Evolve

# Evolve: Intel Core i5-14600K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D presents a formidable pairing for Evolve, a title known for its demanding asynchronous compute and particle effects. The data indicates that this system is not merely capable, but exceptionally well-suited for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. The processor's robust multi-threaded performance ensures the game's simulation and AI logic run smoothly, while the GPU's massive throughput handles the visual load.

How This Combo Ranks

In the aggregate of all tested combinations, this specific configuration ranks in the top 20 percentile, landing at position 20 out of 3700 tested combos. This is a strong showing, placing it ahead of the vast majority of systems. The delta from the nearest rival configurations is small, meaning that this pairing of CPU and GPU is at the performance sweet spot for this game; you are getting performance that is closely matched by only a few other top-tier parts.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the closest hardware alternatives, the data shows that a few configurations will perform nearly identically. On the CPU side, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H offers a nearly identical average score, trailing by only 0.2%. This is within the margin of run-to-run variance, so in multi-threaded titles, you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT is a mere 1.1% behind the RTX 5090 D in average score. This indicates that for a significant cost difference, you might find a comparable experience, though the NVIDIA card's dominant feature set and driver optimization for this game make it the safer choice. Further down the list, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB show a 2.1% and 2.4% deficit respectively, illustrating how the 50-series card pulls away from the previous generation.

CPU and GPU Roles

For this game, the division of labor is clear. At 3840x2160, the game's most demanding setting, the CPU is almost never the bottleneck. The data shows a massive scaling in performance when moving from High to Low settings at this resolution: the average FPS jumps from 94 at High to 154 at Low. This is a near-perfect linear scaling, indicating that the game is heavily GPU-bound at 4K, with the CPU's role being minimal outside of maintaining a baseline frame rate. However, the game's simulation and AI logic still need a capable processor, and the i5-14600K's 14 cores and 20 threads provide ample headroom. The GPU becomes the dominant factor at this resolution, and the RTX 5090 D's massive shading and tensor core count proves to be the definitive component.

At the more common 2560x1440 resolution, the CPU begins to matter slightly more, but the GPU still holds sway. The data shows an average of 271 FPS at Low, dropping to 114 FPS at Ultra. This is a 2.4x scaling, which is in line with what we expect from a game that is still primarily GPU-limited at this resolution. The i5-14600K's mid-range status is rendered a non-factor here, as the GPU is so powerful it can brute-force its way through the majority of frames. It is only at the lower resolution where the CPU starts to catch up, and even then the GPU handles it with aplomb.

At 1920x1080, the CPU and GPU are in a more balanced state, but the GPU still does the heavy lifting. Scores range from a stellar 373 FPS at Low to 170 FPS at Ultra. This is a 2.2x spread, indicating that the game's visual effects are more scalable than the CPU's physics load. At this resolution, the i5's strong single-core and multi-core scores are sufficient to feed a high-end GPU a steady stream of draw calls.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Evolve? Yes, unequivocally. The data shows that at all tested resolutions, the Ultra preset stays comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 65 FPS. At 2560x1440, it averages 114 FPS. At 1920x1080, the average is 170 FPS. This is not a "just barely" situation; the system delivers performance that is 2x to 6x the playability requirement. For gamers who want to push high refresh rates, the lower resolutions and settings will easily saturate a 144Hz or even 240Hz display.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160 (4K)

| Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|

| High | 94 | - | - |

| Low | 154 | - | - |

| Medium | 120 | 102 | 138 |

| Ultra | 65 | - | - |

At 4K, the Ultra preset is the only one that keeps the game at a playable level. The High, Medium, and Low presets all open up a significant lead, with the Low preset hitting 154 FPS. Note the min/max columns: the data for Ultra shows no dip below 60 FPS, which is the critical metric.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• High: 165
• Low: 271
• Medium: 210 (min 179, max 242)
• Ultra: 114

At 1440p, the gap narrows, but the 60 FPS threshold is still hit with 66% headroom at the most demanding preset. The Ultra preset averages 114 FPS, which is a strong result. The High preset is nearly 50% faster, and the Low preset hits 271 FPS, which is extremely high for a 1440p image.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• High: 246
• Low: 373
• Medium: 314 (min 267, max 361)
• Ultra: 170

At 1080p, the system takes off. Even the Ultra preset is nearly 3x the 60 FPS threshold. The GPU is clearly not the primary limiter here; the CPU's draw-call and physics overhead is. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 2.2x reduction, indicating that the game holds up well on lower-end video cards, but with this CPU-GPU combo, it's all about the GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset for a 60 FPS experience at 4K?

A: Use the Ultra preset. It averages 65 FPS at 3840x2160. That is 8% above the playability threshold, with data showing no dips below the required 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1440p?

A: No, not in this game. The CPU is roughly 0.2% behind the immediate rival, which is a negligible gap. The GPU carries the system at this resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: It leads the AMD RX 6650M XT by 1.1% in average score. This is a small but consistent advantage. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB is 2.1% behind, making it a slightly less capable 4K part.

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

A: The GPU is the stronger component by a wide margin. At 4K, frame rates scale from 94 to 154 FPS going from High to Low, a 1.64x spread. The CPU has a significant impact only at 1080p, but even then it is not limiting.

Q: Can this run at 60 FPS on a 2560x1440 high refresh monitor?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset there produces 114 FPS, which is 90% above a 60Hz refresh rate. You can lock the frame rate to the display's refresh rate without issue.

Best Settings per Resolution

3840x2160: The most demanding preset that still clears 60 FPS is Ultra, coming in at 65 FPS. No other preset is needed for 4K60; even the most demanding setting is comfortably above the target.

2560x1440: The most demanding preset that stays above 60 is Ultra, with an average of 114 FPS. This is the one to use for maximum image quality.

1920x1080: The most demanding preset is also Ultra, averaging 170 FPS. The massive headroom here means you could even drop down to a more demanding custom preset and still be at 60 FPS.