Archeage

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination delivers a highly playable Archeage experience at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K with higher settings. The data shows a clear performance ceiling imposed by the GPU at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom for the game's MMO workloads. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to determine the optimal configuration for this pairing.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor features a 12 MB shared L3 cache, with 80 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. This configuration is well-suited for MMORPGs like Archeage, which typically rely on a mix of single-threaded performance for game logic and multi-threaded capability for background tasks and rendering threads.

Benchmark scores for the i5-11400F show a strong balance between single and multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 2024 points in single-core and 14340 points in multi-core. Similarly, Geekbench results show 1777 points single-core and 7737 points multi-core. The 3DMark tests reveal scaling from 868 points in single-thread to 5652 points in max-threads, indicating that the processor efficiently uses its available threads. The PassMark multi-thread score of 16908 and single-thread score of 2981 further corroborate this balanced performance profile.

In the context of Archeage, the CPU's role is critical for maintaining consistent frame rates, especially in crowded areas or during large-scale battles where many characters and entities are present. The benchmark results indicate that the i5-11400F is not the primary bottleneck in this system, as the measured FPS at lower resolutions remains high. The processor sits at the 71st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17177. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7H12 with a score of 17120 (0.3% delta), and the Intel Core i5-12450H with a score of 17239 (-0.4% delta). This places the i5-11400F in a competitive position, offering performance nearly identical to these alternative processors.

The 12 threads allow for efficient distribution of game tasks, and the boost clock of 4.40 GHz ensures that single-threaded operations, which are common in MMO game logic, execute swiftly. The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU keeps up with the GPU's output, as evidenced by the high average FPS values. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the CPU's performance is no longer the primary constraint. The 3DMark 4-thread score of 3171 and 8-thread score of 4691 show that the processor scales well with moderate thread counts, which is typical for gaming workloads.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is built on the Ampere architecture with the GA104 chip, manufactured on an 8 nm process at Samsung. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1725 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The card includes 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units, along with 46 ray-tracing cores and 184 tensor cores.

The RTX 3070's compute capabilities are substantial, with a FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 317.4 GTexel/s. The pixel rate is 165.6 GPixel/s, which is sufficient for high-resolution rendering. In benchmark tests, the GPU scores 22214 in PassMark G3D and 112821 in Geekbench OpenCL. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test yields a score of 3162. These figures indicate that the GPU is a solid performer, though it is not at the top tier of available graphics cards.

For Archeage, the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is a critical factor, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data shows that at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 28, which is unplayable for most users. This is likely due to the combination of high resolution and demanding settings exhausting the VRAM capacity or the GPU's processing power. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS improves to 40, still below the 60 FPS target. The GPU sits at the 61st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT with a score of 17083 (0.7% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 with a score of 17037 (1% delta).

The GPU's performance scaling across resolutions is telling. At 1080p, the RTX 3070 delivers an average of 173 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 71 FPS on Ultra. At 1440p, the range is from 116 FPS on Low to 48 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the range narrows to 67 FPS on Low down to 28 FPS on Ultra. This pattern indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed at higher resolutions, and the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial. The 8 GB VRAM may also be a limitation at 4K with Ultra settings, as the game likely requires more memory for textures and geometry.

The RTX 3070's boost clock of 1725 MHz provides adequate performance for most gaming scenarios, but the data shows that Archeage at 4K Ultra is beyond its comfortable operating range. The GPU's 220 W TDP and suggested 550 W PSU indicate that it is a power-hungry component, but the benchmark results suggest that for this specific game, the GPU is the primary bottleneck at resolutions above 1440p.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 105 FPS. This indicates a smooth gaming experience for most users, as the frame rate is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD EPYC 7H12 (17120) and 0.6% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (17074). It is 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-12450H (17239) and 0.6% lower than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G (17278).

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this setup?

A: The lowest average FPS is 28, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the only configuration where the average FPS falls below 30, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the GPU is likely the limiting factor, as the average FPS drops from 116 on Low to 48 on Ultra. The CPU's performance is sufficient to support high frame rates, as evidenced by the 1080p results, but the GPU's rendering load increases with resolution.

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS. This is marginally below the 60 FPS target but may be acceptable for some users.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, which is 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT's score of 17083. This indicates that the RTX 3070 holds a slight performance edge in general benchmarks.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1589 out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all possible system configurations for this game. The rank of 1589 means that roughly 57% of tested combos perform better, while 43% perform worse. This ranking is influenced by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, as the CPU is a capable performer.

The data suggests that this combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates on most settings. However, at 4K, the combo falls behind many others that feature more powerful GPUs. The rank reflects the overall performance across all resolutions and settings, and the 4K results drag the combo down from what would otherwise be a higher position. For users targeting 1080p or 1440p, this combo is a strong choice, but for 4K enthusiasts, it is not among the top performers.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 173 on Low to 71 on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the range shifts to 116 on Low and 48 on Ultra. At 4K, the range narrows to 67 on Low and 28 on Ultra. This scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions.

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial. For example, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 105 at 1080p to 70 at 1440p and then to 40 at 4K. This represents a 62% reduction from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, on Ultra settings, the drop is from 71 at 1080p to 48 at 1440p and 28 at 4K, a 61% reduction. The consistency of this drop across settings suggests that the GPU's rendering capabilities are being saturated as the pixel count increases.

The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal, as the frame rates at 1080p are high enough that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The 12 threads and high boost clock are sufficient to keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions. However, at 4K, the GPU's workload increases significantly, and the CPU's performance is no longer the limiting factor. The data shows that the GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and 8 GB VRAM are insufficient for the demands of 4K Ultra settings, leading to the low 28 FPS result.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across all tested configurations.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: average 173 FPS
• Medium: average 154 FPS (minimum 131, maximum 177)
• High: average 105 FPS
• Ultra: average 71 FPS

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: average 116 FPS
• Medium: average 104 FPS (minimum 88, maximum 119)
• High: average 70 FPS
• Ultra: average 48 FPS

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: average 67 FPS
• Medium: average 59 FPS (minimum 50, maximum 68)
• High: average 40 FPS
• Ultra: average 28 FPS

These numbers reveal that the combo is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p, with even Ultra settings exceeding 60 FPS. At 1440p, the performance is still respectable, with High settings averaging 70 FPS and Medium averaging 104 FPS. However, at 4K, only Low settings achieve an average above 60 FPS, and High and Ultra settings fall below 40 FPS.

The data also shows that the Medium settings at each resolution provide a good balance between visual quality and performance. The measured minimum and maximum FPS for Medium settings indicate relatively stable frame rates, with the 1080p Medium configuration showing a range of 131 to 177 FPS. This stability is important for a smooth gaming experience, especially in an MMORPG where frame rate fluctuations can be noticeable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1080p, Ultra settings are recommended, as the average FPS of 71 is above the 60 FPS target and provides the best visual quality. The High settings at 105 FPS are also an excellent choice for users who prefer higher frame rates. Medium settings at 154 FPS offer even more headroom, but the visual fidelity is lower.

For 1440p, High settings are the best recommendation, with an average FPS of 70. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. Ultra settings at 48 FPS are playable but may feel slightly less smooth, while Medium settings at 104 FPS offer a significant performance boost at the cost of some visual detail.

For 4K, the data suggests that Low settings are the only viable option, with an average FPS of 67. Medium settings at 59 FPS are borderline, but the minimum of 50 FPS may cause noticeable stutters. High and Ultra settings are not recommended, as the average FPS of 40 and 28 respectively are below the playable threshold for most users.

In summary, the best experience for this combo is achieved at 1080p with Ultra settings or 1440p with High settings. These configurations deliver high frame rates with good visual quality. For 4K, users should stick to Low settings or consider reducing the resolution to maintain a smooth experience. The data clearly indicates that the RTX 3070 is not sufficient for 4K Ultra gaming in Archeage, and the i5-11400F is more than capable of supporting the GPU at lower resolutions.