Evolve

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 ranks 589th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the top 16% of all system configurations in the database. This is a strong result for a game that released in 2015, and the ranking reflects the enormous performance headroom provided by the graphics card rather than the processor.

The RTX 5080 sits in the 87th percentile of all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 56083. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 8060S, which scores 55757 (0.6% slower), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which scores 55698 (0.7% slower). The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X trails by 2.3% with a score of 54828, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE is 2.2% ahead at 57367. This puts the RTX 5080 in a tight pack of high-end cards where the differences between adjacent models are small.

The CPU side is more modest. The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, placing it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259 (0.2% faster), while the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248 (0.3% slower). The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 sits at 2246 (0.4% slower), and the Intel Core i3-10305 is 0.4% faster at 2264. These are all very close scores, meaning the i5-9400 performs essentially at the same level as its direct competitors in general compute workloads.

The combination of a mid-range 6-core, 6-thread CPU from 2018 with a flagship 2025 GPU creates an interesting imbalance. The data suggests the RTX 5080 is doing the heavy lifting in Evolve, and the measured frame rates confirm that the system is rarely constrained by the processor at the settings tested.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database records measured average FPS for four settings levels at each resolution, and the playable threshold is 60 FPS. Here is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution:

3840x2160 (4K): High settings at 80.2 FPS average. Ultra drops to 56.1 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold, so High is the ceiling for 4K. Low runs at 135.7 FPS and Medium at 105.1 FPS, both well above the threshold, but High is the best visual quality that maintains playability.

2560x1440 (1440p): Ultra settings at 103 FPS average. This is the highest preset and it clears the threshold by a wide margin. High runs at 144.3 FPS, Medium at 169.5 FPS, and Low at 186.9 FPS. All four settings are playable at 1440p.

1920x1080 (1080p): Ultra settings at 147.2 FPS average. Every preset is playable, with High at 177.6 FPS, Medium at 190.4 FPS, and Low at 211.2 FPS. The system has substantial headroom at 1080p, even on the most demanding preset.

The pattern is clear: this combo can run Evolve at maximum settings at 1080p and 1440p, but must drop one step from Ultra to High at 4K to stay above 60 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS scaling across resolutions and presets reveals which component limits performance in Evolve.

At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 64 FPS (211.2 down to 147.2), a 30% drop. At 1440p, the same comparison shows an 83.9 FPS gap (186.9 down to 103), a 45% drop. At 4K, the gap is 79.6 FPS (135.7 down to 56.1), a 59% drop. The increasing percentage drop as resolution rises indicates that the GPU becomes progressively more dominant at higher resolutions, which is typical behavior.

The resolution scaling tells the same story. At Ultra settings, moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces average FPS from 147.2 to 103, a 30% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K reduces it further to 56.1, another 46% decrease. At Low settings, the same resolution steps go from 211.2 to 186.9 (12% decrease) and then to 135.7 (27% decrease). The larger percentage drops at Ultra settings confirm that the GPU is the primary factor when visual load is high.

At 1080p, the CPU has more influence relative to the GPU than at higher resolutions. The i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which is sufficient for a 2015 FPS title. The recorded frame rates at 1080p, even at Low settings, suggest the game is not heavily CPU-bound in most scenes, but the CPU is still the weaker component in this pairing. The RTX 5080 is in the 87th percentile of GPUs, while the i5-9400 is in the 47th percentile of CPUs, a significant gap in relative performance.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor at Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 56.1, just below the 60 FPS threshold. The RTX 5080, despite its high standing in the database, cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra in Evolve. Dropping to High restores playability at 80.2 FPS, which shows that the Ultra preset at 4K demands more from the GPU than it can deliver.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 4K?

A: Yes, but not at Ultra settings. The system maintains 80.2 FPS average at High settings at 3840x2160, while Ultra drops to 56.1 FPS, below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 deliver 103 FPS average, which is the highest preset and remains well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much faster is Low compared to Ultra at 1080p?

A: Low settings run at 211.2 FPS average, while Ultra runs at 147.2 FPS, a difference of 64 FPS or roughly 30% faster on Low.

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

A: The GPU is the dominant factor, especially at higher resolutions. The RTX 5080 ranks in the 87th percentile of GPUs, while the i5-9400 ranks in the 47th percentile of CPUs. Resolution scaling shows larger FPS drops at Ultra settings, indicating GPU-bound behavior.

Q: Which settings are playable at 4K?

A: High, Medium, and Low are all playable at 3840x2160, with average FPS of 80.2, 105.1, and 135.7 respectively. Ultra is the only preset that falls below 60 FPS.

Q: Does the 1080p Ultra preset exceed 144 FPS?

A: Yes, the system achieves 147.2 FPS average at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, which is above 144 FPS and suitable for high refresh rate displays.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following are the exact recorded average FPS values from the database for each resolution and settings combination. Minimum and maximum FPS values were not recorded, so only averages are available.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 135.7 FPS
• Medium: 105.1 FPS
• High: 80.2 FPS
• Ultra: 56.1 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 186.9 FPS
• Medium: 169.5 FPS
• High: 144.3 FPS
• Ultra: 103 FPS

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 211.2 FPS
• Medium: 190.4 FPS
• High: 177.6 FPS
• Ultra: 147.2 FPS

The progression across settings is consistent at every resolution: Low is fastest, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra slowest. The scaling between Medium and High is smaller than between High and Ultra at 4K (24.9 FPS drop versus 24.1 FPS drop), while at 1440p the High to Ultra drop is 41.3 FPS and at 1080p it is 30.4 FPS. The 4K Ultra preset is the only configuration in the entire measured set that fails to reach 60 FPS.

The Verdict

This system can run Evolve, and it can do so at high frame rates across most settings and resolutions. The verdict by resolution is straightforward.

At 1920x1080, every preset is playable. Ultra settings deliver 147.2 FPS average, which is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. This is the best experience the combo offers, with maximum visual quality and frame rates suitable for high refresh rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, every preset is also playable. Ultra runs at 103 FPS average, providing excellent visual fidelity with a comfortable margin above the threshold. Even the most demanding settings leave room for consistent performance.

At 3840x2160, the system is playable on High, Medium, and Low settings, with averages of 80.2, 105.1, and 135.7 FPS respectively. Ultra settings at 4K produce 56.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and therefore not recommended for smooth gameplay.

The practical takeaway for a builder or owner of this combination is simple: use Ultra at 1080p or 1440p for the best experience, and cap the visual settings at High if playing at 4K. The RTX 5080 is powerful enough to handle Evolve with ease at lower resolutions, and the i5-9400 does not appear to hold the system back in this title based on the recorded frame rates. The GPU is the star of this pairing, and the data shows it provides ample performance for a game from 2015, even with the CPU being a much older and lower-performing part.