Archeage

Archeage, the 2014 MMORPG, presents an interesting challenge for the Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, with frame rates that scale dramatically and predictably with resolution and visual fidelity. The Arc B390, operating as an integrated graphics solution, demonstrates its limitations in this title, while the 14-core processor remains largely underutilized. The measured results paint a clear picture of a system where the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, and the experience hinges almost entirely on the graphics settings and output resolution chosen by the user.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data from 1080p to 4K shows a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern, making the Intel Arc B390 the clear limiting factor in this configuration. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 43 FPS to 29 FPS, a reduction of roughly 33%. This significant hit indicates that the rendering workload is already straining the GPU at the lower resolution, and the additional pixels at 1440p exacerbate the pressure.

Scaling further to 3840x2160 at High settings yields an average of just 17 FPS, which is a 60% reduction from the 1440p result and only 40% of the 1080p performance. This steep decline is characteristic of a graphics processor that lacks the raw pixel throughput and memory bandwidth for high-resolution rendering. The 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate and 120.0 GTexel/s texture rate of the Arc B390 are simply insufficient for the demands of 4K in this game. The data suggests that the CPU is not the cause of this scaling; the Core i5-14600K has ample headroom, but the integrated GPU's performance ceiling is reached very quickly.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. At Low, the frame rate falls from 71 FPS at 1080p to 48 FPS at 1440p and finally to 28 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is again roughly 42%, mirroring the scaling seen at High. This confirms that the resolution scaling is independent of the quality preset; the GPU is the primary constraint at every level. The measured data strongly indicates that this combo is only viable for 1080p gaming, and even then, only with lower settings. Pushing to higher resolutions results in a slideshow-like experience, with the 4K Ultra preset hitting an unplayable 11 FPS average.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Archeage with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 29 at Ultra to 71 at Low, whereas 1440p dips to between 20 and 48 FPS, and 4K falls to between 11 and 28 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The data shows a substantial difference. The Low preset achieves an average of 71 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages just 29 FPS. This represents a performance drop of roughly 59% when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390 in Archeage?

A: No, the benchmark results indicate the opposite. The GPU is the limiting component. Frame rates scale heavily with resolution, which is a GPU characteristic, while the CPU has 14 cores and 20 threads and a high boost clock of 5.30 GHz, suggesting it has significant processing headroom that is not being fully utilized in this scenario.

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

A: The data suggests it cannot handle 4K effectively. Even at the Low preset, the average frame rate is only 28 FPS. At higher presets, performance degrades to 25 FPS at Medium, 17 FPS at High, and an unplayable 11 FPS at Ultra.

Q: Which rivals are closest to the Intel Arc B390 in general benchmark performance?

A: According to the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390's score of 1482 puts it in close competition with older NVIDIA parts. It is 1.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% ahead of the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710 (1443).

Q: What is the frame rate range for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The measured data for 2560x1440 at Medium settings shows an average FPS of 43, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 49 FPS. This indicates some variability in performance, but the average remains below the 60 FPS target.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this configuration's Archeage performance, and the data shows it is a severe limiting factor. As an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process, it relies on system memory, which is listed as "System Shared" with "System Dependent" bandwidth. This architectural choice is a primary reason for the low performance, as it lacks the dedicated high-speed memory of a discrete GPU.

The GPU's clock speeds are a point of interest. The base clock is a very low 300 MHz, but the boost clock reaches 2500 MHz. This wide range suggests the GPU is designed to aggressively scale its clock speed based on thermal and power headroom, but the benchmark results suggest it is spending most of its time at lower clocks under sustained load. With a TDP of just 80 W, the power envelope is modest, limiting sustained performance. The sheer number of shading units (1536), TMUs (48), and ROPs (24) is low for modern gaming, resulting in a fill rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s.

These specifications translate directly into the measured frame rates. The GPU's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is not sufficient for the demands of Archeage at higher resolutions. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710. This data confirms that the Arc B390 is positioned at the very entry-level of gaming performance. In Archeage, this means it can only manage a playable experience at 1080p with reduced settings, and its performance collapses as resolution and detail levels increase, hitting an 11 FPS average at 4K Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data for Archeage with the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 shows a consistent hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the game is most playable. The Low preset yields an average of 71 FPS, which is the only result in the entire data set that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS standard. The Medium preset delivers a solid 64 FPS average, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS, indicating that it is the best balance for smooth gameplay. The High preset drops the average to 43 FPS, which is still somewhat playable but not ideal for a fast-paced MMORPG. The Ultra preset, however, falls to an average of 29 FPS, which is a significant step down and shows the GPU struggling.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the performance degrades considerably. The Low preset averages 48 FPS, which is playable but not as smooth as the 1080p results. The Medium preset averages 43 FPS (with a range of 36 to 49 FPS), and the High preset averages 29 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces an average of just 20 FPS, which is difficult to play. The step from 1080p to 1440p consistently costs roughly a third of the frame rate across all settings.

At 3840x2160, the configuration is out of its depth. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 28 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 25 FPS, and the High preset drops further to 17 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is effectively unplayable, with an average of just 11 FPS. The data shows a clear and steep decline as resolution increases, confirming the GPU's limitations. The difference between the best and worst measured scenarios is stark: from 71 FPS at 1080p Low to 11 FPS at 4K Ultra, a staggering 85% reduction in performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a high-performance desktop processor, but in this specific configuration, its role is to feed a much slower GPU. The processor features 14 cores, 20 threads, and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which are strong specifications for modern gaming. Its benchmark scores, such as the 24,491 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2,064 in single-core, place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates it has substantial compute power that is not the bottleneck in Archeage.

The data supports this conclusion. The frame rates scale almost entirely with resolution and graphics settings, which are GPU-centric workloads. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions at the same settings. Instead, we see a roughly 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p and another 42% drop from 1440p to 4K at High settings. This is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

The Core i5-14600K's nearest rivals in overall benchmark score are the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (0.2% slower), the AMD EPYC 4345P (0.3% faster), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (0.7% faster), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 (0.8% slower). These are all powerful multi-core processors, reinforcing that the CPU is a high-end part. In Archeage, its 14 cores and 20 threads are likely more than sufficient to handle the game's logic and AI, leaving the Arc B390 as the sole reason for the low frame rates. The CPU is, in essence, waiting for the GPU to catch up.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for Archeage with this hardware is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This setting provides an average frame rate of 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS, which offers the best balance between smoothness and visual quality. The Low preset is the only one to achieve a higher average (71 FPS), but the visual fidelity is significantly reduced. The Medium preset is clearly the sweet spot, as it maintains an average above the 60 FPS target while providing a better visual experience than Low.

For users who prioritize smoothness above all else, the Low preset at 1080p is the only guaranteed 60+ FPS option, averaging 71 FPS. However, the step up to Medium only costs 7 FPS on average and provides a much more detailed image. The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 43 FPS, is a compromise that may be acceptable for less action-heavy moments, but it will feel less fluid during combat or large-scale events. The Ultra preset at any resolution should be avoided, as it produces an average of 29 FPS at 1080p and falls to 11 FPS at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the data shows that the Low preset (48 FPS) is the only viable option, and even then, it may not be consistently smooth. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 43 FPS, is a playable alternative if visual quality is more important than a locked 60 FPS. Higher settings at this resolution result in an unsatisfactory experience. For 4K, the data is clear that this configuration is not suitable for Archeage, as even the Low preset fails to maintain a 30 FPS average. The recommendation is to play at 1080p, with the Medium preset being the definitive choice for the best overall balance of performance and image quality.