Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination that operates in a very specific performance envelope. The data places this combo at rank 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations, meaning it sits in the lower percentile of systems in our database, well below the median performer. This is a system that will require careful settings management to deliver a smooth experience, and the recorded FPS data confirms that it is strictly a 1080p and 1440p machine for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 3288 out of 3700 places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations. This low position is driven almost entirely by the graphics processor. The Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a very low standing. Its nearest rivals in the database are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster), the GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), the GT 625 OEM (2.5% faster), and the GT 710 (2.7% faster). These are historically low-end parts, and the data shows the Arc B390 is effectively in that same performance class. The CPU, however, is a different story. The Core Ultra 5 235 sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46062. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% faster), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (0.1% slower), the AMD EPYC 4364P (0.2% slower), and the AMD EPYC 7303 (0.2% slower). This indicates a very strong processor that is being severely bottlenecked by the integrated graphics. The ranking is thus a reflection of a massively imbalanced system, where the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

According to the recorded measurements, none of the tested presets at 4K reach the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data confirms no playable settings exist at 3840x2160. At 2560x1440, the only playable setting is Low, which achieves an average of exactly 60 FPS. This is a fragile pass, as any demanding scene could push it below the threshold. For 1920x1080, the system can handle more. The best playable preset is Medium, which delivers an average of 69 FPS. The Low preset is also playable at 1080p, averaging 89 FPS, but Medium is the highest quality setting that maintains the 60 FPS target. Pushing to High at 1080p drops the average to 54 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results paint a clear picture of a system where the GPU is the absolute bottleneck. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Medium settings is 20 FPS (89 down to 69), and moving to High costs another 15 FPS (69 down to 54). This steep drop-off with each settings increase is a hallmark of a GPU that is saturated. The CPU is not the constraint here. At 2560x1440, the same pattern emerges, with the average FPS dropping from 60 at Low to 46 at Medium, and then to 36 at High. The scaling between resolutions further confirms this. At Low settings, moving from 1080p to 1440p drops the average from 89 to 60 FPS, a 33% reduction. At High settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is from 54 to 36 FPS, a 33% reduction. When moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings, the average falls from 36 to 21 FPS, a 42% reduction. These are all substantial drops that indicate the rendering pipeline is the limiting factor. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, is simply waiting on the GPU to finish each frame.

FAQ

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

A: No. The data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average FPS recorded at 4K is 34 on Low settings, which is far below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Ultra preset averages only 14 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 60 FPS experience at 1440p?

A: Low is the only playable preset at 2560x1440, and it achieves an average of exactly 60 FPS. Medium drops to 46 FPS, and High falls to 36 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235 is very closely matched with its nearest rivals. It is 0.1% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and 0.1% faster than the Intel Core i9-13900HX. It is also 0.2% faster than both the AMD EPYC 4364P and the AMD EPYC 7303.

Q: Is the GPU performance consistent with its ranking?

A: Yes. The Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its benchmark score is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX. This low standing is consistent with its inability to maintain 60 FPS at higher settings.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and High settings at 1080p?

A: The average FPS drops from 89 at Low to 54 at High, a difference of 35 FPS. This shows a significant performance cost for higher visual fidelity.

Q: Does the system have any playable settings at 4K?

A: No. The verdict data lists an empty set of playable settings for 3840x2160, meaning no tested preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system is most capable. The Low preset averages 89 FPS, which is the highest recorded value for this combo. Medium averages 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 79. This is the best playable preset. High averages 54 FPS, and Ultra drops to 37 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low is the only playable preset, hitting exactly 60 FPS on average. Medium averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. At 3840x2160, all presets are unplayable. Low averages 34 FPS, Medium averages 26 FPS (with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30), High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS.

The Verdict

The data indicates this system can run Evolve, but only under specific conditions. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset provides a solid 69 FPS average, which clears the 60 FPS threshold with some headroom. The Low preset is also playable at 89 FPS. At 2560x1440, the system is only playable on Low settings, achieving exactly 60 FPS on average. This is a borderline result, so users should expect occasional dips below the threshold. At 3840x2160, the system cannot deliver a playable experience on any tested preset. The recorded data shows no settings at 4K reach the 60 FPS target. Therefore, the verdict is that this PC is a 1080p machine for this game, with a limited 1440p capability on the lowest settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, Intel Core i9-13900HX, AMD EPYC 4364P, and AMD EPYC 7303 all have average benchmark scores within 0.2% of the Core Ultra 5 235. In terms of raw processing power, any of these would behave nearly identically in this game, meaning they would also be held back by the GPU.

For the GPU, the situation is more critical. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% faster, the GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster, the GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster, and the GT 710 is 2.7% faster. These are the closest performance matches in the database. Swapping the Arc B390 for any of these would result in a negligible change in FPS, keeping the system in the same performance class. The data suggests that the GPU is the definitive limiting factor, and any of these alternatives would produce very similar frame rates in Evolve.