Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Evolve across all tested resolutions and settings. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet still capable of exceeding 60 FPS in every configuration except for one specific 4K preset. Benchmark results indicate that this combination ranks near the top of the database, with the CPU and GPU both performing in the 90th and 88th percentiles respectively. The following sections break down the measured performance, compare it to other tested combos, and provide guidance on the best settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a clear picture of scaling behavior.

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, performance is exceptionally high. With Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 369.7 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 289.9 FPS, a reduction of roughly 22%. High settings produce an average of 224.7 FPS, while Ultra settings still maintain an average of 153.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, with Ultra delivering approximately 58% of the Low-settings frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. Low settings average 251.5 FPS, Medium settings average 192.4 FPS, and High settings average 150.6 FPS. Ultra settings at this resolution average 107.5 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent drop of roughly 30-35% across all presets, indicating that resolution has a significant impact on performance.

At 3840x2160, the demands on the GPU become more pronounced. Low settings average 140.1 FPS, Medium settings average 110.5 FPS, and High settings average 85.5 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K are the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS, averaging 57.4 FPS. This is a notable finding, as it suggests that the RTX 4090, despite its high benchmark scores, cannot maintain a 60 FPS average at 4K with every setting maxed out in Evolve.

The data shows no min or max FPS values recorded, so only average frame rates are available for analysis. Across all resolutions, the step from Medium to High settings incurs a smaller relative penalty than the step from High to Ultra, which is consistent with the idea that Ultra presets often introduce disproportionately expensive effects.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this CPU and GPU pairing in Evolve is 97 out of 3700 tested combinations. This places the system in the top 2.6% of all tested hardware configurations for this game. The rank reflects the combined performance of both components, and the data indicates that this pairing is among the fastest available for running Evolve.

The CPU itself, the Intel Core i5-14600KF, has an average benchmark score of 49394 and sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which scores 49228 (0.3% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which scores 49196 (0.4% lower). The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% slower with a score of 48995. On the higher end, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 49796, which is 0.8% faster than the i5-14600KF. These deltas are all within 1%, meaning the processor performance is essentially tied with its closest competitors.

The GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, has an average benchmark score of 60347 and sits in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Arc Pro A60 with a score of 60326 (a 0% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 with a score of 60140 (0.3% lower). The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61896, which is 2.5% higher, while the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58657, which is 2.9% lower. These rival GPUs are not gaming-focused cards, but the deltaPct values show that the RTX 4090's raw compute performance is closely matched by several workstation-oriented alternatives.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearestRivals data, there are several hardware combinations that would behave similarly to the i5-14600KF and RTX 4090 in Evolve.

For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G are the closest matches, with average scores within 0.4% of the i5-14600KF. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is also within 1% performance parity. In practice, swapping the i5-14600KF for any of these processors would result in nearly identical frame rates in Evolve, as the game is unlikely to be CPU-bound at the tested settings. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is slightly faster, but the 0.8% advantage would translate to a negligible FPS difference, likely less than 2 FPS in most scenarios.

For the GPU, the situation is more nuanced because the RTX 4090's nearest rivals are professional workstation cards. The Intel Arc Pro A60 shows a 0% delta, meaning its average benchmark score is effectively identical to the RTX 4090. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% slower. However, these are not direct consumer gaming alternatives, and their real-world gaming performance may differ from the synthetic benchmark scores. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% faster in the benchmark average, but again, this is a mobile workstation GPU.

In terms of actual gaming behavior, the data suggests that any CPU within 1% of the i5-14600KF's score would produce the same FPS results. The GPU side is more complex, but the deltaPct values indicate that the nearest rivals would produce frame rates within a few percentage points of the RTX 4090, assuming similar driver optimization for Evolve.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear and straightforward.

At 3840x2160, the system can run the game at 60 FPS or above on Low, Medium, and High settings. The best playable setting is High, which delivers an average of 85.5 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K fall short, averaging 57.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, all four settings presets are playable. The best setting is Ultra, with an average of 107.5 FPS. This gives a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving headroom for demanding scenes.

At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, and the best setting is Ultra with an average of 153.5 FPS. This is more than double the playable threshold, indicating that the system has significant performance headroom at this resolution.

The data shows that this combo can run Evolve at 60 FPS or higher in every resolution and preset combination except for 4K Ultra. For users with 4K displays, the recommendation is to use High settings for a smooth experience, as the step to Ultra costs over 28 FPS on average.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU load shifts across resolutions and presets.

At 1920x1080, the system is likely CPU-bound in many scenarios, given the extremely high frame rates. The i5-14600KF, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is well-equipped for this task. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a reduction from 369.7 FPS to 153.5 FPS, a drop of 58%. This large drop indicates that the GPU is handling significantly more work at higher presets, but the CPU still needs to feed it with draw calls and game logic.

At 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor. The frame rates drop uniformly compared to 1080p, but the relative penalties between presets remain similar. The RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are sufficient to handle the increased pixel count without introducing a memory bottleneck.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the clear primary constraint. The RTX 4090 is running at its limits, especially at Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 57.4. The CPU's role diminishes at 4K because the frame rate is lower, giving the processor more time to prepare each frame. This is evidenced by the fact that the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 82.7 FPS (from 140.1 to 57.4), which is a smaller absolute drop than at 1080p where the gap is 216.2 FPS.

The scaling between resolutions shows that moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by approximately 30-35% across all presets. Moving from 1440p to 4K results in a further reduction of roughly 40-45%. This non-linear scaling is typical of GPU-bound workloads, where the number of pixels quadruples from 1080p to 4K, but the frame rate does not drop by the same factor due to other bottlenecks.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 60 FPS on a 4K monitor?

A: Yes, but not on Ultra settings. The data shows playable settings at 4K include High (85.5 FPS), Medium (110.5 FPS), and Low (140.1 FPS). Ultra settings at 4K average 57.4 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming with this combo?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 deliver an average of 107.5 FPS, which is the highest preset that remains at or above 60 FPS. This is the recommended configuration for 1440p.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for Evolve at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a more significant role because frame rates are very high (up to 369.7 FPS on Low). The i5-14600KF's 90th percentile benchmark score ensures it can keep up with the RTX 4090 at this resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60347. The Intel Arc Pro A60 is 0% different, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% slower. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% faster.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested hardware?

A: The combo ranks 97 out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the top 2.6% of all configurations tested for Evolve.

Q: Is there any resolution where this combo fails to hit 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 57.4. This is the only tested configuration that falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows.

At 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, with an average FPS of 153.5. This provides the maximum visual quality while keeping frame rates far above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is also Ultra, delivering an average of 107.5 FPS. This leaves a comfortable margin of 47.5 FPS above the playable threshold.

At 3840x2160, the best setting is High, with an average of 85.5 FPS. This is the highest preset that clears 60 FPS at 4K. Choosing High over Ultra sacrifices some visual fidelity but gains 28.1 FPS on average, ensuring a smooth experience.