Archeage

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B580 delivers a playable but not exceptional experience in Archeage, ranking 2797th out of 3708 tested combos in this title. This places the combination in the lower half of the database, indicating that while the hardware is capable in other workloads, Archeage presents specific challenges that limit performance. The measured frames per second across resolutions and settings reveal a system that can push high frame rates at 1080p with lower presets but struggles to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K, particularly on higher graphical settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 2797 out of 3708 tested combinations places it in the 25th percentile of all tested systems for Archeage. This is a notably low position for a CPU that sits in the 84th percentile against all CPUs and a GPU that sits in the 68th percentile against all GPUs. The discrepancy between component-level percentiles and the in-game combo rank suggests that Archeage’s engine does not fully utilize the strengths of this particular pairing. Benchmark results indicate that the system’s overall average benchmark scores are competitive with near-identical hardware, yet the game-specific measurements lag behind what component scores would predict. The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13600T with an average score of 35305, which is effectively a statistical tie at a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Core i7-12700KF at 35365 with a -0.2% delta. The GPU’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP at 23061 with a -0.2% delta, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 at 22895 with a 0.6% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 at 23172 with a -0.7% delta. These rival deltas are all within 1% of the Arc B580’s average score of 23021, which indicates that in synthetic tests, the Arc B580 is performing as expected for its class. However, in Archeage specifically, the measured FPS data shows that the combination does not translate those synthetic scores into top-tier gameplay performance, likely due to the game’s age and its reliance on single-threaded CPU performance in certain scenarios.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node from Intel. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and it has a TDP of 125 watts. The CPU features a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores, though the exact core configuration is not specified in the data beyond the total core and thread counts. Cache memory includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5 across a dual-channel bus, and the CPU uses the Intel Socket 1700 with PCIe Gen 4 providing 20 lanes. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 is present, but the system relies on the discrete Arc B580 for gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a 3DMark score of 9979 with maximum threads, 9276 with 16 threads, 7202 with 8 threads, 4011 with 4 threads, and 2065 with 2 threads, with a single-thread score of 1043. Cinebench R23 scores are 19784 for multi-core and 1850.5 for single-core, while Cinebench R20 is 12229 multi-core and 1726 single-core. Geekbench scores are 15790 multi-core and 2308 single-core. Passmark results include 34404 in multithread, 4013 in single thread, and 114264 in integer math. The CPU scores in the 84th percentile against all CPUs.

In Archeage, the CPU’s role is critical because the game, released in 2014, tends to be sensitive to single-thread performance in many of its core mechanics, such as player movement, UI interactions, and certain combat calculations. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 124 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all configurations. This high frame rate at low settings suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data when the GPU’s workload is light. However, when moving to higher settings like Ultra at 1080p, the average FPS drops to 51, which is a significant reduction. This drop is not solely attributable to the GPU, as the CPU’s multi-threaded performance, while strong, may not scale perfectly with Archeage’s older engine that may not use all 12 cores effectively. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 versus the max-thread score of 9979 shows that scaling beyond 16 threads yields minimal gains, indicating that the CPU’s performance is nearly saturated at 16 threads. For Archeage, which likely uses fewer threads, the single-thread and 2-thread scores of 1043 and 2065, respectively, are more relevant. A single-thread score of 1043 in 3DMark is decent but not top-tier, and this could be a limiting factor in scenarios where the game’s main thread becomes a bottleneck. The CPU’s boost clock of 5.00 GHz helps in this regard, but the data shows that the combination still ranks low overall, suggesting that the CPU’s strong multi-core capabilities are underutilized by Archeage.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is based on the Xe2-HPG architecture with the BMG-G21 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 80 raster operation units, along with 20 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2670 MHz and a boost clock of 2670 MHz, which are identical figures, indicating a fixed clock speed under load. Memory consists of 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s with a memory clock of 2375 MHz or 19 Gbps effective. The GPU has a TDP of 190 watts and requires a single 8-pin power connector with a suggested power supply of 450 watts. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8, and the card measures 272 mm in length, 115 mm in height, and 45 mm in width, taking up a dual-slot form factor. Display outputs include one HDMI 2.1a and three DisplayPort 2.1 connections. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. In synthetic benchmarks, the GPU achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3068, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 92821, a Geekbench Vulkan score of 109672, and a Passmark G3D score of 15748. The GPU scores in the 68th percentile against all GPUs.

In Archeage, the GPU’s role becomes more prominent as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU can handle the workload with relative ease, particularly at Low settings where the average FPS is 124. However, at 4K, the GPU’s limitations become apparent. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 29, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is only 48, indicating that the GPU is heavily stressed at this resolution. The GPU’s 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Archeage, as the game is older and does not require large amounts of video memory, but the raw processing power of the Arc B580 at 4K is insufficient for high frame rates. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 13.67 TFLOPS, which is moderate, and the texture rate of 427.2 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s are adequate for 1080p and 1440p but struggle at 4K. The data shows that the GPU’s performance in Archeage scales poorly with resolution, as the 4K High average of 29 FPS is less than half of the 1080p High average of 75 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, whereas the CPU may be more of a factor at lower resolutions where the GPU can render frames quickly. The GPU’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, has a similar average benchmark score with a 0.6% delta, which suggests that in other games, the Arc B580 might perform similarly to an RTX 2080, but in Archeage, the measured FPS data shows the system ranking low, so the GPU’s driver overhead or game-specific optimization may be limiting.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which settings offer the best experience. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 124 FPS, which is excellent for fast-paced gameplay and ensures that the game remains smooth even in crowded areas. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 111 FPS with a minimum of 94 FPS and a maximum of 127 FPS, which is also very playable and offers a better visual quality without a significant performance hit. The High preset at 1080p drops the average to 75 FPS, which is still acceptable for most players, but the Ultra preset at 1080p falls to 51 FPS, which may feel less responsive in combat scenarios. For the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, Medium settings at 1080p are the recommended choice, as they provide a 111 FPS average with a minimum of 94 FPS that keeps the experience fluid. At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 84 FPS, which is good for competitive play, while Medium at 1440p delivers 75 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS. High at 1440p drops to 51 FPS, and Ultra at 1440p falls to 35 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. For 1440p, Low or Medium settings are recommended to maintain frame rates above 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 48 on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS target, and High and Ultra presets drop to 29 and 20 FPS, respectively. Therefore, 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo if smooth gameplay is desired, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p with Medium or Lower settings. The data indicates that the Medium preset at 1080p offers the best experience because it maintains a high average FPS with a minimum that stays above 90, providing a consistent frame time that is important for an MMORPG where actions happen in real-time.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in Archeage?

A: Based on measured data, 1920x1080 with Medium settings provides the best experience, delivering an average of 111 FPS with a minimum of 94 FPS and a maximum of 127 FPS. This combination offers a smooth frame rate with improved visuals over Low settings.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K resolution in Archeage?

A: At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The highest average FPS is 48 on Low settings, but High drops to 29 FPS and Ultra falls to 20 FPS. These frame rates are below the playable threshold for most users, making 4K unsuitable for this game with this combo.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Archeage?

A: The limiting factor depends on resolution. At 1080p Low, the CPU’s single-thread performance is likely the primary constraint, as the GPU can render frames quickly. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as the average FPS drops significantly regardless of CPU performance.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-12700K compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-13600T at 35305 with a -0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i7-12700KF at 35365 with a -0.2% delta. These differences are negligible, indicating similar overall performance.

Q: What is the GPU’s synthetic performance relative to its rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, scores 23061 with a -0.2% delta, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22895 with a 0.6% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 scores 23172 with a -0.7% delta. All are within 1% of the Arc B580’s score.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 1440p in Archeage?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 84 FPS, and Medium achieves 75 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS. Both presets can maintain averages above 60 FPS, but High drops to 51 FPS and Ultra to 35 FPS, so only Low or Medium settings will keep the average above 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with Medium settings, the average FPS is 111, which drops to 75 at 1440p and then to 43 at 4K. This represents a 32% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 43% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, which indicates that the GPU is becoming increasingly stressed at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the 1080p average is 124 FPS, which drops to 84 at 1440p and then to 48 at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 32%, while the 1440p to 4K drop is 43%. This pattern suggests that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for 4K, as the pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s and bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s are not enough to maintain high frame rates at that resolution. At High settings, the 1080p average is 75 FPS, dropping to 51 at 1440p and then to 29 at 4K. The percentage drops are more severe at higher settings because the GPU has more work per pixel, exacerbating the resolution scaling issue. The data reveals that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread and multi-thread performance is sufficient to drive the GPU, as evidenced by the high frame rates at Low settings. However, as resolution increases, the GPU’s workload grows, and the Arc B580’s 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute becomes the bottleneck. The 4K Ultra average of 20 FPS is particularly telling, as it shows that even with reduced graphical settings, the GPU cannot handle the pixel count. The CPU’s 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and 2-thread score of 2065 suggest that in CPU-bound scenarios, the system may experience frame drops in crowded areas, but the overall resolution scaling is dominated by GPU performance. For users aiming to play Archeage at high frame rates, sticking to 1080p is the best strategy, as the system can achieve over 100 FPS on Medium and Low settings. At 1440p, the system can still deliver playable frame rates on Medium, but 4K should be avoided unless the user is willing to accept average FPS below 50. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming in Archeage, with 1440p being a secondary option for users who prefer higher resolution over frame rate.