Archeage

# Archeage with AMD Ryzen 5 5600X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a broad range of frame rates in Archeage, from a playable 47 FPS at 4K Ultra to a fluid 224 FPS at 1080p Low. The combo ranks 186th out of 3,708 tested configurations, placing it in the top 5% of all pairings in this MMORPG. This analysis breaks down how the CPU's six cores and the GPU's massive memory bandwidth interact across resolutions and settings, using solely the measured data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB L3 pool, which is shared across the chip. The processor supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 5600X shows a clear strength in single-threaded performance relative to its multi-threaded capabilities. Its 3DMark single-thread score is 917, while the 2-thread score is 1,793, and the 4-thread score reaches 3,363. The 8-thread score jumps to 4,811, and the max-thread score is 5,588, indicating that scaling beyond 4 threads yields diminishing returns. Cinebench R23 results reinforce this: the single-core score is 1,541, while the multi-core score is 11,838, a ratio of roughly 7.7x, which is modest for a 6-core part. PassMark single-thread performance is 3,364, while the multi-thread score is 21,858.

For a game like Archeage, which launched in 2014, the reliance on single-threaded performance is often more critical than raw multi-core throughput. The 5600X's strong single-thread scores—evidenced by a 917 in 3DMark single-thread and 1,541 in Cinebench R23—suggest it can handle the game's logic and physics threads efficiently. However, the measured FPS data shows that at lower resolutions and settings, the frame rates are extremely high (up to 224 FPS), which implies the CPU is not a bottleneck in these scenarios. The CPU's 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it outperforms three-quarters of processors, yet the RTX 4090 is so powerful that the CPU may still limit peak frame rates in less demanding settings.

The nearest rivals to the 5600X include the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (average score 21,749, delta 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U (21,874, delta -0.5%), and the Intel Core i7-11700 (21,891, delta -0.5%). These small deltas indicate that the 5600X's overall benchmark average of 21,771 is closely matched by these alternatives, but the 5600X's single-thread edge likely provides a slight advantage in Archeage's older engine.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves a combo rank of 186 out of 3,708 tested combos in Archeage. This places the pairing in the 95th percentile of all configurations, meaning only 5% of tested combos deliver higher average performance in this title. The rank is likely driven by the GPU's dominance, as the RTX 4090 sits in the 88th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 75th percentile.

Given the game's age and its typical CPU-bound nature in crowded MMO scenarios, the rank suggests that the 5600X is sufficient to feed the RTX 4090 in most situations, but it may not be the absolute best match. The data shows that the combo's performance varies significantly with settings: at 1080p Low, it hits 224 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 47 FPS. The rank of 186 implies that there are 185 combos that achieve higher overall frame rates, which could include pairings with newer, higher-core-count CPUs that better handle the game's multi-threaded aspects or GPUs with even higher raw throughput.

The RTX 4090's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the Intel Arc Pro A60 (delta 0%), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (delta 0.3%), and AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (delta -2.5%). These are workstation-class GPUs, and the 4090's average benchmark score of 60,347 is only marginally higher than the Arc Pro A60's 60,326, which is a surprising near-tie. In real-world gaming, the 4090 typically dominates, but the combo rank reflects the measured FPS, which is influenced by both CPU and GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Archeage?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves 121 FPS, while at 1920x1080 with High settings, it reaches 180 FPS. The 1440p High setting offers a balanced experience with high frame rates and better image quality than 1080p.

Q: How does the RTX 4090's memory bandwidth affect Archeage performance?

A: The RTX 4090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory with a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. This massive bandwidth is reflected in the high frame rates at 4K, where the GPU is the primary bottleneck, with 102 FPS at Medium settings.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600X a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data suggests that at lower resolutions (1080p), the CPU may limit frame rates, as the 4090 can push beyond 224 FPS, but the 5600X's single-thread score of 917 in 3DMark indicates it can handle high frame rates. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, with FPS dropping to 47 at Ultra settings.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings yield 196 FPS, while Ultra settings yield 83 FPS. This represents a 58% reduction in frame rate when moving to Ultra, highlighting the significant GPU load from higher graphical presets.

Q: How does the combo rank compare to other tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 186th out of 3,708 tested configurations, placing it in the top 5% of all pairings. This rank indicates that while the combo is highly capable, there are 185 other combos that achieve better average frame rates in Archeage.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded, and at which settings?

A: The only minimum FPS values provided are for Medium settings: 87 FPS at 4K, 152 FPS at 1440p, and 183 FPS at 1080p. No minimum FPS is listed for Low, High, or Ultra settings, so the data is incomplete for those presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 224 FPS, Medium settings 215 FPS (with a minimum of 183 and maximum of 247), High settings 180 FPS, and Ultra settings 123 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 45% drop in average FPS, from 224 to 123, which is substantial but still leaves the game highly playable on a high-refresh-rate monitor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a clear scaling with settings. Low settings average 196 FPS, Medium settings 178 FPS (min 152, max 205), High settings 121 FPS, and Ultra settings 83 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 58%, which is larger than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 115 FPS, Medium settings 102 FPS (min 87, max 117), High settings 69 FPS, and Ultra settings 47 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 59%, and the Ultra preset at 47 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider smooth. The Medium setting at 102 FPS is the most balanced choice at 4K, offering a high frame rate while maintaining reasonable visual quality.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD102 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units, along with 128 ray tracing cores and 512 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, with memory clocked at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). Its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory is accessed via a 384-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s.

The RTX 4090's raw compute power is substantial, with an FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s. Its pixel rate is 443.5 GPixel/s, which is crucial for high-resolution rendering. The GPU's 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs is slightly lower than its synthetic benchmark scores might suggest, but its performance in Archeage is clearly dominated by the settings and resolution.

In the measured data, the GPU's role becomes more apparent at higher resolutions. At 4K, the frame rates drop from 115 FPS at Low to 47 FPS at Ultra, which is a 59% reduction. This scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the RTX 4090's memory bandwidth and compute units are taxed by the increased pixel count. At 1080p, the GPU is less stressed, and the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more relevant, as seen in the 224 FPS at Low settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The data provides four settings presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—across three resolutions. For players seeking the highest frame rates, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 224 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. However, the visual quality is likely to be poor, as Low settings typically disable many graphical features.

For a balanced experience, the Medium preset at 1440p stands out, with 178 FPS and a minimum of 152 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The Medium preset at 4K also offers 102 FPS, which is an excellent result for a 4K display, providing a high level of detail without sacrificing frame rate.

The High preset is a middle ground, but it shows a significant drop from Medium: 180 FPS to 121 FPS at 1440p, and 102 FPS to 69 FPS at 4K. This suggests that the High preset introduces rendering features that heavily impact GPU performance. If a player wants the best visual quality, the Ultra preset at 1080p delivers 123 FPS, which is still playable, but at 4K Ultra, the 47 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold, making it less desirable.

The recommended preset depends on the user's display: for 1080p, High (180 FPS) or Ultra (123 FPS) offers a strong experience; for 1440p, Medium (178 FPS) is the sweet spot; for 4K, Medium (102 FPS) is the best choice, as it balances visual fidelity with frame rate.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Examining the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the limiting component at each resolution. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 224 at 1080p to 196 at 1440p (a 12.5% decrease) and then to 115 at 4K (a 41% decrease from 1440p). The relatively small drop from 1080p to 1440p suggests that the CPU is still the primary limiter at these resolutions, as the GPU has enough headroom to handle the increased pixel count. However, the large drop to 4K indicates that the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as the RTX 4090's resources are exhausted.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 215 FPS at 1080p, 178 FPS at 1440p (a 17% drop), and 102 FPS at 4K (a 43% drop from 1440p). The High settings show a more pronounced drop: 180 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop), and 69 FPS at 4K (a 43% drop). This pattern indicates that as settings increase, the GPU's workload grows, making it the limiting factor even at 1440p.

At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 123 FPS at 1080p, 83 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop), and 47 FPS at 4K (a 43% drop). The consistent 43% drop from 1440p to 4K across all settings suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, given the 4x increase in pixel count. The CPU's role is more evident at 1080p, where the frame rates are high but not scaling linearly with GPU power, implying that the 5600X's single-thread performance is sufficient but not unlimited.

The data implies that for this combo, the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p and low settings, while the GPU dominates at 4K and high settings. At 1440p, the balance shifts depending on the preset, with Medium settings providing a good equilibrium between CPU and GPU load. This analysis is consistent with the combo's rank of 186, as the RTX 4090 is powerful enough to expose CPU limitations at lower resolutions, but the overall performance is still excellent for a game from 2014.