Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers a broad spectrum of performance in Evolve, ranging from a demanding 54 FPS average at 4K Ultra to a blistering 335 FPS average at 1080p Low. The measured data shows this combination is overwhelmingly capable, with the primary challenge being the 4K Ultra preset, which dips below the 60 FPS playability threshold. Across all other tested settings and resolutions, the combo maintains a comfortable margin above that threshold, often by a significant factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for this configuration is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4080 produce exceptional frame rates. The Low preset yields an average of 335 FPS, while the High preset reaches 204 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 260 FPS, with a minimum of 221 FPS and a maximum of 299 FPS, indicating tight frame pacing. The most demanding 1080p preset, Ultra, still delivers a very high average of 141 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains robust but shows the expected scaling from the 1080p results. The Low preset averages 225 FPS, High averages 137 FPS, and Ultra averages 95 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution records an average of 174 FPS, with a minimum of 148 FPS and a maximum of 200 FPS. These figures suggest the GPU is still handling the workload with significant headroom at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the demands on the system increase substantially. The Low preset still produces a very playable average of 128 FPS, and the High preset maintains an average of 78 FPS. The Medium preset averages 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, is the only configuration in the entire dataset that falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, with an average of just 54 FPS. This single data point represents the only instance where the combination struggles to maintain smooth gameplay.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average FPS at or above the 60 FPS threshold for each resolution. At 3840x2160, the High preset is the best playable option, achieving an average of 78 FPS. The Medium preset, while also playable with an average of 99 FPS, is not the most demanding that fits the criteria; High is superior in visual quality while still clearing the threshold. The Ultra preset at this resolution is not playable, as its 54 FPS average falls short.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is fully playable with an average of 95 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available in the game, and the system maintains a strong performance level while using it. This makes Ultra the definitive best setting for this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 141 FPS, which is more than double the playability threshold. This makes Ultra the best setting for 1080p as well, providing the maximum visual fidelity alongside exceptionally smooth performance. In summary, the system can run the game at Ultra settings for both 1080p and 1440p, but must be dialed back to High for a stable 60+ FPS experience at 4K.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets reveals the relative contribution of the CPU and GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, provides a strong foundation. The RTX 4080, with 9728 shading units and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory, is the primary driver for frame rate in this title.

The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, the average FPS drops across all presets. For example, at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 335 at 1080p to 225 at 1440p, and further to 128 at 4K. This substantial decline indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the pixel workload increases significantly. The CPU's role, while critical for maintaining high frame rates, is less of a bottleneck at 4K where the GPU is saturated.

Conversely, the scaling between presets at a fixed resolution highlights the GPU's workload. At 4K, the difference between Low (128 FPS) and Ultra (54 FPS) is a 74 FPS drop, demonstrating the massive impact of graphical settings on the RTX 4080. At 1080p, the same preset change results in a drop from 335 FPS to 141 FPS. This shows that even at lower resolutions where the CPU is more influential, the GPU still dictates performance based on the visual load.

The benchmark results indicate that for this game, the GPU is the dominant component. The CPU's capabilities are sufficient to feed the RTX 4080 at all tested resolutions, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The GPU's performance headroom is what ultimately determines whether a preset can maintain 60 FPS, particularly at 4K Ultra where it falls short.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of hardware holds a rank of 222 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This places the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4080 configuration in the top 6% of all tested systems, a strong indicator of its overall capability. The percentile rankings for the individual components support this: the CPU is in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 86th percentile among all GPUs.

The data shows that this combo performs exceptionally well relative to the broader field. Its high rank is a direct result of the strong synergy between the high-end CPU and GPU. The system is positioned far above the median performer, making it a top-tier choice for running Evolve at high settings and resolutions. The measured FPS data reinforces this, with most tested configurations exceeding 100 FPS on average.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, it can run at 4K with the High settings preset, achieving an average of 78 FPS. The Low and Medium presets also exceed 60 FPS at this resolution, but the Ultra preset falls short with an average of 54 FPS.

Q: What is the maximum settings preset that maintains 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 2560x1440, with an average frame rate of 95 FPS. This is the highest quality preset available in the game.

Q: How does the performance at 1920x1080 compare to 3840x2160 on the Ultra preset?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the average frame rate is 141 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops significantly to 54 FPS, a difference of 87 FPS. This demonstrates the substantial performance cost of rendering at 4K resolution.

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 produces an average frame rate of 174 FPS. The minimum recorded was 148 FPS and the maximum was 200 FPS.

Q: Is the 3840x2160 Ultra preset playable?

A: No, the 3840x2160 Ultra preset is not playable, as its average frame rate of 54 FPS falls below the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: Which component is more important for performance in Evolve?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the more important component. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a typical sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU provides a solid foundation, but the GPU workload is the primary determinant of frame rate.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can definitively run Evolve, and it does so with high performance in the majority of scenarios. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, all presets, including Ultra, are playable, with the best playable setting being Ultra at an average of 141 FPS. At 2560x1440, all presets are also playable, with the best setting being Ultra at an average of 95 FPS.

The only limitation is at 3840x2160, where the Ultra preset fails to meet the 60 FPS threshold. However, the High preset at this resolution is playable, achieving an average of 78 FPS. Therefore, the system is fully capable of running the game at 4K, just not with the absolute highest visual quality settings. For users prioritizing 4K gaming, the High preset is recommended. For those targeting high refresh rate monitors at 1440p or 1080p, the Ultra preset is the optimal choice, delivering frame rates well above 60 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The data shows that several other hardware combinations would offer similar performance to this system. For the CPU, the closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which has an average benchmark score of 83807, a mere 0.2% difference from the 290K Plus's 84003. Other close alternatives include the AMD EPYC 4584PX and AMD EPYC 9135, with scores of 83090 and 82980, representing 1.1% and 1.2% deltas, respectively. These CPUs would likely produce very similar frame rates in Evolve.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the nearest comparable option, with a score of 54209, a marginal 0.1% delta from the RTX 4080's 54247. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X also performs similarly, with a score of 54828, a -1.1% delta. These GPUs should deliver nearly identical performance in this game, making them viable substitutes for the RTX 4080 without a significant change in expected frame rates. Systems built with these components would land in a very similar performance bracket.