Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, exhibits a performance profile that is heavily dictated by both resolution and graphical preset. The measured data for the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but is progressively constrained by the graphics card as pixel count increases. The benchmark results show a clear hierarchy where the CPU provides ample headroom at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck at 4K, particularly under maximum settings.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a steep and consistent decline in frame rates across all settings, indicating a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern at higher pixel densities. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 142 at 1080p to 95 at 1440p, a reduction of 47 frames, and then further down to 55 at 4K. This represents a 61% performance loss from 1080p to 4K, which is substantial and points directly to the Radeon RX 9060's rendering limits. The scaling is not linear; the gap between 1080p and 1440p is 47 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 40 FPS, suggesting that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are being saturated more aggressively as resolution increases.

At High settings, the pattern is similar but with lower absolute values. The average FPS falls from 86 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p, and then to 33 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 62%, nearly identical to the Low setting scenario. This consistency implies that the resolution scaling is primarily a function of pixel throughput rather than the specific complexity of the preset. However, the Ultra preset tells a different story. Here, the average FPS plummets from 58 at 1080p to 39 at 1440p, and then to just 23 at 4K. The 4K result is a mere 40% of the 1080p figure, and the absolute numbers are so low that the game becomes unplayable in this configuration. The data suggests that at Ultra, the GPU is not only fill-rate limited but also likely encountering bottlenecks in shader complexity and memory pressure, causing the frame rate to collapse disproportionately.

The Medium preset offers the only complete set of minimum and maximum FPS data, which provides additional insight. At 1080p, the average is 126 FPS with a minimum of 107 and a maximum of 145. At 1440p, the average drops to 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 98. At 4K, the average is 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56. The spread between minimum and maximum FPS narrows as resolution increases, from 38 frames at 1080p to 15 frames at 4K. This tightening of the frame time variance suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU is causing occasional hitches or frame drops, while at 4K, the GPU is consistently saturated, leading to a more stable but much lower frame rate. This is a strong indicator that the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060, featuring 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s bandwidth, is the primary determinant of performance at high resolutions. The GPU's boost clock of 2990 MHz and game clock of 2400 MHz are high, but the 8 GB frame buffer appears to be a limiting factor in Archeage, especially at 4K Ultra where the average FPS drops to 23. The data shows that the GPU's 59th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 16014 place it in a mid-range tier, which aligns with the observed performance in this title. The GPU's compute capability, measured at 21.43 TFLOPS, is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but is clearly stretched at 4K.

The memory configuration is particularly telling. With only 8 GB of VRAM, the RX 9060 must constantly manage data transfer between the frame buffer and system memory at 4K, likely causing stutters and reducing the average FPS. The fact that the 4K High setting achieves only 33 FPS, while the 4K Low setting achieves 55 FPS, suggests that texture quality and shader effects are heavily dependent on VRAM capacity. When the preset is lowered, the GPU can fit more data into its 8 GB buffer, improving performance. The GPU's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, has a similar average benchmark score of 16129, but this does not account for game-specific optimizations or driver behavior. In this specific test, the RX 9060's performance in Archeage is consistent with its overall benchmark standing, indicating no unusual driver overhead or architectural advantage for this particular MMORPG engine.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1603 out of 2761 total combos. This places the system in the 58th percentile of all tested configurations, which is a solidly mid-pack result. This ranking is likely held back by the GPU, as the CPU is a top-tier performer with an 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, have average scores that are within 0.3% of the i7-13700K, confirming that the processor is not the limiting factor in this pairing.

The combo rank of 1603 suggests that while the system is capable of playing Archeage at playable frame rates in most scenarios, it is not optimized for maximum performance. For example, a combination with a stronger GPU, such as one with a higher percentile ranking, would likely achieve a much higher rank. The data indicates that the CPU is providing a solid foundation, but the GPU is preventing the system from reaching the upper echelons of the benchmark chart. This is a common scenario where a high-end CPU is paired with a mid-range GPU, resulting in a balanced but not exceptional overall system. The 2761 combos tested include a wide range of hardware, and this particular pairing is squarely in the middle, which is appropriate for a 1440p gaming focus but not for 4K enthusiasts.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 126, with a minimum of 107 and a maximum of 145.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, which is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 23, which is extremely low. The data shows a significant performance drop when moving from 1440p to 4K, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck due to its 8 GB memory and mid-range compute capabilities.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination to achieve 60 FPS?

A: To achieve 60 FPS on average, the system must be set to 1440p with High settings, which yields 58 FPS, or 1080p with Ultra settings, which yields 58 FPS. The 1080p Medium setting exceeds this with 126 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1603 out of 2761 tested combinations.

Q: Does the game run better at 4K with Low settings compared to 1440p Ultra?

A: Yes, at 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 55, which is significantly higher than the 39 FPS achieved at 1440p with Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is viable, delivering an average of 58 FPS, which is above the standard 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. However, the High preset at 86 FPS offers a much better margin for frame rate drops and is recommended for competitive play or areas with many players. The Medium preset at 126 FPS is the best choice for high refresh rate monitors, providing a fluid experience that leverages the CPU's strong single-thread performance.

At 1440p, the High preset is the highest setting that maintains a playable frame rate, averaging 58 FPS. This is a borderline experience, as any complex scene could cause the frame rate to dip below 60. The Medium preset at 85 FPS is a more comfortable choice, providing a significant performance buffer while still looking good. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for this resolution, as it falls below the playability threshold and would result in a choppy experience.

For 4K, the data suggests that this system is not well-suited for high-quality gaming. The Low preset achieves 55 FPS, which is playable but visually basic. The Medium preset at 49 FPS is acceptable for less demanding play, but the High preset at 33 FPS and the Ultra preset at 23 FPS are not viable for a smooth experience. The recommendation for 4K is to use the Low or Medium preset if visual fidelity is not a primary concern, but the system is clearly more comfortable at 1440p or 1080p. The sweet spot for this combination is 1440p with Medium settings, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance with an average of 85 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K, with its 16 cores and 24 threads, is a formidable processor that provides exceptional headroom for Archeage. The CPU's high boost clock of 5.40 GHz and strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2116, are crucial for an MMORPG that relies heavily on single-threaded game logic and draw calls. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 142 FPS, which is likely CPU-bound at that point, as the GPU has less work to do. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 46881 place it near the top of the performance chart, with its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, being only 0.2% slower.

The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory contribute to its ability to feed the GPU efficiently. In Archeage, where large numbers of players and NPCs can cause CPU load spikes, the i7-13700K's 24 threads ensure that background tasks and game logic do not cause frame rate stutters. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this system, as the frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are entirely attributable to the GPU. The CPU's performance in multi-threaded tests, such as Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 30745, shows that it can handle any complex calculations the game throws at it, freeing the GPU to focus on rendering. The processor's role is to provide a stable, high-frequency foundation that allows the GPU to operate at its full potential, and the data confirms this is happening.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination in Archeage, organized by resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates strong performance across all presets. With Low settings, the average FPS is 142, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. Medium settings yield an average of 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 and a maximum of 145. High settings reduce the average to 86 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings bring the average down to 58 FPS, which is the lowest at this resolution but still playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings produce an average of 95 FPS, which is excellent for this resolution. Medium settings achieve an average of 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 98. High settings drop to an average of 58 FPS, which is just at the edge of smooth gameplay. Ultra settings fall to an average of 39 FPS, which is not recommended for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings yield an average of 55 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Medium settings produce an average of 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56. High settings drop to an average of 33 FPS, which is a significant compromise. Ultra settings result in an average of just 23 FPS, which makes the game nearly unplayable at this resolution. The data across all resolutions shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the system being most capable at 1080p and progressively less so as resolution increases.