Evolve

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a wide spread of frame rates in Evolve, ranging from 38.8 FPS at 4K Ultra to 252.8 FPS at 1080p Low. The data shows this combination is clearly capable of high-refresh-rate play at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K demands careful settings selection to stay fluid. The measured results position this combo at rank 1030 out of 3700 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the upper-middle tier of systems.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU side, the Intel Core i7-13700K’s average benchmark score of 46881 places it extremely close to several rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, which is just 0.2% higher, making it a near-identical match in synthetic workloads. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 also sits within 0.3% with a score of 47022, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX trails by 0.5% at 46654. The Intel Xeon w3-2535 also comes in at 46653, a 0.5% gap. For gaming purposes, these differences are negligible — any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Evolve, which is not a particularly CPU-heavy title by 2015 standards. The i7-13700K’s 16 cores and 24 threads with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz provide ample headroom, but the game’s engine will likely only utilize a fraction of that capability.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3080’s average benchmark score of 23172 is closely matched by some surprising entries. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, just 0.3% higher, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 also sits 0.3% above at 23250. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M is 0.4% higher at 23273, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X matches that 0.4% delta at 23276. These delta values are so small that they suggest the RTX 3080’s synthetic benchmark average is a solid representation of its class, though the real-world gaming performance of these rivals would differ substantially due to architectural differences. The RTX 3080’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth give it a distinct advantage in modern titles, but for Evolve, which is an older game, the raw compute of 29.77 TFLOPS matters more than memory capacity.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals how the balance shifts between CPU and GPU in Evolve. At 1920x1080, the GPU is less stressed, and the CPU’s single-thread performance becomes more relevant. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p is significant: 252.8 FPS at Low drops to 108.9 FPS at Ultra, a 57% reduction that clearly indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher settings. However, even at Ultra, the frame rate remains above 100 FPS, suggesting the i7-13700K keeps up without limiting performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the scaling pattern continues but with lower absolute numbers. At Low, the system hits 168.9 FPS, which drops to 130.3 FPS at Medium and 103.8 FPS at High. The Ultra preset produces 69.1 FPS, still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is about 59%, similar to 1080p, indicating the GPU is consistently the limiting factor. The CPU’s role at this resolution is to maintain frame pacing, and the i7-13700K’s strong single-thread score of 1136 in 3dmark supports this.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. The RTX 3080 manages 97 FPS at Low, 76.4 FPS at Medium, 58.4 FPS at High, and only 38.8 FPS at Ultra. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 60% drop, but the absolute numbers reveal that 4K Ultra is simply too demanding for this GPU in Evolve. The CPU’s influence at this resolution is minimal; the data shows that the i7-13700K is never the bottleneck, as even the most demanding settings produce frame rates that are clearly GPU-limited. Across all resolutions, the CPU maintains its role as a stable platform, with the GPU dictating the playable envelope.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a rank of 1030 out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the 72nd percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 28% of combinations deliver higher average frame rates in this game. The ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU, given that Evolve is a 2015 title that does not stress modern multi-core processors. The i7-13700K’s percentile of 89 among all CPUs is significantly higher than the combo’s overall rank, confirming that the CPU is overqualified for this workload. The RTX 3080’s percentile of 68 among all GPUs is closer to the combo’s rank, reinforcing that the graphics card is the performance ceiling.

The rank of 1030 suggests that while this system is not at the very top of the leaderboard, it sits well above the median. Systems with newer or higher-tier GPUs like the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX would rank higher, but this pairing still delivers excellent playability at most settings. The gap between the combo’s rank and the CPU’s individual percentile highlights a common pattern in older games: the GPU determines the experience, and the CPU merely needs to avoid being a liability. In Evolve, the i7-13700K is far from being a liability, and the RTX 3080’s 10 GB of VRAM and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth ensure it can handle the game’s textures and effects without stuttering.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 38.8 FPS, which falls well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable 4K setting is Medium, which achieves 76.4 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 69.1 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 High, the system averages 152.5 FPS. At 3840x2160 High, the average drops to 58.4 FPS. This represents a 62% reduction in frame rate.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions. The i7-13700K has a benchmark score of 46881 with a percentile of 89 among all CPUs, while the RTX 3080 scores 23172 with a percentile of 68. The consistent frame rate drops from Low to Ultra settings confirm GPU-bound behavior.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The system achieves 192 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This pairing ranks 1030 out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve, placing it in the upper 28% of all systems tested for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 252.8 FPS at Low, 192 FPS at Medium, 152.5 FPS at High, and 108.9 FPS at Ultra. These numbers indicate that even at the most demanding 1080p preset, the system has substantial headroom, with the Ultra preset still delivering more than 80% of the frame rate of the Low preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings produce 168.9 FPS, Medium drops to 130.3 FPS, High achieves 103.8 FPS, and Ultra settles at 69.1 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 59%, which is consistent with the 1080p scaling. All four presets remain above the 60 FPS playable threshold, making 1440p a fully flexible resolution for this game.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. The system manages 97 FPS at Low, 76.4 FPS at Medium, 58.4 FPS at High, and 38.8 FPS at Ultra. The High preset falls just below the 60 FPS threshold, making it technically unplayable by the standard definition, while Ultra is far from playable. The data shows that 4K requires settings management, with Medium being the highest playable preset. The measured FPS values for all resolutions and settings come directly from the benchmark data, with no min or max values recorded, meaning the averages represent the overall experience without frame-time variance data.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 108.9 FPS. This is the optimal choice for players who want maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness, as the system has more than 80% headroom above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the highest playable option, delivering 69.1 FPS on average. While this clears the 60 FPS threshold, the margin is narrower than at 1080p. Players seeking a more consistent frame rate might prefer High at 103.8 FPS, but the data confirms Ultra is playable.

For 3840x2160, the most demanding playable preset is Medium, which averages 76.4 FPS. The High preset falls to 58.4 FPS, missing the 60 FPS target. This means 4K players must compromise on visual quality, as Ultra at 38.8 FPS is not viable for smooth gameplay.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this system can run Evolve, with playability varying by resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable, with the Ultra preset achieving 108.9 FPS. This makes 1080p the most comfortable resolution, offering maximum visual quality with substantial performance headroom.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is equally positive. All four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra delivering 69.1 FPS. This resolution is fully playable across the board, making it a great choice for high-refresh-rate monitors or for players who want a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is mixed. The system can run the game, but only at Low (97 FPS) or Medium (76.4 FPS) settings. The High preset at 58.4 FPS falls just short of the 60 FPS playable threshold, and Ultra at 38.8 FPS is not playable. For 4K gaming, the recommendation is to stick with Medium settings, which provide a healthy 76.4 FPS average and clear the playable threshold with a 27% margin. The overall verdict is that this PC is a strong performer for Evolve, offering excellent experiences at 1080p and 1440p, with acceptable 4K performance when settings are adjusted appropriately.