Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, presents a unique benchmarking scenario for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050. The measured data indicates a system that is heavily influenced by resolution and settings, with performance scaling that reveals the interaction between the CPU and GPU. This analysis will break down the measured FPS across different configurations to provide a clear picture of what users can expect from this combination.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a significant and expected drop in frame rates, but the magnitude of that drop changes depending on the quality preset. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 136 at 1920x1080 to 91 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 33%. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 52, which is a 62% decrease from the 1080p figure. This steep decline at higher resolutions indicates the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck, as the pixel fill rate demand outstrips what the RTX 5050 can deliver.

For the Medium preset, the scaling pattern is similar but with a slightly different slope. The average FPS starts at 121 at 1080p, drops to 81 at 1440p (a 33% reduction), and then falls to 47 at 4K, a 61% decrease from 1080p. This consistency between Low and Medium suggests that the rendering workload increases in a fairly linear fashion with resolution for these presets, and the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

The High preset shows a more pronounced sensitivity to resolution. At 1080p, the average FPS is 82. This drops to 55 at 1440p, a 33% decrease, and then to 32 at 4K, a 61% decrease from the 1080p baseline. The fact that the percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is nearly identical across Low, Medium, and High suggests that, while the absolute frame rates differ, the GPU's relative performance ceiling is being hit in a similar manner as resolution scales.

Ultra settings present the most extreme case. The average FPS at 1080p is already a modest 56. This falls to 38 at 1440p (a 32% reduction) and then to 22 at 4K (a 61% reduction from 1080p). The data reveals a clear pattern: the RTX 5050 is the dominant limiting component at higher resolutions. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears to have sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at 1080p, but as the resolution increases, the GPU's rendering capabilities, defined by its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth, become the deciding factor in performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores show a strong single-thread performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and a passmark_single_thread score of 2981. This is crucial for an MMORPG like Archeage, which often relies on a single main thread for game logic and world simulation. The CPU's boost clock of 4.40 GHz and its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2024 further indicate that it has the per-core strength to handle such tasks.

In the context of this game, the CPU's role appears to be to maintain a high minimum frame rate, particularly at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 136 FPS. This high frame rate is more likely to be influenced by the CPU's ability to process the game's draw calls and physics calculations quickly. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and the dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide the necessary data throughput for the core to operate efficiently.

The CPU's performance relative to other processors is solid. It holds a percentile of 71, meaning it outperforms 71% of all CPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 17177 is nearly identical to that of the AMD EPYC 7H12, which has a deltaPct of 0.3, and the Intel Core i5-12450H, which is -0.4% slower. This indicates that the i5-11400F is a capable mid-range processor that should not be the primary source of frame rate drops in most scenarios, especially when compared to the demands of the RTX 5050 at 4K.

However, the CPU's influence wanes as resolution increases. The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly 60% from 1080p to 4K across all settings suggests that the GPU is fully saturated and the CPU is no longer the bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate that this CPU has enough power to drive the GPU at 1080p, but its performance ceiling is not the limiting factor when the GPU is under heavy load.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 achieves a combo rank of 2279 out of 3708 tested combinations in Archeage. This places it in the lower 38th percentile of all tested systems, which might seem low given the individual components' performance. This ranking is a direct result of the game's demanding nature and the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions and settings.

The ranking suggests that, while the system is far from the bottom of the list, it is outclassed by a significant number of other combinations, likely those with more powerful GPUs. The RTX 5050, with a percentile of 66, is a mid-range card, and its performance in this specific title is the anchor for the combo's overall rank. The CPU's strong performance does not compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. The data shows that the combo is more competitive at 1080p, where the average FPS is above 80 on High settings, but its rank is dragged down by the 4K results, which fall below 60 FPS on all presets.

This rank is a useful metric for potential buyers, as it provides a single number to compare against other systems. It clearly indicates that this combo is not designed for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. Instead, it is a combination that is better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where the CPU and GPU are more balanced. The rank of 2279 highlights that there are many more powerful combinations available, but it also shows that this setup is not a bottom-tier performer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across 12 different configurations. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset yields an average of 136 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset follows with an average of 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 139 FPS, showing a stable performance window. The High preset delivers a solid 82 FPS average, and the Ultra preset, while still playable, drops to an average of 56 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a hit. The Low preset still manages an average of 91 FPS, making it a viable option for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset averages 81 FPS, with a range of 69-93 FPS, which is a good balance of quality and speed. The High preset drops to a 55 FPS average, which is getting close to the boundary of smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is less playable, with an average of 38 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a playable average of 52 FPS. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS, with a range of 40-53 FPS, which is marginal. The High preset falls to a 32 FPS average, and the Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at an average of 22 FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K gaming is not a strength of this combo, and users should stick to lower resolutions for a better experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the best resolution for this combo. It is the only resolution where the High preset achieves an average FPS above 60 (82 FPS), and the Low and Medium presets provide frame rates well above 100 FPS.

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

A: The data shows that 4K gaming is not recommended. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 52 on the Low preset, and the Ultra preset averages only 22 FPS. The system is GPU-bound at this resolution and cannot provide a smooth experience.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 38 FPS, while the High preset averages 55 FPS. This represents a 31% performance drop for the Ultra preset, which is a significant cost for the increased visual fidelity.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests that the CPU is less of a bottleneck at 1080p, as the system achieves very high frame rates (up to 136 FPS on Low). The GPU is likely the main limiter, as frame rates drop when settings are increased, indicating a growing load on the GPU.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 136 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 56 FPS. This is a difference of 80 FPS, or a 59% reduction in performance, showing the heavy impact of the Ultra settings on the RTX 5050.

Q: What is the expected FPS range for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The measured data for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 shows an average FPS of 81, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. This provides a stable and playable experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset is the best balance, offering an 82 FPS average, which is smooth for most players. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz), the Low preset at 136 FPS is the best choice to maximize frame rates. The Medium preset at 121 FPS is also an excellent option, providing a significant visual upgrade over Low with a minimal FPS loss.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It averages 81 FPS, which is a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Low preset at 91 FPS is also viable for competitive play, but the Medium preset provides a more immersive experience. The High preset at 55 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset is not recommended at this resolution, as its 38 FPS average is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only playable option, with a 52 FPS average. The Medium preset, at 47 FPS, is borderline and may be acceptable for slower-paced content. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to their low average frame rates of 32 and 22 FPS, respectively. The data clearly indicates that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with medium to high settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 plays the central role in determining the visual performance of this combo. It is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. Its benchmark scores, with a passmark_g3d score of 17326, place it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a mid-range performance tier.

In Archeage, the GPU's role is to handle the rendering of the game world, including shadows, textures, and post-processing effects. The data shows that as the settings are increased from Low to Ultra, the average FPS drops significantly at all resolutions. For example, at 1080p, the FPS drops from 136 on Low to 56 on Ultra. This is a clear indication that the GPU is the primary factor in the performance scaling with settings, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant.

The GPU's memory capacity is also a consideration. While 8 GB is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, it may become a limiting factor at 4K with high-resolution textures. However, the measured FPS at 4K is primarily limited by the GPU's compute power, not just memory. The RTX 5050's FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS is a key metric, and the data suggests that this level of compute is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with high settings. The GPU is clearly the bottleneck in this system, and its performance characteristics are the main reason for the combo's overall rank of 2279.