Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetric FPS, places a unique load on a system. The pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and the AMD Radeon RX 580 is a study in extremes: a top-tier modern processor paired with a mid-range GPU from an older generation. The recorded data shows a system where the graphics card is the primary factor in playability, while the CPU’s immense headroom becomes largely irrelevant at the tested settings. This analysis examines the measured FPS across resolutions, the combo’s standing in the database, and what this means for a potential user.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains measured average FPS for this combination at three resolutions and four quality presets. All numbers represent average frames per second; minimum and maximum values were not recorded for this hardware pairing.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below playable levels. The average FPS at High settings is 17.4. Lowering the preset to Medium improves the average to 24.3. The Low preset produces an average of 31.9. The most demanding Ultra preset yields an average of 12.5. Across all four settings at 4K, the frame rate ranges from a low of 12.5 to a high of 31.9, indicating that even at the lowest quality, the system cannot approach a smooth experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains marginal. The High preset records an average of 37.3 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 44.1 FPS. The Low preset reaches an average of 56.2 FPS, which is close to, but still below, the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 22.9 FPS. The spread at this resolution is wide, from 22.9 to 56.2, showing the GPU is still heavily burdened.

At 1920x1080, the results present a more viable picture. The High preset averages 52.2 FPS. The Medium preset averages 63.7 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS target. The Low preset averages 87 FPS, providing the most comfortable margin. The Ultra preset brings the average down to 34.3 FPS. The data shows a clear progression: at 1080p, only the Low and Medium presets exceed the playable threshold, while High and Ultra remain below it.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database’s comprehensive list of tested CPU and GPU combinations for Evolve, this pairing holds the rank of 3412 out of 3700 total combos. This places it in the lower percentile of tested systems, approximately in the bottom 8 percent of all configurations evaluated for this specific game. The ranking reflects the GPU’s limitations, as the RX 580’s performance level is the bottleneck in nearly every scenario.

The CPU itself performs at the 95th percentile when compared to all processors in the database, indicating it is among the top tier of available CPUs. The GPU, however, sits at the 53rd percentile relative to all GPUs, meaning half of all tested graphics cards perform better. The combination of a top-tier CPU and a mid-range GPU results in a low combo rank because the overall frame rate is dictated by the GPU. The data suggests that pairing this powerful CPU with a more capable GPU would yield a significantly higher ranking, but the recorded measurements for this specific combination place it firmly in the lower portion of the field.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the database identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. The playable threshold is defined as 60 frames per second.

At 3840x2160, none of the four tested presets reaches the 60 FPS mark. The highest average recorded at this resolution is 31.9 FPS on the Low preset, which is far below the threshold. The database confirms that no playable settings exist at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the same situation applies. The Low preset produces the highest average FPS at 56.2, which is still below the 60 FPS threshold. No preset at this resolution achieves a playable average frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the situation changes. The Low preset produces an average of 87 FPS, and the Medium preset produces an average of 63.7 FPS. Both of these are above the threshold. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 63.7 FPS. This is the best playable setting for this combination at 1080p. The High preset at 52.2 FPS and Ultra at 34.3 FPS are not playable at this resolution.

FAQ

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

A: No. The highest average FPS recorded at 3840x2160 is 31.9 on the Low preset, with other presets ranging from 12.5 on Ultra to 24.3 on Medium. None of these approach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding option that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS, recording 63.7 FPS at 1920x1080. The Low preset runs faster at 87 FPS, but Medium offers a higher quality level while still clearing the threshold.

Q: How does the Low preset perform at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Low settings, the system averages 56.2 FPS. This is the best result at that resolution but falls just short of the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the average frame rate on Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 produces an average of 34.3 FPS. This is below the playable threshold and indicates that the highest quality settings are not viable for this hardware.

Q: Which component is responsible for the low performance in this game?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks at the 95th percentile for all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 53rd percentile for all GPUs. The frame rates scale heavily with resolution and settings, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: Is 1440p playable with any settings?

A: No. The database lists no playable settings for 2560x1440. The closest result is the Low preset at 56.2 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data provides a clear picture of which component matters more for Evolve at each resolution. The frame rates scale dramatically with both resolution and quality preset, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound workload. The processor’s role is consistent across all tests; it is powerful enough to feed the GPU without becoming a limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the scaling between presets is stark. The jump from Low to Medium is an increase from 31.9 to 24.3 FPS, a drop of 7.6 FPS. Moving from Medium to High drops to 17.4 FPS, and Ultra drops further to 12.5 FPS. This steep decline with each preset level shows that the GPU is being overwhelmed by the pixel count and the graphical workload. The CPU’s capabilities are irrelevant here, as the GPU cannot keep up even at the lowest settings.

At 2560x1440, the scaling continues. Low produces 56.2 FPS, Medium produces 44.1, High produces 37.3, and Ultra produces 22.9. The differences between presets are substantial, again indicating the GPU is the sole bottleneck. The CPU has more than enough headroom to handle the game’s logic and physics at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the pattern holds. Low averages 87 FPS, Medium averages 63.7, High averages 52.2, and Ultra averages 34.3. The GPU is still the determining factor, as the frame rate drops by roughly 20 to 30 percent with each preset increase. The CPU, with its high single-core and multi-core benchmark scores, is not being challenged by this game. The evidence points to the RX 580 as the component that decides playability across all resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database provides nearest rival comparisons for both the CPU and GPU, offering context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this combo.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79371, a difference of -0.3 percent. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574, a -0.6 percent difference. The AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041, a -1.2 percent difference. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 77740, a 1.7 percent difference. All of these processors perform within a narrow band of the i9-14900K, meaning any of them would provide nearly identical frame rates in Evolve when paired with the same GPU. The differences are so small that they would not produce a measurable change in the game’s FPS.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 12928. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile at 12940, a -0.1 percent difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12986, a -0.4 percent difference. The AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870, a 0.5 percent difference. The AMD FirePro W5100 scores 12847, a 0.6 percent difference. These GPUs are all within a fraction of a percent of the RX 580’s performance. A user with a GTX 1660 SUPER or an RTX 3050 Ti Mobile would expect effectively the same frame rates in Evolve at the same settings and resolutions. The RX 580’s position at the 53rd percentile is shared by these close competitors.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Evolve depends entirely on the target resolution and quality settings. The database’s verdict by resolution is definitive.

At 3840x2160, the system cannot run the game at a playable level. No settings preset achieves the 60 FPS threshold. The best recorded result is 31.9 FPS on Low, and the Ultra preset drops to 12.5 FPS. This resolution is not viable.

At 2560x1440, the system also fails to reach playable levels. The database lists no playable settings for this resolution. The Low preset comes closest at 56.2 FPS, but it remains below the 60 FPS mark. Users at 1440p would need to accept a frame rate that is not smooth, or they would need to lower the resolution.

At 1920x1080, the system can run the game. The playable settings are Low and Medium. The Medium preset is the highest quality option that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS, recording 63.7 FPS. The Low preset runs at 87 FPS for a more comfortable margin. High and Ultra presets at 1080p are not playable, with averages of 52.2 and 34.3 FPS respectively.

The final assessment: this combination is a capable 1080p machine for Evolve, provided the user sticks to Medium settings or lower. The CPU’s massive performance headroom goes largely unused, as the RX 580 becomes the limiting factor at every resolution and preset. The combo’s rank of 3412 out of 3700 reflects this imbalance. For anyone considering this pairing, the data indicates that the GPU should be the focus of any upgrade path, as the i9-14900K is more than sufficient for this game and would support a much stronger graphics card without any CPU-related bottleneck.