Evolve

How This Combo Ranks

The pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 ranks 820th out of 3,700 tested combinations in Evolve, placing it in the top 22% of all recorded configurations. This percentile position reflects a system that sits comfortably above the median performer, though it is not among the elite tier of combinations. The CPU itself holds a 47th percentile ranking among all processors, while the GPU reaches an 82nd percentile position among all graphics cards, indicating that the graphics hardware is carrying a substantially larger share of the performance burden in this pairing.

The rank of 820 out of 3,700 means roughly 2,880 tested combos fall below this configuration in Evolve. That gap between the CPU percentile and GPU percentile is the first signal that the processor may be limiting overall results in certain scenarios, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU has less work to do. At higher resolutions, the RTX 5070's dominance should allow the system to climb closer to its theoretical ceiling.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database shows that the Intel Core i5-9400 performs nearly identically to several other processors in average benchmark scores. The closest rival is the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2,259 compared to the i5-9400's 2,254, a difference of just 0.2%. The Intel Core i3-10305 sits 0.4% higher at 2,264, while the Intel Core i7-10710U comes in 0.3% lower at 2,248. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 trails by 0.4% with a score of 2,246. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Evolve, since the performance spread across all four rivals is less than 1%.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5070's average benchmark score of 40,377 places it alongside several AMD workstation cards. The AMD Radeon Pro 580 scores 40,318, just 0.1% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 is 0.8% behind at 40,063, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 runs 1.2% ahead at 40,870. The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile is 2% lower at 39,568. These deltas are all small enough that swapping between them would produce only minor changes in Evolve's frame output, assuming similar driver behavior in this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data reveals how the performance balance shifts across resolutions and presets in Evolve. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces 212.6 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops that to 184.6 FPS, a 13.2% reduction. At 3840x2160 Low, the frame rate falls to 106.7 FPS, a 49.7% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep drop at 4K indicates that the GPU becomes progressively more constrained as pixel count rises, while the CPU's role diminishes.

The preset scaling tells a similar story. At 1080p, going from Low to Ultra reduces average FPS from 212.6 to 119.9, a 43.6% penalty. At 1440p, the same preset jump cuts performance from 184.6 to 80.1, a 56.6% penalty. At 4K, Low to Ultra drops from 106.7 to 42.8, a 59.9% penalty. The increasing performance cost of higher presets as resolution climbs confirms that the GPU is the dominant factor in these settings.

The CPU matters most at 1080p Low, where the frame rate of 212.6 FPS is likely approaching the processor's practical ceiling. The i5-9400's six cores and six threads, with boost clock reaching 4.10 GHz, are sufficient to feed the RTX 5070 at this resolution and preset. At 4K Ultra, the CPU influence recedes almost entirely, as the 42.8 FPS result is overwhelmingly determined by the GPU's rendering workload rather than any processor limitation.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 60 FPS on 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 42.8 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High settings at 4K achieve 68.6 FPS, so dropping from Ultra to High is required for 4K playability.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: Ultra settings at 1440p produce 80.1 FPS average, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. All four presets, Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, are playable at this resolution according to the recorded data.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 5070's average benchmark score is 40,377. The AMD Radeon Pro 580 is 0.1% lower, the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 is 0.8% lower, the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 is 1.2% higher, and the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile is 2% lower.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for performance in Evolve?

A: The GPU is the primary performance driver. Evidence comes from the 4K Low result of 106.7 FPS versus the 1080p Low result of 212.6 FPS, a 49.7% drop from resolution scaling alone. The CPU's influence is strongest at 1080p Low, where the processor must feed frames quickly enough to sustain 212.6 FPS.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Medium and High at 1920x1080?

A: Medium produces 194.1 FPS average, while High produces 172.3 FPS average. The difference is 21.8 FPS, or approximately 11.3% lower performance when moving from Medium to High.

Q: Does the system hit 60 FPS at any 4K preset?

A: Yes, three presets clear 60 FPS at 3840x2160. Low averages 106.7 FPS, Medium averages 87.1 FPS, and High averages 68.6 FPS. Only Ultra falls short at 42.8 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all presets. Low settings produce 212.6 FPS average, Medium reaches 194.1 FPS, High drops to 172.3 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 119.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 92.7 FPS, showing that preset selection has a substantial impact even at the lowest resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decline across the board. Low averages 184.6 FPS, a 13.2% reduction from the 1080p Low figure. Medium produces 148.3 FPS, down 23.6% from 1080p Medium. High falls to 114.5 FPS, a 33.5% reduction. Ultra manages 80.1 FPS, down 33.2% from 1080p Ultra. The percentage drops grow larger as settings increase, reinforcing the GPU-bound nature of higher presets.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens considerably. Low still achieves 106.7 FPS, which is playable but represents a 49.7% drop from 1440p Low. Medium falls to 87.1 FPS, a 41.3% reduction from 1440p Medium. High produces 68.6 FPS, down 40.1% from 1440p High. Ultra drops to 42.8 FPS, a 46.6% reduction from 1440p Ultra. The 4K Ultra figure is the only measured result below the 60 FPS threshold across all twelve combinations of resolution and preset.

The min and max FPS values are not recorded in the database, so the analysis relies entirely on average frame rates. The consistency of the scaling pattern, where each resolution step produces a predictable percentage decline, suggests the measurements are stable and representative of typical gameplay conditions in Evolve.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is High, which averages 68.6 FPS. Medium runs at 87.1 FPS and Low at 106.7 FPS, both also above the threshold. Ultra cannot be used at 4K, as its 42.8 FPS average falls well below the playable mark.

At 2560x1440, every preset stays above 60 FPS. The best visual quality option is Ultra, delivering 80.1 FPS average. This gives players the full graphical feature set while keeping a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. High runs at 114.5 FPS, Medium at 148.3 FPS, and Low at 184.6 FPS for those seeking higher refresh rates.

At 1920x1080, Ultra is the best setting and produces 119.9 FPS average. This is more than double the 60 FPS threshold, leaving ample headroom for demanding scenes. High runs at 172.3 FPS, Medium at 194.1 FPS, and Low at 212.6 FPS. At this resolution, the system is never constrained by the playability threshold; the only question is how much visual quality the user prefers over raw frame rate.

The Verdict

This computer can run Evolve successfully across most tested configurations. The recorded verdict data confirms that all three resolutions have at least one playable preset, and two of the three resolutions support the maximum Ultra preset at or above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves playable performance on every preset, with Ultra running at 119.9 FPS. This is the strongest result, offering both high visual quality and a frame rate well above the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra also clears the bar at 80.1 FPS, making 1440p a fully viable resolution for this game with all settings maxed.

At 3840x2160, the system requires a preset reduction. High settings deliver 68.6 FPS, which is playable, while Ultra drops to 42.8 FPS and cannot sustain smooth gameplay. The 4K playable settings are Low at 106.7 FPS, Medium at 87.1 FPS, and High at 68.6 FPS.

The overall picture is a system that comfortably handles Evolve at 1080p and 1440p with maximum quality, and at 4K with a one-step reduction from Ultra to High. The RTX 5070's 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth provide ample resources for this 2015 title, while the i5-9400's six cores keep frame delivery consistent at lower resolutions. The combination ranks 820th out of 3,700 tested, a solid mid-to-upper tier position that matches the observed gameplay results.