Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a strong performance profile for Evolve, with the data showing playable frame rates across most resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS at Ultra settings, while at 2560x1440 it maintains 71 FPS at the same preset. The only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold is 3840x2160 at Ultra settings, where the average drops to 40 FPS. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data to determine exactly how this hardware handles the game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1920x1080?

A: Ultra settings are fully playable at this resolution, with the benchmark data showing an average of 106 FPS. This is the highest quality preset available, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold by a comfortable margin.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: At 3840x2160, the combo achieves playable frame rates on Low (96 FPS average) and Medium (74 FPS average) settings. However, High settings drop to 58 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 40 FPS, so the most demanding presets are not viable at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48618, which places it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, scores 48698, a difference of only -0.2%, indicating essentially identical performance.

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark position relative to other graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172, placing it at the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA P106-100, scores 23249, a delta of -0.3%, showing very close overall performance.

Q: Which resolution provides the best balance of quality and frame rate?

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 at Ultra settings delivers 71 FPS average, making it the highest quality preset that stays above 60 FPS at this resolution. This offers a substantial visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining smooth gameplay.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate drops below 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160, both High (58 FPS average) and Ultra (40 FPS average) presets fall below the playable threshold. The 2560x1440 and 1920x1080 resolutions maintain at least 71 FPS across all tested settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 1039th out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve, placing it in the top 28% of all systems evaluated. This ranking reflects the hardware's ability to handle the game's demands, though it is not among the absolute top-tier configurations. The percentile positioning of the individual components provides context: the CPU sits at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU rests at the 68th percentile of all GPUs. This disparity suggests that the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card in general compute tasks, but for Evolve specifically, the combined result is what matters.

The rank of 1039 out of 3700 indicates that while this is a capable system, there are many other combinations that deliver higher frame rates in this title. The measured FPS data confirms this is a solid mid-to-high-range performer, with the ability to run the game at high settings in most scenarios. The gap between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's lower percentile suggests that in Evolve, the graphics card is more likely to be the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions and presets.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results show a clear pattern of the GPU becoming more influential as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high, with Low settings hitting 251 FPS average and Ultra reaching 106 FPS. This suggests that at this resolution, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to maintain high output, and the limiting factor shifts between components depending on the preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop significantly: Low falls to 168 FPS (a 33% decrease from 1080p), and Ultra drops to 71 FPS (a 33% decrease as well). This consistent scaling indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck at this resolution, as the increased pixel count demands more from the graphics card while the CPU workload remains relatively stable.

At 3840x2160, the pattern intensifies. Low settings produce 96 FPS (a 43% drop from 1440p), while Ultra falls to 40 FPS (a 44% drop). The GPU's role is now dominant, as the rendering load at 4K requires substantially more graphics processing power. The CPU's contribution is less critical at this resolution, as the frame rates are constrained by the GPU's ability to process the higher pixel count. The data shows that for this game and this hardware combination, the GPU is the primary driver of performance differences across resolutions, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom even at lower settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in general benchmark performance are the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (average score 48698, delta -0.2%), the AMD EPYC 4345P (48470, delta 0.3%), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (48287, delta 0.7%), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 (48995, delta -0.8%). These processors would deliver nearly identical performance to the i5-14600K in Evolve, as their benchmark scores are within 0.8% of each other. The Xeon Gold 5318H and Core Ultra 5 245 are slightly ahead, while the EPYC 4345P and Core Ultra 5 245HX are marginally behind, but these differences are negligible for gaming purposes.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3080's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, delta -0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250, delta -0.3%), the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, delta -0.4%), and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X (23276, delta -0.4%). These graphics cards score within 0.4% of the RTX 3080 in general benchmarks, suggesting they would produce very similar frame rates in Evolve. The P106-100 and Radeon Pro Vega 16 are essentially tied with the RTX 3080, while the RX 6600M and R9 M290X are only marginally faster in aggregate benchmark scores.

It is important to note that these rival comparisons are based on overall benchmark averages, not game-specific performance. However, given the close scores, users with these alternative components can expect comparable results in Evolve, with variations likely within a few frames per second.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 106 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available and provides a substantial margin above the playable threshold.

For 2560x1440, Ultra settings also remain playable, with an average of 71 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold by 11 frames, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the best settings preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Medium, which delivers an average of 74 FPS. While High settings come close at 58 FPS, they fall just below the threshold, making Medium the recommended choice for 4K gaming.

The Verdict

The data shows that this PC can run Evolve effectively at most resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, all four tested presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear the 60 FPS threshold, with the lowest being Ultra at 106 FPS average. The 2560x1440 resolution also supports all presets, with Ultra delivering 71 FPS average, which is above the playable threshold.

At 3840x2160, the system can handle Low (96 FPS) and Medium (74 FPS) settings, but High (58 FPS) and Ultra (40 FPS) fall below 60 FPS. The verdict by resolution confirms this: 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 are fully playable at all settings, while 4K requires dropping to Medium or lower for smooth gameplay.

Overall, this combo is well-suited for Evolve, providing high frame rates at standard gaming resolutions and remaining playable at 4K with adjusted settings. The GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, but the CPU's strength ensures no bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 251 FPS, Medium achieves 195 FPS (with minimum 165 and maximum 224), High reaches 153 FPS, and Ultra delivers 106 FPS. All of these are well above the 60 FPS threshold, with even the most demanding preset providing nearly double the playable minimum.

The 2560x1440 results show: Low at 168 FPS, Medium at 130 FPS (minimum 111, maximum 150), High at 102 FPS, and Ultra at 71 FPS. The Ultra setting is the only one that comes close to the threshold, but it still maintains a 11 FPS margin. The Medium preset shows the widest range between minimum and maximum, indicating some frame time variability, but the average remains solid.

At 3840x2160, the data reveals: Low at 96 FPS, Medium at 74 FPS (minimum 63, maximum 85), High at 58 FPS, and Ultra at 40 FPS. The Medium setting's minimum of 63 FPS confirms it stays above the threshold, while High's average of 58 FPS indicates occasional drops below 60. Ultra's 40 FPS average represents a significant performance hit, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay at 4K.

The pattern across all resolutions shows consistent scaling: as resolution increases, frame rates drop proportionally, and the gap between settings widens. The Medium preset at every resolution maintains a playable average, while Ultra only becomes viable at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. The measured data provides a clear picture of how this hardware handles Evolve under different conditions.