Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, presents an interesting benchmark case for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. The data reveals a system where the graphics card is the clear bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions, but the potent CPU ensures that frame rates remain playable when settings are dialed back. This analysis explores the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, interpreting what the numbers mean for this specific combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the "Low" preset, the average frame rate falls from 117.1 FPS at 1080p to 79.1 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 46.3 FPS at 4K. This represents a 60.5% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The trend is similar for other settings, indicating that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, which points directly at the GPU as the limiting factor.

The data implies that at 1080p, the system has enough headroom to push high frame rates, but the RTX 2060's 6 GB of VRAM and its compute capabilities are quickly overwhelmed as resolution increases. The 4K results are particularly telling. Even at the "Low" preset, the system only manages 46.3 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience on many displays. At "Ultra" settings in 4K, the average drops to a nearly unplayable 18.8 FPS. This steep decline suggests that the game is becoming heavily pixel-bound, with the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth being the primary constraints.

The scaling pattern between 1080p and 1440p is less severe but still significant. For example, the "Medium" preset drops from 104.1 FPS to 72.9 FPS, a 30% decrease. This shows that even a step down to 1440p requires substantial GPU effort. The data strongly suggests that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is not the performance limiter in this configuration; instead, the RTX 2060 is working at its maximum capacity, and its performance ceiling is what defines the playable resolution and settings for Archeage.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a high-end desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 4.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Its architecture is Zen 5, built on a 4 nm process. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 34,004 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4,800 in single-core, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. This raw compute power is more than sufficient for an MMORPG like Archeage, which is often more dependent on single-thread performance for game logic and draw calls.

Given the GPU-bound nature of the results, the CPU's role appears to be ensuring that frame times are consistent and that the GPU is fed with data without stuttering. The data shows that at 1080p with "Low" settings, the system achieves 117.1 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate to suggest the CPU is not holding the system back. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see performance plateau across different resolutions, but the FPS drops linearly with resolution, confirming that the GPU is the primary constraint.

The 3DMark scores for the CPU, such as 10,081 for 16 threads and 1,212 for single-thread, further indicate a processor that excels in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. For Archeage, this means the CPU can handle many simultaneous players, NPCs, and combat calculations without breaking a sweat. The benchmark results imply that the CPU's immense cache and core performance are effectively "waiting" for the GPU at lower resolutions, and its impact on the final FPS is largely neutral in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Archeage with this combo for a smooth experience?

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the average FPS exceeds 60 on all tested presets except "Ultra". The "High" preset at 1080p yields 69.6 FPS, while "Low" and "Medium" are well above 100 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Archeage?

A: The data indicates 4K gaming is not viable. Even at the "Low" preset, the average FPS is only 46.3, and at "Ultra" it drops to 18.8 FPS. These frame rates are too low for a consistently playable experience.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1440p to 4K at "High" settings?

A: The average FPS falls from 49.0 at 2560x1440 to 27.3 at 3840x2160, representing a 44.3% decrease. This shows the significant strain 4K puts on the GPU.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system for Archeage?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the bottleneck. The FPS drops consistently with resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario, while the CPU's high scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between "Low" and "Ultra" settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the "Low" preset achieves 117.1 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset achieves 48.1 FPS. This shows a 69.0 FPS difference, highlighting the massive impact of graphical settings on performance.

Q: How does the RTX 2060's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16,074. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, scores 15,996, which is 0.5% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700 both score 16,351, which is 1.7% higher.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Archeage, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is ranked 1419 out of 1727 total combinations. This places it in the lower 18% of all tested systems. This ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU's performance ceiling, as the high-end CPU is paired with a mid-range graphics card from a previous generation.

The rank suggests that while this combo is perfectly functional, especially at 1080p, it is far from the top-tier performance achievable in Archeage. The data shows that the RTX 2060's limitations are the defining factor, preventing the system from competing with combos that feature more powerful GPUs. For a game like Archeage, which can be demanding at high resolutions and settings, this combo is positioned for 1080p gaming with moderate settings, rather than for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution play. The low rank is not a reflection of a faulty pairing, but rather a mathematical consequence of the GPU's benchmark standing.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for the best settings across different resolutions. For 1920x1080, the "High" preset is the best balance, offering 69.6 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS target and provides a good visual quality without the performance penalty of "Ultra", which drops to 48.1 FPS. For players prioritizing frame rate, the "Low" preset at 117.1 FPS or "Medium" at 104.1 FPS are excellent choices.

At 2560x1440, the options become more constrained. The "Medium" preset is the only one that delivers a playable average of 72.9 FPS. The "High" preset at 49.0 FPS is borderline, and "Ultra" is not recommended at 30.9 FPS. For 3840x2160, the data shows that no preset provides a consistently smooth experience, as even "Low" only hits 46.3 FPS. The "Medium" preset at 37.6 FPS and "High" at 27.3 FPS are playable only if the user accepts significant compromises in smoothness.

The data suggests that the "Medium" preset is the sweet spot for this combo, as it offers a significant visual upgrade over "Low" while maintaining playable frame rates at both 1080p and 1440p. The "Ultra" preset should be avoided entirely, as it does not provide a playable experience at any resolution, with the best case being 48.1 FPS at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for all tested resolution and settings combinations.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 117.1 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 104.1 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 69.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 48.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 79.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 72.9 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 49.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 30.9 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 46.3 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 37.6 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 27.3 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 18.8 |

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process. It features 1,920 shading units, 30 RT cores, and 240 tensor cores. Its memory subsystem consists of 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The card's base clock is 1365 MHz, with a boost clock of 1680 MHz. In the database, it holds the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16,074.

The benchmark data for Archeage clearly shows the GPU's role as the primary performance limiter. The 6 GB VRAM is a likely cause of the severe performance drop at 4K, as the game may be exceeding the memory capacity, forcing the system to use slower system memory. The 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth also appears insufficient for the demands of 4K textures and high-resolution rendering. The GPU's performance in synthetic tests, such as a Passmark G3D score of 14,111, confirms its mid-range positioning, which is far below the top-tier cards that can handle 4K gaming smoothly.

The RTX 2060's performance is close to its rivals, with a 0.5% lead over the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and a 1.7% deficit against the AMD Radeon Pro 5700. This suggests that in this class of GPU, the performance is tightly clustered. For Archeage, the GPU's compute capabilities are the decisive factor, and the data shows that it is only capable of providing a smooth experience at 1080p and, to a lesser extent, 1440p with adjusted settings. The card's 6 GB VRAM is a clear weakness for a game that can be pushed to high resolutions, making it the central reason for the system's performance ceiling.