Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, presents an interesting workload that stresses both the CPU and GPU depending on the resolution and settings. The benchmark results for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination reveal a system that is highly capable at 1080p, but which struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with higher graphical presets. The data indicates a clear shift in the bottleneck from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU at higher resolutions, making the choice of settings and resolution critical for the best experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the processor driving this configuration. It features 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This processing power is substantial, placing the chip in the 85th percentile of all CPUs according to its benchmark data. Its performance is closely matched by rivals like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, with a negligible 0% performance delta in average benchmark scores.

In the context of Archeage, an MMORPG, the CPU is crucial for handling game logic, network data, and the numerous entities that populate the world. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p resolution, the system achieves 142 FPS on Low settings and 86 FPS on High settings. This high performance at a lower resolution, where the GPU is less burdened, indicates that the CPU is more than capable of feeding the graphics card with frames. The system's rank of 2174 out of 3708 combinations further contextualizes its overall position, though this is a combined metric with the GPU.

The processor's strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655, is particularly relevant for an MMORPG like Archeage, which often relies heavily on a single primary thread for main game loop tasks. This strength is reflected in the high frame rates seen at 1080p. As the resolution increases, the CPU's role becomes less of a limiting factor, as the GPU takes on the primary workload. The data shows that the frame rate drops significantly at 4K, from 86 FPS at 1080p High to 33 FPS at 4K High, which points directly to the GPU becoming the bottleneck rather than the CPU. The Ultra 5 225, with its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 10 cores, provides a solid foundation that does not appear to hold the system back in this game, allowing the RX 9060 to perform to its potential until the graphical load becomes too intense.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the graphics card in this pairing. It is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU has a boost clock of 2990 MHz and a game clock of 2400 MHz. According to its benchmark data, this GPU sits in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with a performance profile that is nearly identical to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, showing a delta of -0.7%.

In Archeage, the GPU's role is to render the game world, handle visual effects, and manage textures. The data clearly shows that the RX 9060 is the limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU can easily keep up with the CPU, allowing for high frame rates. However, at 1440p and especially 4K, the GPU's workload increases dramatically. The frame rate at Medium settings drops from 126 FPS at 1080p to 85 FPS at 1440p, and then to 49 FPS at 4K. This significant drop indicates that the GPU's processing power and memory bandwidth are being saturated.

The 8 GB of VRAM may also be a contributing factor at 4K with higher settings, where texture data can exceed this capacity. The performance at 4K Ultra, with an average of 23 FPS, is particularly telling, as it suggests the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and demanding graphical presets. The RX 9060 is a capable mid-range card, but its performance in this title at 4K shows clear limitations. The data indicates that for a smooth experience, users will need to prioritize lower resolutions or less demanding settings to stay within the GPU's capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 9060 in Archeage?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the CPU appears to provide sufficient performance. The frame rates are high, suggesting the CPU is not the primary limiter. However, at 4K, the significant drop in frame rates indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting component, so the CPU is not a bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Q: How does the RX 9060's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RX 9060's average benchmark score is 16014. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, has an average score of 16129, which is a -0.7% delta. Other close rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 370X with a 1% delta and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 with a 1% delta, indicating very similar overall performance levels.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Archeage with this hardware for a high frame rate?

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the highest frame rates. On Low settings, the system achieves 142 FPS, and on High settings, it still delivers a smooth 86 FPS. This makes 1080p the best choice for high refresh rate monitors or for maximizing performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Archeage?

A: Yes, but with compromises. The system can achieve playable frame rates at 4K on Low settings, with an average of 55 FPS. However, at 4K High, the frame rate drops to 33 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 23 FPS, which may not be an ideal experience for many users.

Q: What settings are recommended for 1440p gameplay?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset provides an average of 58 FPS, while Medium provides 85 FPS. For a smoother experience, the Medium preset is a better choice, as it offers a significant performance boost over High with likely minimal visual difference.

Q: How much performance is gained by lowering settings from Ultra to Low at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate on Ultra is 58 FPS. By lowering the settings to Low, the average frame rate jumps to 142 FPS. This represents a substantial increase of 84 FPS, or approximately 145% more performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data for this combination in Archeage is detailed across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset yields an average of 142 FPS, while the Medium preset produces an average of 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS. The High preset is still very smooth at 86 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p results in an average of 58 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. The Low preset delivers an average of 95 FPS. The Medium preset averages 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 98 FPS. The High preset is still playable but less smooth, with an average of 58 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution takes a significant hit, dropping to an average of 39 FPS.

At the demanding 4K resolution of 3840x2160, the system's limits are clearly defined. The Low preset is the most playable option, with an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56 FPS. The High preset is less fluid, with an average of 33 FPS, and the Ultra preset becomes nearly unplayable, with an average of just 23 FPS. The data shows a clear and consistent trend of diminishing performance as both resolution and settings increase.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 86 FPS at 1080p to 58 FPS at 1440p, a decrease of 28 FPS, and then to 33 FPS at 4K, a further drop of 25 FPS. This steep decline indicates that the resolution increase places a heavy burden on the RX 9060's rendering capabilities. Similarly, at Medium settings, the frame rate goes from 126 FPS at 1080p to 85 FPS at 1440p and then to 49 FPS at 4K. The consistent pattern across all settings confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution scales.

This behavior is expected for a game like Archeage, where the graphical workload increases with the number of pixels. The 8 GB VRAM of the RX 9060 might also be a contributing factor at 4K, especially with higher texture quality presets. The data suggests that the CPU's performance headroom, which is evident from the high 1080p frame rates, is not the limiting factor. Instead, the GPU's raw compute power and memory bandwidth are saturated at higher resolutions. For players seeking to play at 4K, the benchmark results suggest that the Low preset is the only viable option for a consistently smooth experience, while 1080p and 1440p offer a much wider range of playable settings.

Settings Recommendations

According to the measured FPS data, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 86 FPS. For players with high refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset, at 126 FPS, or Low preset, at 142 FPS, are superior choices to fully utilize the display's capabilities.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset provides the best experience, with an average of 85 FPS. This setting offers a significant performance advantage over High, which averages 58 FPS, while likely maintaining a high level of visual fidelity. The High preset is also playable for those who prioritize graphical detail, but the frame rate may be less stable.

For 4K resolution, the data indicates that the Low preset is the only option that maintains a playable frame rate, averaging 55 FPS. The Medium preset is borderline, with an average of 49 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but the High and Ultra presets are not recommended for a smooth experience. The benchmark results clearly show that to achieve the best experience in Archeage with this hardware, users should prioritize 1080p or 1440p resolution and use Medium or High settings, reserving 4K for the Low preset.