Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetric FPS, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination. The data shows a system that is decisively capable at 1080p, comfortably strong at 1440p, but one that requires a significant compromise in visual fidelity to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K. The measured results reveal a GPU-centric bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the processor's strong benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom for the game's title, even if the final frame rates are often limited by the graphics card.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The performance of this specific combination can be contextualized by looking at the hardware it is most comparable to. For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 sits in a tight cluster of processors based on its average benchmark score of 48995. It is a virtual tie with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which shows a delta of -0.4%. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is equally close, performing nearly identically with a delta of -0.5%. On the Intel side, the Xeon Gold 5318H trails by a mere 0.6%, while the Intel Core i5-14600K is just 0.8% behind. In practical terms, any of these processors would provide a nearly indistinguishable experience in Evolve, meaning the choice between them would come down to other platform features rather than raw gaming performance.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, with an average benchmark score of 17639, is similarly matched by a set of unexpected rivals. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 is its closest competitor, with a score of 17666, representing a negligible 0.2% performance difference. The AMD Radeon 780M is also essentially tied, coming in at just 0.3% slower. Even the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and AMD Radeon Pro 460 are within a single percentage point, showing deltas of 0.5% and 0.7% respectively. This data implies that in the context of these synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4060's performance is on par with these older or integrated graphics solutions. However, it is critical to remember that these are aggregate scores; the RTX 4060's modern architecture and feature set may offer distinct advantages in actual games that use modern APIs or features like ray tracing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data for this PC in Evolve strongly suggests that the graphics card is the primary determinant of frame rate, especially as resolution increases. The most compelling evidence comes from the scaling of FPS with resolution. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 190 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 2560x1440, the average FPS falls to 127. This represents a 33% drop in performance. The trend continues at 3840x2160, where the average FPS plummets to 72. This steep decline is a classic sign of pixel-pushing becoming the main workload for the GPU.

The pattern holds across all settings. The 'Low' preset at 1080p yields 190 FPS, but at 1440p it yields 127 FPS, and at 4K only 72 FPS. This is a clear indication that the GPU is working progressively harder to fill the increasing number of pixels. The CPU, with its high single-thread score of 4648 in Cinebench R23, is likely not the limiting factor at these resolutions. The data suggests a strong processor that can feed frames to the GPU quickly, but the GPU's overall throughput caps the final output.

The role of the CPU becomes somewhat more relevant when looking at presets. The performance difference between 'Low' and 'Ultra' presets at a fixed resolution is substantial, which points to a workload increase for both the CPU and GPU. For example, at 2560x1440, the 'Low' preset averages 127 FPS, while the 'Ultra' preset is 54 FPS, a difference of 73 FPS. This gap is a result of the increased graphical complexity, which is primarily a GPU burden, but the CPU's job of preparing a more complex frame also increases. The data shows that at 1080p, the 'Ultra' preset is still able to consistently stay at or above 80 FPS, which indicates that the CPU is capable enough to support the GPU in this scenario. The evidence is consistent: the RTX 4060 is the component that determines the playability ceiling, and its limitations are most apparent at 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured average FPS data and the game's 60 FPS threshold for playability, the optimal settings for each resolution are as follows.

At 3840x2160, the only preset that achieves an average FPS at or above 60 is 'Low', which yields an average of 72 FPS. The 'Medium' preset falls short at 56 FPS, and 'High' and 'Ultra' are even lower at 44 and 31 FPS respectively. Therefore, the most demanding preset that keeps the game playable is Low.

At 2560x1440, the system has more room to breathe. The 'High' preset is the most demanding one that stays above the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 77 FPS. The 'Medium' preset is also well above the threshold, at 99 FPS, but 'High' offers a better visual experience while still delivering a smooth frame rate. The 'Ultra' preset, with an average of 54 FPS, falls just short of the target. The best setting here is High.

At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable. The 'Ultra' preset is the most demanding and still delivers an average of 80 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. This means that at 1080p, the user can maximize the game's graphical options. Therefore, the best setting is Ultra. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p allows for maximum visual fidelity, while 1440p requires a slight compromise to 'High', and 4K requires a significant compromise to 'Low'.

The Verdict

The measured data provides a clear answer: this PC can run Evolve, but its capability varies significantly across resolutions. The verdict by resolution is direct.

At 3840x2160, the system is only considered playable on the Low preset, which achieves an average of 72 FPS. The 'Medium' preset, at 56 FPS, and all higher presets, fall below the 60 FPS playable threshold. So, while it can run the game at 4K, it cannot maintain a smooth experience with medium or higher settings.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable on High, Low, and Medium presets. The best settings are High, which yields 77 FPS. The 'Ultra' preset, at 54 FPS, is the only one of the four that misses the 60 FPS mark. This resolution offers a good balance between visual quality and performance.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves playable frame rates on all four presets: High, Low, Medium, and Ultra. The best settings are Ultra, which averages 80 FPS. This is the definitive resolution for this combination, as it allows the game to be played with all settings maxed out without any performance concerns.

In summary, this PC is fully capable of running Evolve at 1080p with maxed settings. It provides a highly enjoyable experience at 1440p with a small settings compromise. At 4K, it is only just playable at the lowest graphical settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured frame rate data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination.

At 3840x2160:

• High: Average 44 FPS.
• Low: Average 72 FPS.
• Medium: Average 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65.
• Ultra: Average 31 FPS.

At 2560x1440:

• High: Average 77 FPS.
• Low: Average 127 FPS.
• Medium: Average 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 and a maximum of 114.
• Ultra: Average 54 FPS.

At 1920x1080:

• High: Average 115 FPS.
• Low: Average 190 FPS.
• Medium: Average 147 FPS, with a minimum of 125 and a maximum of 169.
• Ultra: Average 80 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern of diminishing returns as resolution increases. The minimum and maximum FPS values for the 'Medium' preset at each resolution illustrate the potential for frame dips. At 1080p, the frame rate is very stable, with a minimum of 125 FPS. At 1440p, the minimum is 84 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, the minimum is 48 FPS, which is well below the threshold, indicating that the game can stutter even on the 'Medium' preset. This highlights why 'Low' is the only consistent choice for 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Evolve, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks at 2003 out of 3700 tested combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems. While the 1080p performance is strong, and the 1440p performance is respectable, the rank is likely pulled down by the fact that a significant number of other, more powerful combinations are able to achieve higher frame rates at 4K.

The rank is a relative measure of this combo's total performance across all resolutions. It indicates that while it is not a low-end configuration, there are nearly 1700 other combinations of components that have delivered higher average frame rates in Evolve. This rank aligns with the observed data: it is a solid 1080p machine, a capable 1440p machine, but not a 4K powerhouse.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only on the Low preset, which achieves an average of 72 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a smooth 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: The highest preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages 77 FPS. The 'Ultra' preset falls below, at 54 FPS.

Q: Is the system powerful enough for 1920x1080 with maximum detail?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset averages 80 FPS at 1920x1080, making it fully playable with all settings maxed.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 based on benchmarks?

A: The two CPUs are essentially tied. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score that is only 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900.

Q: What is the performance difference between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and the AMD Radeon 780M?

A: The RTX 4060 is only 0.3% faster than the Radeon 780M in their average benchmark scores, suggesting they have similar baseline performance.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 3840x2160?

A: The minimum FPS for the Medium preset at 3840x2160 is 48 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.