Archeage

Archeage, a 2014 MMORPG, remains a demanding title for modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions and detail settings. The measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti provides a clear picture of how these components interact under varying loads. The data reveals a system that can deliver smooth frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but one that is ultimately constrained by the graphics card at 4K Ultra settings. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on resolution scaling, settings optimization, and the distinct roles the CPU and GPU play in this specific game.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K with this hardware configuration demonstrates a classic shift in system bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 209 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 on Low settings, the average drops to 141 FPS, a decrease of 32.5%. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average falls further to 81 FPS, which is 42.6% lower than the 1440p result and 61.2% lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline as resolution increases points to the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor, as the number of pixels to render quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The scaling pattern persists across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS drops from 127 at 1080p to 85 at 1440p (a 33.1% reduction) and then to 49 at 4K (a 42.4% reduction from 1440p). The Medium preset shows a similar trend, with averages of 186, 125, and 72 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The most severe impact is seen at the Ultra preset, where the average frame rate plummets from 86 FPS at 1080p to 58 FPS at 1440p and finally to a playable-but-challenging 33 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that while the CPU is strong enough to feed high frame rates at lower resolutions, the RTX 3080 Ti's rendering workload becomes the performance ceiling as resolution scales.

The frame time consistency also degrades with resolution. At 1440p Medium, the frame rate fluctuates between a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS, a 34.6% variance. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 61 FPS and the maximum is 83 FPS, a 36.1% variance. This indicates that not only does the average performance drop, but the frame pacing becomes less stable at higher resolutions. The data clearly shows that for this game and this hardware combination, 4K gaming is only viable with reduced settings, while 1440p provides a much better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The benchmark results show an average of 85 FPS at 2560x1440 with the High preset. This is a significant step down from the 127 FPS average seen at 1920x1080, indicating that the resolution increase places a substantial load on the GPU.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra preset compare to the 4K Low preset?

A: The difference is stark. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields an average of 33 FPS, which is likely to be a poor experience for an MMORPG. In contrast, the Low preset at the same resolution achieves an average of 81 FPS, making it the only 4K setting that provides a consistently smooth frame rate.

Q: At what resolution and settings does the system achieve its highest average FPS?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 209 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This indicates that the combination of CPU and GPU is more than capable of handling high refresh rate monitors when graphical demands are minimized.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1920x1080 on Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, the frame rate fluctuates between a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 214 FPS. The average for this configuration is 186 FPS. This suggests a generally smooth experience, though there is a 35.4% variance between the minimum and maximum.

Q: Is the system more CPU-bound at 1080p or 4K?

A: The data indicates that the system is more CPU-bound at 1080p. At 1920x1080 Low, the average FPS is 209, which is high and suggests the CPU can push many frames. As resolution increases to 4K, the average FPS drops dramatically, indicating that the GPU's rendering capabilities are now the limiting factor.

Q: How does the 1440p High performance compare to the 1080p Ultra performance?

A: The 2560x1440 High preset produces an average of 85 FPS, while the 1920x1080 Ultra preset produces an average of 86 FPS. Despite the higher resolution, the High preset at 1440p nearly matches the frame rate of the Ultra preset at 1080p, offering a better visual experience for a similar performance cost.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players seeking the highest frame rates at 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 209 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or high refresh rate displays. The Medium preset is a strong alternative, offering an average of 186 FPS, a 12.4% reduction from Low, but with likely significant visual improvements. The High preset at 1080p still provides an excellent experience with an average of 127 FPS, which is above the 120 FPS threshold often considered smooth. The Ultra preset at this resolution, averaging 86 FPS, is a viable option for those prioritizing image quality over raw speed, but it represents a 54.7% performance drop from the Low preset.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset stands out as the best balance. It achieves an average of 125 FPS, which is only 11.3% lower than the Low preset's 141 FPS. This suggests that the Medium settings offer a significant visual upgrade for a relatively small performance penalty. The High preset at 1440p, with an average of 85 FPS, is also a good choice for a more cinematic experience, as it remains comfortably playable. The Ultra preset at this resolution, averaging 58 FPS, is the least desirable option, as the performance drop is substantial without a proportional guarantee of visual quality returns.

For 4K gaming, the options are more limited. The Low preset is the only setting that provides a smooth experience, with an average of 81 FPS. The Medium preset, at 72 FPS, is also playable, though the minimum FPS of 61 suggests some occasional stutter may be noticeable. The High preset at 49 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 33 FPS should be avoided for any action-oriented gameplay. For the best overall experience at 4K, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot, offering a playable average frame rate while still providing a moderate level of graphical detail. The data indicates that the High preset at 1440p is the recommended choice for a high-fidelity experience, as it nearly matches the frame rate of the Ultra preset at 1080p while rendering at a higher resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 693rd out of 2761 tested combinations for Archeage. This places the combo in the top 25.1% of all systems tested, indicating that it is a high-performing setup for this title. The rank reflects a strong overall capability, but it is not at the very top of the leaderboard, which is expected given that there are more powerful CPUs and GPUs available.

The percentile ranking of the individual components provides context. The CPU, Intel Core Ultra 5 245, has a percentileVsAllCpus of 90, meaning it performs better than 90% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score is 48995, which is very close to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which has an average score of 49196, a delta of -0.4%. This indicates that the CPU's performance is solid and competitive. The GPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, has a percentileVsAllGpus of 83, placing it in the top 17% of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 41187, which is 2% higher than its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, which has an average score of 40377.

The combo's rank of 693 suggests that while each component is powerful, the pairing may not be perfectly optimized for Archeage. The game's engine may not fully utilize the CPU's 14 cores, or the GPU's performance may be held back by other system factors. Despite this, the rank is still very respectable, and the measured FPS data shows that the system is capable of delivering a strong gaming experience, particularly at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. The data implies that a system with a higher-ranked GPU or a CPU with better single-threaded performance could achieve a better rank, but this specific combo is a capable performer.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, based on the Ampere architecture, plays a critical role in determining the performance ceiling at higher resolutions. With 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. This is essential for handling the large textures and detailed environments present in an MMORPG like Archeage, especially at 4K. The GPU's 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores provide substantial raw compute power, yet the benchmark results show that it is the limiting factor at 3840x2160.

The GPU's core clocks are listed as 1365 MHz base and 1665 MHz boost. The boost clock is the speed at which the card will typically run under load, and it is this speed that contributes to its performance in the DirectX 11 and 12 benchmarks. The GPU's Passmark G3D score is 26896, which is a strong result and places it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. However, the game's performance at 4K Ultra, with an average of 33 FPS, shows that the GPU is heavily taxed by the combination of high resolution and maximum detail settings.

The memory configuration is particularly relevant. The 12 GB frame buffer is sufficient for most titles at 4K, but the data suggests that the sheer amount of data being processed at 4K Ultra in Archeage is causing the GPU to become saturated. The performance gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K is substantial, with the Low preset achieving 81 FPS and the Ultra preset achieving only 33 FPS, a 59.3% reduction. This indicates that the GPU's compute units, rather than its memory capacity, are the primary bottleneck at these settings. The RTX 3080 Ti is an end-of-life product, but its performance in this test shows it remains a formidable graphics card, even if it cannot maintain high frame rates at the most demanding settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across different settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system performs exceptionally well across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 209 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 186 FPS, with a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 214 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 127 FPS. The Ultra preset, while the most demanding, still manages an average of 86 FPS. This resolution shows that the system is well-balanced, with the CPU able to feed the GPU enough data to maintain high frame rates even at the Ultra preset.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limitations. The Low preset averages 141 FPS. The Medium preset is slightly lower, with an average of 125 FPS, a minimum of 107 FPS, and a maximum of 144 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 85 FPS. The Ultra preset sees a significant drop to an average of 58 FPS. The data shows that the step from 1080p to 1440p results in a roughly 30-35% reduction in average FPS across the presets, which is consistent with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. The Low preset is the only one to maintain a high frame rate, averaging 81 FPS. The Medium preset averages 72 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 49 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of only 33 FPS. This resolution clearly shows the performance hierarchy, with the Ultra preset being nearly unplayable and the High preset being marginal. The Medium preset appears to be the most viable option for 4K gaming on this hardware.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245, with its 14 cores and 14 threads, provides a strong foundation for gaming. Its base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz are competitive, and its 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps to reduce memory latency. The CPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32924, demonstrates its strong multi-threaded capabilities. However, the data from Archeage suggests that the game may not be highly multi-threaded, as the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is primarily dictated by the GPU.

The CPU's role is most evident at 1080p, where it is able to push frame rates above 200 FPS on the Low preset. This indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The high single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648, is likely a key factor in achieving these high frame rates in an MMO, where game logic and network processing often rely on a single thread. The CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 4394 is also strong, reinforcing its capability in this regard.

The CPU has a 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 48995 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which has an average score of 49228 and a delta of -0.5%. This shows that the Ultra 5 245 is a top-tier processor. In the context of Archeage, the data indicates that the CPU is more than sufficient for the task. At 1440p and 4K, the frame rates are clearly limited by the GPU, as evidenced by the steep drops in performance with increased resolution. The CPU's 14 cores provide ample headroom for background tasks and game logic, ensuring that it does not become a limiting factor in this title.