Evolve

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT delivers a highly capable Evolve experience, with the data showing that the combination is firmly above the 60 FPS playability threshold at 1080p and 1440p across all tested presets, while 4K requires a reduction to Medium settings to maintain smooth gameplay. Benchmark results indicate that this system is a strong performer for this 2015 FPS title, with the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K being the only configuration that drops below the target framerate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this specific CPU and GPU combination in Evolve provides a clear picture of performance scaling across resolutions and quality settings. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates exceptional headroom over the 60 FPS threshold. With Low settings, the average framerate reaches 214 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings produce an average of 180.9 FPS, while High settings still deliver a very robust 142.5 FPS. Pushing to the Ultra preset, the average drops to 98.4 FPS, which remains well above the playability threshold and indicates that the system is never bound by the CPU at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent, though the scaling from 1080p shows the expected impact of increased pixel count. Low settings average 156.1 FPS, a substantial 27% reduction from the 1080p Low result, yet still exceptionally smooth. Medium settings follow with 119.7 FPS, while High settings yield 93.3 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 67.2 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold, showing that the GPU is beginning to feel the strain of maximum quality at this higher resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve becomes more demanding. The Ultra preset averages 41 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold and would likely result in noticeable stutter during intense firefights. High settings at 4K produce an average of 54.3 FPS, still short of the 60 FPS target. However, reducing to Medium settings brings the average to 68.4 FPS, comfortably clearing the threshold, while Low settings achieve 93 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo is viable, but only by compromising on quality settings to Medium or below.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places this combination in a specific performance tier relative to other tested hardware. For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, positioning it at the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 with an average score of 2259, which is essentially identical at a delta of -0.2%. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, just 0.4% higher, while the Intel Core i7-10710U achieves 2248, a 0.3% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, also within 0.4% of the i5-9400. This clustering indicates that any of these CPUs would deliver nearly indistinguishable frame pacing in Evolve, as the game is unlikely to be CPU-limited at most settings given the high FPS figures recorded.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT has an average benchmark score of 11627, placing it at the 51st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are notable for their diversity. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 scores 11680, which is only 0.5% higher, suggesting that in Evolve, the performance difference between these two cards would be negligible. The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT scores 11842, 1.8% higher, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M scores 11528, 0.9% lower. The NVIDIA Tesla K20c scores 11479, 1.3% lower. This grouping implies that users with these alternative GPUs would see very similar average framerates in Evolve, though the RX 7800 XT's larger memory pool and modern architecture may manifest in other titles.

Practical interpretation of these rival scores suggests that swapping the i5-9400 for any of its nearest CPU rivals would change Evolve performance by less than a single percentage point, given the delta values. Similarly, GPU alternatives within this score band would produce framerate differences of roughly one to two percent, which is imperceptible in real-world gameplay. The data indicates that this combo sits in a well-populated performance tier, making it a predictable choice for Evolve.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal how the workload shifts between the Intel Core i5-9400 and the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT as resolution and settings change. At 1920x1080, the high average framerates across all presets indicate that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, but the CPU provides sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking. The gap between Low (214 FPS) and Ultra (98.4 FPS) is substantial, showing that GPU load scales significantly with quality settings. The CPU's six cores and six threads, with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, deliver consistent frame pacing at this resolution, as evidenced by the lack of any minimum FPS data points falling below the average in a way that would suggest stutter.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more heavily utilized, but the CPU still holds up well. The scaling from 1080p Ultra (98.4 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (67.2 FPS) represents a 31.7% drop, which aligns with the increased pixel count and demonstrates that the RX 7800 XT is the limiting factor at this preset. The CPU's role diminishes relative to the GPU, as the framerate is increasingly dictated by the graphics card's ability to fill pixels rather than the processor's ability to submit draw calls.

At 3840x2160, the CPU's role becomes minimal, and the GPU is overwhelmingly the performance constraint. The drop from 1440p Ultra (67.2 FPS) to 4K Ultra (41 FPS) is a 39% reduction, showing that the RX 7800 XT's compute and memory bandwidth are taxed heavily at 4K. The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6629 and single-core score of 935, are more than adequate for Evolve's engine at this resolution. The data suggests that users should prioritize GPU settings when targeting 4K, while at 1080p, either component could be adjusted without significant impact on the bottleneck.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Evolve? The answer is a definitive yes for the vast majority of configurations, according to the verdict data. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with the best experience coming from Ultra settings at an average of 98.4 FPS. This gives users full freedom to enable maximum quality without worrying about performance dips. At 2560x1440, the entire range of settings also clears the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 67.2 FPS. This makes 1440p a sweet spot for this combo, as visual fidelity is preserved while maintaining smooth gameplay.

The 3840x2160 results are more nuanced. The verdict data lists Low and Medium as playable settings, with Medium being the best choice at an average of 68.4 FPS. High settings at 54.3 FPS and Ultra at 41 FPS fall short of the 60 FPS playable threshold, meaning users targeting 4K must accept a visual compromise. The recorded data shows that the combination of the i5-9400 and RX 7800 XT is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Evolve, while 4K is feasible only with reduced settings. The playableThresholdFps of 60 is cleared with comfortable margin at lower resolutions, and even at 4K Medium, the average framerate provides a stable experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gameplay with this combo?

A: The verdict data indicates that Medium settings at 3840x2160 provide the best playable experience, with an average framerate of 68.4 FPS. High settings average 54.3 FPS and Ultra averages 41 FPS, both below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, the recorded data shows that Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average framerate of 67.2 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the best settings preset for 1440p according to the verdict data.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals for gaming?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, -0.2% delta), Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, -0.4% delta), and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, 0.4% delta). These differences are negligible for Evolve performance.

Q: What framerate can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 142.5 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides smooth gameplay even on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at any resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the primary constraint at 4K, where Ultra settings drop to 41 FPS. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU handles all presets above 60 FPS, so the bottleneck is minimal.

Q: Does the combo rank high among tested systems for Evolve?

A: The combo rank in the database is 1290 out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the top 35% of all tested setups for this game. This indicates solid performance relative to other hardware configurations.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Evolve, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT holds a rank of 1290 out of 3700 total combinations. This places it in the upper echelon of tested systems, roughly in the 65th percentile of all combos. The ranking reflects the strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, where the system consistently delivers framerates well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The CPU's 47th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 51st percentile ranking among all GPUs combine to create a balanced system that excels in this game.

The rank indicates that while there are faster combinations in the database, particularly those with higher-end CPUs or more powerful GPUs, this combo offers a robust experience for Evolve without significant weaknesses. The 4K performance is the only area where the combination falls short of the top tier, but the ability to run Medium settings at 4K with an average of 68.4 FPS still represents a playable configuration. For users prioritizing 1080p or 1440p, this combo ranks among the more capable options, with the 1080p Ultra average of 98.4 FPS and 1440p Ultra average of 67.2 FPS demonstrating that it handles maximum quality at those resolutions with ease. The data positions this as a strong mid-to-upper tier choice for Evolve, offering a balance of CPU and GPU capability that suits the game's demands.