Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, places unique demands on hardware, and the measured data for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 combination reveals a system that is clearly capable but heavily influenced by both resolution and the game’s engine. The benchmark results show a wide performance swing from high refresh rate territory at 1080p to unplayable slideshows at 4K Ultra, indicating a balance that favors lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, highlighting the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 72.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 46.9 FPS at 2560x1440, a substantial 35% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average plummets to 28.5 FPS, which is a 61% decrease from the 1080p figure. This stark decline suggests that the RX 6600’s rendering capabilities are quickly overwhelmed as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern is consistent across other settings. At Medium, the drop from 107.1 FPS at 1080p to 68.8 FPS at 1440p represents a 36% loss, and then to 39 FPS at 4K, another 43% loss. Even at Low settings, where the CPU typically has more influence, the trend continues: 118.2 FPS at 1080p falls to 79.8 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop) and then to 44.4 FPS at 4K (a further 44% drop). The consistent ~33-36% penalty for moving from 1080p to 1440p, regardless of settings, points directly to the GPU’s fill rate and bandwidth being the limiting factor.

The most telling data point is the 4K Ultra result. The combination manages only 19.5 FPS, which is not a playable experience. This represents a 62% drop from the 51 FPS achieved at 1080p Ultra. The fact that the gap between 1080p and 1440p is consistently around a third, and the gap between 1440p and 4K is even larger, confirms that the RX 6600 is the component that dictates performance ceilings as resolution scales. The CPU has enough headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot sustain that throughput when the pixel workload quadruples.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600, built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its clock speeds are a defining characteristic, with a base clock of 1626 MHz, a game clock of 2044 MHz, and a boost clock of 2491 MHz. These high frequencies are the reason the card can deliver competitive frame rates at 1080p, where its 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs are sufficient to process the geometry and effects in Archeage.

The GPU’s role becomes more complex at higher settings. The data shows that Ultra settings are disproportionately punishing. At 1080p, moving from High to Ultra drops performance from 72.6 FPS to 51 FPS, a 30% reduction. This suggests that Ultra presets enable effects that heavily tax the GPU’s compute units and memory subsystem. The RX 6600’s 8 GB VRAM buffer is likely sufficient for the textures used at 1080p, but the increased shader complexity in Ultra mode is what causes the significant frame rate penalty.

The GPU’s limitations are starkest at 4K. The 224.0 GB/s bandwidth is a clear weakness here, as the card cannot move data fast enough to feed the large frame buffer required at 3840x2160. The result is that even at Low settings, the card only manages 44.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold most players consider smooth. The performance at 4K Ultra (19.5 FPS) is indicative of a card that is simply out of its depth. In contrast, the RX 6600’s benchmark percentile of 69 vs all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 25235 suggest it is a mid-range part, and the measured data confirms that it is best suited for 1080p gaming in this title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its 16 MB of L3 cache is a notable feature for gaming. In Archeage, which is an MMORPG known for CPU-intensive scenarios in crowded areas, the processor’s multi-threading capabilities are relevant. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and single-core score of 2319 indicate a solid level of performance that is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck in most situations.

The data supports this assessment. At 1080p Low settings, the combination achieves 118.2 FPS. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of processing the game’s simulation and draw calls at a rapid pace. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates plateau around a specific number. Instead, the frame rate scales from 118.2 FPS at Low to 51 FPS at Ultra, demonstrating that the GPU is the variable that limits performance as graphics load increases.

The CPU’s headroom is most evident in the scaling from 1080p to 1440p. The fact that frame rates drop by roughly a third across all settings indicates that the CPU is not a constraint in this transition. If the CPU were struggling, the drop would be less pronounced, as the GPU would have more time to render each frame. The Ryzen 5 5500, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides adequate processing power for Archeage’s game logic, ensuring that the RX 6600 is able to operate at its full potential until the GPU’s own limits are reached at higher resolutions. The CPU’s passmark multithread score of 19330 and 79th percentile vs all CPUs further positions it as a capable mid-range part that pairs well with the RX 6600.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks 1390 out of 1727 tested combos for Archeage. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all possible pairings, indicating that while it is not a top-tier setup, it is also far from the bottom. The rank is a global assessment, meaning it includes pairings with much more powerful GPUs. The data shows that this combo is not designed for maximum fidelity or high-resolution gaming, but rather for a balanced 1080p experience.

The rank is more informative when considering the individual components’ standings. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 20875 places it in the 79th percentile, and it is nearly identical in performance to the Intel Core i5-12500, which has a deltaPct of -0.1. This means the Ryzen 5 5500 is a strong performer for its class. The GPU, however, has an average benchmark score of 25235 and sits in the 69th percentile, with its closest rival being the AMD Radeon 890M with a deltaPct of 0. This suggests the GPU is a slightly weaker link in the chain relative to the CPU.

The combo’s rank of 1390 out of 1727 means that roughly 80% of tested combinations deliver higher average frame rates in Archeage. This is not surprising, as the database likely includes many pairings with high-end GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which is a nearest rival to the RX 6600 with a deltaPct of 0.5. The ranking indicates that for users seeking high refresh rates at 1440p or smooth 4K, this combo would be insufficient. However, for a 1080p setup, the rank is less relevant, as the measured FPS shows the system is more than capable of providing a good experience at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination delivers its most playable results. The frame rates are consistently above 50 FPS across all presets. Low settings yield an average of 118.2 FPS, providing a very smooth experience suitable for high refresh rate monitors. Medium settings are also excellent, with an average of 107.1 FPS. High settings maintain strong performance at 72.6 FPS, which is ideal for most gamers. However, Ultra settings drop the average to 51 FPS. This is still playable, but the significant performance cost of Ultra presets is clear, representing a 30% decrease from High.

At 2560x1440, the system begins to show its limits. Low settings are still very usable, with an average of 79.8 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 68.8 FPS, which is acceptable for most users. High settings drop to 46.9 FPS, which is on the edge of smoothness and may be noticeable in fast-paced action. Ultra settings are not recommended, as the average falls to 33 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and can feel stuttery.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly overburdened. Low settings are the only viable option, with an average of 44.4 FPS. This is playable but not ideal. Medium settings average 39 FPS, which is marginal. High settings fall to 28.5 FPS, which is a poor experience. Ultra settings are unplayable, with an average of only 19.5 FPS. The data indicates that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this hardware combination in Archeage, as even the lowest settings struggle to maintain a consistent 60 FPS. The system’s optimal performance zone is clearly 1080p, where it offers a wide range of settings to achieve the desired balance between visual fidelity and frame rate.