Archeage

Resolution Scaling

ArcheAge presents a demanding workload for this Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 570 pairing, with resolution scaling exposing a dramatic collapse in frame rates as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination produces 62 FPS on average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 42 FPS, a reduction of 20 frames per second. The scaling continues downward at 3840x2160, where the Low preset yields only 24 FPS. This pattern across resolution steps indicates that the render resolution heavily influences performance, but the most telling data comes from the settings tiers.

When examining the Medium preset, which has min/max FPS recorded, the scaling story becomes clearer. At 1920x1080 Medium, the system averages 55 FPS with a minimum of 47 and maximum of 63. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average falls to 37 FPS with a range of 32 to 43. The 4K Medium result drops further to 21 FPS, with a tight band between 18 and 24. The frame time consistency at 4K Medium, showing only a 6 FPS spread, suggests the system is saturated and hitting a hard ceiling rather than experiencing intermittent stutters. The limiting component at 4K is clearly the graphics subsystem, as the RX 570's 4 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are overwhelmed by the pixel throughput required at 3840x2160.

The Ultra preset data reinforces this interpretation. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 26 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 17 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the system manages only 10 FPS. The step from Medium to Ultra at 1080p costs 29 FPS (55 to 26), while the step from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra costs 9 FPS (26 to 17). These ratios indicate that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, but the CPU also shows signs of strain at 1080p, where the frame rates are higher and the per-frame CPU workload becomes more significant.

The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 36 FPS (62 to 26), while at 4K the same settings delta is only 14 FPS (24 to 10). This compression of the settings gap at higher resolutions is a classic signature of GPU-bound operation. At 1080p, the system has enough headroom for settings to matter substantially; at 4K, even Low settings cannot prevent the frame rate from collapsing. The conclusion from the measured data is that this combination is suitable for 1080p gaming with tuned settings, marginal at 1440p with reduced quality, and effectively unplayable at 4K for ArcheAge.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 brings six physical cores and six threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This Coffee Lake architecture processor has a 65 W TDP and uses a 14 nm process node. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 with dual-channel configuration providing 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The processor's benchmark results place it at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254.

In ArcheAge, the CPU's role can be inferred from the frame rate behavior across resolutions. At 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the system achieves 62 FPS. This is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination in the measured data. The fact that no settings tier at any resolution exceeds this figure suggests that the i5-9400's six threads are sufficient to feed the RX 570 at this level, but the CPU is not delivering headroom for higher frame rates. The single-core performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 935, is relevant for an MMORPG like ArcheAge, where game logic and network handling often rely on fewer threads.

The nearest rival comparisons for the i5-9400 show it sits in a tight cluster. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, which is 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, which is 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% lower. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher. This indicates the i5-9400 is positioned in a competitive mid-range tier, but none of these rivals would dramatically change ArcheAge performance given the GPU constraints observed.

The multi-core performance of the i5-9400, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and Geekbench multi-core score of 5141, suggests adequate parallel throughput for an MMORPG's background systems. However, the measured FPS data does not show the CPU becoming the primary limiter at any resolution with the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the 62 FPS average might be CPU-limited in certain crowded areas, but the data available does not break down scene complexity. The boost clock of 4.10 GHz provides reasonable single-thread responsiveness, which is likely why the system can still hit 62 FPS rather than being capped lower. The i5-9400's 47th percentile ranking indicates it is an average performer overall, and in ArcheAge it does not appear to be the decisive component for the FPS figures recorded.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the dominant factor in this combination's ArcheAge performance. This Polaris 20 chip uses the GCN 4.0 architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die. The GPU has 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. Clock speeds are 1168 MHz base and 1244 MHz boost, with memory running at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). The 4 GB GDDR5 memory operates on a 256-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Compute capabilities include 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16 performance, with pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s.

The RX 570's 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28766, places it above the midrange. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M at 28874 (0.4% higher), the AMD Radeon R9 M295X at 28580 (0.7% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 470 at 28996 (0.8% higher), and the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 at 28421 (1.2% lower). This clustering indicates the RX 570 delivers consistent performance relative to those parts, but the ArcheAge results show how game-specific demands can diverge from synthetic averages.

In ArcheAge, the GPU's memory configuration is a critical factor. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is likely a constraint at higher resolutions and settings. The measured data shows 4K Ultra at 10 FPS and 1440p Ultra at 17 FPS, which are unplayable figures. Even at 1080p Ultra, the system only reaches 26 FPS. The bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s, while adequate for 1080p, becomes insufficient as resolution increases and texture data grows. The GPU's FP32 throughput of 5.095 TFLOPS is modest by modern standards, and ArcheAge's rendering demands at higher settings push this hardware well beyond its comfort zone.

The RX 570's 4 GB memory size appears to be a particular liability in this MMORPG, which may load large texture sets and world data. The measured FPS at 1080p Medium (55 FPS average) versus 1080p High (37 FPS) shows a significant drop of 18 FPS, suggesting that the High preset introduces memory or shading workloads that the GPU cannot sustain. The difference between Medium and Low at 1080p is only 7 FPS (55 to 62), indicating that the GPU handles the Low-to-Medium transition relatively well, but the High and Ultra presets impose disproportionately heavy costs. The 150 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU indicate the card has a fixed power budget that limits its sustained clock behavior under load.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the target frame rate and resolution. For 60 FPS gameplay, the only configuration that achieves this threshold is 1080p Low, which averages 62 FPS. This is the sole measured row where the average exceeds 60 FPS. Players seeking a smooth 60 FPS experience should use 1080p Low without exception, as the next closest is 1080p Medium at 55 FPS, which falls short of the 60 FPS mark.

For a playable experience above 30 FPS, the options expand. At 1080p Medium, the system averages 55 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS, providing a solid experience with improved visual fidelity over Low. The 1080p High preset drops to 37 FPS, which is playable but noticeably less smooth. At 1440p, only the Low preset (42 FPS) stays above 40 FPS, while Medium (37 FPS) and High (25 FPS) fall below comfortable thresholds. At 4K, no preset achieves 30 FPS, with even Low at only 24 FPS.

The Medium preset appears to be the best balance for most users at 1080p, offering 55 FPS average with a minimum of 47 FPS. The min FPS of 47 indicates that even in demanding scenes, the system stays above 45 FPS, which is generally acceptable for an MMORPG. The High preset at 1080p (37 FPS) might be acceptable for players who prioritize visuals over smoothness, but the 18 FPS drop from Medium to High suggests a steep cost for marginal visual gains. The Ultra preset at 1080p (26 FPS) is not recommended, as it falls below 30 FPS and introduces stutter-prone conditions.

At 1440p, the Low preset (42 FPS) is the only reasonable choice, with Medium (37 FPS) being borderline. The 1440p High (25 FPS) and Ultra (17 FPS) are not viable for active play. At 4K, all presets produce unplayable results, with the highest being Low at 24 FPS. The measured data indicates that this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming with Medium settings, providing a balance of visual quality and frame rate consistency. For competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays, 1080p Low is the only option that delivers 60+ FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 3544 out of 3708 tested combos in ArcheAge. This places it in the bottom 5% of all combinations tested, which is a striking result given that the individual components have reasonable rankings (CPU at 47th percentile, GPU at 74th percentile). The disparity between component-level percentiles and the in-game combo rank suggests that ArcheAge presents specific challenges that this pairing handles poorly.

The low combo rank is consistent with the measured FPS data. The system cannot achieve 60 FPS at any resolution above 1080p Low, and even at 1080p, only the Low preset reaches that threshold. For a game released in 2014, this performance is underwhelming, but the data does not lie. The 3708 total combos include many that are significantly more powerful, and the 3544 rank indicates that the vast majority of tested systems outperform this one in ArcheAge.

This ranking should be interpreted with caution, however. The combo rank reflects only ArcheAge performance, and the individual component benchmarks show that both the CPU and GPU are mid-range parts. The CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.4% of its average score, and the GPU's nearest rivals are within 1.2%. This suggests that the combination is not defective, but rather that ArcheAge's engine has specific demands that this hardware does not meet. Players considering this setup for ArcheAge should expect mediocre performance, as the data clearly shows.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination in ArcheAge?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system achieves playable frame rates. At 1080p, the Low preset averages 62 FPS, Medium averages 55 FPS, and High averages 37 FPS. At 1440p, even the Low preset only reaches 42 FPS, and at 4K, all presets fall below 25 FPS.

Q: Can this system run ArcheAge at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with the Low preset, which averages 62 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p comes close at 55 FPS but does not reach 60 FPS. No other resolution or settings combination achieves 60 FPS in the measured data.

Q: How much VRAM does the RX 570 have, and does it matter for ArcheAge?

A: The RX 570 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. The performance drop from Medium to High settings at 1080p (55 to 37 FPS) suggests that higher settings impose memory or shading workloads that this GPU cannot sustain.

Q: What is the CPU's multi-core performance compared to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, is 0.2% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is 0.4% lower. The CPU ranks at the 47th percentile among all tested CPUs.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this setup?

A: No. The highest 4K result is the Low preset at 24 FPS, which is not playable. The Medium preset at 4K averages 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 10 FPS. The data shows that 4K is beyond the capabilities of this combination.

Q: What GPU benchmark scores does the RX 570 achieve?

A: The RX 570 scores 880 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 39349 in Geekbench Metal, 32084 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 42752 in Geekbench Vulkan. It ranks at the 74th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28766.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for ArcheAge with the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 570 is presented below, organized by resolution and settings.

1920x1080:

• Low: 62 FPS average
• Medium: 55 FPS average, 47 FPS minimum, 63 FPS maximum
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 26 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 42 FPS average
• Medium: 37 FPS average, 32 FPS minimum, 43 FPS maximum
• High: 25 FPS average
• Ultra: 17 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 24 FPS average
• Medium: 21 FPS average, 18 FPS minimum, 24 FPS maximum
• High: 14 FPS average
• Ultra: 10 FPS average

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all three resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the range is 47 to 63 FPS, showing a 16 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 32 to 43 FPS, an 11 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range is 18 to 24 FPS, only a 6 FPS spread. This tightening of the frame time range as resolution increases indicates that the GPU becomes more consistently saturated at higher resolutions, reducing variance but also reducing average performance.

The Low preset shows the largest resolution scaling drop: from 62 FPS at 1080p to 42 FPS at 1440p (a 32% reduction) to 24 FPS at 4K (a 61% reduction from 1440p). The Ultra preset shows a similar pattern: 26 FPS at 1080p, 17 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K. The High preset follows the same trend with 37, 25, and 14 FPS respectively. These consistent patterns across all settings confirm that resolution is the primary determinant of performance for this combination, with the GPU's capabilities being the limiting factor at higher pixel counts.