Evolve

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 2518 out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve. This places the combo in the lower third of the database, which is a notable result given the GPU's standing among all graphics cards. The RTX 3060 Ti sits at the 59th percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-9400 is at the 47th percentile among all CPUs. The pairing is balanced enough to produce playable frame rates at most settings, but the rank reflects that this is not a top-tier combination for this title.

The measured data tells a clear story. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers a 99.6 FPS average on High settings, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The Ultra preset still clears that bar at 67.9 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, High settings produce 63.3 FPS, just barely above the threshold, while Ultra falls to 45.1 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset stays playable at 63.2 FPS. The pattern is consistent: this system is a solid 1080p performer, a marginal 1440p High settings machine, and a 4K Low settings only option.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 2254 puts it within 0.4% of its nearest rivals, which means the i5-9400 is not a bottleneck in most scenarios. The GPU's average score of 16129 is similarly close to its nearest competitors, within 1.7% at most. Neither component is an outlier in performance, so the combination's rank is driven by the game's demands rather than a weak link in the pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset for 1920x1080 on this system?

A: The Ultra preset runs at an average of 67.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold. High settings run at 99.6 FPS, Medium at 126.6 FPS, and Low at 157.7 FPS. Ultra is the most demanding preset that stays playable.

Q: Can this combo handle 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: Yes, High settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 63.3 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by a narrow margin. Medium runs at 81.3 FPS, and Low runs at 108.6 FPS. Ultra drops to 45.1 FPS, which is not playable.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware in Evolve?

A: Only at Low settings, where the average is 63.2 FPS. Medium drops to 48.6 FPS, High to 38.6 FPS, and Ultra to 28.5 FPS. The 4K resolution requires significant compromises, and the database only lists Low as playable.

Q: How does the RTX 3060 Ti compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, which is 0.7% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M scores 16351, which is 1.4% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT scores 16361, also 1.4% higher. The AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15862, which is 1.7% lower. Performance differences are minimal.

Q: What about the i5-9400's standing among CPUs?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, a 0.2% difference. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, a 0.3% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% difference. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, a 0.4% difference. All these CPUs are effectively equivalent in average performance.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The recorded average is 126.6 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides headroom for demanding scenes. Low settings reach 157.7 FPS, and High settings reach 99.6 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four settings presets per resolution. All values are average FPS; minimum and maximum frame times were not recorded in the database.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 63.2 FPS average. This is the only playable preset at 4K.
• Medium: 48.6 FPS average. Below the 60 FPS threshold.
• High: 38.6 FPS average. Noticeably lower, indicating a steep scaling cost.
• Ultra: 28.5 FPS average. The most demanding preset yields the lowest result.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 108.6 FPS average. This is the highest result at this resolution.
• Medium: 81.3 FPS average. Comfortably above 60 FPS.
• High: 63.3 FPS average. Right at the edge of playability, but it clears the threshold.
• Ultra: 45.1 FPS average. Not playable by the 60 FPS standard.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 157.7 FPS average. This is the best result across all tested configurations.
• Medium: 126.6 FPS average. Strong performance with headroom.
• High: 99.6 FPS average. Still well above 60 FPS.
• Ultra: 67.9 FPS average. The most demanding preset at 1080p, but it stays playable.

The scaling between presets is consistent. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium costs 31.1 FPS, from Medium to High costs 27 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 31.7 FPS. At 1440p, the same transitions cost 27.3, 18, and 18.2 FPS respectively. At 4K, the transitions cost 14.6, 10, and 10.1 FPS. The absolute frame rate drops are larger at lower resolutions because the GPU is less constrained, but the relative impact of each preset step remains similar.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, which is 0.2% higher than the i5-9400. In practical terms, this CPU would produce nearly identical frame rates in Evolve. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% lower, and would be indistinguishable in gameplay. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% lower, also effectively matching. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher, and would be a marginal improvement at most. None of these alternatives would change the playability verdict at any resolution.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3060 Ti. This card would perform within a fraction of a frame per second, so the same settings would apply. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M scores 16351, 1.4% higher, offering a negligible uplift. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT scores 16361, also 1.4% higher, and would likely deliver one or two extra FPS in the same scenarios. The AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15862, 1.7% lower, which is still within the margin of error for gameplay. Any of these GPUs paired with any of the listed CPUs would produce essentially the same experience in Evolve.

The practical takeaway is that the combo's performance envelope is defined by the game's engine and the GPU's class, not by the specific model chosen. A system with an i7-1068NG7 and an RX 5700 XT would show the same 1080p Ultra result, the same 1440p High result, and the same 4K Low result.

Best Settings per Resolution

3840x2160: The best preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 63.2 FPS. This is the only option at 4K. Medium drops to 48.6 FPS, which misses the threshold.

2560x1440: The best preset is High, with an average of 63.3 FPS. This is just above the threshold. Medium runs at 81.3 FPS, which offers more headroom but is less demanding. Low runs at 108.6 FPS for maximum smoothness. Ultra at 45.1 FPS is not recommended.

1920x1080: The best preset is Ultra, with an average of 67.9 FPS. This clears the threshold with a small margin. High runs at 99.6 FPS, Medium at 126.6 FPS, and Low at 157.7 FPS, all providing more headroom. Ultra is the most demanding preset that remains playable.

The pattern is that higher resolutions force a drop in settings to maintain 60 FPS. At 1080p, the GPU has enough headroom for Ultra. At 1440p, High is the ceiling. At 4K, Low is the only option. The margins at 1440p High and 4K Low are slim, at 3.3 and 3.2 FPS above the threshold respectively. The 1080p Ultra margin is 7.9 FPS, which is more comfortable.

The Verdict

This system can run Evolve, but the answer depends heavily on the target resolution. The database's verdict is clear: at 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with Ultra delivering 67.9 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combo. At 2560x1440, High settings are playable at 63.3 FPS, and Medium at 81.3 FPS, but Ultra falls below the threshold. At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable at 63.2 FPS.

The verdict by resolution confirms this: 1080p allows Ultra, 1440p allows High, and 4K allows Low. The 60 FPS threshold is met at each of these settings, but the margins are not large. The 1440p High result at 63.3 FPS and the 4K Low result at 63.2 FPS are both within a few frames of the threshold, meaning demanding scenes could push them lower.

The combo rank of 2518 out of 3700 reflects this mixed performance. The system is not a high-end contender, but it is capable of delivering a smooth experience at the most common resolution. For 1080p gaming, this is a fully capable setup. For 1440p, it requires moderate settings. For 4K, it demands the lowest settings. Users targeting 60 FPS should plan around the best settings listed for each resolution, and those who want higher visual fidelity should consider a more powerful GPU.