Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a combination that targets 1080p gaming. In Evolve, the recorded data shows this system can deliver a playable experience, but only when settings are managed carefully. The GTX 1650 sits at the 40th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the i5-12400 ranks much higher at the 72nd percentile among CPUs, indicating a significant performance gap between the two components. This imbalance becomes clear when examining the frame rates across resolutions and presets.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160 (4K), no preset achieves the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest recorded average frame rate at this resolution is 27.2 FPS on Low settings, which is less than half of the target. High settings produce 18.7 FPS, Medium drops to 20.4 FPS, and Ultra falls to 13.7 FPS. None of these are remotely close to playable, so the database records no best settings for 4K.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains below the threshold. The best average FPS is 52.6 on Low settings, which is still 7.4 FPS short of the 60 FPS target. Medium delivers 39.5 FPS, High drops to 33.5 FPS, and Ultra manages only 22.9 FPS. Since none of these reach 60 FPS, the verdict for 1440p is also unplayable, with no recommended settings.

At 1920x1080, the system finally crosses the threshold. Low settings produce an average of 74.8 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS target with a comfortable margin. Medium settings achieve 58.5 FPS, just 1.5 FPS below the threshold, while High drops to 49.9 FPS and Ultra falls to 33.3 FPS. The best settings for 1080p are therefore Low, delivering 74.8 FPS average. This is the only resolution and preset combination in the measured data that meets the playability criterion.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU and GPU combination at 3531 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This places the system in the bottom 5 percent of all tested configurations, which reflects the GPU's limitations. The GTX 1650's average benchmark score of 7472 puts it near the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (7447, 0.3 percent difference) and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 (7441, 0.4 percent difference). It is slightly behind the Intel Arc A310 (7550, 1 percent slower for the GTX 1650). These are not high-performance peers, and the ranking confirms that this is a low-end configuration for Evolve.

The CPU, by contrast, is a much stronger component. The i5-12400's average benchmark score of 18683 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697, 0.1 percent difference) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (18730, 0.3 percent difference). It is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i3-14100F (18519, 0.9 percent faster for the i5-12400). The combo's low rank is therefore driven almost entirely by the GPU, which is the bottleneck in this pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded measurements cover three resolutions and four settings tiers, providing a complete picture of the system's capabilities.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are uniformly low. Low settings produce an average of 27.2 FPS. Medium settings reduce this to 20.4 FPS, a 25 percent drop from Low. High settings yield 18.7 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 13.7 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 50 percent reduction in average frame rate, demonstrating that the GPU is heavily strained at 4K regardless of the preset chosen.

At 2560x1440, the system shows more headroom. Low settings achieve 52.6 FPS, which is nearly playable. Medium settings deliver 39.5 FPS, a 25 percent reduction from Low. High settings produce 33.5 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 22.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 56 percent, slightly larger than the 4K scaling, but the absolute numbers are still far from the 60 FPS target.

At 1920x1080, the measurements reveal a system that can handle the game at lower presets. Low settings deliver 74.8 FPS, the only result above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings achieve 58.5 FPS, which is close but misses the target by 1.5 FPS. High settings produce 49.9 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 33.3 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 55 percent, consistent with the other resolutions. The jump from Low to Medium costs 16.3 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 8.6 FPS, and the jump from High to Ultra costs 16.6 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 4K?

A: No. The highest average frame rate at 3840x2160 is 27.2 FPS on Low settings, which is far below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Ultra settings drop to 13.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p?

A: Low settings at 1920x1080 produce an average of 74.8 FPS, which is the only measured configuration that clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings at 1080p reach 58.5 FPS, just below the target.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The GTX 1650's average benchmark score of 7472 is 0.3 percent higher than the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (7447), 0.4 percent higher than the Intel UHD Graphics 750 (7441), 0.6 percent higher than the AMD Radeon R7 350 (7425), and 1 percent lower than the Intel Arc A310 (7550).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The i5-12400 ranks at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the GTX 1650 ranks at the 40th percentile among GPUs. The combo ranks 3531 out of 3700 combos for Evolve, indicating the GPU holds the system back.

Q: What frame rate does Medium settings achieve at 1440p?

A: Medium settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 39.5 FPS. This is 13.1 FPS below the Low settings result of 52.6 FPS and 20.6 FPS below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the Ultra preset at 1080p reach 60 FPS?

A: No. Ultra settings at 1920x1080 produce an average of 33.3 FPS. This is 41.5 FPS below the Low settings result of 74.8 FPS and 26.5 FPS below the Medium settings result of 58.5 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear division of responsibilities between the two components. The i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is a modern desktop processor that ranks at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-14100F (18519 average score), trails it by 0.9 percent, confirming the i5-12400's competitive position in the CPU hierarchy. The GPU, however, is an end-of-life product with a 4 GB GDDR5 memory buffer and a 128 bit memory bus, placing it at the 40th percentile among all GPUs.

The interaction between resolution and preset scaling reveals which component matters more. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate drops from 27.2 FPS on Low to 13.7 FPS on Ultra, a 50 percent reduction. At 2560x1440, the drop from Low to Ultra is 52.2 percent, and at 1080p, the drop is 55 percent. These are relatively consistent scaling patterns, suggesting that the GPU is the dominant constraint at all resolutions. The CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU saturates quickly as resolution increases.

The fact that the system cannot reach 60 FPS at 1440p even on Low settings (52.6 FPS) points to the GPU as the primary limiter. A stronger GPU would likely push 1440p Low over the threshold, while the CPU would remain a secondary factor. At 1080p, the GPU is still the limiting factor at Medium and higher presets, but the CPU is adequate for the workload. The i5-12400 is capable of delivering the frame rates seen in the data, and the GPU is what prevents the system from reaching higher settings.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 can run Evolve, but only under specific conditions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160 and 2560x1440, no settings preset achieves the 60 FPS playable threshold, so the system is not playable at those resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is playable only on Low settings, which produce an average of 74.8 FPS. Medium settings at 1080p come close at 58.5 FPS, but miss the target.

For gamers with a 1080p display, this system works, but it requires accepting Low settings to maintain a comfortable frame rate. The 74.8 FPS average on Low leaves some margin over the 60 FPS threshold, which is useful for demanding scenes. Medium settings at 58.5 FPS are borderline and may dip below 60 FPS during intense combat. High and Ultra settings are not recommended, as they drop to 49.9 FPS and 33.3 FPS respectively.

The overall ranking of 3531 out of 3700 combos puts this system in the lower tier of tested configurations for Evolve. The GTX 1650 is the clear bottleneck, and its age shows in the frame rates. The i5-12400 is a modern processor with strong benchmark scores, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. This is a 1080p Low settings machine for Evolve, nothing more. Players with higher refresh rate displays or 1440p monitors should look elsewhere, as the data does not support a playable experience at those resolutions.