Archeage

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for the Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in Archeage shows a clear progression of average frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 162.1 FPS on Low, 156.9 FPS on Medium, 129.3 FPS on High, and 86 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution represents a drop of approximately 47% from the peak average, yet even the most demanding preset stays well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages settle lower: 139.6 FPS on Low, 125.2 FPS on Medium, 87.6 FPS on High, and 56 FPS on Ultra. The step from Medium to High costs 37.6 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 31.6 FPS, making Ultra the only preset at this resolution that falls below the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the pattern intensifies: Low averages 80 FPS, Medium 71.3 FPS, High 49.4 FPS, and Ultra 33.6 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 46.4 FPS, a larger absolute difference than at any other resolution, indicating that the highest preset becomes prohibitively expensive at this pixel count.

The database does not include minimum or maximum frame time data for this configuration, so the analysis relies on average FPS alone. The measured values suggest that the RTX 4070 is the dominant factor in pushing frame rates at lower resolutions, while the i5-9400's six cores and six threads begin to show limitations as resolution climbs and the GPU has more room to work. The 47th percentile standing of the CPU against all tested processors, combined with the GPU's 81st percentile ranking, frames this as a pairing where the graphics card carries most of the performance load.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals which component governs Archeage's frame rate at each setting tier. At 1920x1080, the RTX 4070 is not fully utilized at Low and Medium, where the CPU's single-core performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 935 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1389, becomes the limiting factor. The difference between Low and Medium at 1080p is only 5.2 FPS, suggesting that the game is not heavily GPU-bound at these lower presets. The jump to High adds 27.6 FPS over Medium, and Ultra adds another 43.3 FPS over High, indicating that the GPU starts to take over as the preset demands more shading and texture work.

At 2560x1440, the CPU's role diminishes further. The spread between Low and Medium is 14.4 FPS, smaller than the 27.6 FPS gap between Medium and High, which points to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count rises. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 56 FPS, a 31.6 FPS loss from High, and this is where the combination of the i5-9400's six threads and the RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory starts to show strain. The GPU's 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are substantial, but the game's MMO nature, with many on-screen characters and effects, likely taxes both components.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unquestionably the dominant factor. The Low preset still manages 80 FPS, but High falls to 49.4 FPS and Ultra to 33.6 FPS. The CPU's influence at 4K is minimal because the GPU is saturated by the sheer number of pixels. The i5-9400's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 2784 and Geekbench multi-core score of 5141 are modest by modern standards, but they do not appear to hold back the RTX 4070 at this resolution. The data implies that Archeage at 4K is a pure GPU workload, while at 1080p, the CPU's single-threaded performance, evidenced by the Cinebench R15 single-core score of 94, sets the ceiling for lower presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this combination at rank 1145 out of 3708 tested combos for Archeage, which puts it in the upper third of all configurations. This rank reflects the RTX 4070's strong absolute performance, but it is tempered by the i5-9400's age and six-thread limitation. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 26927 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 are high, yet the CPU's average benchmark score of 2254, with a percentile of 47, pulls the overall combo down relative to pairings with faster processors.

The rank implies that many combinations with mid-range or high-end CPUs and slightly weaker GPUs outperform this pairing in Archeage, likely because the game's MMO engine benefits from stronger single-threaded CPU performance in crowded scenes. Conversely, the combo sits well above the median, so it is not a weak configuration by any means. The 3708 total combos in the database include a wide range of hardware, and a top-third ranking for a six-core CPU from 2018 paired with a 2023 GPU is a reasonable outcome.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-9400's 2254 average. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% lower, and the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% lower. These deltas are all within a single percentage point, meaning that swapping the i5-9400 for any of these processors would produce nearly identical frame rates in Archeage. None of them would change the verdict at any resolution.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Tesla P4 with an average score of 37628, just 0.1% below the RTX 4070's 37648, and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 at 37507, 0.4% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, 1.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37157, 1.3% lower. The RTX 4080 Mobile would offer a marginal improvement in frame rates, but the difference is small enough that the CPU would still limit performance at 1080p. The RX Vega 56 and PRO W6400 would yield nearly identical results to the RTX 4070 in this specific game, based on the benchmark averages, making them viable alternatives if the user is looking for comparable hardware.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 86 FPS. The database confirms that all four presets at this resolution clear the playability threshold, so the user can run the game at maximum quality without concern. At 2560x1440, High is the best playable preset, averaging 87.6 FPS. Ultra falls to 56 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold, so it is not recommended at this resolution. At 3840x2160, Medium is the best playable preset, averaging 71.3 FPS. High averages 49.4 FPS and Ultra 33.6 FPS, both below the threshold, while Low averages 80 FPS, but Medium offers the highest quality that maintains playable performance.

The verdict data aligns perfectly with these measurements: 1920x1080 lists Ultra as the best settings with 86 FPS, 2560x1440 lists High with 87.6 FPS, and 3840x2160 lists Medium with 71.3 FPS. The playable settings lists for each resolution confirm that only the presets above 60 FPS are considered viable. For 4K, that means Low and Medium are playable, but High and Ultra are not. For 1440p, High, Low, and Medium are playable, but Ultra is not. For 1080p, all four presets are playable.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Archeage at 1080p on Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 86, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the best setting at 2560x1440 for this combo?

A: High is the best playable preset at 1440p, averaging 87.6 FPS. Ultra falls to 56 FPS and is not considered playable.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with the Intel Core i5-9400 and RTX 4070 in Archeage?

A: Partially. At 3840x2160, Low averages 80 FPS and Medium averages 71.3 FPS, both playable. High and Ultra are not playable, with 49.4 FPS and 33.6 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. The closest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, a 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% lower, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher.

Q: What GPU alternatives offer similar performance to the RTX 4070?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has an average score of 37507, just 0.4% lower than the RTX 4070's 37648. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 is 0.1% lower at 37628, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% lower at 37157.

Q: What rank does this combo hold in the database for Archeage?

A: The combination ranks 1145 out of 3708 tested combos, placing it in the upper third of all configurations tested.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-9400 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 can run Archeage, but the answer depends heavily on resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on every preset, including Ultra with 86 FPS, so it is fully playable at maximum quality. At 2560x1440, High is the ceiling, delivering 87.6 FPS, while Ultra drops to 56 FPS, just below the playable mark. At 3840x2160, Medium is the best option at 71.3 FPS, with Low at 80 FPS also viable, but High and Ultra are not playable.

The data indicates that this is a capable 1080p and 1440p machine for Archeage, with 4K limited to medium or low presets. The RTX 4070 provides ample graphics horsepower, but the i5-9400's six threads and single-core performance cap frame rates at lower resolutions and in CPU-heavy scenarios. For a game from 2014, this pairing is more than sufficient for the majority of play sessions, especially if the user prioritizes smooth frame rates over maximum visual fidelity at higher resolutions. The 47th percentile CPU ranking and 81st percentile GPU ranking tell the story: the GPU is the star, but the CPU is adequate for the game's demands. Users targeting 4K should stick to Medium or lower, while 1080p users can enjoy the full Ultra experience without compromise.