Archeage

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a high-end mobile configuration, but the data shows that ArcheAge presents a unique challenge where even this hardware must make significant compromises at higher settings. This analysis breaks down how the CPU and GPU contribute to the measured results, where this combo stands among all tested systems, and which settings offer the most practical experience.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and can boost up to 5.10 GHz. The chip has a 24 MB shared L3 cache and a processor TDP of 45 W. Its benchmark performance is solid, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs tested. In Cinebench R23, it scores 17,984.5 in multi-core and 1,810.5 in single-core tests. These numbers indicate a strong processor capable of handling modern workloads.

However, ArcheAge is a game that relies heavily on single-thread performance. The game was released in 2014 and its engine does not scale perfectly with the massive thread counts of modern processors. While the Core Ultra 9 185H has a high single-core score compared to many mobile chips, the performance ceiling of the game's engine appears to be the limiting factor in this configuration. The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios, as the GPU and the game's engine constraints play more significant roles.

The processor's 22 threads are useful for background tasks and the many entities in an MMORPG world, but the game's core logic is likely bound to a few threads. The single-core score of 1,810.5 in Cinebench R23 is respectable, but ArcheAge's performance is not solely dependent on this metric. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 212 FPS, which is high but not extraordinarily so when considering the RTX 4090's power. This suggests that the CPU is providing enough single-thread performance to prevent major bottlenecks, but it is not pushing the frame rate to the absolute limits of the GPU's potential.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of all tested hardware combinations for ArcheAge, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 588th out of 2,761 combos. This places it in the 79th percentile of all systems tested, which is a strong showing but not at the very top. This ranking is interesting because the RTX 4090 is one of the most powerful GPUs available, yet the combination does not break into the top 20% of all configurations for this specific title.

The ranking indicates that while the hardware is exceptionally powerful, there are other combinations that perform better in ArcheAge. This is likely due to the game's engine and its preferences for specific CPU architectures or clock speeds. The Core Ultra 9 185H, while a capable mobile chip, is not the absolute best performer in single-threaded tasks when compared to some desktop processors that may be in other tested combos. The data shows that the combo is powerful but not the definitive best for this game, suggesting that the game's optimization favors other hardware configurations, possibly those with higher single-core frequencies or different memory layouts.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high frame rate?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with Low settings, the combo achieves 143 FPS. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, it reaches 212 FPS. For a higher resolution experience, 2560x1440 at High settings yields 86 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 82 with Low settings. The Ultra preset at this resolution only manages 34 FPS, indicating that 4K gaming requires significant settings reductions to be playable.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 the main bottleneck in this system for ArcheAge?

A: No, the data suggests otherwise. The GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as it is a top-tier component. The game's engine and CPU performance are more likely limiting factors, given the relatively modest frame rates at lower settings.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 60 FPS experience at 1440p?

A: For a stable 60 FPS at 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves 59 FPS on average. If you want a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, the High preset at 86 FPS is the better choice.

Q: How does the CPU's single-core performance affect the game?

A: The CPU's single-core performance is crucial for ArcheAge. With a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,810.5, it is strong but not the absolute top. This limits the maximum frame rates achievable, as seen in the 1080p Low setting result of 212 FPS.

Q: Does the combo provide a smooth experience at 1080p Ultra?

A: Yes, the 1920x1080 Ultra preset achieves 87 FPS on average. This is a smooth experience for most players, though it is significantly lower than the 188 FPS seen at Medium settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo scales with settings and resolution.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: 212 FPS average.
• Medium: 188 FPS average, with a minimum of 160 and a maximum of 217.
• High: 128 FPS average.
• Ultra: 87 FPS average.

The scaling from Low to Medium is a 24 FPS drop, while dropping from Medium to High is a 60 FPS drop. The jump from High to Ultra is another 41 FPS drop. This indicates that the High and Ultra presets are much more demanding, likely due to increased draw distances and shadow quality.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: 143 FPS average.
• Medium: 127 FPS average, with a minimum of 108 and a maximum of 146.
• High: 86 FPS average.
• Ultra: 59 FPS average.

The pattern is similar to 1080p. The drop from Low to Medium is 16 FPS, while the drop from Medium to High is 41 FPS. The Ultra preset is 27 FPS below High, showing a significant performance cost for the highest settings.

At 3840x2160:

• Low: 82 FPS average.
• Medium: 73 FPS average, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84.
• High: 49 FPS average.
• Ultra: 34 FPS average.

4K resolution is clearly the most demanding. The Low preset is the only one that stays comfortably above 60 FPS. The Medium preset is borderline, with an average of 73 FPS but a minimum of 62. The High and Ultra presets are not suitable for smooth gameplay at this resolution.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the Ultra preset is disproportionately more demanding than the High preset across all resolutions. For example, at 1440p, Ultra is 27 FPS slower than High, while High is only 41 FPS slower than Medium. This suggests that the Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly taxing on the hardware.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a monster of a GPU, featuring 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a massive 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 2520 MHz, and it has a TDP of 450 W. The GPU's benchmark performance is in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 38,194. This is a top-tier graphics card that should be able to handle nearly any game at high frame rates.

However, in ArcheAge, the GPU's raw power is not fully utilized at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 212 FPS, which is high but not a reflection of the GPU's absolute maximum capability. This indicates that the game is likely CPU-bound or engine-limited in these scenarios. The GPU is more than capable of rendering frames faster than the game can feed it.

At higher resolutions and settings, the GPU's role becomes more prominent. At 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 34 FPS, showing that the GPU is finally being stressed heavily by the game's highest quality settings. The 24 GB of VRAM is far more than enough for ArcheAge, even at 4K, so memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth is also sufficient for the game's textures and geometry. The performance drop at 4K Ultra is more likely due to the shader complexity and fill rate demands of the game's engine, rather than a lack of VRAM or bandwidth.

The data suggests that the RTX 4090 is a powerful asset, but its full potential is only realized in scenarios where the game is not bottlenecked by other components. In ArcheAge, this means that at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is not the limiting factor, and the frame rates are constrained by the CPU and game engine. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, but the frame rates are still low due to the game's demanding Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and the desired frame rate.

For 1920x1080, the High preset at 128 FPS is a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors. It provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (188 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate well above 120 FPS. The Ultra preset at 87 FPS is also playable and offers the best visual fidelity, but the 41 FPS drop from High is steep for the marginal visual gains. For competitive play or maximum smoothness, the Medium preset at 188 FPS is the best choice.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 86 FPS is the recommended choice. It provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, staying comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 127 FPS is excellent for those who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS is just below the 60 FPS target and may result in occasional stutters on some displays. If you have a G-Sync or FreeSync monitor, the Ultra preset might be acceptable, but the High preset is safer.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 82 FPS is the only option that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 73 FPS is also playable, but its minimum FPS of 62 is close to the 60 FPS line. The High preset at 49 FPS and Ultra at 34 FPS are not recommended for a playable experience. At 4K, you will have to sacrifice significant visual quality to maintain a playable frame rate.

In summary, the best experience per the data is achieved at 2560x1440 with the High preset (86 FPS). This offers a high level of visual detail while maintaining a frame rate that is smooth on most displays. If you have a 1080p monitor with a high refresh rate, the Medium preset (188 FPS) is the best choice. If you are determined to play at 4K, the Low preset (82 FPS) is the only viable option. The Ultra preset is generally not recommended at any resolution, as the performance cost is disproportionately high compared to the visual improvement.