Archeage

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a playable but demanding 1080p experience in Archeage, but the data shows that this combo struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at higher resolutions or with Ultra settings. The benchmark results indicate a system that is heavily balanced toward 1080p gaming, where it can achieve high refresh rates on Low and Medium presets, but it quickly becomes bottlenecked by the GPU as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to explain exactly where this combo excels and where it falls short, providing clear guidance for settings optimization.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, which clearly points to the GPU as the primary limiting component at higher settings. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 137 FPS, but moving to 1440p drops that to 90.8 FPS, a 33.7% reduction. At 4K, the same Low preset yields just 54.8 FPS, meaning the card loses over 60% of its 1080p performance when scaling to 4K. This dramatic scaling pattern is typical of a mid-range GPU being pushed beyond its comfortable operating range.

The trend continues across all settings. With High settings, the drop from 1080p (78.9 FPS) to 1440p (56.2 FPS) is a 28.8% loss, and then to 4K (29.2 FPS) represents another 48% reduction from the 1440p figure. The Ultra preset shows the most severe degradation: 56.2 FPS at 1080p falls to 39.1 FPS at 1440p and then plummets to 18.9 FPS at 4K. These numbers indicate that the RX 6650 XT is being saturated by the pixel count at 1440p and above, particularly with higher quality settings.

The data suggests that resolution scaling is not linear but exponential in its impact. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is significant, but the leap from 1440p to 4K is catastrophic for playability. At 4K, even the Low preset cannot maintain 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset becomes a slideshow at 18.9 FPS. This behavior confirms that the 8 GB VRAM buffer and 128-bit memory interface of the GPU are insufficient for 4K gaming in this MMORPG, where large player populations and complex environments place heavy demands on memory bandwidth.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F provides a solid foundation for Archeage, with its 6 cores and 12 threads proving adequate for the game's MMO workloads. The processor's base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz offer good single-threaded performance, which is critical for an MMORPG that relies heavily on game logic, UI interactions, and network processing. The 3dmark single-thread score of 868 and passmark single-thread score of 2981 indicate strong per-core capability.

The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide sufficient data throughput for the game's asset streaming. In the context of the measured FPS, the CPU does not appear to be the bottleneck at 1080p, where the system achieves 137 FPS on Low settings. This suggests the i5-11400F can feed the GPU adequately at lower resolutions. However, the data shows that the CPU's performance ceiling is not being tested, as the FPS drops are entirely attributable to resolution scaling rather than CPU limitations.

The processor's 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs and its cinebench_r23 multicore score of 14372 demonstrate that it has ample headroom for MMO gameplay. The nearest rival comparison shows the i5-11400F performing nearly identically to the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (0% delta) and Intel Core i7-1260P (-0.2%), indicating that its position in the CPU hierarchy is well-established. For Archeage specifically, the 12-thread configuration helps maintain frame pacing during busy moments, though the measured data cannot isolate CPU-specific bottlenecks since the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the dominant factor in this combo's gaming performance, and its specifications explain the observed FPS patterns. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivering 280.3 GB/s bandwidth, the card has enough capacity for 1080p gaming but struggles with the increased memory pressure at 1440p and 4K. The boost clock of 2635 MHz and game clock of 2410 MHz are respectable for the RDNA 2 architecture, providing 10.79 TFLOPS of FP32 compute.

The GPU's 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs places it in the upper-midrange tier, which aligns with the measured performance. The nearest rival comparison shows the RX 6650 XT is essentially matched with the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (0% delta) and slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 470 (0.1%). This positions the card as capable for 1080p high-refresh gaming but not for 4K. The 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs are sufficient for modern game engines, but the 128-bit memory interface proves to be a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The data strongly indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck in this system. At 1080p, the card can deliver 137 FPS on Low settings, showing that it is not being constrained by the CPU. However, the rapid FPS decline with resolution increases points to memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity limits. The difference between 1080p Low (137 FPS) and 4K Low (54.8 FPS) is a 60% drop, which is directly attributable to the GPU's inability to efficiently process the larger frame buffers and texture loads at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1083 out of 1727 tested combinations places it in the lower-middle tier of all possible pairings. This ranking is influenced by both the CPU's 75th percentile and GPU's 72nd percentile positions, which are respectable individually but not exceptional together. The data suggests that this pairing is well-matched for 1080p gaming but underperforms relative to other combos at higher resolutions.

The rank position indicates that there are 644 combinations that perform better, which likely includes systems with higher-end GPUs or newer architectures. However, the 1083rd rank does not tell the whole story, as the performance in Archeage specifically is better than the general ranking might suggest. The 1080p Low setting achieving 137 FPS places this combo in the upper echelon for competitive play, while the 4K Ultra performance of 18.9 FPS is firmly in the bottom tier.

The delta between the CPU's and GPU's nearest rivals shows that neither component is significantly outperforming or underperforming its expected tier. This balance means that the combo's ranking in Archeage is largely determined by the game's optimization and the GPU's resolution scaling characteristics. The data indicates that users of this combo should focus on 1080p gameplay to maximize their positional ranking, as the system's strengths are clearly aligned with that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. For the best experience at 1080p, the Low preset delivers 137 FPS, which is ideal for competitive gameplay and smooth camera movement in crowded areas. This is the only settings level that approaches the 144 Hz refresh rate territory, making it the recommended choice for players who prioritize responsiveness over visual fidelity.

At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 121.4 FPS, which still provides excellent fluidity while offering improved visual quality. This represents the best balance between performance and aesthetics for most players, as the 15.6 FPS drop from Low to Medium is a minor sacrifice for noticeably better graphics. The High preset at 78.9 FPS remains playable but introduces less headroom for demanding scenes, while Ultra at 56.2 FPS is only suitable for players who accept reduced frame rates for maximum visual quality.

For 1440p gaming, the data shows that only the Low preset (90.8 FPS) provides a consistently smooth experience. Medium at 80 FPS is acceptable, but High at 56.2 FPS and Ultra at 39.1 FPS fall below the 60 FPS threshold that ensures fluid gameplay. At 4K, no settings level achieves 60 FPS, with Low at 54.8 FPS being the only viable option for playable frame rates. The recommendation is to use 1080p Medium for the optimal experience, or 1440p Low for a higher resolution compromise.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Archeage?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 137, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: No settings level at 4K reaches 60 FPS. The best 4K result is 54.8 FPS on Low settings, while Ultra drops to 18.9 FPS.

Q: What settings provide the smoothest 1440p experience?

A: The Low preset at 1440p delivers 90.8 FPS, making it the only 1440p option that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F performs within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-1260P in average benchmark scores.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck, as FPS drops consistently with resolution increases regardless of CPU capability.

Q: What is the recommended settings preset for the best overall experience?

A: The 1080p Medium preset at 121.4 FPS offers the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combo in Archeage is as follows:

At 3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 54.8 FPS
• Medium: 47.8 FPS
• High: 29.2 FPS
• Ultra: 18.9 FPS

At 2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 90.8 FPS
• Medium: 80.0 FPS
• High: 56.2 FPS
• Ultra: 39.1 FPS

At 1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 137.0 FPS
• Medium: 121.4 FPS
• High: 78.9 FPS
• Ultra: 56.2 FPS

This data shows a clear progression: 1080p provides playable frame rates across all settings, 1440p becomes marginal at High and Ultra, and 4K is only viable on Low settings. The system's sweet spot is clearly 1080p Medium, which balances the GPU's capabilities with acceptable visual quality. The measured results confirm that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with diminishing returns at higher resolutions.