Archeage

Archeage is an older MMORPG, but its engine still presents a significant challenge to modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER across various settings and resolutions. The data reveals a system that is capable of smooth 1080p play but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck in most scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all quality presets, clearly identifying the GPU as the limiting component in this configuration. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 129 FPS at 1920x1080 to 50 FPS at 3840x2160, a reduction of approximately 61%. Similarly, at High settings, the average drops from 78 FPS at 1080p to 30 FPS at 4K, a 62% decrease. This scaling pattern is typical for a system where the graphics card is under heavy load, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions but the GPU's rendering throughput becomes the constraint as pixel count increases.

The most demanding preset, Ultra, shows the most dramatic scaling, plummeting from 53 FPS at 1080p to just 20 FPS at 4K. This 62% reduction mirrors the trend seen in other settings, confirming that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB of VRAM and 256-bit memory bus are insufficient to maintain fluid performance at 4K with maximum visual fidelity. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the 50 FPS average is below the standard for a consistently smooth experience on high-refresh-rate displays.

At 1440p, the situation is more balanced. The RTX 2060 SUPER manages an average of 87 FPS on Low, 77 FPS on Medium, and 52 FPS on High. These figures indicate that 1440p is a practical resolution for this pairing, provided the user is willing to adjust quality settings. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is less severe than the jump to 4K, with frame rates dropping by roughly 33-38% depending on the preset. This suggests that while the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, the CPU's 14 cores and 14 threads are sufficient to keep up with the GPU's output at these lower resolutions.

The data clearly shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting factor in this combination. The Core Ultra 5 245, with its high single-thread performance, is not being fully utilized in this title, as evidenced by the significant frame rate drops when resolution increases. For users targeting 1080p, this combo provides excellent performance across all settings, with even Ultra averaging 53 FPS. For 1440p, Medium or High settings offer a good balance of visual quality and performance. 4K gaming should be avoided except at the lowest settings, where the experience is still suboptimal.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. In the context of Archeage, an MMORPG that is known for its heavy reliance on single-core performance due to its game engine, this CPU's capabilities are more than adequate. The CPU's benchmark scores support this, with a strong Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and a multi-core score of 32924. This places the processor in the 90th percentile compared to all CPUs, indicating that its raw processing power is well above average.

The measured frame rates in Archeage suggest that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck, except potentially in the lowest resolution and settings scenarios. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 129 FPS. While this is a high frame rate, it is not exceptionally high for a modern processor, suggesting that the game's engine may be imposing a limit or that the GPU is still keeping up with the CPU's output. However, as resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the frame rates drop significantly, which is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the limiting factor.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and the Intel Core i5-14600K, with the Ultra 5 245 scoring nearly identically (a -0.5% and +0.8% deltaPct, respectively). This indicates that, in terms of overall processing power, the Ultra 5 245 is competitive with these popular alternatives. For a game like Archeage, this level of performance means that the CPU will not be the source of stuttering or low frame rates, provided the GPU is capable of rendering the scene. The 14 threads are more than sufficient for the game's workload, and the high boost clock ensures that single-threaded tasks are handled efficiently.

In practical terms, the data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 245 provides a solid foundation for this gaming system. It offers enough headroom to ensure that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance at resolutions above 1080p. Even at 1080p, the CPU's performance is unlikely to cause issues, as the frame rates are already high. Users upgrading from an older platform will notice a significant improvement in overall system responsiveness and the ability to maintain high frame rates in CPU-intensive scenarios, though the data for Archeage specifically shows that the GPU is the more critical component for this title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This configuration was a strong performer at its launch, but it is now considered an entry-to-mid-range option. Its benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 16462, place it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. The data from Archeage shows that this GPU is the definitive bottleneck when paired with the Core Ultra 5 245 at higher resolutions.

The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is a critical factor in Archeage. At 4K resolution with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to just 20 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at High settings, the 4K average is only 30 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is running out of memory or is simply unable to process the increased pixel data at a sufficient rate. The 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth is also a limiting factor at 4K, as the GPU must access texture and geometry data at a much higher rate than at 1080p.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, with a deltaPct of -0.4% and -0.5% respectively. This indicates that the desktop RTX 2060 SUPER performs on par with these mobile and professional counterparts. In terms of game performance, this means that users can expect a consistent experience across these GPUs. However, for a demanding title like Archeage at higher resolutions, the GPU's age is apparent.

The performance scaling across settings at each resolution reinforces the GPU's role as the limiting factor. At 1080p, the GPU can handle all presets, with a range from 53 FPS on Ultra to 129 FPS on Low. At 1440p, the range narrows to 36 FPS on Ultra and 87 FPS on Low. At 4K, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed, with a maximum of 50 FPS on Low and a minimum of 20 FPS on Ultra. The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, users should stick to 1080p with High settings (78 FPS) or 1440p with Medium settings (77 FPS). Pushing to 4K requires significant compromises in visual quality to achieve even 50 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Archeage at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. The measured data shows an average of 50 FPS at 4K with Low settings, which is playable. However, at Medium settings the average drops to 44 FPS, and at High it falls to 30 FPS. Ultra settings are not viable, with an average of only 20 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60+ FPS?

A: The data indicates that 1080p is the only resolution where a consistent 60+ FPS is achievable. At 1080p, the system averages 78 FPS on High and 115 FPS on Medium settings. At 1440p, the average frame rate at High settings is 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The benchmark results clearly indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary bottleneck. This is evident from the significant frame rate drops as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU's high single-core performance suggests it has ample headroom.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ultra 5 245 is extremely competitive. It scores 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and 0.8% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600K in average benchmark scores. Its performance is also nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, with a deltaPct of -0.4%.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the average frame rate on Low settings is 87 FPS. On Ultra settings, the average drops to 36 FPS. This represents a significant 59% performance loss when switching from Low to Ultra, highlighting the heavy demand of the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB of VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: The data suggests that 8 GB is sufficient at 1080p and 1440p, as the game runs without crashing or excessive stutter at these resolutions. However, at 4K with higher settings, the performance drops dramatically, which may be attributed to VRAM capacity or bandwidth limitations.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Archeage, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1972nd out of 2761 total configurations. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested combos, indicating that while it is not a high-end setup, it is also far from the bottom. The rank reflects the GPU's age and its limitations at higher resolutions, which drags down the overall standing of the combo.

The rank of 1972 out of 2761 means that roughly 71% of all tested combos perform better than this one in Archeage. This is not surprising given the RTX 2060 SUPER's performance metrics, which are now considered mid-range at best. However, it is important to note that this ranking is specific to Archeage, a game that can be demanding on both CPU and GPU in crowded areas. In other less demanding titles, this combo might rank higher.

The CPU itself is a strong performer, but its contribution to this specific game's performance is overshadowed by the GPU's limitations. The data shows that the combo's performance is primarily dictated by the graphics card, as evidenced by the resolution scaling results. For users considering this setup, the ranking provides a clear picture of where it stands relative to other systems, but it also highlights the potential for improvement by upgrading the GPU while keeping the capable CPU.

This ranking suggests that the combo is suitable for 1080p gaming, but it is not a future-proof solution for higher resolutions. Users looking to play at 1440p or 4K would need to consider a more powerful graphics card to achieve a higher ranking and better overall performance. The CPU's high percentile standing (90th) is not enough to compensate for the GPU's 62nd percentile, making the GPU the clear weak link in the chain.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rate data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. The data provides a clear picture of what is achievable and what should be avoided to ensure a smooth gaming experience.

For 1080p gaming, the system is well-equipped. The data shows an average of 78 FPS on High settings, which is excellent for a smooth experience. For those with high-refresh-rate monitors, dropping to Medium settings yields an average of 115 FPS, providing a significant boost in fluidity. Low settings push this further to 129 FPS, but the visual quality trade-off may not be worth it for most players. Ultra settings, while visually impressive, drop the average to 53 FPS, which is still playable but may be subject to noticeable dips in demanding areas. The data suggests that High settings at 1080p offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 1440p, the choice becomes more critical. Medium settings provide an average of 77 FPS, which is very close to the 60 FPS target and offers a good visual experience. High settings drop the average to 52 FPS, which is playable but may feel less smooth during intense combat or in crowded cities. Low settings at 87 FPS offer the best performance, but the visual downgrade is significant. Ultra settings are not recommended, as the 36 FPS average will result in a stuttery and unresponsive experience. Therefore, Medium is the recommended preset for 1440p gaming.

For 4K resolution, the data is less encouraging. The only playable option is Low settings, which yields an average of 50 FPS. This is playable, but the visual quality is severely compromised, and the experience may still be inconsistent. Medium settings drop to 44 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. High and Ultra settings are not viable, with averages of 30 FPS and 20 FPS respectively. Given the sacrifices required, 4K gaming is not recommended with this hardware. If 4K is a must, users should accept the Low preset and understand that the experience will not be optimal.

In summary, the best experience for this combination is at 1080p with High settings. For 1440p, users should select Medium settings to maintain a high frame rate. 4K gaming should be avoided unless the user is willing to play at the lowest possible settings. These recommendations are based solely on the measured FPS data and aim to provide the smoothest and most visually pleasing experience possible with this hardware.