is a 58% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep downward curve is characteristic of a graphics card that is saturated by the pixel throughput demands of higher resolutions.

The scaling pattern across all settings presets reinforces this conclusion. With Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 84 FPS at 1080p to 58 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 35 FPS at 4K. The respective performance losses of 31% and 58% between successive resolution steps are substantial. The data indicates that the Intel Arc B390's rendering capabilities are the primary limiting factor, as the CPU's performance headroom cannot compensate for the increased workload on the GPU at higher resolutions.

At 4K, the frame rates become critically low across the board. The average FPS ranges from 35 at Low settings to just 16 at Ultra settings. This makes 4K gaming impractical for this configuration, as even the lowest settings preset fails to maintain a smooth 30 FPS baseline. The resolution scaling analysis suggests that users should not expect playable performance at 4K, and the component limiting the experience is definitively the graphics solution, which shows a percentile ranking of only 9 among all tested GPUs.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 operates as an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 80 W TDP, a detail that frames its performance expectations. Its role in this combo is defined by its memory architecture, which is "System Shared" for size, type, bus width, and bandwidth. This means the GPU relies on the system's DDR5 memory, making its effective bandwidth "System Dependent" rather than a fixed value. This shared memory configuration often creates a performance bottleneck in modern games, and the data for Greedfall supports this.

The GPU's clock speeds range from a 300 MHz base to a 2500 MHz boost. While the boost clock is relatively high, the underlying architecture consists of 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. These specifications translate to a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The GPU's raw compute is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile, and its nearest rivals are older, low-end discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, with deltaPct values of 1.3% and 2.7% respectively. This context shows that the Arc B390 is performing in a class of hardware that is fundamentally not designed for demanding, high-resolution gaming.

The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the definitive constraint. In Greedfall, the difference between Low and High settings at the same resolution is consistent. At 1080p, the average FPS moves from 84 at Low to 60 at High. At 1440p, it moves from 58 to 42. This shows that the GPU is struggling to process the increased visual complexity, and its shared memory and limited processing power are the primary reasons for the low frame rates observed. The GPU is not a capable partner for this game at any resolution above 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It boasts a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. Its substantial L3 cache of 36 MB and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s provide a robust foundation for gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores an average of 84003, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, only 0.2% behind.

However, in this specific configuration, the CPU's role is largely underutilized. The bottleneck is so firmly on the GPU side that the processor's immense power is not the limiting factor. This is evident from the resolution scaling; if the CPU were the constraint, frame rates would remain relatively flat as resolution increases. Instead, they plummet, which is the signature of a system waiting on the GPU to finish its work. The CPU is providing the data, but the Arc B390 cannot process it fast enough to deliver higher frame rates.

The CPU's theoretical capability is far beyond what the GPU can deliver. For example, the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and single-core score of 7303 indicate it can handle complex game logic and draw calls with ease. Yet, in Greedfall, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra is only 16. This massive disparity between CPU capability and actual game performance underscores that the user is entirely GPU-bound. A more powerful discrete graphics card would be required to unlock the potential of this processor in Greedfall.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates show a clear hierarchy of performance based on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the configuration is somewhat playable. The Low preset delivers an average of 84 FPS, which is smooth. The Medium preset averages 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 76 FPS, indicating a stable experience. High settings yield a 60 FPS average, which is acceptable. However, the Ultra preset drops significantly to a 38 FPS average, which is a substantial step down and suggests the visual quality increase is not worth the performance cost.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates become more challenging. The Low preset averages 58 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS. High settings average 42 FPS, which is on the edge of smoothness. The Ultra preset is not viable for serious play, with an average of only 27 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p is costly, with an average drop of about 25-30% across all settings.

At 3840x2160, the configuration fails to provide a playable experience. The Low preset averages 35 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth motion. Medium settings average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 32 FPS, showing consistent stutter. High settings average 25 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages a mere 16 FPS. The data confirms that 4K gaming is not an option for this combo, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a stable 30 FPS. The best experience is clearly at 1080p, where the user can choose between High for a solid 60 FPS or Low for a higher frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2595 out of 2938 combos for Greedfall. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, which is a poor ranking. The ranking reflects the severe performance limitations imposed by the GPU. While the CPU is a top-tier performer, the overall system performance is dragged down by the graphics solution.

This discrepancy between component quality is stark. The CPU's percentile ranking is 96, meaning it outperforms 96% of all other CPUs. In contrast, the GPU's percentile ranking is 9, meaning it only outperforms 9% of all GPUs. The combo rank of 2595 is a direct result of this imbalance. The system is effectively a high-performance engine connected to a low-performance drivetrain. The data shows that the combination's performance is wholly dependent on the weakest link, which is the Intel Arc B390. A user with a more balanced system, or one with a stronger GPU, would achieve a significantly better rank and frame rates in Greedfall.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this configuration are at 1920x1080 resolution. For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 60 FPS. This is the standard target for smooth gameplay and is achieved without needing to sacrifice too much visual fidelity. For users who prefer a higher frame rate for a more responsive experience, the Low preset delivers an average of 84 FPS, which is excellent, but at a noticeable cost to visual detail.

The Medium preset at 1080p is also a viable option, offering a stable 66 FPS average with a minimum of 56 FPS, which is slightly better than High in terms of consistency. However, the High preset provides a better visual experience for the same average frame rate. The Ultra preset should be avoided, as the 38 FPS average is not smooth enough for an Action RPG. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently playable frame rate, averaging 58 FPS. The High and Medium presets, with averages of 42 and 46 FPS, are borderline and may be acceptable to some, but they are not ideal. The data strongly suggests that users should stay at 1080p to get the most out of Greedfall with this hardware, as 1440p offers a marginal visual upgrade at a significant performance cost, and 4K is not playable.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Greedfall with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides a consistently playable experience. At this resolution, the High settings preset averages 60 FPS. Higher resolutions like 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 result in frame rates that are too low for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, has an average score of 1463, which is 1.3% lower. It is also 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. This indicates it performs in a similar class to these older, entry-level GPUs.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus bottlenecking the system in Greedfall?

A: No, the data indicates the system is entirely GPU-bound. The CPU is a high-end processor with a 96th percentile ranking, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. The frame rates drop significantly with increased resolution, which is a clear sign that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting component, not the CPU.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 84 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 38 FPS. This represents a significant performance drop of 46 FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest settings preset, showing the heavy cost of the Ultra preset's visual enhancements.

Q: Can this combo achieve a stable 60 FPS at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the highest average frame rate is 58 FPS, which is achieved with the Low settings preset. The High and Medium presets average 42 and 46 FPS respectively, which are below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset averages only 27 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all other tested system configurations for Greedfall?

A: The combo ranks 2595 out of 2938 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems, which is a poor ranking. The high rank number is primarily due to the low performance of the Intel Arc B390, which severely limits the overall system's capabilities in this game.