Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. Benchmark data shows this combination is not merely playable but overwhelmingly capable, with even the most demanding preset at 4K clearing the 60 FPS threshold with headroom to spare. The measured results indicate a system where the GPU is the dominant performance factor, though the CPU’s strong single-threaded capabilities ensure no bottleneck at high refresh rates.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 65 FPS. This is a notable achievement, as it means the maximum visual fidelity is fully accessible at 4K resolution. The data shows a clear gradient below this: High averages 94 FPS, Medium averages 120 FPS, and Low averages 154 FPS. All four settings at 4K are above the 60 FPS playable threshold, but Ultra is the only one that pushes the visual quality to its absolute limit while still providing a comfortable margin above the minimum requirement.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 114 FPS. This represents a substantial performance uplift over the 4K result, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom when pixel count is reduced. The lower presets scale accordingly: High averages 165 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS, and Low reaches 271 FPS. These figures confirm that 1440p Ultra is not just playable but delivers a high-refresh-rate experience suitable for competitive play.

At 1920x1080, the best settings remain Ultra, achieving an average of 170 FPS. This is the highest average frame rate for any Ultra preset across the three resolutions tested. The data shows diminishing returns in frame rate gains as resolution drops, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. Low settings at 1080p reach 394 FPS, Medium hits 314 FPS, and High scores 246 FPS, but Ultra is the recommended choice for those seeking maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals a clear division of labor between the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D. At 4K, the GPU is the primary constraint. The drop from Ultra at 65 FPS to High at 94 FPS represents a 44.6% increase in frame rate, while the jump from High to Medium ( 120 FPS ) adds another 27.7%. These large relative gains from reducing settings indicate that the GPU’s render workload dominates at this resolution. The CPU’s role is secondary, as even the highest preset does not expose a processor bottleneck.

At 1440p, the GPU continues to lead, but the margins between presets narrow. Ultra at 114 FPS versus High at 165 FPS is a 44.7% gain, similar to 4K, yet the absolute headroom is much larger. The CPU begins to matter more as frame rates climb, but the Core Ultra 5 235’s 5.00 GHz boost clock and strong single-core performance—evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085—ensure it can feed frames up to the 271 FPS seen at Low settings. The 14-core, 14-thread configuration is more than adequate for Evolve’s workload.

At 1080p, the CPU’s influence becomes more pronounced. The gap between Ultra (170 FPS) and Low (394 FPS) is 131.8%, which is the largest relative difference across all resolutions. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU is less stressed, allowing the CPU to push higher frame rates. However, even at 1080p Low, the system does not appear to be CPU-limited, as the Core Ultra 5 235’s benchmark percentile of 89th among all CPUs indicates it is a top-tier processor for gaming. The data indicates that the RTX 5090 D is the bottleneck at 4K and 1440p, while the CPU becomes relatively more involved at 1080p, but neither component is a weak link.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combination are consistently high across all resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 65 FPS, with no minimum or maximum recorded. High averages 94 FPS, Medium averages 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS, and Low averages 154 FPS. The Medium preset’s recorded min/max range of 36 FPS indicates some variance, but the average remains well above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, performance scales significantly. Ultra averages 114 FPS, High averages 165 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS with a minimum of 179 FPS and a maximum of 242 FPS, and Low reaches 271 FPS. The Medium preset’s min/max spread of 63 FPS is wider than at 4K, but the absolute frame rates are far higher, making any dips imperceptible in practice. The 1440p results show a 75.4% increase from Ultra to Low, demonstrating the GPU’s ability to deliver extreme performance when settings are reduced.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are even more impressive. Ultra averages 170 FPS, High averages 246 FPS, Medium averages 314 FPS with a minimum of 267 FPS and a maximum of 361 FPS, and Low peaks at 394 FPS. The Medium preset’s min/max range of 94 FPS is the largest recorded, but again, the lowest observed value is far above any playability concern. The 1080p data shows a 131.8% increase from Ultra to Low, confirming that this resolution is where the system’s full potential is unleashed, though even Ultra provides a high-refresh-rate experience.

The Verdict

Based on the verdictByResolution data, this PC can unequivocally run Evolve at all three tested resolutions with every preset exceeding 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the playable settings include High, Low, Medium, and Ultra, with the best setting being Ultra at an average of 65 FPS. This means users can enable the highest graphical fidelity at 4K and still maintain a playable frame rate, though the 65 FPS average leaves limited headroom for demanding scenes.

At 2560x1440, all four settings are playable, with Ultra as the best choice at 114 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, providing smooth gameplay even during intense combat sequences. The 1440p Ultra result is 75.4% higher than the 4K Ultra score, highlighting how resolution scaling favors this resolution for a balanced experience.

At 1920x1080, Ultra is again the best setting, averaging 170 FPS. This is nearly three times the 60 FPS threshold, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The 1080p Ultra score is 161.5% higher than the 4K Ultra score, and even the lowest settings (Low at 394 FPS) are far beyond what any display can showcase. The data confirms that this combination is overkill for Evolve at 1080p, but it offers unparalleled smoothness for competitive play.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 performs nearly identically to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which has an average benchmark score of 46030 against the Intel’s 46062, a delta of just 0.1%. The Intel Core i9-13900HX is also a close match, with an average score of 46098 and a delta of -0.1%, meaning it is effectively equivalent in performance. The AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303 are slightly ahead at 45970 and 45960 respectively, with deltas of 0.2%, but these are server-class parts with different power characteristics. For gaming, any of these rivals would deliver similar frame rates in Evolve, as the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution.

For the GPU, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, which scores 76904 in average benchmarks versus the RTX 5090 D’s 77712, a delta of 1.1%. This means the RX 6650M XT would perform within a few percentage points in Evolve. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is slightly faster at 78940, with a delta of -1.6%, meaning the RTX 5090 D is about 1.6% slower. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB and 16 GB variants are also close, scoring 79396 and 79605 respectively, with deltas of -2.1% and -2.4%. These comparisons indicate that while the RTX 5090 D is a top-tier card, there are several alternatives that would yield nearly identical gameplay experiences in Evolve, particularly at 4K where the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 14th out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the top 0.4% of all systems benchmarked, confirming its exceptional performance. The high rank is driven primarily by the GPU’s massive compute power—its 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 32 GB of GDDR7 memory ensure that no scene in Evolve can tax it—combined with the CPU’s 89th percentile ranking among all processors. The rank of 14 indicates that only a handful of more powerful combinations (likely with higher-end CPUs) would offer any meaningful advantage in this game. For practical purposes, this combo is at the bleeding edge of what is achievable.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. Benchmark data shows an average of 65 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable at 1080p?

A: The highest recorded average is 394 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. Even at Ultra settings, the average remains high at 170 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1440p?

A: The GPU is the primary factor at 1440p, as evidenced by the large frame rate differences between presets. However, the CPU’s strong single-core performance ensures it does not bottleneck, with the system reaching 271 FPS at Low settings.

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

A: It ranks 14th out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the top 0.4% of all systems for Evolve.

Q: Are there any settings at 4K that drop below 60 FPS?

A: No. All four tested settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—average above 60 FPS at 4K, with the lowest being Ultra at 65 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for Medium settings at 1080p?

A: The minimum recorded for Medium at 1920x1080 is 267 FPS, with an average of 314 FPS and a maximum of 361 FPS. This indicates very smooth performance even during demanding sequences.