Archeage

The pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 in Archeage presents a fascinating study in system balance for a 2014 MMORPG. The data reveals a configuration that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p with adjusted settings, yet struggles to maintain playability at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the component roles, and offers guidance based strictly on the provided benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Archeage?

A: This specific combo ranks 2928th out of 3708 tested combinations in the database for Archeage, placing it in the lower portion of tested configurations.

Q: What is the best performance the combo can achieve at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average FPS at 1080p is 117 FPS, but this is achieved on the Low settings preset. The High preset yields an average of 71 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060's raw compute performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 15290 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, which scores 15283, a delta of 0%. It is also very close to the AMD Radeon 680M, which scores 15270.

Q: What is the CPU's single-threaded performance metric?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel Core i3-12100F scores 3444. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1674 points.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1440p to 4K on the Medium settings preset?

A: At 2560x1440 on Medium, the average FPS is 70. At 3840x2160 on Medium, the average FPS drops to 40, a significant reduction of 30 FPS.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the RTX 2060?

A: The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s, which is delivered over a 192-bit bus with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.30 GHz. This CPU has a substantial 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In the context of Archeage, an MMORPG, the data suggests that the CPU's performance is a critical factor, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is less burdened.

The benchmark scores paint a picture of a processor with strong single-threaded capabilities. It scores 3444 in the PassMark single-thread test and 1674 in Cinebench R23 single-core. This is a crucial asset for an MMORPG, which often relies on a primary game thread for logic and physics. The single-thread score in 3DMark is 893, while the 2-thread score is 1659, indicating that scaling to a second thread nearly doubles the score, which is expected for a 4-core/8-thread design.

Multithreaded performance is also solid, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11860 and a Geekbench multicore score of 7252. The PassMark multithread score is 14015. These numbers suggest the processor can handle the background tasks and multiple threads that an MMORPG client and its associated applications (like voice chat or a browser) might generate. The CPU's percentile ranking is 68, meaning it performs better than 68% of all CPUs in the database, which is a respectable position for a modern budget chip.

The data implies that at 1080p, the i3-12100F is likely the limiting factor in pushing frame rates higher on "Ultra" settings. The jump from the "High" preset at 71 FPS to the "Ultra" preset at 48 FPS is a significant 23 FPS drop, which could be attributed to the increased CPU load of higher draw distances and more complex NPC/player calculations. Conversely, at 4K, the CPU's role diminishes, and the load shifts heavily to the GPU, as the FPS differences between settings narrow compared to the 1080p gap.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. The data provides a clear hierarchy for each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot for a high-refresh-rate experience. It delivers an average of 71 FPS, which is playable on a standard 60Hz monitor and workable on a 144Hz one. The Low preset pushes this to 117 FPS, a substantial 46 FPS gain, which would be ideal for competitive play or maximizing a high refresh rate display, though visual fidelity is sacrificed. The Medium preset offers a balanced 104 FPS, but the High preset provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium for a 33 FPS cost. The Ultra preset, at 48 FPS, is the first to drop below 60 FPS at this resolution and is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It provides an average of 70 FPS, which is a smooth, playable experience. The Low preset achieves 79 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a much better visual experience for only a 9 FPS penalty. The High preset drops to 48 FPS, which is the first point at 1440p where the experience becomes less fluid. The Ultra preset is not viable for 1440p, averaging just 33 FPS.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the data shows the combo is out of its depth. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 45 FPS. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS with minimums of 34 FPS, which is likely to feel stuttery in busy scenes. Both High (27 FPS) and Ultra (19 FPS) are unplayable. For 4K, users should stick to the Low preset and accept a console-like frame rate, or lower the resolution.

In summary, the best experience is a trade-off between resolution and settings. For a fluid 1080p experience, the High preset is the best balance. For 1440p, Medium is the most practical.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2928 out of 3708 tested combinations places it in the bottom 21st percentile of all tested systems for Archeage. This ranking context is important; it indicates that while the individual components are capable, the combined performance in this specific title is not competitive with the vast majority of other configurations in the database. This is a strong signal that Archeage is a demanding title for this hardware pairing, especially at higher resolutions.

The rank suggests that most other tested combinations, which likely include higher-tier CPUs and GPUs, achieve better frame rates. This is not a surprise given the data, but it does frame the system as a 1080p-oriented setup. The benchmark results show the system is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p on lower settings, but its overall standing is pulled down by its performance at higher resolutions. While the CPU is ranked in the 68th percentile for all CPUs, and the GPU in the 58th percentile for all GPUs, their combination in this game does not yield a top-tier result. The data implies that the system is best suited for 1080p gaming and that users should not expect high-fidelity performance at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It features 30 RT cores and 240 Tensor cores, though Archeage is a 2014 title and unlikely to leverage these features. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s.

The RTX 2060's raw compute performance, as measured by its average benchmark score of 15290, is virtually identical to its nearest rival, the GeForce GTX 580, which scores 15283. This is a surprising data point, as it suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the older GTX 580 matches the newer RTX 2060. The RTX 2060 is also extremely close to the AMD Radeon 680M (15270) and the RTX 3050 OEM (15199). This indicates that the RTX 2060, while a solid card, is not a standout performer in terms of its raw benchmark score.

In Archeage, the GPU's role becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K. The measured FPS data shows a clear collapse in performance at 3840x2160. At 1080p, the GPU is able to push high frame rates on Low and Medium settings, but at 4K, even the Low preset only manages 45 FPS. The GPU's 6 GB of VRAM could also be a factor at higher resolutions, potentially causing texture swapping or stuttering, although the min FPS data is only available for the Medium preset at each resolution. The data suggests that the GPU is a capable 1080p performer but lacks the raw horsepower and memory bandwidth to handle 4K resolutions in this demanding MMORPG environment.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the performance is strong. The Low preset delivers the highest average at 117 FPS. The Medium preset averages 104 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 71 FPS. The Ultra preset is the weakest, with an average of 48 FPS. This shows a clear and consistent scaling of performance with settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly across the board. The Low preset averages 79 FPS. The Medium preset averages 70 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS. The High preset averages 48 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 33 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is notable, but the Medium preset remains playable.

At 3840x2160, the performance is largely unplayable. The Low preset averages 45 FPS. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS. The High preset averages 27 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 19 FPS. The system is clearly not suited for 4K gaming in this title, as even the lowest settings struggle to maintain 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. At 1080p, the CPU is likely the primary limiter. The performance difference between the Low (117 FPS) and High (71 FPS) presets is a 46 FPS gap, which is a substantial 39% drop. This suggests that the CPU's capability to handle the increased game logic and draw calls at higher settings is being taxed.

As the resolution increases to 1440p, the gap narrows. The difference between Low (79 FPS) and High (48 FPS) is 31 FPS, a 39% drop. The GPU is starting to become more of a factor, but the CPU still plays a role.

At 4K, the scaling pattern changes dramatically. The gap between Low (45 FPS) and High (27 FPS) is 18 FPS, a 40% drop, but the absolute numbers are all low. The most telling data point is the drop from 1080p to 4K on the Medium preset. At 1080p, the average is 104 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 70 FPS (a 33% drop). At 4K, it plummets to 40 FPS (a 62% drop from 1080p). This steep decline indicates that the GPU is now the overwhelming bottleneck. The RTX 2060 simply does not have the pixel-pushing power required for 4K in Archeage.

The data implies a classic dual-bottleneck scenario. At 1080p, the system is well-balanced, with the CPU being the primary constraint on maximum frame rates. As the resolution climbs, the GPU load increases quadratically, and the RTX 2060 quickly becomes the limiting component. The conclusion is that this combo is optimized for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a stretch on medium settings, and 4K being a non-viable option for a smooth experience.