Greedfall

Greedfall, a 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. The 12 measured FPS rows provide a clear narrative about where the bottlenecks lie in this combination, moving from a heavily GPU-bound scenario at 4K to a more balanced or CPU-leaning scenario at 1080p. This analysis dissects those numbers, placing the combo's performance in the context of its ranking among thousands of tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a predictable, yet steep, drop in frame rate as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of GPU-bound performance at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 197 FPS. Moving to 1440p reduces that to 137 FPS, a 30% decrease. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average falling to 82 FPS—a 58% drop from the 1080p figure and a 40% drop from 1440p. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, confirming that the rendering load at 4K is primarily on the graphics card.

The scaling between 1080p and 1440p is less severe than the scaling between 1440p and 4K. For instance, on Low settings, the frame rate goes from 276 FPS at 1080p to 192 FPS at 1440p (a 30% reduction), but then only drops to 114 FPS at 4K (a 41% reduction from 1440p). This suggests that while the GPU is still the main constraint at 1440p, the CPU is beginning to play a significant role at 1080p, where the frame rates are exceptionally high. The fact that the 1080p Low preset (276 FPS) is more than double the 4K Ultra preset (52 FPS) underscores the massive performance headroom available at lower resolutions.

The delta between Low and Ultra settings widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (276 FPS) and Ultra (126 FPS) is 150 FPS. At 4K, the gap shrinks to 62 FPS (114 FPS Low vs 52 FPS Ultra). This is because at 4K, the GPU is saturated by the pixel fill rate requirement, leaving less headroom for the additional shader and texture work that Ultra settings demand. The data indicates that for users seeking the highest refresh rates, 1080p is the target, while 4K will still deliver a smooth experience on High settings, but maxing out at Ultra will result in a significant performance penalty.

GPU Role

The RTX 4070 SUPER is the defining component in this combo for Greedfall's higher resolutions. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, is sufficient for the game's demands at 4K, but the data suggests it is the limiting factor for maximum frame rates. The card's boost clock of 2475 MHz, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, helps drive the high 4K numbers, but the sheer workload of 3840x2160 proves to be a substantial challenge, especially on the Ultra preset where the average drops to 52 FPS.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in a specific tier of performance. Its Passmark G3D score of 29995 gives it a percentile ranking of 83 against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, which scores 43262 (a 0.1% difference), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile, which scores 43268 (a 0.1% difference). The RTX 4070 SUPER's average benchmark score of 43223 is essentially on par with these cards, indicating that its raw compute capabilities are well-established. This is reflected in the game's measured FPS, where it delivers playable frame rates at 4K, but the Ultra preset's 52 FPS average shows that it is not a card that can brute-force maximum settings at that resolution in this title.

The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is not shown to be a bottleneck in the measured data, as the game runs without hitting a wall that would cause severe stuttering or crashes. However, the data cannot confirm if the VRAM is being fully utilized. The GPU's memory clock of 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are the figures that allow the card to feed its 7168 shading units and 80 ROPs efficiently. In practice, the 4K High preset's 82 FPS average is a strong result, showing that the card has enough bandwidth and processing power to handle the game's high-fidelity textures and effects at a solid playable frame rate, but the Ultra preset's 52 FPS average indicates a clear ceiling.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for this combo at 4K with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 82 at 3840x2160 with High settings, indicating a smooth experience for most players.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The data suggests the CPU is a more significant factor at 1080p. The average FPS of 276 is extremely high, which typically indicates that the CPU is nearing its limit in feeding the GPU frames, as the GPU has ample headroom at this low resolution and settings level.

Q: How does the Ultra preset at 1440p compare to the High preset at 4K?

A: The 1440p Ultra preset averages 87 FPS, which is slightly higher than the 4K High preset's 82 FPS. This shows that the graphical load of Ultra at 1440p is less demanding than High at 4K, but both are very close in performance.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset?

A: The lowest recorded minimum FPS is 76, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. The other Medium presets have minimums of 128 FPS at 1440p and 185 FPS at 1080p.

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

A: The average FPS for the Low preset is 276, while the Ultra preset averages 126. This is a 150 FPS difference, showing a substantial performance cost for the higher graphical fidelity.

Q: How does this combo's rank in Greedfall compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 474 out of 2938 tested combinations, placing it in the top ~16% of all systems tested for this game, indicating a high-performing configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4070 SUPER combination achieves a rank of 474 out of 2938 tested combos in Greedfall. This places it in the 84th percentile, meaning it outperforms 84% of all other system configurations in the database for this specific title. This is a strong showing, confirming that this is a high-end pairing capable of delivering excellent performance in Greedfall.

The ranking is a holistic measure that takes into account all resolutions and settings. The combo's strength lies in its consistency; while it doesn't top the charts at any single point, it delivers high average frame rates across the board. For reference, the CPU has a percentile rank of 96 against all CPUs, and the GPU has a percentile rank of 83 against all GPUs. The fact that the combo's in-game rank (84th percentile) is closer to the GPU's percentile than the CPU's indicates that the graphics card is the more limiting factor in this game, aligning with the resolution scaling analysis. The system is clearly not CPU-bound in Greedfall, as its top-tier CPU ranking is not fully translated into a top-tier game rank, which is instead moderated by the GPU's performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a full matrix of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: Average 276 FPS.
• Medium: Average 217 FPS, with a minimum of 185 FPS and a maximum of 250 FPS.
• High: Average 197 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 126 FPS.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: Average 192 FPS.
• Medium: Average 151 FPS, with a minimum of 128 FPS and a maximum of 173 FPS.
• High: Average 137 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 87 FPS.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: Average 114 FPS.
• Medium: Average 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS.
• High: Average 82 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 52 FPS.

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, all presets are playable and most are well above 144 Hz refresh rates. At 1440p, the Low and Medium presets are excellent for high-refresh monitors, while High and Ultra are still very smooth for standard 60 Hz displays. At 4K, only the Low preset exceeds 100 FPS, while High and Medium remain comfortably in the 60-90 FPS range. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 52 FPS, is the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, which may be a concern for users with high-refresh 4K displays.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's display resolution and refresh rate goals.

For 1080p users with a 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor, the Ultra preset is the clear choice. The 126 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS baseline and close to the 144 Hz target, offering the best visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. For 240 Hz displays, the High preset at 197 FPS is a better fit, as it gets closer to the maximum refresh rate while still looking excellent.

For 1440p users, the High preset is the sweet spot. The 137 FPS average is ideal for 144 Hz monitors, providing a perfect balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset, at 87 FPS, is also viable for 60 Hz displays and offers the best image quality, but it forgoes the benefits of a high-refresh panel. Medium at 151 FPS is a good option for those who want to prioritize frame rate over some graphical details.

For 4K users, the High preset is strongly recommended. The 82 FPS average ensures a smooth experience on 60 Hz displays, and the visual jump from Medium to High is significant. The Medium preset at 90 FPS is a safer choice if you want more headroom for demanding scenes, as the minimum FPS of 76 is still solid. The Ultra preset, with its 52 FPS average, should only be used on 60 Hz displays and is best avoided if you are sensitive to frame rate drops, as it is the only preset that dips below the 60 FPS mark.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a formidable processor, and its specifications suggest it should not be a bottleneck in most gaming scenarios. With 24 cores and 24 threads, a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache, it has the raw compute power to handle Greedfall's logic and physics calculations. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51731 and singlecore score of 7303 are exceptionally high, placing it in the 96th percentile against all CPUs.

However, the measured FPS data in Greedfall reveals that the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU. The massive frame rate drops when moving from 1080p to 4K are a textbook sign of GPU limitation. The CPU is capable of producing frame rates well above what the GPU can render, as evidenced by the 276 FPS average at 1080p Low. This is a scenario where the CPU is likely nearing its limit, but the GPU is still the primary constraint for visual settings. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, has an average benchmark score of 83807, which is a 0.2% difference from this chip's 84003, indicating they are essentially in the same performance class.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s via dual-channel DDR5 is sufficient for feeding the GPU, and its 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide a high-bandwidth connection. In this game, the data suggests that the CPU is never the limiting factor at 4K, and only begins to matter at 1080p where frame rates exceed 200 FPS. This means that for users with high-refresh 1080p monitors, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is an excellent choice, as it can push frame rates high enough to keep even the most powerful GPUs fed, but the RTX 4070 SUPER is the component that determines the final performance ceiling in most scenarios.