Archeage

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1487th out of 2761 tested combos for Archeage, placing it in the 54th percentile of all systems. This mid-pack positioning suggests a pairing that is competent but not exceptional for this MMORPG, with the data indicating that neither component is a standout performer in this specific title. The rank implies that while the combo can handle the game, many other configurations offer superior performance, likely due to Archeage's particular sensitivity to certain hardware characteristics.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1487 out of 2761 tested configurations places it squarely in the middle of the performance distribution for Archeage. This percentile position — roughly the 54th mark — indicates that a majority of tested systems outperform this pairing, yet it still sits ahead of a substantial portion of the field. The data suggests that this is a functional but not optimal setup for the game, with the ranking reflecting a balance between the CPU's strong synthetic benchmarks and the GPU's more modest standing relative to its peers.

Benchmark results show the CPU holds an 89th percentile rank against all processors, while the GPU sits at a 61st percentile against all graphics cards. This disparity is telling: the processor is a high-tier component by general standards, but the graphics card is merely average. In Archeage, where the GPU often becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, this combination's overall rank is dragged down by the graphics card's relative weakness. The gap between the CPU's lofty percentile and the GPU's middling one suggests the system is unbalanced for this title, with the processor capable of feeding far more frames than the graphics card can render.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 brings 14 cores and 14 threads to the table, a configuration that favors parallel workloads. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz provide a wide operating range, allowing the processor to scale from efficient low-load operation to high-performance bursts when needed. For an MMORPG like Archeage, which often involves numerous simultaneous entities and player actions, this core count and clock speed combination should theoretically handle the game's CPU-bound scenarios with relative ease.

Synthetic benchmarks reinforce this assessment. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769 and single-core score of 2085 demonstrate strong all-around performance, while the PassMark multithread score of 37816 and single-thread score of 4516 further confirm the CPU's capability. The data shows the processor outperforms or closely matches its nearest rivals: it sits 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, 0.1% behind the Intel Core i9-13900HX, and 0.2% ahead of both the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303. This cluster of similar scores indicates the Ultra 5 235 is competitive with other high-end processors, though not dominant.

However, the measured FPS data reveals that the CPU's strength does not translate into exceptional Archeage performance. At 1080p Low settings, where CPU limitations typically surface first, the combo achieves 153 FPS. This is respectable but not extraordinary, suggesting that while the CPU is capable, other factors — possibly game engine inefficiencies or the GPU's limitations even at low settings — constrain the frame rate. The 14-core, 14-thread layout, with its lack of hyperthreading, may also play a role; Archeage, being a title from 2014, may not fully utilize this many physical cores, leaving single-thread performance as the more critical factor. The 2085 single-core Cinebench R23 score is solid, but it does not place the CPU among the absolute best for lightly-threaded workloads.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. Its base clock of 1830 MHz and boost clock of 2460 MHz provide the raw speed for rendering, while the 3072 shading units handle the parallel processing required for modern graphics. The GPU's 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores indicate support for ray tracing and DLSS, though Archeage's age means these features are unlikely to be heavily utilized in this title.

The GPU's benchmark scores paint a picture of an average performer. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302 and PassMark G3D score of 19545 place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals are telling: the AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 0.2% higher, the AMD Radeon 780M scores 0.3% lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 0.5% lower. This grouping of older and integrated graphics solutions around the RTX 4060's performance level suggests that, for a modern discrete GPU, it underperforms relative to expectations. The data indicates this is not a high-end graphics card by any measure; it is firmly in the mid-range.

In Archeage, the GPU's limitations become apparent as resolution increases. At 1080p Ultra, the combo manages 63 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to just 24 FPS — a 62% reduction. This steep decline points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the CPU's relative strength cannot compensate for the graphics card's inability to push pixels at 4K. The 8 GB VRAM, while sufficient for many titles at 1080p and 1440p, may also become a constraint at 4K with high-detail textures, potentially contributing to the severe frame rate drop at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 compare to its nearest CPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ultra 5 235's average benchmark score of 46062 is nearly identical to its closest competitors. It is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030), 0.1% behind the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098), and 0.2% ahead of both the AMD EPYC 4364P (45970) and AMD EPYC 7303 (45960). This indicates the CPU is performance-competitive with other high-end processors, though the differences are negligible in practical terms.

Q: What is the best measured FPS for this combo in Archeage, and at what settings?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 153, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is followed by 136 FPS at 1080p Medium, 103 FPS at 1440p Low, and 92 FPS at 1080p High. The 153 FPS figure represents the ceiling for this combination, and it drops progressively as resolution and settings increase.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in Archeage for this combo?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor, particularly at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 153 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 59 FPS — a 61% reduction. The CPU's high percentile rank (89th) compared to the GPU's (61st) further supports this conclusion, as the processor appears capable of feeding more frames than the graphics card can render.

Q: How does the RTX 4060's performance in Archeage compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 is closely matched by its rivals. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 0.2% higher at 17666, while the AMD Radeon 780M scores 0.3% lower at 17588, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 0.5% lower at 17551. This clustering suggests the RTX 4060 performs at a level comparable to much older or integrated graphics solutions in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in Archeage, and what does that imply?

A: The combo ranks 1487th out of 2761 tested combinations, placing it in the 54th percentile. This means roughly half of all tested systems perform better in Archeage, and half perform worse. The rank reflects a mid-tier standing, suggesting the combo is adequate for the game but not optimized for maximum performance.

Q: Does the CPU's 14-core, 14-thread configuration benefit Archeage?

A: While the CPU's 14 cores provide strong multicore synthetic performance (Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769), Archeage, released in 2014, may not fully utilize this many cores. The lack of hyperthreading (14 threads for 14 cores) could also limit performance in scenarios that benefit from additional threads. The data shows the combo's FPS is more heavily influenced by GPU and resolution changes than by CPU settings, suggesting the processor's core count has limited direct impact on this game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, with the rate of decline accelerating at higher settings. At Low settings, the combo delivers 153 FPS at 1080p, 103 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop), and 59 FPS at 4K (a 61% drop from 1080p). This scaling suggests the GPU becomes progressively more stressed as pixel count rises, with the 4K resolution presenting a particularly heavy burden.

At Medium settings, the pattern continues: 136 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop), and 52 FPS at 4K (a 62% drop). The consistency of the percentage drops between 1080p and 4K across Low and Medium settings — 61% and 62% respectively — indicates that resolution, not settings, is the dominant factor in performance loss. This is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component, as a CPU-bound scenario would show less dramatic resolution-based scaling.

High settings show a similar trend: 92 FPS at 1080p, 62 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop), and 36 FPS at 4K (a 61% drop from 1080p). The Ultra preset, however, displays a more severe degradation: 63 FPS at 1080p, 42 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop), and 24 FPS at 4K (a 62% drop). While the percentage drops remain consistent, the absolute values at Ultra are significantly lower across all resolutions, suggesting that the Ultra preset's additional graphical demands push the GPU to its limits even at 1080p.

The data implies that the RTX 4060's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become increasingly inadequate as resolution rises. The consistent 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p and 61-62% drop from 1080p to 4K across settings points to memory bandwidth as a potential constraint, as the GPU must move larger amounts of texture and geometry data at higher resolutions. The CPU's strong performance, meanwhile, remains largely unaffected by resolution changes, further confirming the GPU as the bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

For players seeking the best balance between visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1440p emerges as the most compelling option based on the measured data. At 2560x1440 Medium, the combo delivers 91 FPS with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS. This frame rate comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay while offering a significant visual upgrade over Low settings. The 78 FPS minimum ensures that even during intense combat or crowded scenes, the game remains playable without severe stuttering.

At 1080p, the Medium preset offers 136 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS, which is ideal for players with high-refresh-rate monitors. This configuration provides a substantial performance margin, with the minimum FPS still well above 100, ensuring consistently smooth gameplay. The High preset at 1080p, at 92 FPS, is also viable, but the 44 FPS drop from Medium to High suggests diminishing returns for the visual improvements.

For players prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, the Ultra preset is only playable at 1080p, where it achieves 63 FPS. However, this comes at a significant cost: 73 FPS lower than Medium settings at the same resolution. At 1440p Ultra, the 42 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay, and at 4K Ultra, the 24 FPS average is effectively unplayable. The data clearly shows that Ultra settings are not recommended for this combo at any resolution, as the performance cost outweighs the visual benefits.

The 4K resolution is only viable at Low settings, where the combo achieves 59 FPS — just below the 60 FPS target. At Medium, the 52 FPS average is borderline, while High (36 FPS) and Ultra (24 FPS) are too demanding. Given the significant VRAM and bandwidth requirements of 4K, players with 4K displays should either accept Low settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings achieve an average of 153 FPS, Medium achieves 136 FPS with a minimum of 115 and maximum of 156, High achieves 92 FPS, and Ultra achieves 63 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with the 90 FPS gap between Low and Ultra representing a 59% reduction in performance.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings deliver 103 FPS, Medium delivers 91 FPS with a minimum of 78 and maximum of 105, High delivers 62 FPS, and Ultra delivers 42 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 61 FPS, but the percentage reduction remains similar at 59%. This consistency suggests the GPU is equally taxed across resolutions when moving between settings presets.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal. Low settings achieve 59 FPS, Medium achieves 52 FPS with a minimum of 45 and maximum of 60, High achieves 36 FPS, and Ultra achieves 24 FPS. The 35 FPS gap between Low and Ultra represents a 59% reduction, matching the pattern seen at lower resolutions. Notably, the Medium preset at 4K has a minimum FPS of 45 and a maximum of 60, indicating significant frame time variance that could result in noticeable stuttering during gameplay.

Comparing across resolutions, the data shows that 1080p Medium (136 FPS) outperforms 1440p Low (103 FPS) by 32%, and 1440p Medium (91 FPS) outperforms 4K Low (59 FPS) by 54%. This suggests that for players seeking higher visual quality, dropping resolution and increasing settings can yield better frame rates than maintaining resolution with lower settings. The 1440p Medium configuration, with its 91 FPS average and 78 FPS minimum, offers the best compromise between visual fidelity and smooth gameplay, while 1080p Medium provides the highest frame rates with a 115 FPS minimum that ensures consistency even in demanding scenes.