Evolve

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT delivers a robust Evolve experience, ranking 1475th out of 3700 tested combos. This places it in the upper percentile of systems, and the measured data confirms that the pairing is well-balanced for this 2015 FPS title, though the demanding Ultra preset at 4K remains out of reach.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 3700 tested CPU-GPU combinations, this pairing sits at rank 1475. That places it comfortably in the top half of all systems, which is a strong result for a mid-range processor paired with a high-end graphics card. The ranking reflects the combination's ability to push high frame rates, especially at 1080p and 1440p, where it outperforms a significant majority of other tested hardware configurations.

The CPU itself, the Intel Core i3-12100F, holds a 68th percentile ranking against all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score of 13494 is nearly identical to the Intel Core 3 N355, which scores 13492, and the Intel Core i5-9500, which achieves 13452. The data shows a negligible 0.3% delta between the i3-12100F and the i5-9500, indicating that the 12th Gen part trades blows with a much older 9th Gen i5 in synthetic workloads. It also edges out the Intel Core i7-1250U by 1.1%, a mobile chip that scores 13351.

On the graphics side, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT achieves a 67th percentile ranking against all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 22549 is closely matched by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile, which scores 22435, a delta of just 0.5%. The RX 7700 XT also sits within 1.5% of the desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22895. These benchmark results indicate that the GPU is a strong performer that holds its own against last-generation flagship cards and current mobile offerings.

The combination of these two components results in a system that is far more capable than the sum of its parts might suggest. The high percentile rankings for both the CPU and GPU translate directly into the measured FPS data, showing that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at standard resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only on lower presets. The data shows playable average FPS at 4K with Low settings (85 FPS) and Medium settings (65.5 FPS). High settings drop to 51.2 FPS, and Ultra is unplayable at 32.5 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The sweet spot is 1440p, where the system can run Ultra settings at an average of 60.5 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS playability threshold. At 1080p, it also achieves 94.1 FPS on Ultra, but 1440p Ultra offers a better balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: How much faster is the RX 7700 XT than the RTX 2080?

A: The benchmark data shows the RX 7700 XT is actually 1.5% slower than the RTX 2080 in average GPU score, with 22549 versus 22895. This is a minor difference, and the measured game FPS shows the RX 7700 XT is fully capable of running Evolve at high frame rates.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RX 7700 XT?

A: The data does not indicate a significant bottleneck. The combo rank of 1475 out of 3700 is strong, and the system achieves very high FPS at 1080p, such as 219.2 FPS on Low settings. The CPU's benchmark scores are close to its nearest rivals, suggesting it is performing as expected.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The best preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 60.5 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that clears the 60 FPS threshold at this resolution.

Q: Does the system support modern APIs?

A: Yes, the GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of modern and legacy titles.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear pattern where the GPU is the primary driver of performance scaling in Evolve, but the CPU's role becomes more apparent as resolution decreases. At 4K, the jump from Low to Ultra settings causes average FPS to plummet from 85 to 32.5, a reduction of 52.5 FPS. This massive drop is characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios, where the graphics card's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

Moving down to 1440p, the same settings change results in a drop from 148.4 FPS on Low to 60.5 FPS on Ultra. The absolute difference is 87.9 FPS, but the relative performance gap narrows slightly compared to 4K. This indicates that the CPU is beginning to take on a more significant role, as the GPU has fewer pixels to render and can push higher frame rates that start to approach the CPU's processing limits.

At 1080p, the GPU's dominance is less pronounced. The Low preset yields 219.2 FPS, while Ultra drops to 94.1 FPS. The 125.1 FPS difference between presets is the largest in absolute terms, but the system is clearly capable of exceeding the 60 FPS threshold at every setting. The fact that the 1080p Low score of 219.2 FPS is so high suggests that the CPU is keeping pace with the GPU, but the i3-12100F's 4 cores and 8 threads likely cap the maximum achievable frame rate.

Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: lowering settings from Ultra to Low roughly doubles or triples the frame rate. This behavior confirms that Evolve is heavily GPU-bound, especially at higher resolutions and quality presets. The CPU's job is to feed the GPU with enough draw calls, and the i3-12100F appears to do this effectively, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low and Medium presets.

The Verdict

This PC is unequivocally capable of running Evolve, with playable performance at every resolution and preset combination except for 4K High and 4K Ultra. The 60 FPS threshold is cleared at 1080p across all settings, with the Ultra preset delivering an average of 94.1 FPS. At 1440p, the system also clears 60 FPS on all presets, including Ultra, which averages 60.5 FPS.

For 4K gaming, the system requires a compromise. The data shows that Medium is the best playable setting, yielding an average of 65.5 FPS. High settings at 4K fall short of the threshold at 51.2 FPS, and Ultra is not viable at 32.5 FPS. Users with 4K displays can still enjoy the game, but they must be willing to lower visual quality to maintain smooth gameplay.

In summary, the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination is a strong performer for Evolve. It offers excellent 1080p performance, very good 1440p performance, and acceptable 4K performance on reduced settings. The system is well-suited for gamers who prioritize high frame rates at 1440p or want to take advantage of high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of performance across all major resolutions and quality presets. At 3840x2160, the system averages 85 FPS on Low, 65.5 FPS on Medium, 51.2 FPS on High, and 32.5 FPS on Ultra. The progression shows a steep performance cliff between Medium and High, where the average frame rate drops by 14.3 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are significantly higher. Low settings produce an average of 148.4 FPS, Medium hits 113.7 FPS, High reaches 88.7 FPS, and Ultra maintains 60.5 FPS. The transition from Medium to High results in a 25 FPS drop, while the step from High to Ultra costs 28.2 FPS. This resolution is where the system truly shines, as even the most demanding preset stays above the playable threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. Low settings achieve 219.2 FPS, Medium hits 170.3 FPS, High reaches 135.1 FPS, and Ultra still manages 94.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium is 48.9 FPS, and the gap between Medium and High is 35.2 FPS. Even the most demanding preset at this resolution offers nearly double the frame rate of the 60 FPS playability threshold.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern across all resolutions, with each step up in quality costing a significant number of frames. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth appear sufficient for all tested settings, as no minFps or maxFps data was recorded to indicate frame time spikes or stuttering.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the best settings that maintain at least 60 FPS is Medium, which delivers an average of 65.5 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that clears the threshold at 4K, offering a playable experience without sacrificing too much visual quality. Low settings also work at 85 FPS, but Medium provides a better balance of image fidelity and smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the system can handle the Ultra preset while staying above 60 FPS. The average of 60.5 FPS is the lowest playable score in the dataset, but it is still above the threshold. This makes Ultra the best setting for 1440p, as it provides the highest visual quality without falling below the playable threshold. Users who prefer higher frame rates can drop to High, which averages 88.7 FPS, but Ultra is the recommended choice for maximum fidelity.

For 1920x1080, the best settings are also Ultra, which averages 94.1 FPS. This is the most demanding preset and it delivers a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving ample headroom for demanding scenes or background tasks. The system's performance at 1080p is so strong that it could easily support a 144Hz or even 165Hz monitor, as even the High preset averages 135.1 FPS. For the best possible experience at this resolution, Ultra is the clear recommendation.