Evolve

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark contrast in capabilities for running Evolve. The CPU is a top-tier desktop processor, ranking in the 94th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 9th percentile against all GPUs. The recorded data shows that this combination is entirely GPU-bound, with the Arc B390's integrated-class performance dictating the playable experience. The benchmark results indicate that while the CPU provides massive headroom, the GPU restricts the system to 1080p and 1440p gaming at lower presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution and graphical load increase. At 3840x2160 (4K), the system struggles to maintain playable framerates across all settings. The Low preset yields an average of 34 FPS, Medium drops to 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 and maximum of 30, High falls to 21 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 14 FPS. None of these averages approach the 60 FPS threshold, making 4K effectively unplayable for this title.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves marginally. The Low preset achieves exactly 60 FPS on average, which is the playable threshold. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS with a range of 39 to 53 FPS, High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. Only the Low preset clears the 60 FPS bar, and it does so precisely without any headroom, suggesting that any scene with added complexity could push it below the threshold.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo finds its most usable territory. The Low preset delivers an average of 89 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 and maximum of 79, which places it just above the playable threshold on average but with dips below 60 FPS. The High preset averages 54 FPS, and Ultra averages 37 FPS. The data shows a clear step-down in performance from Low to Medium, and then a steep drop-off at High and Ultra settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 4K resolution?

A: No. The recorded data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The best average FPS at 4K is 34 FPS on Low settings, which falls far short of the 60 FPS playable threshold. All other presets score lower, with Ultra averaging only 14 FPS.

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

A: The only playable setting at 2560x1440 is Low, which achieves an average of 60 FPS. Medium averages 46 FPS, High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS, so none of these are viable for consistent 60 FPS gameplay.

Q: Is the Medium preset at 1080p a good choice for this system?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 79 FPS. While the average is above the 60 FPS threshold, the minimum dips below it, so players may experience occasional stutter during intense scenes. The Low preset at 89 FPS average offers a safer margin.

Q: How does the GPU's performance ranking compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% slower), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% slower), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% slower), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (2.7% slower). The Arc B390 is the fastest of this group.

Q: What does the combo's rank in the database indicate about its overall standing?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 3288 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. The high-performing CPU does not compensate for the GPU's low percentile ranking in gaming workloads.

Q: Is there a resolution where this combo consistently stays above 60 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 89, which is well above the threshold. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 69 FPS but has a minimum of 59 FPS. No other resolution or preset combination maintains a minimum above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this CPU and GPU pairing in Evolve is 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the 11th percentile of all systems evaluated. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU, which ranks in the 9th percentile against all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 94th percentile against all CPUs. The database shows a massive imbalance: the Intel Core i7-14700K is a top-tier processor with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20767, but the Intel Arc B390's only recorded benchmark is a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 9115 (0.1% slower), AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.2% faster), AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.7% faster), and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (0.9% faster). These deltas are negligible, meaning the CPU's performance is essentially at parity with several high-end alternatives. However, the GPU's nearest rivals are all legacy or low-end NVIDIA parts, with the GT 520MX being 1.3% slower, the 800M 1.5% slower, the GT 625 OEM 2.5% slower, and the GT 710 2.7% slower. The Arc B390 is the fastest of this group, but this is a low bar.

The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 89 FPS, which is a respectable number for a low-end GPU, but the CPU could easily drive far higher framerates if paired with a more capable graphics card. The 4K results, where even Low settings only produce 34 FPS, further illustrate that the GPU's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient for high-resolution gaming.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Evolve? The answer depends entirely on the resolution and settings. The verdict by resolution shows that at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, meaning no preset achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher. The best option, Low, averages only 34 FPS, so 4K is not viable.

At 2560x1440, the system is marginally playable with the Low preset, which averages exactly 60 FPS. This is a borderline result, as any deviation in scene complexity could push the framerate below the threshold. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall short, with averages of 46, 36, and 25 FPS respectively.

At 1920x1080, the system is genuinely playable. The Low preset averages 89 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 69 FPS but has a minimum of 59 FPS, so it is playable on average but may exhibit occasional dips. High averages 54 FPS and Ultra averages 37 FPS, both below the threshold.

The verdict is clear: this combo can run Evolve at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, and at 1440p with Low settings only. It cannot run the game at 4K under any settings. The CPU is not the limiting factor; the GPU's 9th percentile ranking makes it the sole constraint.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide a picture of what other hardware would behave similarly. For the Intel Core i7-14700K, the AMD EPYC 9115 (0.1% slower), AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.2% faster), AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.7% faster), and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (0.9% faster) all deliver near-identical CPU performance. Swapping the CPU to any of these would not change the gaming results in Evolve, as the GPU remains the bottleneck.

For the Intel Arc B390, the nearest GPU rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% slower), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% slower), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% slower), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (2.7% slower). A system with any of these GPUs would produce framerates within a few percentage points of the Arc B390. For example, a system with a GT 710 would be approximately 2.7% slower, which at 1080p Low would translate to roughly 86 or 87 FPS instead of 89 FPS, a barely perceptible difference.

The data suggests that anyone considering this combo for Evolve should understand that the GPU's performance class is the determining factor. The CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads, while excellent for productivity workloads, do not contribute to gaming performance here because the GPU saturates well before the CPU reaches its limits.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS average is as follows:

At 3840x2160, there is no playable preset. The highest average FPS is 34 on Low settings, which is well below the 60 FPS threshold. The database records no best settings for this resolution because no preset achieves playable performance.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Low, which achieves an average of exactly 60 FPS. This is the only preset that clears the threshold at this resolution. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS, so none of these are viable.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Medium, which achieves an average of 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 79 FPS. While the minimum dips just below 60 FPS, the average is comfortably above the threshold. The Low preset averages 89 FPS, but the Medium preset offers better visual quality while still maintaining a playable average. The High preset averages 54 FPS and Ultra averages 37 FPS, both below the playable threshold.

The data shows that players seeking a consistent 60 FPS experience should use Low settings at 1440p or Low settings at 1080p for maximum headroom. Those willing to accept occasional dips below 60 FPS can use Medium at 1080p. The 4K resolution is entirely out of reach for this combination.