Archeage

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a very specific performance profile for Archeage, a game that launched in 2014. The measurements recorded in the database show that this combination is heavily constrained by the integrated graphics solution of the Arc B370, which is an IGP based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. Overall, the system is only capable of delivering playable frame rates at 1080p with the lowest preset, and it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at every other resolution and quality level.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded benchmark results for this hardware combination in Archeage are detailed across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as both resolution and graphical load increase. At 1920x1080, the most common gaming resolution, the system achieves an average of 65 FPS on Low settings, which is the only configuration that meets the 60 FPS playability threshold. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 57 FPS, with recorded minimum and maximum frame rates of 49 and 66 FPS respectively, indicating that while the average is close, it does dip below the target. The High preset at 1080p drops the average to 39 FPS, and the Ultra preset significantly reduces performance to an average of 27 FPS.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the performance decreases substantially across all settings. The Low preset averages 43 FPS, which is a notable drop from the 65 FPS seen at 1080p. The Medium preset at 1440p produces an average of 39 FPS, with min/max readings of 33 and 44 FPS. High settings at this resolution yield 26 FPS average, and the Ultra preset falls to 18 FPS. The trend of diminishing returns is consistent, with the gap between Low and Ultra widening at higher resolutions.

At 4K (3840x2160), the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates in any scenario. The Low preset is recorded at an average of 25 FPS, which is significantly below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 4K averages 22 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 19 and 25 FPS, respectively. The High preset averages only 15 FPS, and the Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at an average of 10 FPS. The data illustrates that this hardware configuration is not suited for 4K gaming in Archeage, as even the lowest settings cannot produce a fluid experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions indicates that the Intel Arc B370 GPU is the dominant bottleneck in this configuration. The data shows that the frame rate drops significantly when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and again from 1440p to 4K, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. For instance, the 1080p Low preset averages 65 FPS, but the 1440p Low preset drops to 43 FPS, a reduction of roughly one-third. This pattern persists across all presets, showing that the rendering load is heavily taxing the integrated GPU.

The Intel Core i5-9400, a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, is likely capable of handling the game's logic and draw calls, but it is not the limiting factor here. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629, place it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, suggesting it has adequate processing power for an older MMORPG like Archeage. However, the Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This extreme disparity in relative performance confirms that the GPU is entirely responsible for the low frame rates.

The scaling between presets at a fixed resolution also points to the GPU's limitations. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium only reduces performance from 65 to 57 FPS, but moving from Medium to High drops the average from 57 to 39 FPS, and High to Ultra further drops from 39 to 27 FPS. This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU's shading units and texture units are quickly saturated by the higher fidelity effects. In contrast, the CPU's fixed workload means that its performance is largely consistent regardless of resolution and preset, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of the final frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Archeage, this setup with the Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B370 ranks 3423 out of 3708 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 10% of all systems tested, which aligns with the raw performance measurements. The combination's ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU, which is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs based on its 3D benchmark score. The CPU, while not powerful, is in the 47th percentile, which is relatively average in comparison.

The recorded frame rates are consistent with the combo's low ranking. The system is only able to clear the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p with Low settings, which is a minimal level of performance for a game released in 2014. The ranking suggests that most other systems tested in the database have significantly more balanced hardware that can handle higher resolutions and settings better. This combination is a clear example of a CPU being paired with a GPU that is not capable enough to complement it for gaming.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, this PC can technically run Archeage, but only under very specific conditions. The verdict from the database is straightforward: playable settings are only available at 1920x1080, and the only playable preset is Low, which achieves an average of 65 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS playability threshold, but it is the only configuration in the entire dataset that does so.

At 2560x1440, there are no playable settings. The best result is 43 FPS on Low, which is significantly below the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, the situation is worse, with the best result being 25 FPS on Low. Therefore, for a user with this system, the only way to achieve a smooth gaming experience is to play at 1080p with the Low preset. Playing at higher resolutions or with any other preset will result in frame rates that are likely to be noticeably choppy and below the playable standard.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum resolution this system can play Archeage at playable frame rates?

A: According to the measurements, the only resolution with a playable setting is 1920x1080. At 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, no settings achieve an average of 60 FPS or higher.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-9400 or the Intel Arc B370 limit the performance more?

A: The performance is limited by the Intel Arc B370 GPU. The GPU is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 47th percentile. The frame rates also drop significantly with resolution, indicating a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p?

A: The best settings preset for 1920x1080 is Low, which achieves an average of 65 FPS. This is the only setting at that resolution that stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Can the system run the game at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: No, the data shows that at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 39, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. There are no playable settings at this resolution.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals in terms of GPU performance?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186 (a -0.2% difference), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1190 (a -0.5% difference), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M with a score of 1192 (a -0.7% difference).

Q: Is there any resolution where the Ultra preset can maintain 60 FPS?

A: No. The highest average FPS for the Ultra preset is 27 FPS at 1920x1080. At 1440p and 4K, the Ultra preset averages 18 FPS and 10 FPS respectively.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the only playable settings is Low, which achieves an average frame rate of 65 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 1080p falls short with an average of 57 FPS.

At 2560x1440, no preset achieves a playable frame rate. The Low setting averages 43 FPS, which is the highest score at this resolution but still below the 60 FPS target. Similarly, at 3840x2160, the Low setting provides the highest average at 25 FPS, but it is far from the playable threshold. Therefore, the best settings for these resolutions are none, as the system does not meet the performance requirement.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU in this system, the Intel Core i5-9400, has an average benchmark score of 2254. The database places it near several other processors with similar performance. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has a score of 2259, which is 0.2% lower, making it a close match. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, which is 0.4% higher, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, which is 0.4% lower. These CPUs would provide a similar level of processing power for the game.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals in the database are all older cards with nearly identical scores. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 has a score of 1190, which is 0.5% higher, while the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, a 0.2% difference. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M has a score of 1192, which is 0.7% higher, and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower. These alternatives would likely produce very similar frame rates in Archeage, all of which would be limited to 1080p Low settings for a playable experience.