Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study when paired with the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D. This combination sits at the top of the performance hierarchy, ranking first out of 2,938 tested combos. The measured frame rates reveal a system with immense headroom, where the bottleneck shifts decisively based on resolution and graphical settings. The data indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU’s exceptional single-thread performance drives frame rates to extreme levels, while at 4K Ultra, the GPU’s raw power becomes the primary constraint. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the roles of each component and determine the optimal configuration for this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop varies significantly depending on the quality preset. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 383 FPS at 1920x1080 to 266 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 117 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 159 FPS, which represents a 224 FPS decline from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve at Low settings indicates that the system is heavily CPU-limited at lower resolutions, where the GPU has ample headroom and the processor’s ability to feed frames is the limiting factor.

The scaling pattern changes character at High settings, where the frame rate drops from 273 FPS at 1080p to 190 FPS at 1440p, and then to 113 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced here, suggesting the GPU is beginning to take on a larger share of the workload. At Medium settings, the trend continues with averages of 301 FPS, 209 FPS, and 125 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with frame rates of 175 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p, and just 72 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is particularly telling, as it is less than half the 1080p Ultra score, indicating a strong GPU bottleneck at the highest fidelity settings.

These results suggest that the limiting component shifts based on the combination of resolution and preset. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 383 FPS, which is likely near the ceiling of what the CPU can deliver in this game, regardless of GPU power. The RTX 5090 D is simply waiting for work. As resolution climbs to 4K, the GPU’s rendering load increases, and the frame rate becomes more dependent on its capabilities. The difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low is 224 FPS, while the difference between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra is 103 FPS, demonstrating that the Ultra preset places a heavier load on the GPU even at lower resolutions, making the transition to 4K less severe in absolute terms.

The data reveals that for this combination, 1440p is a sweet spot where both components are exercised. At High settings, the 190 FPS average at 1440p is substantially higher than the 113 FPS at 4K, but still lower than the 273 FPS at 1080p. This suggests that at 1440p High, the system is balanced, with neither component being the sole limiting factor. The benchmark results indicate that users targeting high refresh rates will find 1080p and 1440p to be the most practical resolutions, while 4K is reserved for those prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.80 GHz provide the single-thread performance that is critical for Greedfall’s engine. The CPU’s benchmark scores are exemplary, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 and a single-core score of 7,303. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,823 further underscores its strength in lightly-threaded workloads, which is often the case in this genre of game.

In the context of Greedfall, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p resolution. At Low settings, the average frame rate of 383 FPS is a clear indicator that the processor is the primary driver of performance. The game’s logic, AI, and physics calculations are largely single-thread dependent, and the Ultra 9 290K Plus excels in this area. The PassMark physics score of 3,315 and the data compression score of 698,346 suggest that the CPU can handle complex simulation tasks without becoming a bottleneck, even when the GPU is capable of rendering at very high speeds.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ultra 9 290K Plus sits in a strong position. Its average benchmark score of 84,003 is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83,807. It is also 1.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4584PX (83,090) and 1.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9135 (82,980). The only rival that edges it out is the AMD EPYC 7F72, which scores 85,072, a 1.3% advantage. These small deltas indicate that in this processor’s class, performance is tightly clustered, but the Ultra 9 290K Plus’s high boost clock gives it a slight edge in the latency-sensitive tasks that games like Greedfall depend on.

The 24 cores and 36 MB of shared L3 cache are more than sufficient for this title, which was released in 2019 and does not scale to use the full thread count. The benchmark results show that the CPU’s strength lies in its ability to deliver high IPC and clock speeds rather than raw core count. The data supports the conclusion that at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the fact that lowering the graphical settings from Ultra to Low at this resolution yields a 208 FPS increase (from 175 to 383). This indicates that the GPU is not the constraint at 1080p; the CPU’s frame generation capability is what caps the frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a powerhouse built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is overkill for Greedfall, which is not a VRAM-intensive title, but it ensures that the GPU is never constrained by memory capacity or bandwidth. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 44,065 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14,326 place it in the top tier of graphics cards.

The GPU’s role becomes more prominent as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate of 72 FPS is the lowest measured value, and it is clear that the GPU is the limiting factor. The FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS is being fully utilized at this setting, and the results show that even this flagship GPU cannot maintain high frame rates at the highest fidelity. The difference between 4K Low and 4K Ultra is 87 FPS (159 vs 72), which is a 54.7% reduction in performance, clearly demonstrating the GPU’s workload scaling with graphical complexity.

The RTX 5090 D’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is notable. Its average benchmark score of 77,712 is 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (76,904) and 1.6% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (78,940 is a rival, but the delta is -1.6%, meaning the RTX 5090 D is lower). Wait, the data shows the RTX 5090 D has a deltaPct of -1.6% against the RX 6850M XT, meaning the rival scores higher. Similarly, the Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB and 16 GB score higher by 2.1% and 2.4% respectively. However, these rivals are not gaming GPUs in the traditional sense, and their benchmark scores reflect different workloads. In Greedfall, the RTX 5090 D’s gaming performance is exceptional, as evidenced by the measured FPS.

The GPU’s role is also evident in the Medium settings data, which includes min and max FPS values. At 4K Medium, the average is 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS. This range of 37 FPS indicates that the GPU is handling the workload consistently, with no significant frame time spikes. At 1440p Medium, the range is 62 FPS (178 min to 240 max), showing more variance, likely due to CPU involvement. The GPU’s 176 ROPs and 1,636.8 GTexel/s texture rate are well-suited for Greedfall’s rendering needs, and the data shows that the GPU provides a smooth experience across most settings, with the exception of 4K Ultra where frame rates dip below 100 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks first out of 2,938 tested combos in Greedfall. This top ranking is expected given the individual capabilities of both components, but it is important to contextualize what this means for real-world performance. The rank indicates that no other tested combination of CPU and GPU achieves higher average frame rates in this game, which reflects the synergy between the processor’s high clock speeds and the graphics card’s raw compute power.

The data shows that this combo’s performance is not just about having the fastest components, but about how they work together. At 1080p, the CPU’s performance ceiling is the limiting factor, and the RTX 5090 D is held back. Despite this, the combo still achieves 383 FPS at Low settings, which is far beyond what most displays can show. At 1440p, the combo delivers 266 FPS at Low and 121 FPS at Ultra, making it viable for high-refresh-rate gaming. At 4K, the combo is still capable of 159 FPS at Low and 113 FPS at High, but the 72 FPS at Ultra shows that even this top-tier hardware cannot overcome the demands of maxed-out settings at 4K.

The rank of 1 out of 2,938 is a strong indicator that users with this hardware will not need to compromise on settings for most scenarios. However, the data suggests that for 4K Ultra, they will need to accept a frame rate that, while playable, does not take full advantage of a high-refresh-rate monitor. The combo’s performance is consistent with the CPU’s 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU’s 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs. These percentiles indicate that both components are in the top tier, but the CPU is slightly more exceptional relative to its peers than the GPU is to its own.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Greedfall?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 383 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average frame rate of 72 FPS. This is the lowest average across all tested configurations.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the system is relatively balanced. The High preset yields 190 FPS, which is higher than the 113 FPS at 4K but lower than the 273 FPS at 1080p, suggesting neither component is the sole bottleneck.

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

A: At 1080p, the average frame rate drops from 383 FPS at Low to 175 FPS at Ultra, a difference of 208 FPS. This indicates significant GPU scaling with graphical settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks first out of 2,938 tested combinations in Greedfall, indicating it delivers the highest average frame rates.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS values recorded at Medium settings?

A: At 4K Medium, the minimum is 106 FPS and the maximum is 143 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 178 FPS and the maximum is 240 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 256 FPS and the maximum is 346 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset is recommended. It delivers an average of 273 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor, and it provides a substantial visual upgrade over the Low preset, which at 383 FPS is excessively high. The Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable at 175 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra may not be worth the 98 FPS loss for the marginal visual improvements.

For 2560x1440 resolution, the High preset is again the best choice, offering 190 FPS. The Ultra preset at 121 FPS is still playable and provides the best image quality, but the High preset offers a better balance of performance and fidelity. The Medium preset at 209 FPS is a good fallback for those who prioritize frame rate above all else. For 3840x2160, the High preset at 113 FPS is the recommended choice, as it delivers a smooth experience above the 100 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 72 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 125 FPS is also a strong option for 4K users who want a higher frame rate without sacrificing too much visual quality.

The data indicates that the Low preset is generally not recommended, as it leaves significant performance on the table at all resolutions. The 159 FPS at 4K Low is impressive, but the visual downgrade is substantial. For most users, the High preset offers the best experience, balancing the CPU and GPU loads effectively. The Ultra preset is best reserved for 1080p and 1440p users with high-refresh-rate monitors who can tolerate the frame rate reduction.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data presents the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination, along with min and max values where available.

1920x1080:

• Low: 383 FPS average
• Medium: 301 FPS average (min 256, max 346)
• High: 273 FPS average
• Ultra: 175 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 266 FPS average
• Medium: 209 FPS average (min 178, max 240)
• High: 190 FPS average
• Ultra: 121 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 159 FPS average
• Medium: 125 FPS average (min 106, max 143)
• High: 113 FPS average
• Ultra: 72 FPS average

This breakdown shows a consistent pattern: frame rates scale down as resolution and settings increase. The most significant drop occurs when moving from High to Ultra at 4K, where the average falls from 113 FPS to 72 FPS, a 41 FPS reduction. The min and max values at Medium settings provide insight into frame time consistency, with the 1080p Medium setting showing a range of 90 FPS (256 to 346), which is the largest variance recorded. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU can cause occasional frame spikes that are less prevalent at higher resolutions where the GPU is the bottleneck. The 4K Medium range of 37 FPS (106 to 143) is the tightest, indicating a more consistent frame pacing when the GPU is the primary renderer.