Greedfall

Greedfall, the 2019 Action RPG from Spiders, presents an interesting case study when paired with the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070. The measured data reveals a configuration that is fundamentally strong but exhibits distinct behavioral shifts across resolutions and settings, highlighting where the bottleneck lies in this particular mobile hardware pairing. The benchmark results show a system capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p, yet one that becomes firmly GPU-bound as pixel count increases, with specific presets showing dramatic performance cliffs.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and finally to 3840x2160 tells a clear story about component limitations. At the Low preset, the average frame rate moves from 180 FPS at 1080p down to 125 FPS at 1440p, a drop of 55 FPS. Scaling further to 4K, the average falls to 74 FPS. This progression suggests that the CPU is capable of driving very high frame rates at lower resolutions, but the GPU begins to take on a more significant role as the pixel count climbs. The data indicates that the RTX 4070 is the limiting factor once the resolution increases, as the frame rate scales almost directly with the number of pixels being rendered.

The scaling pattern is more severe when examining the Ultra preset. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 82 FPS. This falls to 57 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 25 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 34 FPS. This represents a drop of nearly 60% from the 1080p figure. The steep decline at Ultra settings points to a heavy reliance on GPU compute and memory bandwidth, which are strained significantly at higher resolutions. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on the RTX 4070, running on a 192-bit bus with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth, appears to be insufficient for maintaining fluid performance at 4K with the highest graphical fidelity.

The Medium preset shows a more moderate curve, with 141 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 58 FPS at 4K. The High preset follows a similar trend, with 128 FPS, 89 FPS, and 53 FPS respectively. These results indicate that the scaling is not linear; the performance penalty for moving from 1440p to 4K is proportionally larger than from 1080p to 1440p. This suggests that the GPU’s memory subsystem and shading units are being pushed to their limits at 4K, and the frame rate suffers accordingly. The data implies that for a consistent experience, the user must choose between high resolution and high settings, as the RTX 4070 cannot deliver both at a high frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread mobile processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 and a single-core score of 2200.5, place it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. In the context of Greedfall, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p with lower settings, where the frame rates are exceptionally high. The 180 FPS average at 1080p Low suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU without becoming a bottleneck, a scenario often seen in games that are not heavily multithreaded.

The processor’s high boost clock of 5.10 GHz likely contributes to the strong single-thread performance observed in the single-core Cinebench tests. This is crucial for Greedfall, as the game’s engine may rely on a few primary threads for game logic and draw calls. The L3 cache of 18 MB shared and L2 cache of 3 MB per core provide ample fast storage for frequently accessed data, which helps maintain high average frame rates in less demanding scenes. However, the data shows that the CPU’s influence diminishes at higher resolutions. The frame rate differences between the Low and High presets at 1080p are substantial (180 vs 128 FPS), but at 4K, the difference narrows (74 vs 53 FPS). This suggests that while the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at 4K, its performance still sets a ceiling for the maximum achievable frame rate.

The CPU benchmarks show a Passmark multithread score of 36811 and a single-thread score of 4280. These figures indicate a balanced performance profile. In Greedfall, this translates to a system that can handle the game’s AI, physics, and world streaming without issue, even when the GPU is under heavy load. The data shows that at 1080p Medium, the average FPS of 141 is likely close to the CPU’s limit for this game, as the increase to Low only yields 180 FPS, suggesting there is still headroom. The core count of 16 provides sufficient parallelism for modern game engines, but the single-core boost clock is the more critical factor for achieving the highest possible frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 holds a rank of 2006 out of 3703 tested combos for Greedfall. This places it in the 54th percentile of all tested system configurations. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual component strengths. The CPU sits in the 88th percentile, and the GPU is in the 81st percentile, yet their combined performance in this specific game does not break into the top tier. This suggests that Greedfall might be sensitive to specific hardware attributes that this combo does not maximize, or that the mobile nature of the CPU and the specific configuration of the GPU limit their combined potential.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the CPU is closely matched. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is 0.2% slower, the Intel Core i9-13950HX is 0.3% faster, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is 0.4% faster. This indicates that the Core Ultra X9 388H is competitive with other high-end processors. The GPU also shows a tight grouping with its rivals, with the RTX 4080 Mobile being 1.3% faster and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 being 0.4% slower. This close competition means that the overall ranking is highly dependent on how the components interact with the game’s engine. The rank of 2006 suggests that while this combo is capable, there are over 1,700 other combinations that deliver better performance in Greedfall, likely due to more powerful desktop GPUs or configurations with higher TDP limits.

The fact that the combo ranks in the middle of the pack, despite high individual component percentiles, implies that Greedfall may be more sensitive to GPU memory bandwidth or raw shading power than to CPU speed. The RTX 4070’s 504.2 GB/s bandwidth and 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are substantial, but they may be outpaced by other GPUs in the benchmark database. The data suggests that this combo is a solid mid-range performer, but not a top-tier one for this specific title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Examining the measured FPS data provides a granular view of performance. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 180 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. The Medium preset averages 141 FPS, with a minimum of 120 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS. The High preset averages 128 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 82 FPS. These figures show that at 1080p, the system is capable of providing a very smooth experience on all presets, with even the demanding Ultra settings maintaining a playable frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 125 FPS for Low, 98 FPS for Medium (with a min of 83 and max of 113), 89 FPS for High, and 57 FPS for Ultra. The drop from High to Ultra at 1440p is significant, representing a 36% reduction in performance. This suggests that the Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly taxing on the GPU’s resources. The 57 FPS average at 1440p Ultra is still playable for most, but it indicates that the system is starting to struggle with the highest settings.

At 3840x2160, the performance landscape changes dramatically. The Low preset averages 74 FPS, the Medium preset averages 58 FPS (with a min of 50 and max of 67), the High preset averages 53 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 34 FPS. The data shows that 4K resolution is a significant challenge for this combo. The 34 FPS average at 4K Ultra is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and even the High preset at 53 FPS may feel inconsistent. The Medium preset at 58 FPS is the only 4K option that approaches a consistently playable experience, but it still requires compromises in visual quality.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD104 chip, is a 200 W mobile GPU. It features 5888 shading units, 184 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Its boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1920 MHz allow it to reach a peak FP32 performance of 29.15 TFLOPS. In Greedfall, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings increase. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the GPU is not fully utilized, as the CPU is able to push frame rates to 180 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, with the average FPS dropping to 34.

The GPU’s memory configuration is a key aspect of its performance. With 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This is a significant amount of bandwidth, but it may not be enough for Greedfall’s Ultra settings at 4K, which likely require large texture buffers and high memory throughput. The Pixel Rate of 158.4 GPixel/s and Texture Rate of 455.4 GTexel/s are substantial, but the 4K Ultra results suggest that the fill rate is being taxed heavily. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 81 indicates it is a strong performer, but not the absolute best.

The RTX 4070’s nearest rival, the RTX 4080 Mobile, is only 1.3% faster in average benchmark score, yet the performance difference in Greedfall could be more pronounced due to the memory bus width and core counts. The data implies that the RTX 4070 is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with high settings, but its 4K capabilities are limited. The 34 FPS at 4K Ultra is a clear indicator that users should not expect a high refresh rate experience at this resolution and settings combination. The GPU’s 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores are present, but Greedfall’s data does not indicate that ray tracing or DLSS is being utilized, as the FPS figures reflect standard rasterization performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset at 128 FPS provides an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, while Ultra at 82 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize fidelity. For competitive play, the Low preset at 180 FPS offers the smoothest experience, but the visual compromise is significant. The Medium preset at 141 FPS is a solid middle ground.

Moving to 1440p, the High preset at 89 FPS is the best recommendation for a high-refresh-rate monitor, as it maintains a smooth experience without the excessive demand of Ultra. The Ultra preset at 57 FPS is playable but may feel less fluid. The Low preset at 125 FPS is also an option for maximum smoothness, but it sacrifices too much visual detail. The Medium preset at 98 FPS is another strong choice, offering a good balance with a minimum of 83 FPS.

At 4K, the options are more constrained. The Low preset at 74 FPS is the only setting that consistently hits a playable frame rate, but the visual quality is poor. The Medium preset at 58 FPS is the best compromise, offering a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS, which is acceptable for a less demanding title like Greedfall. The High preset at 53 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 34 FPS should be avoided for a comfortable experience. The data suggests that for 4K gaming, users should stick to the Medium preset or lower to maintain frame rates above 60 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset yields an average of 89 FPS, which is well above 60. For 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 58 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target, making the Low preset at 74 FPS the safest option for a consistent 60 FPS at 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 180, but at 4K Low, it drops to 74. This significant reduction is due to the increased pixel load on the GPU, while the CPU’s frame rate ceiling is much higher.

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

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 57 FPS, while the High preset averages 89 FPS. This represents a 36% reduction in performance, suggesting that the Ultra preset includes visual effects that are disproportionately taxing on the GPU.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 141 FPS, with a minimum of 120 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS. This provides a very smooth experience for high refresh rate displays.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Greedfall?

A: The combo ranks 2006 out of 3703 tested combinations. This places it in the 54th percentile, indicating that while it is a capable system, there are many other configurations that deliver higher frame rates in this game.

Q: What is the frame rate for 4K Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS for 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 34 FPS. This is below the standard threshold for smooth gameplay and is not recommended for a comfortable experience.