Archeage

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers a fundamentally GPU-limited experience in Archeage, with the data showing a clear progression where frame rates scale almost directly with resolution and settings changes. At 1080p, the combination produces high triple-digit frame rates at lower presets, but the demands of 4K Ultra expose the limits of the hardware, dropping the average to 36 FPS. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is most effective at high refresh rate 1080p or smooth 1440p gameplay, rather than pushing maximum fidelity at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases, a classic indicator of GPU-bound rendering. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 136 FPS to 92 FPS, a reduction of 44 FPS or roughly 32%. This substantial decline suggests that the rendering pipeline is heavily dependent on pixel throughput, which is a hallmark of the GPU being the primary limiting component at these settings.

The scaling becomes even more pronounced at 4K. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS falls to 52, which is only 38% of the 1080p High result. This non-linear drop indicates that the RTX 5070’s compute and memory resources are being saturated as the pixel count quadruples. The data shows a clear pattern: the performance cost of each resolution step is not constant, and the gap between 1440p and 4K is particularly wide, with the 4K High average being 43% lower than the 1440p High average.

However, the scaling pattern changes when settings are lowered. At Low settings, the drop from 1080p (198 FPS) to 1440p (151 FPS) is 24%, and further to 4K (87 FPS) is another 42%. This shows that even at the lowest fidelity, the GPU still struggles to maintain frame rates at 4K, though the absolute numbers are much healthier. The Medium preset tells a similar story, with averages of 190 FPS at 1080p, 135 FPS at 1440p, and 77 FPS at 4K, confirming that the resolution scaling is consistent across different quality levels.

The data strongly suggests that the GPU is the bottleneck across all tested resolutions. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see smaller performance differences between 1440p and 4K, as the CPU workload would remain relatively constant while the GPU workload increases. Instead, the consistent and large FPS drops with each resolution increase point directly to the RTX 5070’s rendering capabilities being the constraint. The only exception might be at 1080p Low, where the 198 FPS average could approach CPU limits, but the lack of a min FPS value for that row makes it difficult to assess frame time consistency.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is substantial for a game like Archeage, which is an MMORPG from 2014 and likely does not require extreme memory capacities. The 12 GB allocation is more than sufficient for the tested settings, and the data shows no signs of memory-related stuttering or performance collapses that would indicate a VRAM shortage.

The GPU’s clock speeds are a significant factor in its performance. The base clock is 2325 MHz, with a boost clock of 2512 MHz. These relatively high clocks, combined with 6144 shading units and 192 texture mapping units, allow the card to process the geometry and textures in Archeage efficiently. The pixel rate is 201.0 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 482.3 GTexel/s, which are strong figures that help explain the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

The RTX 5070’s raw compute power, rated at 30.87 TFLOPS for FP32, is clearly the driver of the performance seen in the Medium and High presets. The data shows that the GPU can handle the game’s load at 1080p Medium with an average of 190 FPS, indicating that the architecture is well-suited for this older title. However, the Ultra preset presents a different story. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS plummets to 36, and at 1440p Ultra, it is 62 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset likely introduces effects that are particularly demanding on the GPU’s memory bandwidth or shader execution, such as high levels of anti-aliasing or shadow detail.

The GPU’s 80 ROPs (render output units) play a critical role in pixel fill rate, which is the primary workload at higher resolutions. The benchmark results indicate that at 4K, the ROPs become a limiting factor, as the pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s is insufficient to maintain high frame rates with the more complex Ultra settings. The data shows that the GPU’s performance is not linear across settings, with Ultra causing a disproportionate drop compared to High, which is a typical sign of a specific rendering feature that is computationally expensive.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 achieves a rank of 790 out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage, placing it in the 79th percentile of all configurations. This is a strong showing, indicating that the pairing is well above average for this specific game. The ranking reflects the balance between the GPU’s high performance and the CPU’s ability to feed it, at least at the resolutions where the GPU is not overwhelmed.

The CPU itself holds a percentile rank of 71 against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17177. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7H12, which scores 17120 (0.3% higher), and the Intel Core i5-12450H, which scores 17239 (0.4% lower). This places the i5-11400F in a tight cluster of processors, suggesting that its overall processing power is well within the expected range for its class. The GPU, meanwhile, has a percentile rank of 82 against all GPUs, with an average score of 40377, and its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (0.1% higher) and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (0.8% higher).

The combo rank of 790 out of 3708 suggests that while the individual components are strong, the pairing is not in the top tier of all possible combinations. This is likely due to the CPU being a mid-range part, which may hold back the GPU in certain CPU-bound scenarios, even though the measured data shows GPU limitations at most settings. The ranking indicates that there are many other combos that achieve higher performance in Archeage, likely featuring more powerful CPUs that can better support the RTX 5070 at lower resolutions and settings. The data shows that this combo is a solid mid-to-upper tier performer, but not an elite one.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 198, which is exceptionally high and suitable for a 144Hz or even 165Hz monitor. The Medium preset is nearly as fast, with an average of 190 FPS, and it provides a minimum FPS of 162 and a maximum of 219, showing excellent frame time consistency. High settings reduce the average to 136 FPS, which is still very smooth, but the Ultra preset drops significantly to 93 FPS. This 1080p data shows that the GPU is powerful enough to handle the game at high refresh rates across most presets, with only Ultra requiring a more moderate monitor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings produce an average of 151 FPS, which is still high enough for a 144Hz display. Medium settings yield an average of 135 FPS, with a min of 115 FPS and a max of 155 FPS, indicating a stable experience. High settings drop to 92 FPS, which is playable but less ideal for competitive play. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages only 62 FPS, which is a significant reduction from the 1080p Ultra result and suggests that this setting is better suited for 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly under heavy load. Medium settings provide the most playable result with an average of 77 FPS, a minimum of 66 FPS, and a maximum of 89 FPS. Low settings average 87 FPS, which is interestingly higher than Medium, but the lack of a min/max value makes it harder to gauge consistency. High settings drop to 52 FPS, which is on the edge of playability for a slower-paced MMO. The Ultra preset is the worst performer, with an average of 36 FPS, which is quite demanding and may result in a less fluid experience. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p High is the sweet spot for high refresh rates, while 4K Medium is the only viable 4K option for a responsive feel.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. These specifications are typical for a mid-range desktop processor from its generation.

In the context of Archeage, the CPU’s role is to manage game logic, player positions, and network data, tasks that are often single-threaded or lightly threaded. The 3DMark single-thread score of 868 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2024 indicate that the i5-11400F has solid single-core performance, which is crucial for this genre. The benchmark results show that the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates, as evidenced by the 198 FPS average at 1080p Low. However, the data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios.

The CPU’s multi-threaded performance is also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and a Passmark multithread score of 16908. While Archeage may not heavily utilize all 12 threads, this headroom ensures that background tasks or other game systems do not interfere with frame pacing. The CPU’s 71st percentile ranking against all CPUs indicates that it is better than the average processor, but it is not a high-end chip. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, meaning the CPU has enough overhead to prevent it from dragging down performance in most cases. The only potential CPU limitation could be at 1080p Low where the frame rate approaches 200 FPS, which is close to the practical limit for many CPUs, but the lack of a min FPS value prevents a definitive conclusion.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best choice for a high-refresh-rate experience. It delivers an average of 190 FPS with a minimum of 162 FPS, which ensures smooth gameplay on a 144Hz or even 165Hz monitor. The High preset is also viable at 136 FPS, but the extra visual fidelity may not be worth the 28% performance drop. The Ultra preset, while visually superior, is not recommended for competitive play at 1080p due to its 93 FPS average.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is again the recommended starting point. It provides an average of 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. The High preset at 92 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced PvP. For users with a 144Hz 1440p monitor, the Low preset at 151 FPS offers the best chance of hitting the maximum refresh rate consistently. The Ultra preset at 62 FPS is only suitable for single-player or less demanding content.

For 3840x2160, the options are more limited. The Medium preset is the only setting that provides a consistently playable experience, with an average of 77 FPS and a minimum of 66 FPS. This is acceptable for a casual MMO experience. The Low preset at 87 FPS is also an option, but it sacrifices visual quality. The High preset at 52 FPS and Ultra at 36 FPS are not recommended for a responsive feel. The data shows that for most users, the best overall experience is to target 1440p Medium or High for a balance of visual fidelity and performance, or 1080p Medium for maximum frame rates.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides an average of 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS, making it the sweet spot for a balance of image quality and smoothness. 1080p Medium offers higher frame rates, but 1440p is the best compromise for visual clarity.

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

A: Yes, but with limited settings. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 77 FPS, which is playable. The High preset drops to 52 FPS, and Ultra to 36 FPS, which are less desirable for a fluid experience.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU saturation. The CPU appears to have enough headroom to keep up, except possibly at 1080p Low where the 198 FPS average may approach CPU limits.

Q: How does the RTX 5070's memory configuration affect performance?

A: The 12 GB of GDDR7 memory with a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s is more than adequate for Archeage. The data shows no performance issues that would suggest a VRAM capacity or bandwidth bottleneck, even at 4K.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets?

A: The Ultra preset is significantly more demanding. At 1080p, it drops from 136 FPS to 93 FPS, and at 1440p, it drops from 92 FPS to 62 FPS. At 4K, the drop is from 52 FPS to 36 FPS, showing that Ultra is a heavy load.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combination ranks 790 out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage, which places it in the top 21% of all tested pairings. This indicates it is a strong performer, though not in the top tier of combinations.