Greedfall

GreedFall, an Action RPG from 2019, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B580 combination. The measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics card at higher settings, while the CPU demonstrates significant headroom. The data indicates that this pairing is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring substantial compromises to remain playable.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and defines the relationship between these components. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 105 FPS at 1920x1080 to 73 FPS at 2560x1440, a 30% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160 results in an average of just 43 FPS, which is a 59% decrease from the 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates that the rendering load at 4K is overwhelming the GPU, a conclusion reinforced by the fact that even the 1440p result is not close to the 100+ FPS territory seen at 1080p.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all presets. With Low settings, the system achieves 147 FPS at 1080p, drops to 102 FPS at 1440p, and settles at 61 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is telling; it is barely above the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for smooth gameplay, and it requires the lowest possible graphical fidelity to achieve. The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, with 115 FPS at 1080p, 80 FPS at 1440p, and 48 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most punishing, starting at 67 FPS at 1080p, falling to 46 FPS at 1440p, and collapsing to 28 FPS at 4K.

This data suggests that the limiting component at 4K is unambiguously the graphics card. The Intel Arc B580, with its 12 GB of memory, is being pushed to its absolute limits. The frame rate at 4K Ultra (28 FPS) is less than half of the 4K Low result (61 FPS), showing that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are saturated by the higher fidelity settings. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, is not the bottleneck in these scenarios, as the frame rate scales directly with the resolution’s pixel count. For a smooth 4K experience, the data shows that users must stay on Low settings, and even then, the average of 61 FPS leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. The 1440p results are far more palatable, offering a significant step up in performance that makes High settings a viable option for a 60+ FPS experience.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the decisive factor in this combo’s gaming performance. Its specifications, including a 12 GB GDDR6 memory pool on a 192-bit bus with 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are directly reflected in the measured frame rates. The card’s 2560 shading units and 160 texture mapping units are tasked with rendering the game’s world, and their workload scales directly with resolution and preset complexity. The boost clock of 2670 MHz is constant, indicating that the card is running at its maximum rated speed during the benchmark sessions.

The GPU’s role becomes clearer when examining the 4K results. The jump from Low (61 FPS) to Medium (48 FPS) is a 21% drop, and from Medium to High (43 FPS) is another 10% drop. The leap to Ultra (28 FPS) is a massive 42% reduction from High. This non-linear scaling points to the GPU’s memory subsystem and shading units being overwhelmed by the Ultra preset’s demands. The 12 GB of VRAM is likely being taxed heavily, and the 456.0 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient to feed the GPU at higher resolutions and settings. The card’s performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 15748, places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, but its closest rivals in the data include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 3080, which shows it is competing in a higher performance tier than its name might suggest.

The data indicates that the B580 is a capable 1080p and 1440p card. At 1080p, it easily clears 100 FPS even on High settings, and at 1440p, it maintains a 73 FPS average on High. The bottleneck is clearly at 4K, where the card’s raw compute power (13.67 TFLOPS FP32) and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at high settings. The measured results show that the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K, and its performance ceiling is reached with the High preset at 1440p. The card’s 68th percentile ranking in the database reflects this, showing it as a mid-to-high tier performer that excels at lower resolutions but struggles with the demands of 4K gaming.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus plays a supporting role in this benchmark, providing more than enough processing power to avoid becoming a limiting factor. With 24 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 3.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, the CPU is a top-tier desktop processor. Its synthetic benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, indicating exceptional performance for both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

In the context of GreedFall, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic. The fact that the frame rate scales so dramatically with resolution and preset settings, while the CPU’s specifications remain constant, proves that the processor is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 147 FPS, which is a high frame rate that stresses the CPU’s ability to process draw calls and game state. However, the CPU handles this without issue, as evidenced by the smooth scaling to 1440p and 4K, where the GPU takes over as the primary constraint.

The CPU’s 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 115.2 GB/s of dual-channel DDR5 memory bandwidth provide ample data throughput for the game. The processor’s architecture, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh design on a 3 nm process, is efficient and powerful. The data suggests that this CPU has significant headroom in GreedFall, as even the most demanding 1080p scenario (Ultra, 67 FPS) is likely limited by the GPU, not the CPU. The combo’s performance is defined by the GPU’s limits, and the CPU merely enables the GPU to reach its full potential without holding it back. This is a classic example of a high-end CPU paired with a mid-range GPU, where the CPU ensures that performance is always GPU-bound.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear picture of which settings deliver the best experience for this combo. For users targeting a 60 FPS average, the 1440p High preset is the sweet spot, delivering 73 FPS. This offers a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining smooth gameplay. Pushing to 1440p Ultra drops the average to 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target but may be acceptable for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate. The 1080p High preset, at 105 FPS, is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors, providing a fluid experience with minimal input lag.

At 4K, the options are more constrained. The only preset that achieves a 60+ FPS average is Low, at 61 FPS. This is a playable experience, but it requires sacrificing most graphical features. The Medium preset at 4K yields 48 FPS, which is playable but may feel less smooth. The High preset at 4K (43 FPS) and Ultra preset (28 FPS) are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as they fall below the standard 60 FPS threshold. The data shows that the best balance of visual quality and performance is at 1440p on High settings, offering a 73 FPS average that is both smooth and visually rich. For those who must play at 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option to maintain playable frame rates.

The Medium presets provide a good middle ground. At 1080p, Medium offers 115 FPS, which is still very smooth and a step up in quality from Low. At 1440p, Medium delivers 80 FPS, which is an excellent result. However, the jump from Medium to High at 1440p only costs 7 FPS (80 to 73), making High the better choice for 1440p users. At 1080p, the drop from Medium to High is 10 FPS (115 to 105), which is also a small price for the visual upgrade. Therefore, the data strongly suggests that High settings are the optimal choice for both 1080p and 1440p, while 4K users should stick to Low or Medium if they can tolerate the lower frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B580 combination ranks 2190 out of 2938 tested combos in GreedFall. This puts it in the 25th percentile of all combinations, meaning that 74% of other CPU-GPU pairings tested in this game deliver higher average frame rates. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s performance limitations, as the CPU is a top-tier component. The combo’s overall standing is dragged down by the B580’s inability to handle high resolutions and settings, which is a common trait for mid-range graphics cards.

The ranking reflects the fact that this combo is not optimized for 4K gaming. The data shows that the system performs best at 1080p and 1440p, where it can compete with higher-end setups. However, in a database that includes many combinations with more powerful GPUs, the B580’s 68th percentile ranking among all GPUs is the primary driver of the combo’s position. The CPU, with its 96th percentile ranking, does not compensate for the GPU’s limitations in this game. The result is a combo that is solid for mainstream gaming but does not excel in the overall rankings.

The ranking is also a reflection of the game’s demands. GreedFall, being an Action RPG from 2019, can be demanding on hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. The combo’s rank of 2190 suggests that there are many other pairings that can achieve higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs. The data indicates that this combo is a balanced mid-range option, but it is outclassed by combinations that pair high-end CPUs with high-end GPUs. For users seeking top-tier performance in GreedFall, this combo would not be a top choice, but for 1080p and 1440p gaming, it offers a competent experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in GreedFall?

A: The data shows that 1440p on High settings is the best balance, delivering 73 FPS. At 1080p, the combo achieves 105 FPS on High, which is also excellent, but 1440p offers a better visual experience for only a 30% performance drop.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in GreedFall?

A: Yes, but only with significant compromises. The 4K Low preset averages 61 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset drops to 48 FPS, and High and Ultra are below 45 FPS, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to its rivals?

A: The B580’s average benchmark score is 23021, which is 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. It is essentially tied with the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which has a score of 23061.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The frame rate scales dramatically with resolution and settings, while the CPU’s 24 cores and 5.80 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking confirms it is not the bottleneck.

Q: What is the CPU’s performance relative to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (83807) and 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9135 (82980).

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking in GreedFall?

A: The combo ranks 2190 out of 2938 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all tested combos, primarily due to the GPU’s performance limitations at higher resolutions.