Archeage

Archeage is a 2014 MMORPG with a persistent world where large-scale player battles and crowded hubs place heavy demands on both processor and graphics hardware. The benchmark data for this system, pairing the Intel Core i7-14700KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, shows a configuration that delivers high frame rates across all tested settings, though the scaling between presets reveals where each component becomes the limiting factor. As a 10 nm Raptor Lake Refresh part with 20 cores and 28 threads, the i7-14700KF provides substantial compute headroom, while the Ada Lovelace-based RTX 4080 offers 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit bus. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to show how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the final scores, how this combo ranks against other tested systems, and which settings offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, and it carries a 33 MB shared L3 cache along with 2 MB of L2 cache per core. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, while Geekbench results show 21462 multi-core and 2578 single-core. These numbers place the processor at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70163.

The nearest rivals in the database show just how tightly grouped the top-end desktop processors are. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, a mere 0.2% behind the i7-14700KF, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.9% behind at 69515. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K actually leads by 1% with a score of 70879. For a game like Archeage, which has been live since 2014, the single-thread performance matters for the game's main thread logic, but the massive multi-core headroom means background tasks and the MMO's many simultaneous entity updates are unlikely to bottleneck this processor.

Looking at the measured FPS data, the CPU's role becomes clearer when comparing settings at a fixed resolution. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system hits 269 FPS average, while dropping to High settings still yields 163 FPS. The gap between Low and High at 1080p is 106 FPS, which is a significant drop but still leaves the system well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that many competitive displays offer. At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 181 FPS and High produces 110 FPS, showing a similar pattern of diminishing returns as settings increase. The CPU's strength here is that even at the lowest settings, where the GPU has less work to do, the i7-14700KF can push frame rates beyond 250 FPS, indicating it is not the limiting factor at 1080p.

The processor's multi-threaded capability, demonstrated by a Passmark multithread score of 52425 and a data compression score of 694963, suggests it can handle the many concurrent players and NPC interactions typical of Archeage's open-world zones. However, the benchmark data does not isolate CPU-bound scenarios, so the exact impact of the 28 threads in crowded areas is not directly measured. What the data does show is that the CPU provides enough compute power to allow the GPU to reach its potential at lower resolutions, where the frame rate ceiling is highest.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process, with a die size of 379 mm² housing 45,900 million transistors. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and memory runs at 1400 MHz with 22.4 Gbps effective speed. With 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, the RTX 4080 posts a Passmark G3D score of 34457 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 214739, placing it at the 86th percentile among all GPUs.

The nearest GPU rivals show a tight competition at this tier. The RTX 4080 SUPER is 0.1% ahead with an average score of 54209, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% behind at 54828. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are 2.6% and 2.7% behind, respectively. These deltas are small, meaning the RTX 4080's performance position is well established within a few percentage points of its closest competitors.

In Archeage, the GPU's role is most visible when moving between resolutions. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the system averages 104 FPS, but High settings drop that to 63 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS. The scaling from Low to High at 4K is a 61% reduction in frame rate, which is substantial and shows the GPU is heavily loaded at this resolution. At 2560x1440, the Low preset hits 181 FPS, High drops to 110 FPS, and Ultra settles at 75 FPS. The pattern repeats at 1920x1080, where Low reaches 269 FPS, High hits 163 FPS, and Ultra manages 111 FPS.

The 16 GB VRAM capacity is not stressed by Archeage, as the game's 2014 release date suggests modest texture requirements, but the memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s helps maintain consistent frame pacing. The measured FPS data shows that at 1440p and 1080p, the GPU can sustain high frame rates even at Ultra settings, with the 1440p Ultra average of 75 FPS being playable for most users. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is the only setting where the system falls below 60 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4080's limits are only reached at the highest resolution and preset combination.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 110 FPS, with no minimum or maximum values recorded in the benchmark data.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080's score of 54247, making the performance difference negligible in practical terms.

Q: Does the i7-14700KF outperform the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X?

A: Yes, the i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70163, which is 0.9% higher than the Ryzen 9 7950X's score of 69515, though the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K leads both by 1% with a score of 70879.

Q: What is the highest measured FPS in the database for this combo?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 269 at 1920x1080 with Low settings, while the Medium preset at the same resolution reaches 240 FPS with a maximum of 276 FPS.

Q: Is the system capable of 4K gaming at playable frame rates?

A: At 3840x2160, the system averages 63 FPS on High settings and 92 FPS on Medium, but Ultra drops to 43 FPS, which is below the common 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

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

A: This CPU and GPU combination ranks 203rd out of 3708 tested combos, placing it in the top 5.5% of all configurations in the database for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination ranks 203rd out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage, placing it in the top 5.5% of all systems evaluated. This rank reflects the high absolute performance of both components, but the position also indicates that many other configurations, likely with newer or more expensive hardware, can achieve higher frame rates in this specific game.

The rank of 203 is consistent with the individual component percentiles: the CPU sits at the 94th percentile and the GPU at the 86th percentile. The GPU is the weaker link relative to the CPU, which aligns with the FPS scaling data. At 1080p, the system reaches 269 FPS on Low, but at 4K Ultra it drops to 43 FPS, suggesting that the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions while the CPU has more headroom.

Compared to the nearest rival combos in the database, the i7-14700KF's closest CPU competitor, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, is 1% faster on average, which could push a system with that processor slightly higher in the rankings if paired with a similar GPU. The RTX 4080's closest GPU rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is only 0.1% faster, so swapping to that card would have a minimal impact on the overall rank. The rank of 203 out of 3708 means there are 202 configurations that achieve better performance in Archeage, but this combo still delivers high frame rates across most settings, making it a strong performer for the game's requirements.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience balancing visual quality and performance depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 163 FPS average, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most gaming monitors, and the Ultra preset still manages 111 FPS. The Medium preset at 240 FPS offers the highest frame rate above 200 FPS, but High provides a better visual experience with only a 77 FPS reduction from Medium, making High the recommended setting for 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the High preset produces 110 FPS, which is suitable for high-refresh monitors, while Ultra drops to 75 FPS. The Medium preset at 161 FPS is also viable for competitive play, but the visual improvement from Medium to High is likely worth the 51 FPS reduction for most users. The recommendation for 1440p is High, as it maintains triple-digit frame rates while offering better graphics than Medium.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The High preset averages 63 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while Medium hits 92 FPS but with a measured minimum of 79 FPS and maximum of 106 FPS. Ultra drops to 43 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. For 4K, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides the best balance of frame rate and visual quality, with the High preset as an alternative for users who prioritize graphics over the risk of dips below 60 FPS.

The Low preset at any resolution offers the highest frame rates, peaking at 269 FPS at 1080p, but the visual quality trade-off is severe. For a game like Archeage, where the art style and world detail are part of the experience, Low settings are only recommended for competitive play where maximum frame rate is critical.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance. The Low preset averages 269 FPS, representing the ceiling for this resolution. Medium settings produce 240 FPS average with a minimum of 204 FPS and maximum of 276 FPS, showing consistent frame delivery. High settings drop to 163 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 111 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 158 FPS reduction, with the largest single drop occurring between Medium and High at 77 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings average 181 FPS, which is still high for 1440p. Medium averages 161 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS and maximum of 186 FPS. High settings deliver 110 FPS, and Ultra averages 75 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 106 FPS, with the Medium to High drop of 51 FPS being the most significant step.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. Low settings average 104 FPS, Medium averages 92 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS and maximum of 106 FPS, High drops to 63 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS. The 4K results show a 61 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, and notably, the Medium preset's minimum of 79 FPS is higher than the High preset's average of 63 FPS, indicating that the step from Medium to High introduces a significant performance penalty.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset is the only one that includes minimum and maximum FPS data in the measured results, allowing for a more complete picture of frame consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range is 204 to 276 FPS, at 1440p Medium it is 137 to 186 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 79 to 106 FPS. These ranges suggest that the system maintains stable frame delivery without major stutters, which is important for an MMORPG where sudden frame drops can occur during large-scale events or in crowded areas.