Archeage

# Archeage CPU/GPU Performance Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a measured performance profile in Archeage that is heavily influenced by settings and resolution, with the combination ranking 756th out of 2,761 tested combos in this game. The data reveals a system capable of high frame rates at lower resolutions but one that struggles to maintain playable performance at 4K Ultra settings, suggesting a balance between the 24-core CPU and the 10 GB GPU that shifts depending on workload.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on Arrow Lake Refresh architecture at a 3 nm process node. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, and it carries a 125 W TDP. The cache hierarchy consists of 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a desktop-class part with a 96th percentile ranking against all CPUs, indicating it sits near the top of the performance distribution for general compute tasks.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 and a single-core score of 7,303, which are strong results. The PassMark multi-thread score is 60,860, while single-thread performance is 4,823. These numbers reflect a processor that excels in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads, which matters for an MMORPG like Archeage where game logic, network handling, and world simulation can spread across cores while UI and command processing often rely on single-thread speed.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 83,807 in average benchmark score, which is 0.2% lower than the 290K Plus’s 84,003 average. The AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% behind, and the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% behind. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is actually 1.3% ahead. These deltas are small, meaning the 290K Plus is effectively in the same performance class as these alternatives, though all of these are server or workstation parts, not direct consumer gaming comparisons.

For Archeage specifically, the CPU role is evident when looking at frame rates across settings at 1080p. At Low settings, the system achieves 202 FPS, while High settings yield 122 FPS. The gap between Low and High is 80 FPS, which is substantial and suggests that at lower settings, the CPU is able to feed frames quickly enough to push the GPU to its limits, but as settings increase, the workload shifts. The fact that 1080p Low reaches 202 FPS indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck at that point, as the RTX 3080 can output those frames. The 24-core design with high boost clocks ensures that even in crowded MMORPG scenes with many player characters, the processor has headroom to maintain consistent frame delivery.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is built on the Ampere architecture using the GA102 chip at an 8 nm process node from Samsung. It features 8,704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs, along with 68 RT cores and 272 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 1710 MHz, with memory running at 1188 MHz effective 19 Gbps. The memory subsystem consists of 10 GB of GDDR6X on a 320-bit bus, providing 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The card is rated at 320 W TDP with a dual-slot cooler and a single 12-pin power connector, requiring a 700 W suggested PSU.

The RTX 3080’s percentile ranking against all GPUs is 68th, which places it in the upper-middle tier of graphics cards. Its PassMark G3D score is 25,086, and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 4,407. The nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the NVIDIA P106-100, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, all of which are within 0.4% of the RTX 3080’s 23,172 average score. This clustering is unusual, as those GPUs are not typically considered peers, but the data shows they sit close in this particular benchmark aggregation.

In Archeage, the GPU’s 10 GB VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth play a critical role at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the system manages only 32 FPS, which is a clear sign of GPU limitation. The VRAM buffer of 10 GB may be sufficient for this 2014-era MMORPG at 4K, but the computational load of Ultra settings at that resolution overwhelms the GPU’s compute throughput. At 4K Low, the frame rate jumps to 78 FPS, showing that when texture and shader complexity is reduced, the RTX 3080 can handle the pixel count. The boost clock of 1710 MHz helps maintain performance, but the data indicates that the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K Ultra, where the 32 FPS result is well below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals how the system scales when moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 122 FPS at 1080p to 82 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 40 FPS, and then to 47 FPS at 4K, another 35 FPS drop. This represents a 61.5% decrease from 1080p to 4K at High settings. At Low settings, the drop is from 202 FPS at 1080p to 136 FPS at 1440p, then to 78 FPS at 4K, a 61.4% reduction overall. The consistency of this percentage drop across settings suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU performance headroom remains constant while the GPU must render more pixels.

Medium settings show a similar pattern: 180 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K. The Ultra settings, however, show a more severe drop. From 83 FPS at 1080p to 56 FPS at 1440p, a 27 FPS reduction, and then to 32 FPS at 4K, a 24 FPS drop. The 4K Ultra result is only 38.6% of the 1080p Ultra frame rate, which is a larger proportional decline than the other settings. This indicates that Ultra settings introduce additional GPU workload beyond just pixel count, likely from increased draw distances, shadow complexity, and post-processing effects that scale non-linearly with resolution.

The resolution scaling data points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck at 4K, particularly at Ultra settings where the 32 FPS result is barely playable. At 1080p, the CPU is more involved, as the high frame rates at Low and Medium settings (202 and 180 FPS, respectively) show that the RTX 3080 has enough headroom to output frames quickly, and the CPU must keep up with the game’s simulation thread. The 1440p results sit in a middle ground where both components are balanced, with 82 FPS at High and 136 FPS at Low being reasonable for most players.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo at High settings?

A: At 1440p High, the system averages 82 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. At 1080p High, it averages 122 FPS, and at 4K High, it drops to 47 FPS. The data suggests 1440p High offers the best balance between visual quality and frame rate.

Q: Is the RTX 3080’s 10 GB VRAM sufficient for Archeage at 4K?

A: The measured results show 4K Ultra at 32 FPS and 4K High at 47 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor. While 10 GB of GDDR6X memory with 760.3 GB/s bandwidth may be adequate for this game’s textures, the compute load at 4K Ultra exceeds the GPU’s capability, as evidenced by the low frame rates.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84,003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K’s 83,807. It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4584PX and 1.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9135, but 1.3% behind the AMD EPYC 7F72.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the system averages 180 FPS, with a minimum of 153 FPS and a maximum of 206 FPS. This is a very smooth experience, well above the refresh rate of most monitors.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 1080p Low?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 202 FPS. Given that the RTX 3080 has the compute power to render this game at high frame rates, the CPU’s 24 cores and 5.80 GHz boost clock are sufficient to avoid being a bottleneck, allowing the GPU to output frames at that level.

Q: Is 4K Ultra playable with this combination?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 32 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. This is only playable if the user accepts significant stutter and reduced responsiveness, so it is not recommended for competitive or action-heavy play.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination is ranked 756th out of 2,761 tested combos in Archeage, placing it in the top 27.4% of all systems tested. This rank reflects the overall balance of the system across all resolutions and settings tested. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking against all CPUs and the GPU’s 68th percentile ranking against all GPUs indicate that the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card, which explains why the system performs better at lower resolutions where the CPU has more influence.

The rank of 756 suggests that while this is a capable combination, there are many other systems that deliver higher frame rates in Archeage. The 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS is a significant drag on the overall ranking, as it is well below the performance of higher-end GPU configurations. However, the 1080p and 1440p results are strong, with 202 FPS at 1080p Low and 121 FPS at 1440p Medium, which would satisfy most players. The ranking reflects the average experience across all tested settings, so users who primarily play at 1080p or 1440p will find this combo more competitive than the overall rank suggests.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination covers three resolutions and four settings tiers, providing a comprehensive view of performance. At 1080p, the system achieves 202 FPS at Low settings, 180 FPS at Medium settings (with a minimum of 153 and maximum of 206), 122 FPS at High settings, and 83 FPS at Ultra settings. The spread from Low to Ultra is 119 FPS, showing the significant impact of settings on frame rate at this resolution.

At 1440p, the results are 136 FPS at Low, 121 FPS at Medium (with a minimum of 103 and maximum of 139), 82 FPS at High, and 56 FPS at Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at each setting tier is 66 FPS at Low, 59 FPS at Medium, 40 FPS at High, and 27 FPS at Ultra. The smaller absolute drop at Ultra settings suggests that the GPU is already heavily loaded at 1080p Ultra, so the additional pixel count at 1440p has a proportionally smaller effect.

At 4K, the results are 78 FPS at Low, 69 FPS at Medium (with a minimum of 59 and maximum of 80), 47 FPS at High, and 32 FPS at Ultra. The 4K Medium result of 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS is notable because it stays above the 60 FPS average threshold, though the minimum dips below it. The 4K Low result of 78 FPS is the only 4K setting that provides a consistently playable experience, while High at 47 FPS and Ultra at 32 FPS are borderline and unplayable, respectively.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on the target resolution and the user’s preference for visual quality versus frame rate. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers an excellent balance, with an average of 180 FPS and a minimum of 153 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The High preset at 122 FPS is also strong, and the drop from Medium to High is 58 FPS, which may be noticeable to users with high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 83 FPS is still playable but represents a significant reduction from Medium, so it is only recommended for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate.

At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers 121 FPS with a minimum of 103 FPS, which is the best choice for a smooth experience. The High preset at 82 FPS is acceptable for most users, though the 39 FPS drop from Medium is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and may cause perceptible stutter, so it is not recommended. The Low preset at 136 FPS provides the highest frame rate but sacrifices visual quality, making it suitable for competitive play where frame rate is paramount.

At 4K, the Medium preset at 69 FPS is the only setting that exceeds the 60 FPS average, though the minimum of 59 FPS means it can dip just below that threshold. This is the recommended setting for 4K play, as it balances visual quality with playability. The Low preset at 78 FPS is also viable if the user prefers higher frame rates, but the visual degradation is substantial. High at 47 FPS and Ultra at 32 FPS are not recommended, as they fall below playable thresholds and would result in a poor experience. For users with a 4K display, the data indicates that Medium settings are the sweet spot, providing a smooth experience without requiring the user to drop to Low quality.