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 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, using measured FPS data to understand the balance between CPU and GPU limitations across various settings. The data reveals a system capable of high refresh rates at 1440p, but one that requires careful setting adjustments to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and pronounced impact from resolution scaling. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 170 FPS at 1920x1080 to 118 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 70 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a substantial 59% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the workload is becoming significantly more demanding on the rendering pipeline as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern is not linear, which offers insight into the limiting component. The difference between 1080p and 1440p High is 52 FPS, while the difference between 1440p and 4K High is 48 FPS. This relatively consistent drop suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck across these resolutions, as its workload scales directly with the number of pixels. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed. Instead, performance continues to climb steadily down to 1080p, indicating that the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the RTX 3080.

The Low preset further illustrates this dynamic. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 238 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is capable of very high frame generation. However, even at this low graphical load, the 4K Low setting only yields 98 FPS. This 140 FPS drop highlights the immense pressure the GPU faces at 4K, regardless of the visual complexity. The data implies that for this game, the RTX 3080's rendering capabilities are the definitive constraint at 4K, while the Ultra 9 290K Plus provides a robust foundation that does not hinder performance until frame rates reach extreme levels.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, built on the Ampere architecture, plays a central role in determining the visual experience in Greedfall. Its performance is characterized by its 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 320-bit memory bus, which provides a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. This memory configuration is critical, as high-resolution textures and effects demand substantial data throughput.

The GPU's clock speeds of 1440 MHz base and 1710 MHz boost are the driving force behind its computational output. The data shows that the RTX 3080's performance is heavily taxed at 4K. The difference between the Low (98 FPS) and Ultra (45 FPS) presets at this resolution is a stark 53 FPS, demonstrating the significant cost of enabling advanced graphical features. The GPU's 68 RT cores and 272 tensor cores are likely engaged at higher settings, contributing to the performance hit.

The GPU's benchmark percentile of 68 indicates it is a capable card, but its position is not at the very top of the performance hierarchy. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, such as the NVIDIA P106-100 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, have comparable average scores, with deltas of only -0.3%. This suggests that while the RTX 3080 is a strong performer, it is not in the absolute highest tier of GPUs. In Greedfall, this translates to an inability to maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra, where it averages just 45 FPS. At 1080p, however, the GPU has ample power to deliver very high frame rates, even at the Ultra preset (108 FPS), showing that its capabilities are well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, provides the computational backbone for this system. Its high boost clock of 5.80 GHz and substantial 36 MB of shared L3 cache are crucial for handling game logic, physics, and draw calls. Its benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU's role appears to be one of enabling, rather than limiting, high frame rates. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 238 FPS, which strongly suggests that the CPU is capable of processing game data at a very high rate. The Passmark multi-thread score of 60860 and single-thread score of 4823 support this, indicating strong performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded tasks.

The data does not show any sign of a CPU bottleneck in this game. The consistent scaling of FPS with resolution indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, a typical sign of a well-balanced system. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, has an average benchmark score that is only 0.2% higher, confirming that the 290K Plus is at the top tier of processors. This means that for Greedfall, the Ultra 9 290K Plus provides a stable and powerful platform, ensuring that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance in most scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset achieves an average of 238 FPS, while Medium and High reach 187 FPS and 170 FPS, respectively. Even the demanding Ultra preset manages an average of 108 FPS, making for a very smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset still delivers a very playable 165 FPS, and High hits 118 FPS. The Medium preset provides a balanced experience at 130 FPS, with a minimum of 110 FPS and a maximum of 149 FPS, indicating consistent frame times. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 75 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant step down from the High preset.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 3080 is clearly under maximum load. The Low preset yields an average of 98 FPS, which is respectable for 4K. The High preset drops to 70 FPS, and Medium to 77 FPS, with a min-max range of 66 to 89 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, bringing the average down to just 45 FPS. This data shows that for consistent 60 FPS gameplay at 4K, the High preset is the most demanding option that can achieve this target, while 4K Ultra is only suitable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Greedfall, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 holds a rank of 800 out of 2938 tested combos. This places it in the top 27% of all systems tested for this game, indicating a strong overall performance level.

This ranking is a composite measure that considers performance across all tested resolutions and settings. The high rank is likely due to the CPU's excellent performance, which ensures no bottleneck at lower resolutions where the GPU can push very high frame rates. The GPU's performance is solid but not top-tier, which is why the combo does not rank higher. The data suggests that to achieve a higher rank, a more powerful GPU than the RTX 3080 would be necessary, particularly to improve the 4K Ultra frame rates. The rank of 800 highlights that this is a high-performing system for Greedfall, capable of delivering a great experience at 1080p and 1440p, with acceptable performance at 4K on lower presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is a viable option, as it provides an average of 108 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Players with high-refresh-rate monitors could also consider the High preset, which nearly doubles the frame rate to 170 FPS.

For 2560x1440, the High preset emerges as the best choice for a high-refresh-rate experience, delivering an average of 118 FPS. The Medium preset offers an even higher average of 130 FPS with a minimum of 110 FPS, which is also an excellent option for competitive play. The Ultra preset, at 75 FPS, is a solid choice for those who prioritize visual quality but still want a smooth experience on a 60Hz or 75Hz monitor.

At 3840x2160, the choices are more constrained. The High preset, with an average of 70 FPS, is the highest quality setting that can consistently maintain a 60+ FPS average. The Medium preset, at 77 FPS, also provides a good balance and has recorded minimums of 66 FPS, making it a safe choice for maintaining frame rate stability. The Ultra preset, at 45 FPS, should only be used if visual fidelity is the absolute priority and frame rate can be sacrificed. For a 4K gaming experience, the Medium or High presets are recommended to ensure a smooth and responsive game.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this system can achieve at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS at 1920x1080 is 238 FPS, which is achieved with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K with the Ultra preset?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the system achieves an average of 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Which resolution and settings combination offers the best balance for high refresh rate gaming?

A: At 2560x1440 with the Medium preset, the system achieves an average of 130 FPS with a minimum of 110 FPS, offering a strong balance of visual quality and high frame rates.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between the High and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 118 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 75 FPS, representing a 43 FPS drop.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary constraint, as the system reaches 238 FPS. The CPU is likely capable of even higher frame rates, but the GPU's rendering speed becomes the limiting factor.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this system in the measured data?

A: The lowest average FPS is 45, which occurs at 3840x2160 with the Ultra settings preset.