Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Evolve, but it stumbles at 4K. Benchmark data shows the combo ranks 2181st out of 3700 tested configurations for this title, putting it in the lower-middle tier of tested systems. The critical finding is that this setup clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at 1080p and 1440p across most presets, but at 4K only the Low preset achieves playable frame rates. The GPU’s 59th percentile ranking versus all GPUs and the CPU’s 90th percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicate a system where the graphics card is the limiting factor in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured frame rates are strong across the board. The Low preset produces an average of 176 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo in any configuration. Medium settings yield 137 FPS average with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS, showing tight frame pacing. High settings drop to 107 FPS average, still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding setting tested at this resolution, maintains an average of 74 FPS — a playable result with headroom above the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance picture remains positive but shows expected scaling pressure. The Low preset delivers 118 FPS average, representing a 33% reduction compared to the 1080p Low result. Medium settings produce 92 FPS average with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS, indicating the frame rate never dips below the playable threshold. High settings hold at 72 FPS average, which is a playable result but with less margin. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls to 50 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold — this is the first resolution where the most demanding preset fails to meet the target.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. The Ultra preset averages only 28 FPS, which is a demanding load that this GPU cannot handle at 4K resolution. High settings improve to 41 FPS average, still far below playable. Medium settings reach 52 FPS average with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS, approaching but not clearing the threshold. Only the Low preset at 4K achieves playable performance with an average of 67 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: this combo is viable at 1080p and 1440p, but 4K gaming is limited to the lowest quality settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. Benchmark results show the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 produces an average of 74 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data confirms 1080p Ultra is listed among playable settings.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 achieves 72 FPS average, making it the most demanding playable setting at this resolution. The Medium preset also clears the threshold with 92 FPS average, while the Ultra preset at 50 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS playable mark.

Q: Is 4K gaming feasible with this configuration?

A: Only at the Low preset. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 67 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings at 4K average 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 FPS, and High and Ultra settings average 41 FPS and 28 FPS respectively, all below the playable threshold.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Evolve?

A: The combo ranks 2181st out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the 59th percentile of tested configurations. This means a majority of tested systems perform better, but this setup still delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 produces an average of 137 FPS, with the minimum recorded at 116 FPS and the maximum at 157 FPS. This indicates consistent frame delivery well above the playable threshold.

Q: Does the Ultra preset at 2560x1440 meet the playable threshold?

A: No. The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 50 FPS, which is 10 FPS below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data does not list Ultra at 1440p among playable settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination ranks 2181st out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This rank places the system in the lower half of tested configurations, with approximately 59% of tested combos performing better. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 16014 places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU’s average benchmark score of 48618 places it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. This discrepancy highlights that the graphics card is the performance bottleneck in this pairing for Evolve.

The measured FPS data confirms this ranking pattern. At 1920x1080, the system delivers playable frame rates across all presets, from 74 FPS at Ultra to 176 FPS at Low. At 2560x1440, the system maintains playability through High settings, but the Ultra preset drops below the threshold. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset remains playable. The rank of 2181 reflects a system that handles mainstream resolutions well but struggles with the highest resolution tested.

Compared to all tested combos, this setup sits in the middle tier. The CPU’s high percentile ranking suggests it is not the limiting factor, while the GPU’s mid-range percentile ranking aligns with the frame rate results. The data indicates that users should target 1080p or 1440p for the best experience, as the 4K results are constrained to the lowest quality preset.

The Verdict

This PC can run Evolve, with the playable experience depending heavily on resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at every preset tested: Ultra averages 74 FPS, High averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 137 FPS, and Low averages 176 FPS. The verdict data lists all four presets at 1080p as playable, with Ultra being the best playable setting at an average of 74 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High, Medium, and Low presets. The High preset achieves 72 FPS average, making it the best playable setting at this resolution. Medium averages 92 FPS, and Low averages 118 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 50 FPS, which fails to meet the playable threshold. The verdict confirms that High, Medium, and Low are playable at 1440p, with High being the best option.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, averaging 67 FPS. Medium averages 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 FPS, High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 28 FPS — all below the 60 FPS threshold. The verdict data lists Low as the only playable setting at 4K. For users prioritizing 4K, this combo delivers a playable experience only at the lowest quality settings, making 1080p and 1440p the recommended resolutions for this hardware.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals provide context for similar processing performance. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H has an average benchmark score of 48698, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-14600K’s 48618. The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470, representing a 0.3% difference. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, a 0.7% difference. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, which is 0.8% higher. These CPUs would deliver near-identical processing performance in Evolve, meaning the GPU remains the primary determinant of frame rates.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals show similar graphics performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has an average score of 16129, which is 0.7% lower than the RX 9060’s 16014. The AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15862, a 1% difference. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 scores 15852, also a 1% difference. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 scores 15679, a 2.1% difference. These GPUs would produce frame rates in Evolve within a few percentage points of the RX 9060, so users with these alternatives can expect similar playability profiles: strong 1080p performance, playable 1440p up to High settings, and limited 4K performance.

The combination of a high-performing CPU with a mid-range GPU means that swapping to any of the listed rival CPUs would not change the gaming experience, as the GPU is the limiting factor. Conversely, swapping to any of the listed rival GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates across all resolutions and presets tested.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 74 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates. The measured data shows a 40 FPS gap between Ultra at 74 FPS and High at 107 FPS, indicating that Ultra is a viable choice without significant performance risk.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 72 FPS. This setting provides a balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Medium preset at 92 FPS offers additional headroom, while Ultra at 50 FPS should be avoided as it falls below the playable threshold. The minimum frame rate at 1440p Medium is 78 FPS, confirming stable delivery.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 67 FPS. This is the only playable option at 4K. Medium at 52 FPS average and a minimum of 44 FPS is close but not sufficient, and High and Ultra are well below the threshold. Users at 4K must accept the Low preset to maintain playability, and even then, the margin above 60 FPS is narrow. For the best overall experience, 1080p Ultra and 1440p High offer the optimal combination of visual quality and frame rate stability.