Archeage

Archeage is a 2014 MMORPG, and when paired with the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, the measured frame rates reveal a title that is heavily influenced by both CPU and GPU performance depending on the resolution and settings. The data set provides a clear picture of how this specific high-end combination scales, with the 4K Ultra preset representing a significant bottleneck for the GPU while lower resolutions and settings push the limits of the processor. Benchmark results indicate a system capable of exceptional frame rates, but the scaling behavior shows distinct thresholds where performance characteristics change dramatically.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable trend: as resolution increases, average frame rates decrease across all settings presets. However, the rate of this decline is not uniform, which provides insight into the limiting component at each stage. From 1080p to 1440p, the performance drop is relatively modest for most settings, but the jump to 4K introduces a much steeper penalty, particularly at the High and Ultra presets.

At the Low settings preset, the average frame rate falls from 288 FPS at 1920x1080 to 219 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of roughly 24%. Moving further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 125 FPS, which is a 43% decrease from the 1440p figure. This substantial decline at 4K Low indicates that while the CPU is capable of driving very high frame rates at lower resolutions, the GPU begins to take on a more significant role as the pixel count increases, even at minimal graphical fidelity.

The Medium preset shows a similar pattern, with averages of 276 FPS at 1080p, 195 FPS at 1440p, and 112 FPS at 4K. The decline from 1080p to 1440p is 29%, and from 1440p to 4K is 43%. The High preset exhibits an even more pronounced scaling issue: 197 FPS at 1080p, 132 FPS at 1440p, and 76 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1440p to 4K for High is 42%, which is consistent with the other presets, but the absolute frame rates at 4K are much lower, highlighting the GPU's struggle with the increased workload.

The Ultra preset presents the most extreme case of resolution scaling. It delivers 134 FPS at 1080p, 90 FPS at 1440p, and only 52 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 33%, and from 1440p to 4K is 42%. The 52 FPS average at 4K Ultra is the lowest recorded figure in the entire data set, suggesting that this configuration is pushed to its limits at this combination of resolution and graphical fidelity. The data shows that the scaling from 1440p to 4K consistently results in approximately a 42-43% reduction in average FPS across all presets, which points to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K where the rendering load increases exponentially with pixel count. Conversely, the smaller gaps between 1080p and 1440p, especially at Low and Medium settings, indicate that the CPU is still the primary limiter at those lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. In the context of Archeage, an MMORPG that often relies on single-thread performance for game logic and physics, the high boost clock is likely a critical factor in achieving the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the dominant factor. At Low settings, the average FPS reaches 288, which is a very high figure that indicates the processor can feed the GPU with enough data to maintain such a frame rate. The fact that the average FPS at 1080p Low (288) is significantly higher than at 4K Low (125) reinforces this, as the resolution increase places more strain on the GPU, reducing its ability to keep up with the CPU's output. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and the Passmark single-thread score of 4333 further support the idea that this CPU has strong single-core capabilities, which are essential for this game's engine.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals is also noteworthy. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, has an average benchmark score of 46971, which is a negligible 0.2% difference from the i7-13700K's average of 46881. This indicates that, in general compute tasks, the i7-13700K is essentially on par with its direct competitor. However, in gaming scenarios like Archeage, the nuances of clock speed and IPC can matter more than raw multi-core throughput. With a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, the i7-13700K is well-suited for the high-frequency demands of an older MMO engine, which likely contributes to the impressive frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs also places it in the upper echelon of processors, confirming its ability to handle demanding tasks without becoming a significant bottleneck in most scenarios.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship graphics card with a massive 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its architecture is Blackwell 2.0, and it features 21760 shading units and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. The GPU's benchmark scores are equally impressive, with a Passmark G3D score of 44065 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs.

In Archeage, the GPU's role becomes increasingly critical as resolution and settings increase. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 52, which is a clear indication that the GPU is the limiting factor at this extreme settings combination. The RTX 5090 D's raw power is immense, but the game's engine and the sheer number of pixels at 3840x2160, combined with the Ultra preset's graphical effects, create a workload that even this card cannot fully overcome. The fact that the 4K High preset only achieves 76 FPS, while 4K Medium reaches 112 FPS, shows a significant performance cliff when transitioning from Medium to High and then to Ultra.

Interestingly, the GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which has an average score of 78940, representing a 1.6% difference from the RTX 5090 D's score of 77712. This is a surprisingly close margin for a desktop flagship versus a mobile part, suggesting that the benchmark averages might not fully capture the RTX 5090 D's capabilities in specific workloads. However, in this game, the 32 GB of VRAM is unlikely to be a limiting factor, as even at 4K Ultra, the game's texture requirements are likely far below this capacity. The GPU's clock speed of 2407 MHz and its high pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s are more relevant to the performance seen, as they directly impact the card's ability to fill pixels at high resolutions. The data clearly shows that while the CPU handles the low-resolution scenarios with ease, the GPU is the component that determines the playability ceiling at 4K with higher settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates provides a detailed view of the system's performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 288 FPS, which is the highest figure in the entire data set. The Medium preset follows closely with 276 FPS, and its minimum and maximum frames are 235 and 318 FPS, respectively. The High preset drops to 197 FPS, while the Ultra preset manages 134 FPS. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the system is entirely capable of delivering a highly responsive experience, with even the Ultra preset far exceeding the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset averages 219 FPS, the Medium preset averages 195 FPS with a minimum of 166 and a maximum of 224 FPS, the High preset averages 132 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 90 FPS. The 1440p Medium result is particularly interesting, as it maintains a high average while the minimum frame rate of 166 FPS ensures a smooth experience without significant dips.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more varied and constrained. The Low preset averages 125 FPS, which is still very playable. The Medium preset averages 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 and a maximum of 128 FPS, indicating a stable frame time. The High preset drops to 76 FPS, which is playable but begins to show the GPU's limitations. The Ultra preset falls to 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS standard and suggests a less than ideal experience for fast-paced gameplay. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is CPU-bound with high frame rates, 1440p is a balanced middle ground, and 4K is GPU-bound, particularly at higher settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Archeage with this hardware for a balance of quality and performance?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution with the High preset offers a strong balance, delivering an average of 132 FPS. This is significantly higher than the 4K High result of 76 FPS while still providing a sharp image. For an even smoother experience, the 1440p Medium preset averages 195 FPS with a minimum of 166 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The data shows that the bottleneck shifts depending on the settings. At 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter, as evidenced by the high frame rates (up to 288 FPS at Low). At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, with the Ultra preset dropping to 52 FPS, indicating the graphics card is struggling with the pixel count and effects.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its closest rival in terms of overall benchmark scores?

A: The i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, which is just 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 5900's score of 46971. This indicates they are statistically identical in general performance.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded in the entire test suite?

A: The lowest minimum frame rate is recorded at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, where the average FPS is 112 but the minimum drops to 95 FPS. This is the only configuration where the minimum dips below 100 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D's performance in this game similar to its closest competitor?

A: The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, while its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, scores 78940, a difference of 1.6%. However, this is a general benchmark score; in-game results may vary.

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 4K with the highest settings?

A: No, the measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 52 FPS. This falls short of the 60 FPS target. To achieve a stable 60 FPS at 4K, a lower settings preset like High (76 FPS) or Medium (112 FPS) would be required.

Settings Recommendations

Based solely on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend heavily on the user's priority for visual fidelity versus frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 134 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The visual upgrade from High to Ultra is worth the performance cost at this resolution, as the frame rate remains high. The Medium preset at 1080p offers an even higher 276 FPS average, but the difference from Ultra is likely less noticeable in terms of image quality than the jump from Low to Medium.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset provides the best experience according to the data. It achieves an average of 195 FPS with a minimum of 166 FPS, ensuring no noticeable stutter. The High preset at 1440p is also a solid choice at 132 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a more substantial performance buffer. The Ultra preset at 1440p, while averaging 90 FPS, may be tempting for its visual quality, but the 132 FPS of High is a safer bet for maintaining high refresh rates. The Low preset at 1440p is unnecessary, as the performance gains over Medium are not justified by the significant loss in visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the recommendation is more nuanced. The 4K Medium preset is the sweet spot for a balance of quality and performance, with an average of 112 FPS and a minimum of 95 FPS. This configuration ensures the game remains fluid and responsive. The High preset at 4K, averaging 76 FPS, is also playable, but the drop from Medium to High is noticeable, and the frame rate is closer to the 60 FPS line. The Ultra preset at 4K should be avoided, as the 52 FPS average is below the standard for a smooth experience and represents the worst-case scenario for this hardware. The Low preset at 4K, while achieving 125 FPS, strips away too many graphical features, making the game look dated and is not recommended when the Medium preset offers nearly the same performance with a significant visual upgrade.