Archeage

Archeage with the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 produces a combination that ranks near the bottom of the database for this specific title. The data places this pairing at rank 3572 out of 3708 tested combos, putting it in the 96th percentile from the top, meaning only a small fraction of configurations perform worse in this MMORPG. The score reflects a significant imbalance: the processor is a high-end desktop part from 2021, while the graphics card is a lower-tier, end-of-life model from 2019. Benchmark results indicate the GPU bottlenecks the system severely, capping performance at levels that are marginal even for a game released in 2014. While the i7-12700KF ranks in the 85th percentile among all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 35365 is just 0.1% below the Intel Core i7-13700T, the GTX 1650 sits in the 40th percentile for GPUs with an average benchmark score of 7472, which is 1% behind the Intel Arc A310. This pairing yields playable frame rates only at the lowest settings and lower resolutions, making it a configuration that demands compromise on visual fidelity to achieve acceptable smoothness.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Archeage?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combo ranks 3572nd out of 3708 tested combinations for Archeage. This places it in the bottom 4% of all tested setups, indicating that while it can run the game, its performance level is among the lowest recorded in the database.

Q: Can this system run Archeage at 1080p with playable frame rates?

A: At 1920x1080, the data shows an average of 62 FPS on Low settings and 55 FPS on Medium settings. The High preset drops to 37 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 25 FPS average. For a smooth experience, the Low or Medium presets are the only viable options at this resolution, as the High and Ultra settings produce averages that may feel sluggish.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, scores 35403, which is 0.1% higher, while the Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, which is 0.2% lower. This puts the i7-12700KF effectively on par with those processors, with differences of less than a single percentage point.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 7472. Its closest competitor, the Intel Arc A310, scores 7550, which is 1% higher. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 7447 (0.3% lower), and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7441 (0.4% lower). The GTX 1650 is essentially in the same performance tier as these rivals, with all deltas under 1.5%.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 with Low settings yields the highest average frame rate at 62 FPS. Moving to Medium settings at the same resolution provides 55 FPS, which is still acceptable. For higher resolutions like 2560x1440, only Low settings reach a playable average of 41 FPS, while 3840x2160 is not recommended, as the best average there is just 24 FPS on Low.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The frame rate data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting component. The i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the GTX 1650 has only 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and a 128-bit memory bus. As resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, frame rates drop dramatically across all settings, which is characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios. The CPU has ample headroom, but the graphics card cannot keep up with the workload.

Settings Recommendations

For the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 pairing in Archeage, the measured data points to a clear hierarchy of playable options. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average frame rate at 62 FPS, which is the most fluid experience available for this configuration. The Medium preset is also viable, producing an average of 55 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS, indicating a stable frame time distribution. These two presets are the only ones that consistently exceed the 50 FPS threshold, making them the recommended choices for a smooth gameplay experience.

The High preset at 1080p drops to 37 FPS, which is playable but noticeably less smooth, while the Ultra preset falls to 25 FPS, which is likely to feel stuttery and unresponsive for an MMORPG with frequent UI and combat effects. At 2560x1440, the situation worsens significantly. The Low preset averages 41 FPS, which is borderline acceptable, but Medium drops to 37 FPS and High falls to 25 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution averages just 17 FPS, making it unsuitable for anything but static screenshots. For 3840x2160, no preset offers a playable experience; the best average is 24 FPS on Low, with Medium at 21 FPS, High at 14 FPS, and Ultra at 10 FPS.

Given the data, the optimal experience is achieved by selecting 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This setting provides a 55 FPS average, which balances visual quality and performance. The Low preset offers a higher frame rate, but the visual fidelity is reduced. The Medium preset also shows a min FPS of 47, which suggests it can maintain a playable frame rate even in demanding moments. For players who prioritize smoothness above all else, Low is the choice; for those who want a better-looking game without sacrificing too much responsiveness, Medium is the sweet spot. The High and Ultra presets should be avoided at all resolutions, as the frame rate drops below playable thresholds.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data for this combination reveals a consistent pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves its best results. On Low settings, the average FPS is 62, which is the highest number recorded for this configuration. The Medium preset produces an average of 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS, showing a narrow range that indicates stable performance. The High preset drops to 37 FPS average, and the Ultra preset further falls to 25 FPS average. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 37 FPS, a substantial gap that illustrates the heavy cost of higher graphical fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance decreases across the board. The Low preset averages 41 FPS, which is a 34% drop from the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset averages 37 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 31 and 42 FPS, respectively. This range is slightly wider than at 1080p, suggesting a bit more variability in frame times. The High preset averages 25 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 17 FPS. At this resolution, only the Low preset approaches playability, while Medium is marginal and High/Ultra are not recommended.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain any playable frame rate. The Low preset averages 24 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset averages 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 24 FPS, showing a tight but low range. The High preset averages 14 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 10 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is not a viable option for this hardware pairing, as even the lowest settings cannot reach 30 FPS. The data suggests that the GTX 1650’s 4 GB of VRAM and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of higher resolutions and settings in Archeage.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 demonstrates a steep decline that points directly to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. Looking at the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 62 at 1080p to 41 at 1440p, a reduction of 21 FPS or approximately 34%. Moving further to 2160p, the average falls to 24 FPS, which is a 61% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling is not linear; the drop from 1440p to 2160p is less severe proportionally, but the absolute numbers are already too low for comfortable play.

For the Medium preset, the same pattern emerges. The 1080p average is 55 FPS, which drops to 37 FPS at 1440p (a 33% reduction) and then to 21 FPS at 2160p (a 62% reduction from 1080p). The High preset shows 37 FPS at 1080p, 25 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 2160p, representing a 62% total decrease from the lowest to highest resolution. The Ultra preset follows suit with 25 FPS at 1080p, 17 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 2160p, a 60% drop.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-limited system. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, has more than enough processing power for a game from 2014. The i7-12700KF’s single-thread score of 1043 in 3DMark and 4071 in Cinebench R23 indicate strong per-core performance, which is crucial for MMORPGs that often rely on a few threads for game logic. However, the GTX 1650, with only 896 shading units and a 128-bit memory bus, cannot handle the increased pixel count and memory pressure at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops are proportional to the increase in resolution, confirming that the graphics card is the limiting component. The CPU is not the constraint, as the same CPU would likely produce much higher frame rates with a more powerful GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 25 MB shared L3 cache. Its synthetic benchmark scores place it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35365. This is a high-performance part that excels in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For instance, its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 28838, while the single-core score is 4071. In Geekbench, it scores 14367 multi-core and 2255 single-core. These numbers indicate a CPU that is far more capable than what is needed for Archeage.

In the context of this game, the CPU’s role is to handle the game’s logic, AI, and network processing. MMORPGs like Archeage often have complex world states and many concurrent players, which can stress the CPU. However, the i7-12700KF’s high clock speeds and many threads ensure that it is not a limiting factor. The data shows that the frame rate drops are entirely consistent with GPU limitations, as the CPU has plenty of headroom. The processor’s performance is comparable to its nearest rivals, with the Intel Core i7-13700T being only 0.1% faster and the Intel Core i5-13600T being 0.2% slower. This means that any bottleneck in the system is not due to the CPU, but rather the graphics card’s inability to keep up with the frame rendering demands.

The CPU’s 20 threads are more than sufficient for a 2014 title, which likely does not utilize all cores effectively. Still, the high single-thread performance (1043 in 3DMark single-thread, 410 in Cinebench R15 single-core) ensures that the main game thread will not be a bottleneck. The data suggests that swapping the GTX 1650 for a more powerful GPU would yield significant frame rate improvements, while keeping the same CPU. This is a classic case of a CPU that is overqualified for the GPU it is paired with, leading to a system that is firmly GPU-bound in Archeage.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, with a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. Its synthetic benchmark scores place it in the 40th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 7472. This is a low-to-mid-range card that was designed for 1080p gaming at moderate settings, and its end-of-life status as of 2019 reflects its age.

In Archeage, the GTX 1650 is the clear performance limiter. The measured frame rates show that even at 1080p, the card cannot maintain high frame rates at higher settings. The 4 GB VRAM is likely a significant constraint, as modern game textures and effects at High or Ultra settings can exceed this capacity, leading to texture streaming issues and stutters. The 128-bit memory bus and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are also modest, limiting the card’s ability to handle the data throughput required at higher resolutions. The GPU’s scores in DirectX 11 (58 in Passmark) and DirectX 12 (35) are low, indicating weak performance in modern APIs, which may affect the game’s rendering pipeline.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the GTX 1650 is not significantly worse. It is 1% slower than the Intel Arc A310, but 0.3% faster than the AMD Radeon HD 8850M and 0.4% faster than the Intel UHD Graphics 750. This places it in a very narrow performance band, meaning that any of these GPUs would produce similar results in Archeage. However, the card’s low percentile ranking (40th) means that a majority of GPUs in the database are faster. The data shows that the GTX 1650 is simply not powerful enough to deliver smooth frame rates at 1440p or 4K, and even at 1080p, it requires Low or Medium settings to stay above 50 FPS. The GPU’s 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors indicate it is a low-power card, but that does not compensate for its limited computational resources.