Archeage

Archeage, an MMORPG from 2014, presents an interesting scaling pattern with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. The data shows that this combination is heavily reliant on resolution, with performance dropping dramatically as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080, the system produces extremely high frame rates, but at 4K, it falls below the 60 FPS threshold on the highest preset. This reveals a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU holds its own at lower ones.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable decline as resolution increases, but the rate of that decline is steep. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 268 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 180 FPS, a 32.8% reduction. Stepping up to 4K further reduces the average to 103 FPS, which is another 42.8% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the limiting factor; as the pixel workload grows, the GPU's rendering throughput becomes the primary constraint.

The gap between settings widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (268 FPS) and Ultra (111 FPS) is 157 FPS. At 1440p, that spread compresses to 106 FPS (180 vs. 74). At 4K, the spread narrows further to 60 FPS (103 vs. 43). This is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. When the GPU is maxed out, the relative cost of each setting level becomes a smaller portion of the total frame time. The data suggests that at 4K Ultra, the system is struggling, with an average of just 43 FPS.

Looking at the High preset specifically, the scaling is consistent: 162 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p (a 32.7% drop), and 62 FPS at 4K (a 43.1% drop from 1440p). This consistent percentage drop across resolution steps suggests that the game's engine is scaling predictably with pixel count. The 4K result is particularly telling: 62 FPS is just above the 60 FPS mark, indicating that High settings at 4K is the edge of playability for this combo. For a game that is not graphically demanding by modern standards, the RTX 4080 SUPER is still being pushed hard at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its performance profile, as measured by synthetic benchmarks, places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. This is a strong showing, and the data suggests it is more than capable of feeding the RTX 4080 SUPER in Archeage. The CPU's single-threaded performance is particularly relevant for an MMORPG, where game logic and network handling often rely on a few fast cores.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU's role becomes apparent at 1080p. At Low settings, the system hits 268 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is able to process the game's simulation and draw calls quickly enough to not bottleneck the GPU. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a ceiling on FPS regardless of resolution or settings. Instead, we see FPS scaling with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck.

However, the CPU's limits are visible in the 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS. While this is primarily a GPU limitation, the 10-core, 10-thread configuration might not be providing enough headroom for the game's background tasks. The CPU's L3 cache is 20 MB shared, and while it has a high boost clock, the lack of additional threads could be a factor in an MMO with many players on screen. The data does not show a scenario where the CPU is the clear bottleneck, but the 43 FPS at 4K Ultra suggests that both components are working hard, with the GPU being the more significant constraint.

The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655, indicate it has substantial processing power. For Archeage, which is not known for being heavily multi-threaded, the strong single-thread performance is likely more valuable. The data shows that this processor can keep up with the demands of the game at high frame rates, making it a suitable match for this GPU in this title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 111 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. For players with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Medium preset at 1080p offers 238 FPS, which is an excellent result. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 268 FPS, but the visual quality trade-off is likely not worth the extra 30 FPS over Medium.

At 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot. It delivers 109 FPS, which is a solid, playable frame rate that balances visual fidelity with performance. The Ultra preset drops to 74 FPS, which is still playable but represents a 32.1% performance hit compared to High. The Medium preset at 1440p offers 161 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but the visual upgrade to High is worth the 52 FPS drop for most users. The Low preset at 1440p hits 180 FPS, but again, the visual compromise is significant.

At 4K, the situation is more delicate. The High preset produces 62 FPS, which is just playable. This is the recommended setting for 4K, as it maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K offers 92 FPS, which is a much more comfortable margin, but it requires a step down in visual quality. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as the 43 FPS average is a poor experience for a game like Archeage. The Low preset at 4K hits 103 FPS, which is high, but the visual quality at Low settings is likely too degraded for a game where immersion matters.

The data suggests a clear hierarchy: for a balanced experience, use High settings at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium settings at 4K. The Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, where the GPU has enough headroom to absorb the extra load. For a game from 2014, these results show that the RTX 4080 SUPER is overkill for 1080p and 1440p, but it is appropriately challenged at 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination holds the 242nd rank out of 3708 tested combos in Archeage. This places it in the top 6.5% of all configurations tested for this game. This is a strong ranking, reflecting the high performance of both components. The combo's percentile rank indicates that it outperforms the vast majority of systems in this game, but it is not at the very top of the leaderboard.

The ranking is influenced by both the CPU and GPU. The RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end GPU, placing in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking is similarly strong. When combined, these two components create a system that is well above average for Archeage. The fact that it is not ranked higher, despite the high individual percentiles, suggests that there are other combos with even more powerful parts that achieve higher frame rates in this specific game.

It is importantly the combo's ranking is a measure of overall performance, not just raw FPS. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system struggles, which likely drags down its ranking compared to combos with more powerful GPUs. The 242nd rank is a strong result, but it is not a top-tier placement. For a game released in 2014, the fact that a modern high-end combo is not in the top 200 suggests that the game's engine may have scaling inefficiencies or that other, more specialized hardware configurations are better suited to its quirks.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Archeage at 4K with smooth frame rates?

A: Yes, but only on Medium settings, where it achieves 92 FPS. On High settings, it drops to 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings at 4K are not playable, with an average of 43 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming with this hardware?

A: The High preset at 1440p delivers 109 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset drops to 74 FPS, which is a significant performance hit.

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

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as FPS scales with resolution. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is definitely the limiting factor, as the system only manages 43 FPS, indicating the RTX 4080 SUPER is being overwhelmed.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 242nd out of 3708 combos, placing it in the top 6.5% of all tested systems. This is a strong result, indicating that this hardware is well-suited for Archeage.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo delivers 111 FPS. This is a smooth experience, but the Medium preset offers 238 FPS, which is much higher for players with high refresh rate monitors.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER overkill for this game?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU has significant headroom, with frame rates exceeding 100 FPS on most settings. However, at 4K Ultra, it is not enough, dropping to 43 FPS. This suggests the GPU is not overkill for the highest resolution, but it is for lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers a wide range of performance depending on settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 268 FPS, which is the highest result across all resolutions and settings. The Medium preset follows with 238 FPS, showing a 30 FPS drop for improved visuals. The High preset produces 162 FPS, which is a substantial 76 FPS drop from Medium, indicating a significant visual quality step. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 111 FPS. This is still a very playable frame rate, but it is less than half of the Low preset's output.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. The Low preset delivers 180 FPS, which is still very high. The Medium preset achieves 161 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS. The High preset produces 109 FPS, which is a solid result for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset drops to 74 FPS, which is playable but represents a 32.1% decrease from High. The data shows that the transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by about 33% across all settings.

At 3840x2160, the system is pushed to its limits. The Low preset achieves 103 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K. The Medium preset produces 92 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. The High preset drops to 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 43 FPS. This is a poor result for a game from 2014, showing that the Ultra preset at 4K is too demanding for this hardware. The data shows a clear trend: as resolution increases, the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows, indicating a GPU bottleneck.