Evolve

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is a mid-to-high-end desktop combination aimed at 1080p and 1440p gaming. For Evolve, a 2015 FPS, the measured frame rates show that this setup can comfortably handle 1080p at all presets and 1440p at most settings, but struggles at 4K except on the lowest preset. The CPU, launched at $409 MSRP, holds a strong 89th percentile rank among all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 59th percentile, indicating that the graphics card is the more likely bottleneck in demanding scenes. The data below is measured, not extrapolated, and provides a clear picture of what this combo delivers in Evolve.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the RX 9060 and i7-13700K produce playable frame rates only on the Low preset. The average FPS at Low is 67, which clears the 60 FPS threshold, but the Medium preset drops to 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 60, meaning even the peaks barely touch playability. High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra falls to 28 FPS. No minimum or maximum values are recorded for Low, High, or Ultra, so the Medium figures are the only complete range available at this resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra is 39 FPS, showing that Evolve's settings have a dramatic impact on performance at 4K.

Moving to 2560x1440, the picture improves substantially. The Low preset averages 118 FPS, Medium averages 92 FPS with a range of 78 to 105, and High averages 72 FPS. Ultra, however, only manages 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This means that at 1440p, players can enjoy High settings without issue, but Ultra is not viable. The scaling from Low to Ultra is again steep: 118 FPS down to 50 FPS, a 68 FPS drop. The Medium preset's min/max range (78-105) shows that even the lows stay above 60, so there is headroom for demanding scenes.

At 1920x1080, the combo is fully capable. Low averages 176 FPS, Medium averages 137 FPS with a range of 116 to 157, High averages 107 FPS, and even Ultra reaches 74 FPS. All settings clear the 60 FPS mark, with the minimum recorded at Medium being 116 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 102 FPS, indicating that the GPU has enough headroom to handle the highest preset while still delivering a smooth experience. The 1080p Medium min/max range (116-157) is particularly strong, showing that even the worst-case frame times remain well above the playable threshold.

Across all three resolutions, the pattern is consistent: the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, and the CPU's strong single-thread performance (evident from its benchmark scores) does not become a bottleneck at 1080p. The measured FPS numbers confirm that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for low-detail play.

How This Combo Ranks

Among the 3,700 tested combinations for Evolve, this pairing ranks 2,181st. That places it in the lower half of the field, which is surprising given the CPU's high percentile. The GPU's 59th percentile rank among all GPUs is the primary drag; the CPU's 89th percentile is not enough to compensate. In practical terms, the combo outperforms roughly 41% of tested configurations but lags behind the majority. The rank reflects the balanced nature of the system: it is not a top-tier 4K setup, but it is solidly mid-pack for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 46,881, which is within 0.5% of its nearest rivals, while the GPU's average score of 16,014 is within 2.1% of its closest competitors. These scores do not directly translate to Evolve-specific FPS, but they provide a general indication of relative performance. The combo's rank of 2,181 out of 3,700 means that many other pairings—often with stronger GPUs—will deliver higher frame rates at the same settings. However, for the target resolutions of 1080p and 1440p, the rank is more than adequate, as the measured FPS demonstrates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on overall benchmark scores, the Intel Core i7-13700K is closely matched by four CPUs: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (deltaPct -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (-0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (+0.5%), and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 (+0.5%). These processors are within half a percentage point of the i7-13700K's average score, meaning that swapping in any of them would produce nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Evolve. Since the game is not heavily CPU-limited at 1080p (as shown by the high FPS across all settings), these alternatives would not change the overall experience in any meaningful way.

On the GPU side, the Radeon RX 9060's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (deltaPct -0.7%), the AMD Radeon R9 370X (+1%), the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (+1%), and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (+2.1%). The RTX 3060 Ti is the closest match, with a score just 0.7% lower, so it would deliver almost identical frame rates in Evolve. The R9 370X and RX 7700 are slightly faster (1% higher scores), and the Pro W5500 is 2.1% faster, but these differences are minor and would not shift the playable settings at any resolution. In practice, any of these GPUs paired with the i7-13700K would produce results within a few FPS of the measured values.

For a user considering a similar build, choosing one of these CPU or GPU alternatives would not change the verdict: the system would still be capable of 1080p at all presets, 1440p up to High, and 4K only on Low. The deltaPct values are small enough that the measured FPS table would remain representative.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Evolve? The answer depends on the resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—average above 60 FPS, with Ultra at 74 FPS. This is a fully playable experience at maximum settings. At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 72 FPS, Medium 92 FPS, and Low 118 FPS, all clearing the 60 FPS threshold; Ultra, however, averages only 50 FPS, so it is not playable. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset averages 67 FPS, which is just above the threshold; Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with Ultra at 28 FPS.

The verdict by resolution is clear: for 1080p, the combo is a definitive yes for all settings; for 1440p, it is yes for High and below, but not for Ultra; for 4K, it is a marginal yes only on Low. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the best settings at each resolution are Low at 4K (67 FPS), High at 1440p (72 FPS), and Ultra at 1080p (74 FPS). Players who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity can drop to Low at 4K, but the experience will be limited by the GPU's 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus, which are evident in the steep performance drop at higher resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor. At 1080p, the CPU's high percentile (89) and strong multi-threaded scores allow the GPU to stretch its legs: the average FPS at Ultra is 74, which is only 42% of the Low preset's 176 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is still the primary driver, but the CPU has enough headroom to avoid holding back frame rates. At 1440p, the same pattern holds: High averages 72 FPS, and Ultra drops to 50 FPS, showing that the GPU's pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck—Low averages 67 FPS, but Medium falls to 52 FPS and Ultra to 28 FPS, a 39 FPS swing from Low to Ultra.

Comparing the same preset across resolutions reveals the GPU's scaling. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 107 at 1080p to 72 at 1440p (a 33% drop) and then to 41 at 4K (a further 43% drop). This steep decline is typical of a GPU that lacks the memory bandwidth and raw compute for 4K. The CPU's role becomes more pronounced at lower resolutions and lower presets: at 1080p Low, the average of 176 FPS is likely near the CPU's limit, but the game is not CPU-bound enough to cause stutters, as the minimum FPS at Medium (116) is still far above 60.

The GPU's 59th percentile rank, combined with its 8 GB VRAM and 288 GB/s bandwidth, explains why 4K Ultra is unplayable. The CPU's 89th percentile, on the other hand, ensures that even at 1080p Low, the system can push beyond 170 FPS without a CPU bottleneck. In summary, the GPU is the decisive component for Evolve at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU is more than sufficient at all tested resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best playable setting at 3840x2160?

A: Only the Low preset averages above 60 FPS, with an average of 67 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS.

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings?

A: No. The Ultra preset averages 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High is the highest playable preset, averaging 72 FPS.

Q: At 1920x1080, does the system maintain 60 FPS on all presets?

A: Yes. Low averages 176 FPS, Medium 137 FPS, High 107 FPS, and Ultra 74 FPS. The minimum FPS recorded at Medium is 116, so even the worst-case frame times stay well above 60.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, and Intel Xeon w3-2535, based on average scores.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for Evolve?

A: It ranks 2,181st out of 3,700 tested combos, placing it in the lower half of the field.

Q: Which component is more likely to limit performance in Evolve at 4K?

A: The GPU. Its percentile rank (59) is much lower than the CPU's (89), and the measured FPS drops sharply from 1080p to 4K, indicating the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions.