Archeage

# Archeage Performance Analysis: Intel Core Ultra 5 225 + AMD Radeon RX 570

The pairing of Intel's Core Ultra 5 225 with AMD's Radeon RX 570 in Archeage produces a combination that ranks near the bottom of tested configurations, sitting at rank 3544 out of 3708 total combos. This places the setup in the 4th percentile of all tested hardware combinations for this MMORPG, indicating significant performance limitations that become increasingly apparent as resolution and graphical demands rise. The measured frame rates across the three tested resolutions reveal a system that struggles to maintain playable performance at higher settings, yet shows surprising capability at lower presets, suggesting a complex interplay between the CPU's modern architecture and the GPU's aging Polaris design.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K tells a clear story about where this system's bottleneck resides. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination achieves 62 FPS average, which drops to 42 FPS at 1440p (-32%) and further to 24 FPS at 4K (-61% from 1080p). This steep decline pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as resolution scaling directly impacts pixel throughput, which is the Radeon RX 570's responsibility. The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth become increasingly strained as pixel counts multiply, explaining why 4K performance collapses to roughly one-third of 1080p performance.

Moving from Low to High settings at 1080p shows a more moderate drop, from 62 FPS to 37 FPS, a 40% reduction. However, at 4K the same settings change produces a more dramatic fall, from 24 FPS to 14 FPS, a 42% decline that pushes the system from marginally playable to essentially unplayable. The pattern suggests that the GPU's 32 ROPs and 128 TMUs become overwhelmed when both resolution and shading complexity increase simultaneously. The 5.095 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power, while respectable for 2017 hardware, simply cannot sustain the demands of modern MMORPG rendering at high resolutions.

The Ultra preset reveals the most extreme scaling behavior. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 26 FPS, but at 1440p this falls to 17 FPS (-35%), and at 4K it plummets to 10 FPS (-62% from 1080p). These numbers suggest that the Ultra preset introduces effects that the Polaris 20 chip cannot handle efficiently at higher pixel counts, likely related to the 2048 shading units being forced to process increasingly complex shader workloads. The data strongly implies that this combination is designed for 1080p gaming, with any resolution above that requiring significant settings compromises.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 operates at a base clock of 1168 MHz and boost clock of 1244 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). These clock speeds, combined with the 256-bit memory bus producing 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, represent the GPU's fundamental capabilities. The 4 GB GDDR5 memory capacity proves sufficient for Low and Medium settings across all resolutions, but the measured data shows that High and Ultra presets at 4K cause the system to drop to 14 and 10 FPS respectively, indicating memory capacity or bandwidth limitations when texture sizes increase.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it at the 74th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28766. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, scores 28874, showing only a 0.4% difference, while the Radeon RX 470 trails by 0.8%. This positioning suggests the RX 570 performs comparably to other mid-range options from its era, but the 4K results in Archeage demonstrate that raw compute capability does not translate to high-resolution gaming performance. The 39.81 GPixel/s pixel rate and 159.2 GTexel/s texture rate are simply insufficient for 4K workloads, as evidenced by the 14 FPS average at 4K High settings.

Interestingly, the GPU's 14 nm process node and 5,700 million transistors represent a design that prioritized efficiency over raw power. The 150 W TDP and single 6-pin power connector indicate modest power requirements, but this efficiency comes at the cost of performance headroom. The Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0) API support shows modern software compatibility, yet the hardware lacks the specialized features found in newer architectures. The 4K Medium preset's 21 FPS average (with minimums of 18 and maximums of 24) versus the 4K Low preset's 24 FPS shows that even minor settings increases can significantly impact performance, emphasizing the GPU's fragile performance envelope at high resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 brings modern Arrow Lake architecture to this pairing, featuring 10 cores and 10 threads operating at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This processor, built on TSMC's 3 nm process with 17,800 million transistors, represents a significant generational leap over the GPU's 2017 design. The CPU's benchmark results are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25,891 and single-core score of 3,655, placing it at the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 36,938 nearly matches the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36,945 (0% difference) and slightly exceeds the Ryzen 5 5500X3D by 0.2%.

In Archeage, an MMORPG that historically relies heavily on single-thread performance for game logic and network processing, the Core Ultra 5 225's strong single-core capabilities should theoretically provide a solid foundation. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,412 and Cinebench R20 single-core score of 891 indicate excellent per-core performance. However, the measured frame rates show that the CPU's capabilities are largely wasted in this configuration, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor at all but the lowest settings and resolutions. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide substantial data storage for game assets, but this advantage cannot overcome the GPU's rendering limitations.

The CPU's memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth ensures that data can flow quickly to the GPU, but the GPU's own 224.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes the constraint. The processor's 65 W TDP and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes suggest a modern, efficient design, yet the pairing with a PCIe 3.0 x16 GPU creates a potential interface bottleneck. The CPU's 3 nm process and Arrow Lake architecture represent state-of-the-art technology, but the measured data shows that Archeage's performance ceiling is determined by the GPU, not the CPU. The PassMark physics score of 2,342 and multithread score of 30,459 indicate strong computational capabilities that would benefit other workloads, but in this game, the CPU sits largely idle while waiting for the GPU to complete rendering tasks.

How This Combo Ranks

With a combo rank of 3544 out of 3708 tested combinations, this setup sits in the bottom 5% of all configurations tested for Archeage. This ranking, combined with the 74th percentile GPU and 85th percentile CPU scores, reveals a significant mismatch between component generations. The CPU's modern architecture and strong benchmark results cannot compensate for the GPU's aging Polaris design, which was released in 2017 and is now end-of-life. The GPU's nearest rivals in performance, including the Radeon RX 6800M (0.4% faster) and Radeon RX 470 (0.8% slower), show that the RX 570's performance level is well understood, but none of these GPUs would be considered adequate for modern 4K gaming.

The ranking suggests that this combination performs worse than 95.5% of all tested configurations, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing sub-30 FPS performance at 4K across all settings. Even at 1080p, the combination only achieves playable frame rates at Low (62 FPS) and Medium (55 FPS) settings, with High (37 FPS) and Ultra (26 FPS) falling below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider essential. The CPU's strong benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 25,891 and PassMark data compression score of 302,811, suggest that this processor could support a much more powerful GPU, but in this specific configuration, the GPU holds back the entire system.

The deltaPct values from the CPU's nearest rivals show negligible differences (all within 0.5%), indicating that swapping to a Ryzen 5 5600F or Ryzen 5 5500X3D would not meaningfully change Archeage performance. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rivals show that upgrading to an RX 6800M or RX 470 would only shift performance by less than 1%. This data implies that the current combination's poor ranking stems not from either component being particularly weak, but rather from the fundamental mismatch between a modern CPU and an outdated GPU in a game that scales heavily with GPU capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the measured frame rates show a clear progression across settings. Low settings produce an average of 62 FPS, which is the only preset to achieve truly smooth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 55 FPS average, with minimums of 47 and maximums of 63, showing some frame time variance but remaining generally playable. High settings fall to 37 FPS, a 40% reduction from Low, indicating that the additional shading and texture work significantly impacts the GPU. Ultra settings produce just 26 FPS, a 58% reduction from Low, making this preset unsuitable for competitive or immersive play.

Moving to 1440p, the performance degradation becomes more pronounced. Low settings average 42 FPS, which represents a 32% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings average 37 FPS (32-43 FPS range), showing a 33% reduction from 1080p Medium. High settings fall to 25 FPS, a 32% drop from 1080p High and a 40% drop from 1440p Low. Ultra settings produce just 17 FPS, a 35% reduction from 1080p Ultra and a 60% reduction from 1440p Low. These numbers demonstrate that 1440p gaming requires Low or Medium settings to maintain playable frame rates.

At 4K, the performance collapses across all settings. Low settings average 24 FPS, which is barely playable for an MMORPG but not ideal. Medium settings average 21 FPS (18-24 FPS range), showing the GPU's struggle to maintain consistent frame delivery. High settings fall to 14 FPS, a 42% drop from Low, while Ultra settings produce just 10 FPS, representing a 58% drop from Low and a 61% drop from 1080p Low. The 4K results clearly indicate that this resolution is not viable for this combination, with even the lowest settings failing to reach 30 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combination in Archeage?

A: The measured data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the combination achieves consistently playable frame rates, with Low settings producing 62 FPS and Medium producing 55 FPS. At 1440p, only Low settings (42 FPS) approach playability, while 4K performance is below 25 FPS at all settings.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance affect Archeage?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4,412, indicating strong per-core performance. However, the measured FPS data shows the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions, so the CPU's single-thread capabilities do not translate to better Archeage performance when the GPU is overwhelmed.

Q: Is the RX 570's 4 GB VRAM sufficient for Archeage?

A: The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory appears adequate for Low and Medium settings across all resolutions, as evidenced by the relatively smaller FPS drops between Low and Medium compared to High and Ultra. However, High and Ultra presets at higher resolutions likely exceed the VRAM capacity, contributing to the severe FPS drops observed.

Q: How does this combination compare to other tested setups?

A: This combo ranks 3544 out of 3708 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 5%. The GPU's nearest rivals (RX 6800M at +0.4%, RX 470 at -0.8%) show that the GPU performance is typical for its class, but the overall ranking reflects the GPU's inability to handle modern game demands.

Q: What causes the severe FPS drop between 1080p and 4K?

A: The data shows FPS dropping by approximately 60% from 1080p to 4K at most settings. This is attributed to the GPU's limited pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s, which cannot scale to handle four times the pixel count of 1080p.

Q: Would upgrading the CPU improve Archeage performance?

A: The CPU's nearest rivals all show less than 0.5% performance difference, indicating that CPU upgrades would not meaningfully improve Archeage results. The measured FPS data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor, as performance scales almost entirely with resolution and settings changes.

Settings Recommendations

For players seeking the best experience with this combination, the measured data provides clear guidance. At 1080p, Medium settings offer the optimal balance, with 55 FPS average and a range of 47-63 FPS, providing smooth gameplay while maintaining reasonable visual quality. The step from Low to Medium costs only 7 FPS (11% reduction) while likely providing noticeably better visuals. High settings at 37 FPS may be acceptable for players prioritizing visual fidelity over smoothness, but the 33% reduction from Medium makes this a less attractive option.

For those who must play at 1440p, Low settings at 42 FPS represent the only viable option, as Medium settings drop to 37 FPS and High falls to 25 FPS. The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely, as even Low settings only achieve 24 FPS, which is below acceptable playability thresholds for an MMORPG where quick reactions matter. Players with 4K displays should consider running the game at 1080p resolution or scaling down their display resolution to maintain playable frame rates.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, with the best-case scenario being 26 FPS at 1080p. The transition from Medium to Ultra costs 29 FPS (53% reduction) at 1080p, which is an excessive performance penalty for the visual improvements Ultra presumably provides. Given the combination's ranking at 3544 out of 3708, players should accept that this hardware cannot deliver high-end visuals in Archeage and focus on achieving smooth gameplay through settings compromises. The data suggests that Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot, offering the best frame rate consistency (47-63 FPS range) while maintaining acceptable visual quality for this MMORPG.