Archeage

Archeage is an older MMORPG, but its engine can still be demanding, and the measured results for the Intel Core i5-11400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB show a configuration that is very sensitive to settings and resolution. The data indicates this combo ranks 1564th out of 1727 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems. This pairing is best suited for 1080p play, where it can achieve playable frame rates, but it struggles significantly at higher resolutions. The following analysis breaks down the performance characteristics, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and the optimal settings for this specific build.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where this combo consistently delivers playable performance. At this resolution, the average frame rates range from 39.3 FPS on Ultra settings to 89.1 FPS on Low settings. At 2560x1440, the average drops below 64 FPS even on Low settings, and at 3840x2160, the average FPS does not exceed 34.5.

Q: How does the RTX 3050 4 GB perform at 1440p in Archeage?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 is a significant challenge for this GPU. The average FPS at this resolution is 63.7 on Low settings, 53.9 on Medium, and 37.3 on High. The Ultra preset yields an average of only 23.4 FPS. This suggests that 1440p is only viable if the user is willing to accept lower image quality presets.

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

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 89.1 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 39.3 FPS. This represents a performance drop of over half when switching from Low to Ultra, a significant trade-off for higher visual fidelity.

Q: Is the Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 3050 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the primary limiting factor. The Core i5-11400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14372, are strong for a mid-range processor. The larger performance swings between settings and resolutions point to the GPU being the main constraint, especially at 4K.

Q: How does the i5-11400F's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-11400F's average benchmark score of 17181 is nearly identical to its closest rivals. It is 0% different from the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and only 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-1260P. This indicates that its processing power is on par with other popular mobile and low-power chips.

Q: What is the worst-performing setting measured for this combo?

A: The worst-performing configuration is at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, where the average frame rate drops to 14.1 FPS. This is the only measured configuration that falls below the 18.7 FPS average seen at 4K High, making it effectively unplayable.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the central component in this configuration's performance profile. Its 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s, which is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The data confirms this: at 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 34.5 FPS on Low and a mere 14.1 FPS on Ultra. This steep decline indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute capabilities are overwhelmed by the demands of 4K rendering.

The GPU's architecture, based on the Ampere generation with 2048 shading units, is capable of decent performance, but its 4 GB VRAM capacity is a hard constraint in a game like Archeage, which can have large open-world environments. The clock speeds of 1545 MHz base and 1740 MHz boost are modest, and the measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 3050 is a 1080p-class card in this title. At 1920x1080, it delivers an average of 89.1 FPS on Low and 82.5 FPS on Medium, which are smooth experiences. However, pushing to High settings at 1080p drops the average to 56.1 FPS, and the 4 GB memory limitation becomes more apparent as texture quality increases.

The performance scaling is not linear. For example, at 2560x1440, the difference between Low (63.7 FPS) and Medium (53.9 FPS) is only about 10 FPS, but the jump from Medium to High (37.3 FPS) is a much larger drop. This suggests that the High preset at 1440p introduces effects that are particularly taxing on the GPU's resources. The RTX 3050's 90 W TDP and dual-slot design make it a modest card, but its performance in this benchmark is clearly dictated by its VRAM capacity and memory bus width, not just its raw processing power.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB places it at rank 1564 out of 1727 tested combos in Archeage. This ranking puts it in the bottom 10% of all tested systems, indicating that while it can run the game, it does not offer a high-performance experience. The combo's position is reflective of the GPU's limitations more than the CPU's, given the i5-11400F's strong benchmark scores.

This low rank is supported by the measured FPS data, which shows that the combo only achieves truly desirable frame rates (above 60 FPS) on the Low and Medium presets at 1920x1080. The i5-11400F, with its 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs, provides a solid foundation, but the RTX 3050's 50th percentile standing among GPUs holds the overall system back. In practical terms, this means the system is not competitive with higher-end builds that can maintain high frame rates at 1440p or 4K. For a user with this hardware, the expectation should be for a stable 1080p experience rather than pushing for higher resolutions or maximum graphical fidelity.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance for this combo is the Medium preset at 1920x1080. This setting yields an average of 82.5 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay and only a small step down from the 89.1 FPS average of the Low preset. The High preset at 1080p, producing 56.1 FPS, is still playable but introduces a noticeable dip in smoothness.

For users who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p is the best choice, delivering the highest measured average of 89.1 FPS. However, the Medium preset offers a significantly better visual experience for a relatively modest performance cost of about 7 FPS. At 2560x1440, the only playable option is the Low preset, which averages 63.7 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p, at 53.9 FPS, is borderline, but the High and Ultra presets at that resolution fall below 40 FPS and should be avoided. The 3840x2160 resolution is not recommended for this hardware, as even the Low preset only manages an average of 34.5 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of this combo's capabilities across different settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the performance is as follows:

• Low: 89.1 FPS average
• Medium: 82.5 FPS average
• High: 56.1 FPS average
• Ultra: 39.3 FPS average

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates drop significantly:

• Low: 63.7 FPS average
• Medium: 53.9 FPS average
• High: 37.3 FPS average
• Ultra: 23.4 FPS average

At 3840x2160, the performance is largely unplayable:

• Low: 34.5 FPS average
• Medium: 29.7 FPS average
• High: 18.7 FPS average
• Ultra: 14.1 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution (from 1080p to 1440p to 4K) roughly halves the frame rate at the same settings. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 56.1 at 1080p to 37.3 at 1440p to 18.7 at 4K. This confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU's performance is relatively static across these tests.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, plays a supporting role in this configuration. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, combined with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, provide enough processing power to feed the RTX 3050 in most scenarios. The CPU's benchmark results are strong for its class, such as a Geekbench single-core score of 1979 and a multi-core score of 7579. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2029 indicates solid per-thread performance, which is important for an MMORPG like Archeage that may rely on single-threaded game logic.

The data suggests the i5-11400F is not a limiting factor, as it ranks in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-1260P, show virtually identical average scores, confirming that its performance level is well-established. In the context of this game, the CPU's role is to maintain a stable frame delivery, and the measured FPS drops at higher resolutions are more attributable to the GPU's inability to render frames quickly enough. The i5-11400F's 65 W TDP and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are standard for the platform, and it provides a capable foundation for a system that is ultimately constrained by its graphics card.