Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, shows a striking performance curve when paired with the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090. The data reveals a system where the GPU is so dominant that the CPU becomes the primary constraint, leading to a scaling pattern that defies typical expectations. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates to show exactly where this pairing excels and where it hits a wall.

Resolution Scaling

The most revealing trend in the data is the dramatic difference in scaling between the lower and higher settings as resolution increases. From 1080p to 1440p, the frame rate drop is modest. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 131.4 at 1920x1080 to 115 at 2560x1440, a drop of about 12.5%. Similarly, at Medium settings, the drop is from 153.4 to 135.2, roughly a 12% decline. This indicates that at these resolutions, the GPU is still handling the load, and the CPU is able to feed it enough data to maintain high frame rates.

The real story emerges when moving from 1440p to 4K. At High settings, the average FPS plummets from 115 to 73.3, a massive 36% reduction. At Ultra settings, the drop is even more severe, going from 83.2 to 48.3, a 42% loss. This steep cliff suggests that the RTX 5090, with its immense 32 GB of VRAM and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, is not the limiting factor. Instead, the Intel Core i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, is struggling to keep up with the increased render load at 4K. The CPU’s 2.90 GHz base clock and 4.10 GHz boost clock are simply not enough to feed the GPU’s processing power at this resolution.

This is a classic case of a CPU bottleneck at higher resolutions, which is counter-intuitive. Usually, higher resolutions put more strain on the GPU. Here, the data shows that while the GPU is capable of rendering more pixels, the CPU is unable to prepare the frames fast enough. The gap between the 1440p and 4K results widens significantly at higher settings, confirming that the CPU is the primary constraint once the settings demand more complex scene data. The result is that the RTX 5090 is effectively held back, unable to deliver frame rates that would be expected from a GPU of its caliber.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a monster of a card, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, which provides a staggering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock of 2407 MHz and 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance place it in the 94th percentile of all GPUs in the database. However, in this specific game, this hardware is not being fully utilized.

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 5090 is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 163.5 FPS. At 1080p Ultra, it drops to 115.4 FPS. This is a significant drop, but it is not due to the GPU being overwhelmed. Instead, it points to the CPU and its 9 MB of shared L3 cache struggling to handle the increased draw calls and physics calculations at Ultra settings. The GPU has the raw power to render more frames, but it is waiting on the CPU to send instructions.

The VRAM is a non-issue here. Even at 4K Ultra, the game is unlikely to stress 32 GB of memory. The GPU’s role is to render the massive resolutions, but its performance is capped by the processor. This is evident in the 4K results, where the frame rate is only 48.3 FPS at Ultra settings. A GPU with a 94th percentile ranking should not be producing sub-50 FPS numbers in a 2014 MMORPG unless the CPU is holding it back. The data suggests that pairing this GPU with a more modern, higher-core-count CPU would yield significantly better results, especially at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 297th out of 1727 combos. This puts it in the top 17% of all tested systems. While this is a respectable position, it is important to note that this ranking is likely dragged down by the CPU’s limitations.

The CPU itself is in the 50th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2305. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10305, which has a score of 2300 (a 0.2% delta), and the Intel Xeon E-2134, with a score of 2295 (a 0.4% delta). These are all mid-range processors. The GPU, on the other hand, is in the 94th percentile, with an average score of 84306. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, which is only 0.1% faster.

This massive disparity in performance percentiles indicates an unbalanced system. The combo rank of 297 suggests that there are many other combinations that perform better, likely because they pair the RTX 5090 with a more capable processor. The data implies that this combo is not a bottleneck-free pairing; it is a system where a high-end GPU is being restrained by a mid-range CPU. The ranking would likely improve dramatically with a stronger CPU, as the GPU has proven it can deliver high frame rates when the CPU can keep up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Here is the complete breakdown of the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 in Archeage:

At 3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 117.7 FPS
• Medium: 107.2 FPS
• High: 73.3 FPS
• Ultra: 48.3 FPS

At 2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 140.3 FPS
• Medium: 135.2 FPS
• High: 115 FPS
• Ultra: 83.2 FPS

At 1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 163.5 FPS
• Medium: 153.4 FPS
• High: 131.4 FPS
• Ultra: 115.4 FPS

The data shows that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo. Even at Ultra settings, the system maintains an average of 115.4 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1440p, the system is still playable, but the Ultra preset drops to 83.2 FPS, which may be a concern for those with high-refresh-rate monitors. The 4K numbers are the most telling. The Low preset is the only one that remains comfortably above 100 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to 48.3 FPS. This reinforces the idea that the CPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a good match for the RTX 5090 in this game?

A: No. The data indicates a significant CPU bottleneck at higher resolutions. While the combo ranks 297th out of 1727, the CPU’s 50th percentile performance severely limits the GPU’s 94th percentile potential, especially at 4K.

Q: What resolution should I play at to get the best performance?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, the system achieves over 115 FPS on all settings, including Ultra. Moving to 1440p causes a noticeable drop, and 4K is only playable on the Low preset.

Q: Why does the frame rate drop so much from 1440p to 4K?

A: The drop is due to the CPU becoming the limiting factor. The RTX 5090 has the power to render 4K, but the 6-core, 6-thread i5-9400 cannot prepare frames fast enough to keep the GPU fed. This creates a bottleneck that is not present at lower resolutions.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i3-10305, scores 2300, which is 0.2% slower. The Intel Core i7-8809G scores 2319, which is 0.6% faster. These are all very close mid-range scores.

Q: Is the 32 GB of VRAM on the RTX 5090 useful for this game?

A: The data does not show any indication of VRAM limitations. Archeage is an older game and is unlikely to need more than a few gigabytes. The 32 GB is more than sufficient, but it does not help overcome the CPU bottleneck.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 60 FPS target at 4K?

A: According to the measurements, the Low preset at 3840x2160 achieves 117.7 FPS, which is well above 60. The Medium preset achieves 107.2 FPS, also above 60. The High preset drops to 73.3 FPS, which is still above 60, but the Ultra preset falls below to 48.3 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

The data provides a clear path for the best experience, depending on your target resolution.

For 1080p, the Ultra preset is the clear choice. The measured 115.4 FPS is smooth and will make full use of most high-refresh-rate monitors. There is no reason to lower settings here, as the CPU and GPU combination can handle the maximum load without issue.

For 1440p, the High preset is the best balance. It delivers 115 FPS, which is a solid experience. The Ultra preset drops to 83.2 FPS, which is still playable but may not be worth the visual upgrade if you value frame rate consistency. The Medium preset at 135.2 FPS is also an option if you prefer maximum fluidity.

For 4K, the situation is more nuanced. If you want to stay above 100 FPS, the Low preset at 117.7 FPS is the only option. The Medium preset at 107.2 FPS is also acceptable. However, the High preset at 73.3 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 48.3 FPS is not recommended for a good experience. The data suggests that 4K is not this combo’s strong suit, and you will have to make significant sacrifices in visual quality to achieve high frame rates. The best experience is to stick to 1440p High or 1080p Ultra, where the system is not bottlenecked by the CPU.