Archeage

The Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination delivers a playable, though not exceptional, experience in Archeage, with performance heavily dependent on resolution and settings. The data shows a clear pattern: the pairing is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can push high frame rates, but struggles to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K Ultra. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, component roles, and provides practical settings advice based strictly on the benchmark results.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, the combo achieves an average of 142 FPS on Low settings and 86 FPS on High settings, which are both highly playable. At 2560x1440, performance drops to 95 FPS on Low and 58 FPS on High, while at 3840x2160, even Low settings only net 55 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-9400 perform relative to its direct competitors?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, which is a 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, putting it 0.4% behind the i5-9400. Essentially, the i5-9400 is statistically tied with these processors in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: How does the RX 9060's raw performance compare to other GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014. It sits very close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which scores 16129 (a 0.7% difference). The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is also a close rival with a score of 15852, placing it just 1% behind the RX 9060.

Q: Is the RX 9060's 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Archeage at high settings?

A: The benchmark data indicates that 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is adequate for this game. The GPU achieves playable frame rates at High settings in 1080p (86 FPS) and 1440p (58 FPS). However, at 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 23, suggesting the memory bandwidth and overall GPU horsepower, rather than just VRAM capacity, become limiting factors at that extreme resolution.

Q: What kind of frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo produces an average of 85 FPS. The data also shows a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 98 FPS, indicating a relatively stable performance window without severe dips.

Q: Where does this specific combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination ranks 1603 out of 2761 tested combos for Archeage. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum, indicating that while it can run the game, many other pairings will deliver higher frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the primary driver of frame rate output in this configuration. Its performance is anchored by a 1700 MHz base clock, a 2400 MHz game clock, and a 2990 MHz boost clock. This GPU is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with a Navi 44 chip, providing 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is connected via a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s.

In Archeage, the GPU's role is evident in the scaling of performance across resolution. At 1920x1080, the card is powerful enough to push frame rates well above 100 FPS on lower presets, with a measured average of 142 FPS on Low. This indicates that the GPU is not the bottleneck at this resolution. However, as resolution increases to 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, the demands on the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth increase significantly. The data shows a steep performance cliff at 4K, where High settings yield only 33 FPS and Ultra drops to 23 FPS.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark scores corroborate its position in the market. It ranks in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 16014. Its closest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (scoring 16129, a 0.7% difference) and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (scoring 15852, a 1% difference). This places the RX 9060 in the upper-mid range of graphics cards. For Archeage, a title that is not particularly demanding by modern standards, this level of GPU power is sufficient for smooth 1080p and acceptable 1440p gameplay, but it lacks the headroom for 4K at high visual quality. The jump from Medium to Ultra settings at 4K is particularly punishing, with the average FPS nearly halving from 49 to 23.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 provides the processing foundation for this system. It features 6 cores and 6 threads, operating at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This Coffee Lake processor has a 9 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. It is an end-of-life product, indicating it is from an older generation.

For an MMORPG like Archeage, the CPU is responsible for game logic, network processing, and managing the game world. The data suggests that the i5-9400 is adequate for this role at the tested resolutions. At 1080p, where the GPU has spare capacity, the CPU must keep up to feed it frames. The high average FPS numbers at 1080p Low (142 FPS) and Medium (126 FPS) indicate that the CPU is capable of handling the game's demands at these settings.

The CPU's synthetic performance shows it is a middle-of-the-road part. It has an average benchmark score of 2254, placing it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its performance is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (0.2% faster) and the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.4% faster). In the context of this GPU pairing, the i5-9400 does not appear to be a significant bottleneck at lower resolutions. The performance drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p is consistent with the GPU becoming more stressed, rather than the CPU failing to keep up. The 6-core, 6-thread configuration is a match for a game from 2014, proving sufficient to maintain frame rates in the 50-90 FPS range at 1440p, which is a playable zone for this genre.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

1920x1080: This is the combo's strongest resolution. On Low settings, it achieves an average of 142 FPS. Medium settings deliver a robust 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS, showing good consistency. High settings are also very playable at 86 FPS. Ultra settings are the only outlier, dropping to an average of 58 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant 33% performance hit compared to High settings.

2560x1440: Performance takes a noticeable step down at this resolution. Low settings average 95 FPS, which is excellent. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 98 FPS. High settings are at the threshold of smooth gameplay with an average of 58 FPS. Ultra settings become difficult to play, with the average FPS dropping to 39.

3840x2160: This resolution is generally too demanding for this combination. Low settings are the only usable preset, with an average of 55 FPS. Medium settings drop to an average of 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS. High settings fall to 33 FPS, and Ultra settings are effectively unplayable at an average of 23 FPS.

The scaling data shows that the GPU is the dominant factor in performance. For example, at 1080p, the difference between Low and High is 56 FPS, while at 4K, the difference between the same presets is only 22 FPS. This demonstrates that at 4K, the GPU is already saturated, and lowering settings has a diminishing return on frame rate. The sweet spot for this combo is clearly 1080p, where it can take full advantage of its capabilities, and 1440p for a balance of visual fidelity and performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, the i5-9400 and RX 9060 pairing lands at rank 1603 out of 2761 combos for Archeage. This places it in the 42nd percentile of all tested systems, meaning that roughly 58% of other combinations tested will perform better in this specific game.

This middle-of-the-pack ranking is consistent with the individual performance of its components. The CPU sits in the 47th percentile, and the GPU sits in the 59th percentile. The combo's ranking is lower than the GPU's individual percentile, suggesting that the older CPU may be holding back the system in certain scenarios, even if it doesn't appear as a bottleneck in the absolute FPS numbers. The rank indicates that this is not a high-end gaming machine, but it is far from the bottom of the barrel. It is a competent pairing for mainstream gaming, particularly at 1080p, but it will not compete with systems built around higher-tier CPUs and GPUs. For a game like Archeage, which is not graphically intensive, this rank is acceptable, but users looking for maximum performance in crowded environments would need to look at higher-ranked combos.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on the best settings to use for this combination.

For 1920x1080 resolution, the Medium preset is the optimal choice. It delivers an average of 126 FPS, which is far above the threshold for smooth gameplay, and ensures a minimum of 107 FPS, preventing any noticeable stutter. While Low settings push the average to 142 FPS, the visual improvement from Low to Medium is significant, and the 16 FPS average loss is a worthwhile trade-off. High settings at 86 FPS are also viable for players who prioritize visual quality, but Medium offers the best balance of high frame rates and better graphics.

For 2560x1440 resolution, the Medium preset is again the recommended setting. It provides an average of 85 FPS with a minimum of 72 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience. Low settings will push the average to 95 FPS, but the visual downgrade is substantial at this resolution. High settings at 58 FPS are playable but approach the limit where frame drops become noticeable in fast-paced situations. The 27 FPS difference between Medium and High makes Medium the clear winner for maintaining high performance.

For 3840x2160 resolution, the data suggests this combo is not well-suited for high-quality gaming. The Low preset is the only playable option, with an average of 55 FPS. This will provide a playable, though visually basic, experience. Medium settings drop to 49 FPS, which is playable but risky, and the minimum of 41 FPS may cause noticeable hitches. It is recommended that users avoid High and Ultra settings at this resolution, as the average frame rates of 33 and 23 FPS, respectively, are too low for a smooth experience.

In summary, the best overall experience is at 1080p with Medium settings, offering a high frame rate with a good visual presentation. The 1440p Medium preset is the best alternative for users with high-resolution monitors, providing a good balance. 4K gaming should be avoided unless the user is willing to compromise heavily on visual quality by using Low settings.