Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D presents an extreme combination for Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. Benchmark data indicates that this system does not merely run the game; it dominates it at every resolution tested. At 4K, the combo delivers a playable 65 FPS average on the maximum Ultra preset, while at 1440p and 1080p, the frame rates are so high that the monitor, not the hardware, becomes the limiting factor. The data confirms that the RTX 5090 D is the overwhelming performance driver, with the i5-12400 providing sufficient throughput to avoid bottlenecking at all but the lowest settings and resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured FPS data allows for a clear determination of the highest quality preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at each resolution. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and the verdict data confirms that all four settings presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at every resolution. This means the "best" setting is always the highest quality option.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 65 FPS. This is a notable achievement, as it proves the RTX 5090 D has enough raw power to run Evolve at maximum graphical fidelity even at 4K. The drop from High to Ultra is significant, moving from 94 FPS to 65 FPS, but the result remains comfortably above the playability threshold.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the best setting is also Ultra, with a commanding average of 114 FPS. The performance headroom here is substantial, with the Ultra preset nearly doubling the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, offering high fidelity without any concern for frame rate drops.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the best setting is again Ultra, delivering a massive average of 170 FPS. This frame rate is so high that it targets high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or 165Hz) with ease. The data shows no scenario where the system struggles to maintain playable performance, even at the highest quality settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate an extreme imbalance in workload, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D being the primary performance determinant. The evidence lies in the scaling between resolutions and presets. For a CPU-bound scenario, frame rates would remain relatively flat regardless of resolution changes. The data shows the opposite. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 170 at 1080p to 114 at 1440p, and further to 65 at 4K. This consistent and significant decline with increasing resolution is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload.

The Intel Core i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears to be more than sufficient for this title. This is evident from the Low preset performance. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 303 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it still hits 265 FPS. The fact that the frame rate still changes significantly with resolution at Low settings suggests the GPU is still doing the heavy lifting. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate at 1080p Low would be nearly identical to the 1440p Low figure. The difference of 38 FPS between these two points confirms the GPU is still the limiting factor.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the 303 FPS average is likely approaching the ceiling of what the i5-12400 can feed to the GPU. However, the data does not show a hard plateau, indicating the CPU never becomes a severe constraint. The RTX 5090 D is a generation ahead, with a 92nd percentile ranking against all GPUs, while the i5-12400 sits at the 72nd percentile against all CPUs. This disparity in relative performance class underscores the GPU-centric nature of this pairing in Evolve.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact average, minimum, and maximum frame rates recorded for each resolution and settings preset.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 154 FPS.
• Medium: Average 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS.
• High: Average 94 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 65 FPS.

The 4K data shows a steep performance curve. The jump from Low to Ultra represents a 58% decrease in average frame rate, from 154 FPS down to 65 FPS. The Medium preset shows a narrow 36 FPS range between its minimum and maximum, indicating stable performance.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 265 FPS.
• Medium: Average 210 FPS, with a minimum of 179 FPS and a maximum of 242 FPS.
• High: Average 165 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 114 FPS.

At 1440p, the performance is exceptionally high. Even the Ultra preset maintains an average above 114 FPS. The Medium preset shows a 63 FPS range between minimum and maximum, which is a larger variance than at 4K, but the absolute values are so high that it does not affect playability.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 303 FPS.
• Medium: Average 276 FPS, with a minimum of 235 FPS and a maximum of 317 FPS.
• High: Average 246 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 170 FPS.

The 1080p data showcases the extreme upper limit of this hardware combination. The Low preset pushes past 300 FPS, and the Medium preset shows a minimum of 235 FPS, which is still higher than the 4K Ultra average. The Ultra preset's 170 FPS average is a figure that high-refresh-rate gamers would consider ideal.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves a rank of 65th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places the system in the top 1.8% of all configurations tested, evidence of the raw power of the GPU.

Looking at the individual components, the GPU is the clear driver of this high rank. The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712 and ranks in the 92nd percentile against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which has a delta of -1.6%, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, which has a delta of -2.4%. This indicates the RTX 5090 D is performing as expected, at the very top of the GPU hierarchy.

The CPU, while not the star, is a competent partner. The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683 and ranks in the 72nd percentile against all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (delta -0.7%) and the Intel Core i3-14100F (delta 0.9%). The performance of the i5-12400 is closely matched with these chips, showing it is a solid mid-range performer. The data suggests that the combo's high rank in Evolve is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's exceptional performance, with the CPU providing adequate support without becoming a bottleneck.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 4K Ultra settings?*

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 65 FPS at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest frame rate this combo can achieve?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 303 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant component. This is evident from the significant frame rate drops as resolution increases at the same settings, a clear sign of GPU-bound performance. For example, at Ultra settings, the average FPS falls from 170 at 1080p to 65 at 4K.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D?

A: The data does not indicate a severe bottleneck. The frame rate continues to scale with resolution and settings, suggesting the GPU is the primary limiter. Even at 1080p Low, the average FPS of 303 shows the CPU can feed the GPU a substantial number of frames.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves an average of 165 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 114 FPS. This is a 51 FPS difference, representing a 31% performance cost for the highest quality settings.

Q: How does this system rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 65th out of 3700 tested combinations for Evolve, placing it in the top 1.8% of all systems tested.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: this PC can run Evolve with exceptional performance across all tested resolutions and settings. The verdict by resolution confirms that every preset is playable. At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Ultra with an average of 65 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves a robust 114 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers a blistering 170 FPS.

For a game released in 2015, this hardware is overkill, but the benchmark data confirms it handles the title flawlessly. The RTX 5090 D provides a level of performance that ensures the game is not just playable but exceptionally smooth at maximum quality. The only limitation a user might face is the refresh rate of their display, as the frame rates at 1080p and 1440p exceed the capabilities of most standard monitors. This combination is a top-tier performer for Evolve, ranking in the 65th spot out of 3700 combos, and leaves no performance headroom on the table.