Archeage

Intel Core i5-9400 + Intel Arc B390 is a combination that places extremely low in the database for Archeage, ranking 3297th out of 3708 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 11 percent of all recorded configurations. The recorded data shows a system that can handle the game only at 1080p with reduced settings, and even then it barely clears the 60 FPS threshold. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and presets, the role of each component, and what the data suggests for playability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below playable levels. The High preset averages 17 FPS. The Low preset improves this to 28 FPS, but with no recorded minimum or maximum. The Medium preset averages 25 FPS, with a measured minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 11 FPS. No settings at this resolution come close to the 60 FPS threshold, and even the fastest preset, Low, operates at less than half the required frame rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance improves but remains insufficient for smooth gameplay. The High preset averages 29 FPS. Low reaches 48 FPS, still 12 FPS short of the playable threshold. Medium averages 43 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 49 FPS. Ultra averages 20 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: even the least demanding preset at this resolution fails to hit 60 FPS, and the margin is significant.

At 1920x1080, the results finally show some viable options. The High preset averages 43 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Low reaches 71 FPS, comfortably above the threshold. Medium averages 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. Ultra averages 29 FPS, which is a steep drop from Medium. This resolution is the only one where any preset exceeds 60 FPS, and the data indicates that Low and Medium are the only playable settings.

The frame pacing data across the presets shows a consistent trend. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 54 FPS suggests occasional dips below the average, but the maximum of 73 FPS provides headroom. At 1440p Medium, the minimum of 36 FPS is far below the 60 FPS target, indicating that even mid-range settings cause significant frame drops. The lack of min/max data for several presets limits deeper analysis, but the averages alone are decisive for verdicts.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 3297th out of 3708 tested combinations in Archeage. This places it in the bottom 11 percent of all configurations recorded in the database. For a game released in 2014, this is a poor result. The rank reflects the combined limitations of the CPU and GPU, and the measured FPS data supports this low placement.

The GPU alone sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs in the database, based on its average benchmark score of 1482. This is an extremely low position. The CPU is better positioned, at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. However, the GPU's weakness dominates the gaming performance, as evidenced by the FPS results. The combo rank is heavily influenced by the GPU, which struggles to maintain playable frame rates even at lower resolutions.

In relative terms, the combo's rank of 3297 out of 3708 means that 411 other tested combinations performed worse. But this is cold comfort, as the vast majority of systems in the database outperform this configuration. The data shows that for Archeage, this combo is near the bottom of the pile, and users should expect significant compromises to achieve any playability.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck for this combo in Archeage. The Intel Arc B390 has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS. These specifications place it in the bottom 9 percent of all GPUs, and the measured FPS reflects this.

The CPU, an Intel Core i5-9400, is a 6-core, 6-thread processor with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and a 65 W TDP. Its benchmark scores are modest, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935. The CPU sits at the 47th percentile, which is mid-pack. For Archeage, an MMORPG that often relies on single-threaded performance, the CPU is not the main constraint.

The scaling between resolutions and presets confirms this. Moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K, the FPS drops consistently across all presets. For example, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 64 at 1080p to 43 at 1440p to 25 at 4K. This is a clear sign of GPU-bound performance, as the CPU workload does not change significantly with resolution while the GPU workload increases substantially. The GPU's memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means it shares system memory, further limiting its performance at higher resolutions where memory bandwidth becomes more critical.

At 1080p Low, the CPU might be more relevant, as the GPU is less stressed. However, the 71 FPS at Low suggests that even here, the GPU is capable enough to keep up with the CPU. The fact that Ultra at 1080p drops to 29 FPS, a massive fall from Medium's 64 FPS, indicates that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor when settings increase.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the GPU, the data shows that the Arc B390 performs similarly to several older NVIDIA entries. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3 percent lower than the Arc B390's 1482. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, 1.5 percent lower. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, 2.5 percent lower, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, 2.7 percent lower. These are all very low-end GPUs from several generations ago, and they would produce similar FPS results in Archeage. A user with any of these GPUs would see comparable performance, meaning sub-60 FPS at 1440p and only marginal playability at 1080p.

For the CPU, the nearest rivals are all mid-range parts. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, which is 0.2 percent higher than the i5-9400's 2254. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4 percent lower, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4 percent higher. These CPUs would all provide similar CPU-bound performance in Archeage, meaning they would not meaningfully change the FPS results when paired with the same GPU. The bottleneck would remain the GPU.

The combination of a mid-range CPU from 2018 with a very low-end GPU from 2026 creates a system where the GPU is decisively holding back the experience. Swapping the CPU for one of its rivals would change little, as the FPS data is dominated by the GPU's limitations. Swapping the GPU for one of its rivals would also change little, as they are all within a few percentage points of each other.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Archeage at 4K?

A: No. The recorded data shows that at 3840x2160, the best average FPS is 28 at Low settings, and the highest preset, Ultra, averages 11 FPS. No setting reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 averages 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that clears the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset averages 71 FPS, but Medium is the highest playable setting.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1440p?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. At 2560x1440, the FPS drops from 48 at Low to 20 at Ultra, a decline of over half. The CPU, which sits at the 47th percentile, does not show this level of scaling. The GPU, at the 9th percentile, cannot handle the increased pixel count.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in the database's benchmark. Its nearest rivals are the GeForce GT 520MX (1463), GeForce 800M (1460), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and GeForce GT 710 (1443). The Arc B390 is between 1.3 percent and 2.7 percent faster than these, meaning they would perform nearly identically in Archeage.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game on this system?

A: The only resolution with playable settings is 1920x1080. At 2560x1440, the highest average FPS is 48 at Low, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, the best average is 28 FPS at Low. 1080p is the only viable option.

Q: Does the Ultra preset ever reach 60 FPS?

A: No. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 29 FPS. At 2560x1440, it averages 20 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it averages 11 FPS. The Ultra preset is not playable at any resolution in the recorded data.

The Verdict

This PC can run Archeage, but only under strict conditions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, meaning no preset reaches an average of 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same applies, with no playable settings. At 1920x1080, the Low and Medium presets are playable, with Medium being the best at 64 FPS average.

The data shows that this system is not suitable for high-resolution or high-settings gameplay. The combination of a mid-range CPU and a very low-end GPU means that users must accept significant visual compromises. For a game from 2014, this is particularly disappointing, as many older systems can run Archeage at higher settings. The GPU's 9th percentile ranking is the main culprit, and the FPS results confirm that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with reduced graphical fidelity.

For users who want a stable 60 FPS experience, the only option is 1080p with Medium or Low settings. The Medium preset offers a better balance, with an average of 64 FPS, but the minimum of 54 FPS means occasional dips below the threshold. Low is safer, with an average of 71 FPS. Any attempt to play at higher resolutions or with Ultra settings will result in a poor experience.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset is playable. The highest average FPS is 28 at Low, but this is far below the 60 FPS threshold. The best settings for this resolution are none, as the system cannot maintain playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the same conclusion applies. The Low preset averages 48 FPS, which is 12 FPS short of playable. No settings can deliver 60 FPS at this resolution, so the recommendation is to avoid it.

At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS. It averages 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. This is the best balance between visual quality and performance. The Low preset averages 71 FPS and is also playable, but Medium offers higher fidelity while still clearing the threshold on average. The Ultra preset is not playable, averaging 29 FPS.