Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 lands in the 1574th position out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve, placing it in the upper-middle tier of systems. This ranking reflects a combination that is clearly capable of running the game smoothly at most settings, though it does encounter limitations at the highest preset on 4K displays. The data suggests a well-balanced pairing where the GPU is the primary driver of performance, but the CPU provides sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1574 out of 3700 places it in the 42nd percentile of all tested configurations for this title. This is a respectable position, indicating that while many systems outperform it, a substantial majority of tested combos deliver lower frame rates. The percentile ranking of the individual components reinforces this picture: the RTX 3070 sits at the 61st percentile among all GPUs, while the Core i5-12400F is at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs. The CPU is comparatively stronger than the GPU in the broader benchmark landscape, yet for Evolve, the frame rate data shows the GPU’s influence dominating performance scaling.

In practical terms, this rank means the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and solid 1440p performance. It is not an extreme high-end configuration, but it clearly exceeds the requirements for comfortable playable frame rates in this game. The measured FPS data confirms that the system never dips below the 60 FPS playable threshold at 1080p or 1440p, regardless of preset. The only challenges appear at 4K, where the Ultra preset falls to an average of 36.9 FPS, dragging the overall ranking down compared to systems that can handle 4K Ultra.

CPU and GPU Roles

Benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the dominant factor in determining performance for Evolve, particularly as resolution increases. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows a consistent pattern where frame rates drop proportionally with the increased pixel count, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 215.3 FPS, dropping to 144.7 FPS at 1440p Low, and further to 80.2 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 63% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, a clear sign that the graphics card is being pushed harder as resolution climbs.

The CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and higher presets. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 89.9, which is a 58% drop from the 215.3 FPS seen at 1080p Low. This larger relative drop at the same resolution suggests that the CPU is working harder to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations at higher settings. However, the i5-12400F’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its Geekbench single-core score of 1964, ensures it can keep up with the RTX 3070 even at these elevated settings.

The data implies that at 1080p and 1440p, the RTX 3070 is the limiting factor, as the CPU has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates. At 4K, the GPU’s workload becomes even more demanding, and the frame rate drops further, confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck across all tested resolutions. The CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, provide ample processing power for Evolve’s FPS gameplay, which is not particularly CPU-intensive compared to modern titles.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional performance across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 215.3 FPS, Medium reaches 164.6 FPS, High achieves 133.1 FPS, and Ultra still maintains a very smooth 89.9 FPS. These numbers indicate that the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, even with maximum graphical fidelity. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, with a 58% performance difference, but even the lowest figure comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain highly playable. Low settings average 144.7 FPS, Medium hits 111 FPS, High produces 85.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 62.4 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only one that approaches the playable threshold, but it still clears it by a small margin. This resolution offers a sweet spot for the RTX 3070, balancing visual quality with smooth performance. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows an average reduction of about 33% across all presets, which is consistent with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the system starts to show its limits. Low settings average 80.2 FPS, Medium achieves 65.4 FPS, High drops to 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 36.9 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fail to reach the 60 FPS playable threshold, making them unsuitable for smooth gameplay at this resolution. The Medium preset is the highest setting that remains playable, with a modest 9% margin above the threshold. The 4K results highlight the RTX 3070’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth as potential limiting factors at higher resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 60 FPS on 1080p Ultra settings?

A: Yes, benchmark results show an average of 89.9 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 4K gaming with this hardware?

A: The data indicates that Medium settings at 3840x2160 provide an average of 65.4 FPS, making it the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS. High and Ultra fall short, with averages of 52 FPS and 36.9 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the CPU compare to similar processors in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19047 (0% delta) and the Intel Core 3 201E at 19056 (-0.1% delta). It also sits just above the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982 (0.3% delta).

Q: Is the GPU more powerful than comparable graphics cards?

A: The RTX 3070’s average benchmark score is 17208, which is slightly higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT at 17083 (0.7% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 at 17037 (1% delta). It trails the NVIDIA Tesla K40c at 17468 (-1.5% delta).

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 85.9, providing a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the system struggle at any resolution or preset?

A: The only configuration that fails to reach 60 FPS is 4K with High or Ultra settings. At 3840x2160, High averages 52 FPS and Ultra averages 36.9 FPS, both below the playable threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals show that the Intel Core i5-12400F performs almost identically to several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS matches it with an average score of 19047 and a 0% delta, meaning users would see virtually no difference in CPU-bound tasks. The Intel Core 3 201E is also extremely close at 19056 (-0.1% delta), while the Intel Core i5-1335U trails slightly at 18982 (0.3% delta). The AMD EPYC 7773X, despite being a server-class chip, also lands nearby at 18979 (0.3% delta), though its platform differences would make it an unlikely choice for gaming.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3070’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which scores 17083 and is just 0.7% slower in average benchmark performance. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690, an older dual-GPU card, comes within 1% of the RTX 3070’s score at 17037, though its driver support and memory limitations would make it less practical. The AMD Radeon HD 7970M is also close at 17019 (1.1% delta), but this is a mobile part and not directly comparable for desktop gaming. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c actually scores higher at 17468 (-1.5% delta), but as a compute-focused card, it lacks the display outputs and gaming optimizations of the RTX 3070.

For Evolve specifically, the GPU rivals suggest that the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT would deliver nearly identical frame rates, while the older GTX 690 might struggle due to its dual-GPU architecture in a game that may not scale well with SLI. The CPU rivals indicate that swapping the i5-12400F for any of these alternatives would result in negligible performance changes in this game, since the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that remains playable, delivering an average of 89.9 FPS. This provides the best visual quality while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets, including High at 133.1 FPS, Medium at 164.6 FPS, and Low at 215.3 FPS, also clear the threshold with ease.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again offers the highest fidelity at 62.4 FPS, which just barely stays above the playable threshold. This is the recommended setting for users who prioritize visual quality, though those who prefer a larger frame rate buffer could opt for High at 85.9 FPS or Medium at 111 FPS for smoother motion.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 65.4 FPS. The Low preset at 80.2 FPS is also viable, but Medium offers better visuals without sacrificing playability. The High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS and should be avoided for competitive or smooth gameplay at this resolution.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Evolve, and it does so with strong performance across most configurations. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at every preset, including Ultra with an average of 89.9 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 2560x1440, all four presets remain playable, with Ultra just edging past 60 FPS at 62.4 FPS, offering a great balance of visual quality and smoothness.

The 4K results are more nuanced. The system can handle Low settings at 80.2 FPS and Medium at 65.4 FPS, both of which are playable. However, High and Ultra presets fall short of the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 52 FPS and 36.9 FPS respectively. For users with 4K displays, the recommendation is to stick with Medium settings to ensure a consistently smooth experience.

Overall, the Intel Core i5-12400F and RTX 3070 combination is a well-matched pair for Evolve. The CPU provides ample processing power without bottlenecking the GPU, while the GPU delivers excellent frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The only limitation is 4K Ultra, which is expected given the RTX 3070’s position in the GPU hierarchy. For the vast majority of gaming scenarios, this system delivers a highly satisfying experience.