Evolve

Best Settings per Resolution

For a game as fast-paced as Evolve, maintaining 60 FPS is the baseline for a comfortable experience. The data shows this combination of Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is surprisingly capable at higher resolutions, though the ceiling changes as you push pixels.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, delivering an average of 61 FPS. This is a razor-thin margin, sitting exactly on the playable threshold. While Low and Medium also clear the bar, with averages of 100 FPS and 77 FPS respectively, High is the visual sweet spot that keeps you in the game without sacrificing fluidity. Pushing to Ultra drops the average to 42 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and not recommended for serious play at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the headroom expands dramatically. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 74 FPS. This is the full visual experience without compromise. The other presets are all well above the threshold, with High at 107 FPS, Medium at 136 FPS, and Low at 176 FPS. Ultra at 1440p is the clear recommendation for most players, as it offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the RTX 4070 is barely challenged. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, averaging 110 FPS. This is the highest settings preset available, and it still delivers nearly double the playable threshold. For competitive play, lower presets offer even higher frame rates, with Low averaging 262 FPS and Medium at 203 FPS, which can be advantageous for reducing input latency.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Evolve at 4K with maxed-out settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 42 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable preset at 4K is High, which averages 61 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 110 FPS, and Low presets reach 262 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 74 FPS, while Low reaches 176 FPS. For maximum refresh rates, 1080p with lower presets is the most viable.

Q: How much slower is the RTX 4070 compared to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4070's average benchmark score is 37648. The nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, scores 37628, a negligible 0.1% difference. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37507, which is 0.4% slower. The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% faster.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus significantly faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: The benchmark data shows a very small margin. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average score of 84003, while the Core Ultra 9 285K scores 83807, a delta of just 0.2%. They are effectively equivalent in multi-threaded performance.

Q: Does the CPU hold back the GPU in Evolve?

A: The CPU sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 84003. Its single-thread score in Cinebench R23 is 7303, which is exceptionally high. The data indicates the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GPU, as evidenced by the high frame rates at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is more likely to be a factor.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The minimum FPS figures are only provided for the Medium preset across all resolutions. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 66 FPS; at 2560x1440, it is 116 FPS; and at 1920x1080, it is 173 FPS. No minimum data is provided for other presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The data from the nearestRivals fields shows that both the CPU and GPU have close performance analogs. If you are considering a similar build, these are the components that would behave most similarly.

For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is essentially a slightly binned version of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, with a delta of only 0.2%. The AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% slower, and the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% slower. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% faster. For a gaming-focused desktop, the Core Ultra 9 285K would be an indistinguishable alternative in practice.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 sits in a tight performance cluster. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 is effectively identical, with a delta of 0.1%. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 0.4% slower, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% faster. Any of these would provide a similar frame rate experience, though the desktop RTX 4070 has the advantage of being a dedicated desktop card with its own cooling and power delivery, whereas the RTX 4080 Mobile is a laptop part.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are clear: this PC can run Evolve, and it does so with significant authority at most settings. The verdictByResolution data confirms that at 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with the best settings being High at 61 FPS average. This meets the 60 FPS threshold, but with no headroom for dips. It is playable, but you are right on the edge.

At 2560x1440, the system clears the threshold with room to spare. All four presets are playable, and the best settings are Ultra, averaging 74 FPS. This is the recommended resolution for a fully uncompromised visual experience with solid performance. The minimum FPS recorded for Medium at this resolution is 116 FPS, which shows excellent frame pacing.

At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptional. All presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 110 FPS. This is well above the threshold and provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience. The data indicates this combo is more than sufficient for Evolve at 1080p, making it a viable choice for competitive play where frame rates above 144 FPS are desirable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 perform across resolutions and settings.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Ultra: Average 42 FPS. This falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.
• High: Average 61 FPS. This is the maximum playable preset at this resolution, hitting the threshold exactly.
• Medium: Average 77 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS and a maximum of 89 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the threshold.
• Low: Average 100 FPS. This offers the highest frame rates at 4K, useful for fast-paced action where visual fidelity is less critical.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Ultra: Average 74 FPS. This is the best playable preset, delivering the full visual experience above the threshold.
• High: Average 107 FPS. A significant jump from Ultra, providing ample headroom.
• Medium: Average 136 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. Frame pacing is excellent, with no drops below the threshold.
• Low: Average 176 FPS. This is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, offering a very fluid experience.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Ultra: Average 110 FPS. This is the recommended preset for a balanced experience at 1080p, far exceeding the threshold.
• High: Average 159 FPS. A strong step up, suitable for 144Hz monitors.
• Medium: Average 203 FPS, with a minimum of 173 FPS and a maximum of 234 FPS. This is excellent for competitive play.
• Low: Average 262 FPS. The maximum frame rate available, minimizing input latency for esports-level play.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame data places this specific configuration at a rank of 881 out of 3700 tested combinations. This puts it in the top 23.8% of all tested systems for Evolve. The percentile data for the individual components reinforces this: the CPU is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 81st percentile of all GPUs.

This ranking indicates that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the RTX 4070 is a mid-to-high-range card. The system's overall rank is therefore more limited by the GPU than the CPU. The data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p, but the GPU's performance ceiling is what caps the 4K Ultra settings. This is a well-balanced pairing for 1440p gaming, where the CPU's strength and the GPU's capability combine to deliver a high-quality experience. For 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor, and for 1080p, the system is overqualified, leaving performance on the table.