Evolve

# Intel Core i3-12100F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080: Evolve Benchmark Analysis

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a remarkably strong 1080p and 1440p experience in Evolve, but 4K gaming demands a GPU with more memory bandwidth and shading throughput. The data shows a clear pattern: the CPU is rarely the limiting factor, while the GPU dictates the playable settings at higher resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the playable presets are High, Low, and Medium. The High preset is the most demanding that stays at or above 60 FPS, achieving an average of 78 FPS. Low runs at 128 FPS, and Medium hits 99 FPS (with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS). The Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 54 FPS, so it is not recommended for 4K.

At 2560x1440, the playable settings expand to include Ultra. The Ultra preset is the most demanding stable option, delivering 95 FPS. High runs at 137 FPS, Medium at 174 FPS (minimum 148, maximum 200), and Low at 225 FPS. For players prioritizing frame rate headroom, Low is the choice, but for visual fidelity while staying above 60 FPS, Ultra is the most demanding setting that qualifies.

At 1920x1080, all four presets — High, Low, Medium, and Ultra — are playable. Ultra is the best-looking setting that maintains 60+ FPS, averaging 141 FPS. Medium follows at 260 FPS, High at 204 FPS, and Low reaches 301 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a predictable drop: Ultra falls from 141 to 95 FPS, a ~33% reduction; High from 204 to 137 FPS; Medium from 260 to 174 FPS; and Low from 301 to 225 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

At 1080p, the GPU is the primary driver, but the CPU still matters. The Core i3-12100F is a 4-core/8-thread Alder Lake part. Its score of 7252 in Geekbench multicore and 1932 single-core places it in the 68th percentile of all tested CPUs. It trails the Intel Core i3 N355 by a negligible 0.3%, and the Intel Core 5 120U by 0.7%, according to the nearest rival data. The CPU’s single-thread strength is enough to keep up with the RTX 4080 at lower resolutions; the delta from 1080p to 1440p shows the GPU load growing, while the CPU headroom shrinks.

At 1440p and 4K, the RTX 4080 dominates the frame. Its 9728 shading units, 112 ROPs, and 304 Tensor cores are fully utilized. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 54247 sits at the 86th percentile of all GPUs. It outperforms the RTX 4080 SUPER by 0.1%, the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X by 1.1%, the RX 6750 GRE by 2.6%, and the Radeon 8060S by 2.7%. In practice, this means the GPU is the deciding factor for whether you can bump settings from High to Ultra at 1440p; the CPU is not the constraint there.

At 4K, the RTX 4080’s 716.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 throughput are what keep the High preset playable. The CPU becomes almost irrelevant at this resolution — Intel’s data shows the i3-12100F is 68% faster than the average CPU, but no CPU, including the nearest rivals, can pull the 4080 to 60 FPS at Ultra 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160

• High: avg 78 FPS — This is the best-looking preset to clear 60 FPS. The scene complexity at 4K is immense, and the 4080’s ROP and shader throughput are the deciding factors.
• Low: avg 128 FPS — The reduced draw distance and simpler lighting let the GPU stretch its legs; the CPU never breaks a sweat at this preset.
• Medium: avg 99 FPS, min 84, max 114. A middle ground that still looks good and has headroom.
• Ultra: avg 54 FPS — Not playable. The gap between Medium and Ultra (a 45 FPS drop) shows the 4080 runs out of shader and pixel throughput at this preset.

2560x1440

• High: avg 137 FPS — Plenty of headroom. The GPU is still the primary bottleneck, but the lower resolution halves the pixel count and the game is smooth.
• Low: avg 225 FPS — The absolute frame rate king; this is where the game feels almost esports-like.
• Medium: avg 174 FPS, min 148, max 200 — a perfect balance of fidelity and speed.
• Ultra: avg 95 FPS — the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS. The extra shading and particle counts at 1440p are within the RTX 4080’s reach.

1920x1080

• High: avg 204 FPS — A locked-in 60+ experience with room to spare.
• Low: avg 301 FPS — The CPU and GPU are both underutilized; this is purely a framerate exercise.
• Medium: avg 260 FPS, min 221, max 299. — The sweet spot for high-refresh monitors.
• Ultra: avg 141 FPS — The best visual quality that still clears 60 FPS by a wide margin.

The scaling behavior between resolutions is consistent: 4K Ultra is roughly half the FPS of 1440p Ultra (54 vs 95), and 1440p Ultra is about two-thirds of 1080p Ultra (95 vs 141). The GPU is the clear scaling bottleneck — the CPU’s frame time doesn’t double when resolution quadruples; rather, the RTX 4080’s fill-rate and bandwidth do.

FAQ

Q: Can the Core i3-12100F run Evolve at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The data shows the Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 54 FPS, below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The RTX 4080 is a very capable GPU, but the 4K Ultra preset is too heavy for it.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p?

A: Ultra. It provides the highest visual quality and still averages 95 FPS. If you prefer raw frame rate, Low runs at 225 FPS, but the visual sacrifice is significant.

Q: Is the Core i3-12100F a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1080p High, the combo produces 204 FPS. The game is completely GPU-bound at this resolution; the i3’s single-thread performance is sufficient.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to the nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 4080’s average benchmark score is 54247, which is 86% higher than the average GPU. It beats the RTX 4080 SUPER by 0.1%, the Radeon Pro W5700X by 1.1%, the RX 6750 GRE by 2.6%, and the Radeon 8060S by 2.7%.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at Medium 4K?

A: 99 FPS average. The minimum recorded was 84 FPS, the maximum 114 FPS. This is the best visual-quality-per-FPS compromise at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

This combo ranks 303rd out of 3700 tested combinations. It is a very strong pairing for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the GPU holds it back at 4K. The Core i3-12100F is a well-above-average CPU (68th percentile) and pairs well with the RTX 4080’s strengths. If your primary display is 1440p, this is one of the best balances of CPU and GPU you can get near this performance tier.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Evolve? Yes, at 1080p and 1440p. The data shows it clears 60 FPS at Ultra on both resolutions — 141 FPS and 95 FPS, respectively. At 4K, the answer is no for Ultra (54 FPS), but yes for High (78 FPS), Medium (99 FPS), and Low (128 FPS). The Core i3-12100F + RTX 4080 combo is a 1440p beast, and a very capable 1080p machine. For 4K, you must drop to High or lower presets.