Archeage

# Archeage Performance Analysis: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX + AMD Radeon 8050S

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX paired with the AMD Radeon 8050S delivers a distinct performance profile in Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG that remains sensitive to both CPU and GPU capabilities. Benchmark measurements across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a system that is comfortably playable at 1080p, increasingly strained at 1440p, and largely unsuitable for 4K gaming at higher settings. The data indicates a fundamental balance between the 16-core Zen 4 processor and the RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics solution, with the GPU emerging as the primary bottleneck as resolution scales upward.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, but the magnitude of that decline varies significantly by quality preset. At Low settings, the system delivers 126 FPS at 1080p, drops to 85 FPS at 1440p (a 33% reduction), and falls to 49 FPS at 4K (a 61% reduction from 1080p). This scaling pattern suggests that at Low settings, the GPU is handling the rendering load with increasing difficulty as pixel count rises, yet the CPU remains capable of feeding frames efficiently even at 4K.

Medium settings exhibit a similar trajectory: 112 FPS at 1080p, 76 FPS at 1440p (32% drop), and 43 FPS at 4K (62% drop). The consistency of these percentage drops across Low and Medium presets indicates a GPU-bound scenario where the Radeon 8050S's compute resources are the limiting factor. The GPU's 11.47 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 2048 shading units are being saturated as resolution increases, with the 4K pixel count (roughly four times 1080p) overwhelming the integrated graphics solution.

High settings tell a more dramatic story. At 1080p, the system achieves 76 FPS, which drops to 51 FPS at 1440p (33% reduction) and plummets to 29 FPS at 4K (62% reduction from 1080p). The 4K High result falls below the 30 FPS playability threshold, indicating that this preset is simply too demanding for the Radeon 8050S at that resolution. Ultra settings are even more punishing: 52 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p (33% drop), and 20 FPS at 4K (62% drop). The consistent 33% and 62% reduction percentages across all presets strongly suggest that resolution scaling in Archeage is purely GPU-limited, with the CPU's role remaining constant regardless of pixel count.

The data implies that the limiting component at higher resolutions is unequivocally the GPU. The Radeon 8050S, despite being an integrated solution with a 55 W TDP, demonstrates scaling behavior consistent with discrete GPUs in this class. The CPU, with its 16 cores and 32 threads running at up to 5.40 GHz boost, shows no signs of bottlenecking even at 1080p Low where frame rates reach 126 FPS. This suggests that Archeage's MMO workloads, which typically involve many on-screen characters and world events, are not heavily multi-threaded enough to stress the Ryzen 9 8945HX fully.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8050S is built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture using a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 308 mm². Its clock speeds range from a 1295 MHz base to a 2800 MHz boost, and it features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units. The GPU's memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning it draws from the same DDR5 pool as the CPU, with bandwidth listed as system dependent. This shared memory architecture likely contributes to the performance ceiling observed at 4K, where memory bandwidth constraints can exacerbate the GPU's compute limitations.

In Archeage, the GPU's role is clearly dominant at higher resolutions. The measurements show that at 4K, even Low settings only produce 49 FPS, while Medium reaches 43 FPS and High drops to 29 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is just 6 FPS (49 vs. 43), suggesting that the GPU is already near its limits at Low settings and additional quality features consume rendering resources that could otherwise maintain frame rates. The 4K Ultra result of 20 FPS confirms that the Radeon 8050S cannot handle maximum quality at this resolution, likely due to the combined pressure of increased pixel shading and more complex lighting and shadow calculations.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 62108. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M, scores 61896, a mere 0.3% delta, indicating near-parity performance. The Radeon Pro Vega 56 is 2.5% faster, and the Radeon RX 7600M is 2.6% faster. This positioning suggests that the Radeon 8050S is competitive with mid-range mobile discrete GPUs, yet its integrated nature and system-shared memory create unique constraints that manifest in Archeage's resolution scaling.

The GPU's pixel rate of 179.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 358.4 GTexel/s provide theoretical ceilings that align with the observed frame rates. At 4K, the 29 FPS High setting implies approximately 5.2 GPixel/s of effective pixel throughput, which is well below the theoretical maximum but realistic given the complexity of Archeage's rendering. The FP32 performance of 11.47 TFLOPS, while respectable, is insufficient for 4K Ultra settings in a 2014 MMO that has likely received graphical updates since release.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It operates at a 2.50 GHz base clock with a 5.40 GHz boost, and its 64 MB of L3 cache (1 MB L2 per core, 64 KB L1 per core) provides substantial on-die storage for game assets. The CPU's 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, delivered through a dual-channel DDR5 interface, is shared with the GPU, which may create contention in memory-intensive scenarios.

In Archeage, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions, but it becomes more relevant at 1080p where frame rates exceed 100 FPS at Low and Medium settings. The Ryzen 9 8945HX's multi-threaded capabilities are evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and single-core score of 6030. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 51405 and single-thread score of 3907 further demonstrate strong per-core performance, which is critical for MMO titles that often rely on a single main thread for game logic.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 95th among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 76212, places it near the top of the performance hierarchy. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, scores 76155 (0.1% slower), while the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P is 0.4% faster and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is 0.6% slower. This tight clustering indicates that the Ryzen 9 8945HX is at the forefront of mobile CPU performance, yet Archeage's frame rates at 1080p Low (126 FPS) suggest that the game is not fully utilizing the CPU's potential since the GPU is likely the limiting factor even at lower resolutions.

The CPU's 16 cores and 32 threads are more than sufficient for Archeage's typical MMO workloads, which involve handling hundreds of player characters, NPCs, and world state updates. The boost clock of 5.40 GHz provides excellent single-threaded performance for game logic, while the multi-threaded capabilities handle background tasks and streaming. However, the data shows that the CPU does not become a bottleneck until frame rates exceed what the GPU can deliver, meaning the system's overall performance is constrained by the Radeon 8050S in most scenarios.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all presets achieve playable frame rates, with Low at 126 FPS, Medium at 112 FPS, High at 76 FPS, and Ultra at 52 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low (85 FPS) and Medium (76 FPS) remain playable, but High drops to 51 FPS and Ultra to 35 FPS. At 3840x2160, only Low (49 FPS) and Medium (43 FPS) exceed 30 FPS.

Q: How does the Radeon 8050S compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Radeon 8050S has an average benchmark score of 62108, placing it in the 89th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M, scores 61896, which is 0.3% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 is 2.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600M is 2.6% faster, indicating the 8050S is slightly below these mid-range mobile GPUs.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in Archeage?

A: The data suggests the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU, even at 1080p Low where 126 FPS is achieved. The Ryzen 9 8945HX's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and single-core score of 6030 indicate substantial headroom. The consistent FPS drops from 1080p to 4K (33% at 1440p, 62% at 4K) across all presets point to GPU-limited scaling.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings deliver 126 FPS, while Ultra settings deliver 52 FPS, a difference of 74 FPS or roughly 142% higher frame rate at Low. Medium settings achieve 112 FPS and High settings 76 FPS, showing a steep drop from High to Ultra.

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

A: At 3840x2160, only Low (49 FPS) and Medium (43 FPS) settings exceed 30 FPS. High settings produce 29 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS playability threshold, and Ultra settings produce 20 FPS. For a smooth experience, 4K gaming would require Low or Medium settings, but even then, the frame rates are marginal.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 8945HX rank among all CPUs?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 76212. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, scores 76155 (0.1% slower), while the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P is 0.4% faster, showing the 8945HX is within 0.5% of these top-tier processors.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings across resolutions. At 1920x1080, Medium settings offer the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 112 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS and maximum of 129 FPS. This preset provides smooth gameplay well above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining better visual fidelity than Low settings. High settings at 1080p (76 FPS) are also viable for players prioritizing visual quality, but Ultra (52 FPS) drops below the 60 FPS threshold and may introduce stutter in crowded MMO scenarios.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings are the recommended choice, delivering 76 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS and maximum of 87 FPS. This provides a playable experience with reasonable visual quality. Low settings (85 FPS) offer higher frame rates for competitive play, but the visual compromise may be noticeable. High settings (51 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS threshold, and Ultra (35 FPS) approaches the lower limit of playability. For 1440p, players should stick to Medium or Low.

At 3840x2160, the data indicates that only Low (49 FPS) and Medium (43 FPS) settings are viable, with Medium providing better visuals while staying above 30 FPS. High settings (29 FPS) and Ultra (20 FPS) are not recommended due to sub-30 FPS performance. Given the marginal frame rates at 4K, players may prefer to drop to 1440p Medium for a significantly smoother experience (76 FPS vs. 43 FPS) rather than compromising at 4K.

Across all resolutions, the gap between Medium and High settings is substantial, suggesting that Medium represents a sweet spot where the GPU can maintain adequate performance without the rendering overhead of High. The minimum FPS data for Medium at 1080p (96 FPS) and 1440p (64 FPS) indicates that frame pacing remains consistent, avoiding the dips that might occur at higher presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system achieves 126 FPS at Low settings, 112 FPS at Medium (minimum 96 FPS, maximum 129 FPS), 76 FPS at High, and 52 FPS at Ultra. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 74 FPS spread, with the largest single drop occurring between High (76 FPS) and Ultra (52 FPS), a 24 FPS reduction. This suggests Ultra settings introduce significant rendering costs that may not be justified by visual improvements.

At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 85 FPS, Medium delivers 76 FPS (minimum 64 FPS, maximum 87 FPS), High achieves 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 35 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium is just 9 FPS, indicating that Medium offers near-Low performance with better visuals. High to Ultra represents a 16 FPS drop, reinforcing the pattern seen at 1080p where Ultra is disproportionately demanding.

At 3840x2160, Low settings yield 49 FPS, Medium produces 43 FPS (minimum 37 FPS, maximum 50 FPS), High achieves 29 FPS, and Ultra falls to 20 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 37 FPS indicates that even the recommended 4K setting experiences occasional dips, but remains above the 30 FPS playability floor. The 4K Ultra result of 20 FPS is below any reasonable playability threshold, confirming that this preset is not viable at this resolution.

The overall data pattern shows that the percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across all presets (approximately 62% reduction), which strongly indicates GPU-bound scaling. The minimum FPS data points for Medium settings provide additional confidence in the consistency of frame times, with the 4K Medium minimum of 37 FPS representing a 14% dip from the average of 43 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX combined with the AMD Radeon 8050S ranks 2062nd out of 2761 tested combos in Archeage, placing it in the 25th percentile of all combinations. This ranking reflects the system's performance relative to other CPU-GPU pairings tested in this game, with approximately 75% of combos performing better. The rank is likely influenced by the GPU's integrated nature, which limits performance compared to systems with discrete graphics cards.

Given the CPU's 95th percentile ranking and the GPU's 89th percentile ranking, the combo's 25th percentile in-game rank suggests that Archeage is particularly demanding on the GPU relative to other components. The CPU's high benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core 42713, Passmark multi-thread 51405) are not fully leveraged in this game, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor. This is consistent with the resolution scaling analysis, which shows GPU-bound behavior across all settings.

Compared to other combos, this system's rank indicates that while the Ryzen 9 8945HX is a top-tier mobile CPU, the Radeon 8050S holds the overall performance back in Archeage. Players seeking higher frame rates would benefit from a system with a discrete GPU, as the CPU has demonstrated sufficient headroom to support more powerful graphics solutions. The combo's rank also suggests that Archeage's optimization favors systems with stronger GPUs, even at the expense of CPU performance, which is common for MMO titles that rely heavily on graphical rendering.