Evolve

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a unique case for a game like Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The recorded data shows a combination that is profoundly limited by the graphics processor, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom at most settings. The benchmark results indicate that this system is only viable for smooth gameplay at a single resolution, and even then, only at lower presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination is sparse on minimum and maximum values, but the average frame rates paint a clear picture of performance scaling.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. At Low settings, the average FPS is 31. Moving to Medium settings drops the average to 24 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 20 and maximum of 27. High settings yield an average of 19 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 13 FPS. None of these averages come close to the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves but remains below the playable threshold. Low settings produce an average of 54 FPS. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and maximum of 48. High settings drop to an average of 33 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 23 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system finally reaches playable territory. Low settings deliver an average of 80 FPS. Medium settings maintain an average of 62 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 53 and maximum of 72. High settings drop to an average of 49 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 34 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: the gap between Low and Ultra settings is substantial at all resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is the dominant bottleneck in this configuration. The scaling between resolutions shows a significant drop in FPS as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. For example, at Low settings, the average FPS falls from 80 at 1080p to 54 at 1440p, and further to 31 at 4K. This consistent decline across resolution steps points directly to the graphics processor's limitations.

The Intel Core i3-12100F, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, appears to have ample processing power for this title. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and a single-core score of 1674, suggest it is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The CPU's percentile ranking of 68 against all CPUs reinforces this assessment.

The role of the CPU becomes more evident when examining the preset scaling. At 1080p, the transition from Low to Medium settings results in a drop of 18 FPS, from 80 to 62. This suggests that the GPU is still the primary constraint, as the CPU can handle the increased workload without a proportional frame rate penalty. The fact that the system cannot maintain 60 FPS at 1440p even on Low settings (54 FPS average) confirms that the GPU's processing power is exhausted well before the CPU's capabilities are reached.

Similar Performance Alternatives

According to the database, the Intel Arc B370's average benchmark score of 1184 places it near several older graphics solutions. The nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186 (a 0.2% difference), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1190 (a 0.5% difference), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M with a score of 1192 (a 0.7% difference), and the AMD FirePro M2000 with a score of 1168 (a 1.4% difference). These close scores indicate that the Arc B370's performance in Evolve would be similar to what these older cards might deliver, though the data does not include direct FPS comparisons for those specific GPUs.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core 3 N355 with a score of 13492 (no performance difference), the Intel Core i5-9500 with a score of 13452 (0.3% slower), the Intel Core 5 120UL with a score of 13594 (0.7% faster), and the Intel Core i7-1250U with a score of 13351 (1.1% slower). These alternatives would behave similarly in terms of CPU-bound tasks, meaning the choice of any of these processors would likely have a negligible impact on the FPS in Evolve, given the GPU bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination at 3414 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This places the system in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations. This low rank is primarily attributable to the Arc B370's weak performance, as the GPU holds a percentile ranking of only 5 against all GPUs. The CPU's percentile ranking of 68 is far more respectable, but it cannot compensate for the graphics processor's limitations in a game that is clearly GPU-bound at the tested resolutions.

This ranking suggests that while the CPU is a competent mid-range part, the overall system is severely hamstrung by its graphics solution. The combination's rank is a reflection of the measured FPS data, which shows it failing to reach 60 FPS at both 1440p and 4K across all settings.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Evolve? The verdict from the recorded data is conditional and limited to a single resolution. At 3840x2160, no settings are playable, as even the Low preset only averages 31 FPS. At 2560x1440, the situation is equally poor, with no playable settings; the best average is 54 FPS on Low, which still misses the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system can run the game smoothly, but only with specific settings. The playable settings are Low and Medium. Low settings average 80 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 62 FPS, which clears the threshold but with a smaller margin, as the recorded minimum is 53 FPS. High and Ultra settings are not playable, averaging 49 and 34 FPS respectively.

The best settings for 1080p are Medium, with an average FPS of 62. This is the highest preset that maintains an average at or above 60 FPS. For users seeking a more consistent frame rate, Low settings would be the safer choice, offering a 80 FPS average.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured data, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows:

At 3840x2160, there is no playable setting. The best achievable average is 31 FPS at Low, which is far below the threshold. The database records no best playable setting for this resolution.

At 2560x1440, there is also no playable setting. The best average is 54 FPS at Low, which still fails to reach 60 FPS. No best setting is recorded for this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding playable preset is Medium, which achieves an average FPS of 62. This is the only resolution where a playable configuration exists, and Medium is the optimal balance between visual quality and performance, albeit with a minimum FPS of 53 that could dip below the threshold during intense scenes.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average FPS is 31 at Low settings, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming with this hardware?

A: The best playable preset is Medium, which achieves an average of 62 FPS. Low settings are also playable with a higher average of 80 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while still clearing the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The GPU is the main bottleneck. The Intel Arc B370's performance drops significantly as resolution increases, a classic sign of GPU limitation. The CPU, with a percentile ranking of 68, has sufficient processing power for this title.

Q: How does the Intel Core i3-12100F compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, are the Intel Core 3 N355 (0% difference), Intel Core i5-9500 (0.3% slower), Intel Core 5 120UL (0.7% faster), and Intel Core i7-1250U (1.1% slower). These differences are minimal and would not significantly affect FPS in this game.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p on Low settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 on Low settings is 54. This is below the 60 FPS playable threshold, so it is not considered a playable configuration.

Q: Why does the Medium preset at 1080p have a minimum FPS below 60?

A: The recorded data shows a minimum FPS of 53 for the Medium preset at 1920x1080, even though the average is 62. This indicates that while the average performance is playable, there can be occasional dips below the 60 FPS threshold during demanding moments.