Evolve

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 is an interesting combination for a game like Evolve, a title that originally released in early 2015. The CPU is a modern 12-core, 20-thread desktop processor from Intel’s Alder Lake architecture, while the GPU is an older Polaris 20 chip from AMD’s GCN 4.0 generation, featuring 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. This pairing creates a significant generational gap in performance capability, which the measured frame rates clearly reflect. The database records show that this combination struggles at higher resolutions but can deliver playable results at 1080p under specific presets. The following analysis breaks down the recorded FPS data, compares nearby hardware, and provides guidance on how to best run Evolve with this setup.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four quality presets each, with average FPS recorded for every configuration. No minimum or maximum frame rates were captured, so the analysis relies solely on average performance. The numbers reveal a steep performance curve as resolution increases and as settings are raised.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are uniformly below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Low preset delivers an average of 30.9 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that even approaches a playable range. Medium drops to 26 FPS, High falls further to 22 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 15.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is roughly a factor of two, indicating that the RX 580 is heavily taxed by the pixel count at 4K, regardless of the graphical load. None of these numbers come close to a smooth experience, and even the Low preset would feel sluggish for a fast-paced FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains below the 60 FPS target for every preset. Low averages 57.5 FPS, which is just 2.5 FPS shy of the playable threshold. Medium drops to 43.8 FPS, High to 36.3 FPS, and Ultra to 23.6 FPS. The pattern is consistent with 4K: lowering settings yields proportional gains, but the GPU’s raw throughput is insufficient to maintain 60 FPS at this resolution. The 57.5 FPS result on Low is notable because it suggests that with a slight reduction in internal resolution or a less demanding scene, this combo might occasionally touch 60 FPS, but the average remains below the mark.

At 1920x1080, the data shows the only playable configurations. Low averages 85.1 FPS, which is comfortably above 60 FPS and provides headroom for demanding scenes. Medium averages 66.6 FPS, still above the threshold but with less margin. High drops to 52.7 FPS, below the playable line, and Ultra falls to 33.9 FPS, which is not suitable for smooth gameplay. The jump from Low to Medium costs roughly 18.5 FPS on average, while moving from Medium to High costs another 13.9 FPS. This indicates that the RX 580 has enough performance for moderate settings at 1080p, but high-end presets are beyond its reach.

The scaling between resolutions is also informative. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 30.9 at 4K to 57.5 at 1440p to 85.1 at 1080p. That represents a 46% increase from 4K to 1440p and another 48% increase from 1440p to 1080p. At Medium settings, the progression is 26, 43.8, and 66.6 FPS, with similar relative gains. This consistent scaling suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck across all resolutions, as the CPU’s performance headroom does not appear to limit frame rates even at lower resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-12700KF provide context for how this CPU compares to other processors in the database. The i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, placing it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-13700T, which scores 35403, a difference of -0.1%. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, also within -0.2% of the i7-12700KF. On the other side, the Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, which is 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35287, also 0.2% lower. These deltas are negligible, meaning that swapping the i7-12700KF for any of these four CPUs would result in virtually identical performance in Evolve. The i7-12700KF’s 3DMark scores, such as 9282 in 16-thread tests and 1043 in single-thread tests, further confirm that it sits in a dense cluster of similarly performing processors.

For the AMD Radeon RX 580, the nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, which scores 12940, just -0.1% from the RX 580’s 12928 average. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12986, a -0.4% difference, while the AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870, a 0.5% advantage, and the AMD FirePro W5100 scores 12847, a 0.6% edge. These small deltas mean that in Evolve, the RX 580 would deliver nearly identical FPS to any of these GPUs. The RX 580’s percentile rank of 53 among all GPUs indicates it is a mid-pack performer, and the recorded FPS data aligns with that expectation. Users with any of these rival GPUs should expect the same general pattern: playable at 1080p on Low or Medium, borderline at 1440p on Low, and unplayable at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 580 achieve 60 FPS in Evolve at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only on Low and Medium presets. Low averages 85.1 FPS, and Medium averages 66.6 FPS. High and Ultra fall short at 52.7 FPS and 33.9 FPS respectively.

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

A: The best preset is Low, which averages 57.5 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold, so no preset at 1440p is considered playable according to the database’s playable threshold of 60 FPS.

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

A: No. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 30.9 on Low, and Ultra drops to 15.4 FPS. None of the presets reach even half of the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to the GTX 1660 SUPER in this game?

A: The two GPUs are nearly identical in average benchmark score. The GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12986, which is 0.4% higher than the RX 580’s 12928. In Evolve, this translates to a negligible difference in FPS, likely less than one frame per second.

Q: What is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS overall?

A: At 1080p, Medium is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 66.6 FPS. At 1440p and 4K, no preset meets the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the i7-12700KF bottleneck the RX 580 in Evolve?

A: The data suggests no. The FPS scaling between resolutions and presets is consistent with GPU-bound behavior. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as 28838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, indicate it has ample headroom for this game.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, this PC can run Evolve, but only under specific conditions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, meaning no preset achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher. At 2560x1440, the same applies, with no playable settings recorded. At 1920x1080, the system is playable on Low and Medium presets, with Medium being the best option as it averages 66.6 FPS.

The practical takeaway is that this combo is effectively a 1080p gaming machine for Evolve. Users with a 1080p monitor can enjoy the game at Medium settings with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. Those with 1440p displays will need to accept sub-60 FPS performance, likely around 57.5 FPS on Low, which may be tolerable for some but does not meet the strict playable threshold. At 4K, the game is not playable in any meaningful sense, as even the lowest preset struggles to maintain 31 FPS.

The data also shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The i7-12700KF’s 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, combined with its strong multi-threaded scores, means it can easily feed the RX 580. The GPU’s 53rd percentile ranking and the FPS scaling pattern confirm that the RX 580 is the bottleneck. Upgrading the GPU would yield significant gains, while upgrading the CPU would likely show no improvement in this game.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the goal is to find the most demanding preset that still maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. The database records only average FPS, so the analysis uses that metric.

At 3840x2160, no preset meets the threshold. The best available average is 30.9 FPS on Low, but since it falls below 60 FPS, there is no recommended preset. The verdict confirms this by listing no playable settings for 4K.

At 2560x1440, the same situation applies. Low averages 57.5 FPS, which is just under the 60 FPS line, and the verdict lists no playable settings. Users at this resolution would have to settle for the Low preset and accept slightly choppy performance.

At 1920x1080, the best preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 66.6 FPS. Low also qualifies at 85.1 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while still providing a 6.6 FPS margin over the threshold. High and Ultra are not recommended because they fall to 52.7 FPS and 33.9 FPS respectively.

In practical terms, the recommended configuration is 1080p with Medium settings. This yields the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. For users who prioritize smoothness over visuals, Low at 1080p provides a higher average FPS, but Medium is the highest preset that meets the playable criteria.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of CPU and GPU for Evolve at position 3368 out of 3700 tested combos. This places it in the lower portion of the overall ranking, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing limited playability. A rank of 3368 out of 3700 means that approximately 91% of tested combos perform better in this game. This is a low ranking, driven primarily by the GPU’s age and performance level.

The RX 580’s 53rd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is a mid-tier card, but for a 2015 game like Evolve, the engine’s demands at higher resolutions quickly overwhelm it. The i7-12700KF, by contrast, is a high-end CPU with an 85th percentile ranking, but its strength does not compensate for the GPU’s limitations. The combo rank reflects the weakest link, which is the graphics card.

For context, the nearest GPU rivals, such as the GTX 1660 SUPER and RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, would likely produce similar rankings, as their benchmark scores are within 0.5% of the RX 580. The CPU’s rivals, including the i7-13700T and i5-13600T, would also yield nearly identical results. This suggests that the combo’s rank is more influenced by the GPU tier than the specific CPU model chosen.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU in Evolve. The i7-12700KF, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, provides more than enough processing power for this game. Its benchmark scores, such as 28838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4071 in single-core, are far beyond what Evolve requires. The GPU, on the other hand, is the limiting factor at every resolution and preset.

Evidence for GPU dominance comes from the FPS scaling. At 1080p, the difference between Low (85.1 FPS) and Ultra (33.9 FPS) is 51.2 FPS, a 2.5x swing. At 1440p, the swing is from 57.5 to 23.6 FPS, also about 2.4x. At 4K, it is from 30.9 to 15.4 FPS, roughly 2x. This consistent scaling with settings indicates that the GPU’s pixel throughput and shading power dictate performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat across settings, but that is not the case.

The resolution scaling further confirms this. Going from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by about 32% on Low (from 85.1 to 57.5) and by 34% on Medium (from 66.6 to 43.8). Going from 1440p to 4K reduces FPS by 46% on Low (from 57.5 to 30.9) and by 41% on Medium (from 43.8 to 26). These reductions are consistent with the increased pixel count that the GPU must process.

The CPU’s role becomes apparent only when considering that it does not hinder performance. The i7-12700KF’s 3DMark 16-thread score of 9282 and max-thread score of 9983 indicate it can handle heavy multithreaded loads, but Evolve does not appear to stress it. The recorded FPS values are likely identical to what a slower but still capable CPU would produce with the same GPU. For users considering upgrades, the data strongly suggests that replacing the RX 580 with a faster GPU would provide the most meaningful FPS gains, while the CPU has substantial headroom for future games as well.