Evolve

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-14600K sits in a tightly contested performance band. Its average benchmark score of 48618 places it within 1% of several other processors. The nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H at 48698, which is effectively identical with a delta of -0.2%. The AMD EPYC 4345P trails by only 0.3%, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is 0.7% behind. On the other side, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 leads the i5-14600K by 0.8%. For gaming workloads, any of these four CPUs would provide nearly indistinguishable performance, meaning the choice between them would come down to platform features rather than raw speed.

The Intel Arc B390 presents a very different situation. This integrated graphics solution ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, and its benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is closely matched by a group of older discrete cards. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, a 1.3% gap. The GeForce 800M is 1.5% behind, the GT 625 OEM trails by 2.5%, and the GT 710 is 2.7% slower. These are all entry-level parts from years past, which frames the Arc B390 as a low-end graphics solution. When paired with a high-end CPU like the i5-14600K, the GPU becomes the decisive bottleneck in every scenario.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data shows a clear pattern: the Arc B390 limits performance across all resolutions, while the i5-14600K has ample headroom. At 3840x2160, the GPU is completely overwhelmed. The average frame rate drops from 34 FPS at Low settings to 14 FPS at Ultra, a 59% reduction in performance as settings increase. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics processor cannot keep up with the demands of higher quality presets.

At 2560x1440, the same trend continues but with slightly better results. Low settings hit exactly 60 FPS, while Medium falls to 46 FPS, High drops to 36 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 25 FPS. The step from Low to Medium alone costs 14 FPS, which is a 23% reduction. This is again GPU-limited behavior. The i5-14600K, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is not the constraining factor here. Its multithreaded benchmark scores, such as 24491 in Cinebench R23 and 38682 in PassMark multithread, place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. No data in the measurements suggests the processor struggles with Evolve.

At 1920x1080, the gap between presets narrows somewhat, but the GPU still dominates. Low settings produce 89 FPS, Medium drops to 69 FPS, High falls to 54 FPS, and Ultra reaches only 37 FPS. The transition from Medium to High costs 15 FPS, while from High to Ultra costs another 17 FPS. The pattern across resolutions is consistent: as resolution increases, average FPS drops at every preset, confirming that the Arc B390 is the sole performance limiter. The CPU's role is minimal, and the data does not indicate any CPU-related frame dips or bottlenecking.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 11% of all system configurations in the database. The ranking reflects the GPU's low percentile position more than the CPU's strength. A processor in the 90th percentile paired with a graphics solution in the 9th percentile produces a heavily imbalanced system.

In practical terms, this combo ranks below the vast majority of systems tested for Evolve. The 3700 total combinations include many with mid-range or high-end discrete GPUs, which naturally outperform an integrated solution. The i5-14600K's strong benchmark scores, including 16673 in Geekbench multicore and 92794 in PassMark floating point math, do not compensate for the GPU's limitations in this title. The ranking is a direct consequence of the Arc B390's position among all GPUs, where it sits near the bottom with a 9th percentile score.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Evolve depends entirely on the resolution and settings. According to the verdict data, 3840x2160 is not playable at any preset, as the playable settings list is empty. The best achievable average frame rate at 4K is 34 FPS on Low, which falls well short of the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the system can run Evolve, but only on Low settings, which achieves exactly 60 FPS on average. This is the bare minimum for a playable experience. Medium, High, and Ultra all fail to reach 60 FPS, with averages of 46, 36, and 25 FPS respectively.

At 1920x1080, the system becomes more viable. Both Low and Medium presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 89 and 69 FPS. High falls just short at 54 FPS, and Ultra is not playable at 37 FPS. The best playable setting at 1080p is Medium, which provides a comfortable margin above the threshold.

In summary, this PC can run Evolve at 1080p with Medium settings or lower, and at 1440p with Low settings only. It cannot achieve playable frame rates at 4K under any preset. Users aiming for 60 FPS should target 1080p Medium as the optimal balance, or 1440p Low if they prefer higher resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below the playable threshold. Low settings average 34 FPS. Medium averages 26 FPS, with minimum and maximum readings of 22 and 30 FPS. High averages 21 FPS. Ultra averages only 14 FPS. No preset at 4K reaches even half of the 60 FPS target in average terms.

At 2560x1440, the picture improves modestly. Low settings average exactly 60 FPS. Medium averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High averages 36 FPS. Ultra averages 25 FPS. Only the Low preset meets the playable threshold, and it does so right at the boundary without any headroom.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. Low settings average 89 FPS. Medium averages 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 79. High averages 54 FPS. Ultra averages 37 FPS. The Medium preset provides the highest quality that remains playable, with an average 9 FPS above the threshold. The minimum of 59 FPS on Medium is just 1 FPS below the 60 FPS target, indicating occasional dips but generally smooth gameplay.

The data reveals a consistent scaling pattern. Across all resolutions, the jump from Medium to High costs roughly 15 FPS, and the jump from High to Ultra costs another 12 to 17 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is also significant, typically 12 to 15 FPS. This suggests that the Arc B390 has a narrow range of viable settings, and each step up in quality carries a substantial performance penalty.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 4K resolution?

A: No. The verdict data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The best average frame rate is 34 FPS on Low, which is far below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the highest quality setting that maintains 60 FPS at 1920x1080?

A: Medium settings achieve an average of 69 FPS, which is the most demanding preset that clears the threshold at 1080p. Low settings average 89 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while staying above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower. The GeForce 800M trails by 1.5%, the GT 625 OEM by 2.5%, and the GT 710 by 2.7%. All of these GPUs are within 3% of each other.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K a bottleneck for this game?

A: The data does not indicate CPU bottlenecking. The processor ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs with strong multithreaded scores. The GPU, which ranks in the 9th percentile, is the limiting factor at every resolution and setting.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 2560x1440 on Low settings?

A: The average frame rate is exactly 60 FPS. This is the only playable preset at this resolution. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the threshold with averages of 46, 36, and 25 FPS.

Q: What is the overall ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Evolve?

A: The combo ranks 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems in the database, which reflects the GPU's low performance percentile.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS varies by resolution.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves 60 FPS. The best available setting is Low, which averages 34 FPS, but this does not meet the playable threshold. The verdict data lists no playable settings for 4K, so users should avoid this resolution if they require smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the only playable setting is Low, which averages exactly 60 FPS. This is the best settings option because it is the sole preset that reaches the threshold. Medium drops to 46 FPS, High to 36 FPS, and Ultra to 25 FPS. Users at this resolution must accept Low quality to maintain 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, Medium settings provide the best playable experience with an average of 69 FPS. This preset offers significantly better visual quality than Low, which averages 89 FPS, while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The minimum frame rate on Medium is 59 FPS, indicating only rare dips below the target. High settings average 54 FPS and are not playable, and Ultra averages 37 FPS. For users who prioritize frame rate above all else, Low at 89 FPS is the smoothest option, but Medium delivers the highest quality that remains playable.