Archeage

Archeage is an older MMORPG, but the data for the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combo reveals a configuration that is heavily skewed by the CPU. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern where the GPU has immense headroom, but the processor's performance ceiling dictates the final experience. This analysis breaks down the measured results to show exactly where the bottlenecks are and how to get the most out of this pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows that resolution scaling behaves very differently depending on the settings preset, which is the key to understanding this combo. At Low settings, the frame rate is nearly flat across all resolutions: 161 FPS at 1080p, 141 FPS at 1440p, and 104 FPS at 4K. This is a classic sign of a CPU bottleneck. The i5-9400 is the limiting factor here, and lowering the resolution does not provide a significant boost because the CPU is already at its maximum output. The drop from 1080p to 4K is only 35%, which is far less than what you would expect if the GPU were the limiting component. This indicates that the processor is struggling to feed frames to the RTX 4080, even at 4K.

On the other hand, at Ultra settings, the scaling is much more pronounced. The FPS drops from 111 at 1080p to 75 at 1440p, and then to 43 at 4K. This is a 61% drop from 1080p to 4K, showing that the GPU is now becoming the primary bottleneck. The higher graphical load at Ultra settings allows the RTX 4080 to flex its muscles, but the i5-9400 still holds it back from achieving its full potential. The High preset tells a similar story, with a drop from 134 FPS at 1080p to 110 at 1440p and 63 at 4K.

The Medium preset provides the most balanced scaling, with 155 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 92 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that the limiting component shifts based on the settings. At Low, it is strictly the CPU. At Ultra, the GPU starts to take over, but the CPU still prevents the combo from reaching the high frame rates that the RTX 4080 is capable of. The overall picture is one of an imbalanced pairing where the CPU is the primary constraint in most scenarios, especially at lower graphical settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a massive GPU by any measure, with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit memory bus. It has a boost clock of 2505 MHz and a base clock of 2205 MHz. Its memory bandwidth is 716.8 GB/s, which is substantial for high-resolution textures. In this game, however, its role is limited by the CPU. The benchmark results for the GPU show it performs in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and it is nearly identical in average benchmark score to the RTX 4080 SUPER, which is only 0.1% faster.

Despite this raw power, the measured FPS in Archeage shows that the RTX 4080 is often not the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the GPU is likely idling, waiting for the CPU to deliver draw calls. The GPU's capabilities only become relevant when the graphical settings are cranked up. At 4K Ultra, the 43 FPS average is a result of the GPU being heavily loaded, but even then, the CPU is not entirely off the hook. The RTX 4080 has 9728 shading units and 76 RT cores, but these are not being fully utilized in a game like Archeage, which is not known for heavy ray tracing or modern rendering techniques. The data suggests that the GPU's VRAM and bandwidth are more than sufficient for this game, as there is no indication of a memory bottleneck. The limiting factor is the CPU's ability to keep up with the GPU's frame generation.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 769th out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage. This puts it in the top 21% of all combos, which is a solid position, but it is not as high as the GPU's standalone performance might suggest. The RTX 4080 sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, but the i5-9400 is in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. This mismatch is the core issue.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 2254, which puts it in the same league as the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (0.2% slower) and the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.4% slower). It is slightly faster than the Intel Core i7-10710U and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500. This places the CPU firmly in the mid-range territory. When paired with a top-tier GPU like the RTX 4080, the rank is dragged down by the processor's limitations. The data indicates that this combo would rank much higher if it had a more powerful CPU. The 769th rank is a direct result of the CPU bottlenecking the GPU in a game like Archeage, which is more dependent on single-threaded performance and CPU clock speeds than on raw GPU compute power.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is found at the High settings preset at 1440p or 1080p. At 1440p High, the combo averages 110 FPS, which is an excellent balance between visual quality and smoothness. At 1080p High, it averages 134 FPS, which is even smoother but offers lower visual fidelity. The Ultra preset is not recommended for this combo, as the frame rates drop to 75 FPS at 1440p and 43 FPS at 4K, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience in a fast-paced MMO.

The Medium preset is a viable alternative if you want to push the resolution higher. At 4K Medium, the combo averages 92 FPS, which is playable, but the drop from 1080p Medium (155 FPS) is significant. The Low preset is only useful if you are chasing the absolute highest frame rates for competitive play, but the visual hit is substantial. The data shows that the High preset is the sweet spot, as it provides a significant graphical uplift over Medium while still maintaining frame rates above 100 FPS at both 1080p and 1440p. For 4K gaming, Medium is the only sensible option, as it offers a much better experience than the 63 FPS average of the High preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete breakdown of measured FPS for this combo.

1920x1080:

• Low: 161 FPS average. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo, showing the CPU's limit.
• Medium: 155 FPS average, with a minimum of 131 and a maximum of 178. This is a solid, playable frame rate.
• High: 134 FPS average. A good balance of quality and performance.
• Ultra: 111 FPS average. The CPU is still able to deliver high frames, but the GPU is now being more utilized.

2560x1440:

• Low: 141 FPS average. A noticeable drop from 1080p, indicating the CPU is still the main constraint.
• Medium: 136 FPS average, with a minimum of 115 and a maximum of 156. This is very close to the Low setting, showing the CPU bottleneck is still present.
• High: 110 FPS average. This is the recommended setting for 1440p, providing a smooth experience.
• Ultra: 75 FPS average. The GPU is now more involved, but the frame rate is starting to get lower.

3840x2160:

• Low: 104 FPS average. This is surprising, showing that even at 4K, the CPU is still the limiting factor.
• Medium: 92 FPS average, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 106. This is the best 4K option.
• High: 63 FPS average. This is playable but not ideal for a smooth MMO experience.
• Ultra: 43 FPS average. The GPU is now the bottleneck, but the frame rate is too low for comfortable play.

The data shows a clear pattern: at Low and Medium settings, the CPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions. At High and Ultra settings, the GPU starts to become a factor, but the CPU still holds the combo back from achieving the frame rates that the RTX 4080 could deliver on its own.

FAQ

Q: Why is the frame rate at 4K Low (104 FPS) so close to 1080p Low (161 FPS)?

A: This is because the Intel Core i5-9400 is the limiting component at Low settings. The CPU cannot generate frames fast enough to saturate the RTX 4080, so increasing the resolution has a smaller impact than it would if the GPU were the bottleneck.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 being fully utilized in this game?

A: No. The benchmark data shows that the GPU is only fully utilized at the Ultra settings preset, particularly at 4K. At lower settings, the CPU's performance ceiling prevents the GPU from working to its full capacity.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data suggests 1440p is the sweet spot. At 1440p High, the combo averages 110 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and smoothness. At 1080p, you get higher frame rates, but the visual upgrade to 1440p is significant. 4K is viable only at Medium settings.

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

A: The combo ranks 769th out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage. This is a good rank, but it is held back by the CPU. The RTX 4080 is in the 86th percentile of GPUs, while the i5-9400 is in the 47th percentile of CPUs.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth using?

A: No, based on the measured data. The Ultra preset results in a 43 FPS average at 4K and 75 FPS at 1440p. These frame rates are too low for a smooth experience in an MMORPG, especially when the High preset offers much better performance with a minor visual penalty.

Q: What is the main bottleneck for this combo in Archeage?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400. The CPU's average benchmark score is 2254, which is mid-range, and it cannot keep up with the RTX 4080's frame generation ability in most settings. This is evident from the minimal frame rate scaling between 1080p and 4K at Low settings.