Archeage

# Archeage with Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

The pairing of Intel's Core i5-12400 with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 in Archeage produces a dataset that reveals a classic CPU-bound scenario at lower resolutions, with the GPU taking over as the limiting factor only at 4K with demanding settings. The measured frames per second (FPS) across twelve resolution/settings combinations show a wide spread, from a demanding 48.3 FPS at 4K Ultra to a fluid 229.4 FPS at 1080p Low. This analysis breaks down the scaling behavior, the CPU's role, and how this specific combo ranks among the 1,727 tested configurations in the database.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is not linear, and the magnitude of the decline depends heavily on the graphics settings preset. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 182.8 at 1920x1080 to 124.4 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 58.4 FPS. Moving further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 66.7 FPS, meaning the transition from 1440p to 4K costs 57.7 FPS, nearly identical to the 1080p-to-1440p step. This pattern suggests that at High settings, the GPU is progressively becoming the bottleneck as pixel count rises, with the 4K result representing a significant workload for the RTX 4090.

The Low preset tells a different story. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 229.4 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it still manages 198.6 FPS. However, at 4K Low, the average plummets to 113.7 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings is 84.9 FPS, a much steeper decline than the 30.8 FPS loss seen when going from 1080p to 1440p. This indicates that even with minimal graphical load, the sheer number of pixels at 3840x2160 overwhelms the GPU, while at lower resolutions, the CPU is likely holding performance back from reaching even higher frame rates.

Ultra settings show the most severe scaling. The average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 125.8, which falls to 84.7 at 1440p Ultra and then to 48.3 at 4K Ultra. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest in the entire dataset, representing a 61.6% reduction from the 1080p Ultra figure. This steep curve is typical of a game where Ultra presets introduce effects that are disproportionately expensive at high pixel counts, and the data confirms that the RTX 4090, despite its immense compute capabilities, cannot maintain high frame rates under these combined loads. The Medium preset sits between these extremes, with 221 FPS at 1080p, 179.9 FPS at 1440p, and 103.4 FPS at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores indicate solid single-thread performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 910 and a cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 2249. In an MMORPG like Archeage, which often relies heavily on a few primary threads for game logic and rendering commands, this single-thread capability is crucial. The CPU's passmark_single_thread score of 3456 places it well within the range needed to drive high frame rates, but the data suggests it becomes the limiting factor at 1080p and even 1440p in some presets.

Evidence for CPU limitation appears when comparing the FPS at 1080p across settings. At Low, Medium, and High, the average FPS is 229.4, 221, and 182.8, respectively. The gap between Low and Medium is only 8.4 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High is 38.2 FPS. If the GPU were the sole bottleneck, we would expect a more uniform scaling with settings changes. The relatively small difference between Low and Medium at 1080p suggests that the CPU is unable to feed the GPU enough frames to fully utilize its potential, a classic sign of a processor-bound scenario. At 1440p Low, the 198.6 FPS result, combined with the 4K Low 113.7 FPS figure, further indicates that the CPU can push high frame rates but is capped by its 6-core/12-thread configuration in this title.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities, evidenced by a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 15935 and a passmark_multithread score of 18747, are adequate for modern workloads, but Archeage's engine appears to not scale perfectly with additional threads. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 5873 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 5890 show that performance plateaus after 8 threads, suggesting diminishing returns. This explains why the i5-12400, with its 12 threads, does not provide a significant advantage over processors with fewer cores in this specific game, and why the RTX 4090 is often left waiting for data at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Archeage?

A: The highest average FPS is 229.4, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo produces an average FPS of 48.3, which is the lowest result in the measured dataset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p, as the FPS difference between Low (229.4) and Medium (221) is only 8.4 FPS, suggesting the processor cannot fully utilize the RTX 4090's capabilities.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 182.8 at 1080p to 124.4 at 1440p, a difference of 58.4 FPS.

Q: Does the RTX 4090 show a significant performance drop at 4K?

A: Yes, at 4K Low settings the average FPS is 113.7, which is 84.9 FPS lower than the 1440p Low result of 198.6, indicating a steep performance decline due to pixel count.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Archeage?

A: The combo ranks 65th out of 1,727 tested combos in Archeage, placing it in the top 4% of all configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings yield an average of 229.4 FPS, which is the single highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings follow closely at 221 FPS, showing only a minor 8.4 FPS penalty. High settings produce 182.8 FPS, while Ultra drops to 125.8 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 103.6 FPS, indicating that the CPU's limitations are less pronounced at lower graphical loads, but the RTX 4090 still has headroom to spare.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down noticeably. Low settings average 198.6 FPS, which is 30.8 FPS lower than the 1080p Low result. Medium settings reach 179.9 FPS, and High settings drop to 124.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 84.7 FPS, which is a 41.1 FPS reduction from the 1080p Ultra score. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 113.9 FPS, a larger spread than at 1080p, suggesting the GPU is beginning to feel the load.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090's limits become apparent. Low settings average 113.7 FPS, which is 84.9 FPS lower than the 1440p Low score. Medium settings produce 103.4 FPS, and High settings drop to 66.7 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 48.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold often considered smooth for action games. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings shows a 36.4 FPS loss, while at Low settings, the loss is 84.9 FPS, demonstrating that the resolution increase has a more dramatic impact at lower settings where the CPU is less of a constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

In the Archeage benchmark database, this Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 65th out of 1,727 tested combos. This places it in the top 3.8% of all configurations, a strong showing that reflects the raw power of the RTX 4090 despite the mid-range CPU. The GPU itself holds a percentile rank of 91 among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the NVIDIA Tesla T4, which is 0.4% lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, which is 0.9% lower. This suggests the RTX 4090 is a top-tier performer, but the CPU's 77th percentile rank among all CPUs indicates it is not the absolute best processor available.

The CPU's nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-9700, which is 0.1% faster, and the Intel Core i7-8700, which is 0.2% slower. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is 0.4% slower, and the Intel Core i5-11600K is 0.4% faster. These small deltas show that the i5-12400 is well-matched with its peers in synthetic benchmarks, but its real-world performance in Archeage is more dependent on single-thread speed and the game's engine efficiency. The 65th rank out of 1,727 combos indicates that while many configurations with higher-end CPUs or more optimized pairings can outperform it, this combo still delivers excellent frame rates in most scenarios, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where the CPU is the primary bottleneck. The data confirms that the RTX 4090 is the dominant component in this pairing, and only at 4K Ultra does it become the limiting factor, with the CPU holding back performance at all lower resolutions.