Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The measured data shows this combination is capable of running the game at maximum settings across all tested resolutions, with average frame rates ranging from 61 FPS at 4K Ultra to 379 FPS at 1080p Low. The following analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU roles, provides a complete FPS breakdown, and offers guidance on optimal settings based on benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 61 FPS, which meets the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K at 83807, and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX at 83090.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks in the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79842.

Q: Which resolution shows the largest performance gap between Low and Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (379 FPS) and Ultra (160 FPS) is 219 FPS, representing the largest absolute drop across all resolutions.

Q: Is the game playable at 1440p with maximum settings?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 Ultra settings, the average FPS is 107, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

*Q: What is the combo rank for this hardware in Evolve?*

A: This combination ranks 51st out of 3700 tested combos in the game, placing it in the top 1.4% of all configurations.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the CPU and GPU each contribute to performance in Evolve across different resolutions and presets. At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor, as evidenced by the significant frame rate scaling between presets. The Ultra preset delivers 61 FPS, while Medium reaches 112 FPS, Low hits 145 FPS, and High sits at 88 FPS. This pattern shows that the RTX 5090 is the primary bottleneck at 4K, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom to support the GPU's workload.

Moving to 2560x1440, the balance shifts slightly. The Ultra preset achieves 107 FPS, Medium reaches 197 FPS, High hits 155 FPS, and Low reaches 254 FPS. The proportional increases from 4K to 1440p demonstrate that the GPU still limits performance, but the CPU's role becomes more noticeable. At 1440p, the RTX 5090’s compute capabilities are less taxed, allowing the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus to contribute more meaningfully to frame generation. The 24 cores and 24 threads of the CPU, combined with its 5.80 GHz boost clock, ensure that frame pacing remains consistent even as the GPU workload decreases.

At 1920x1080, the CPU's role expands further. The Low preset produces 379 FPS, Medium reaches 294 FPS, High hits 231 FPS, and Ultra achieves 160 FPS. The massive frame rates at 1080p indicate that the GPU is no longer the limiting factor; instead, the CPU's single-thread performance and overall throughput become critical. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores 7303 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 51731 in multi-core, which positions it to handle the high draw-call counts and game logic at these elevated frame rates. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is delivering frames as fast as the game engine allows, with the GPU having ample spare capacity.

The scaling between resolutions further clarifies the division of labor. From 1080p Ultra (160 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (107 FPS), there is a 33% reduction in frame rate, and from 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (61 FPS), another 43% reduction. These drops correspond to the increasing pixel count and GPU workload, confirming that the RTX 5090 is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. Conversely, from 1080p Low (379 FPS) to 1440p Low (254 FPS), the drop is 33%, and to 4K Low (145 FPS), another 43% — a similar pattern that reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the game at 4K and 1440p.

Preset scaling within each resolution also highlights the GPU's importance. At 4K, moving from Ultra (61 FPS) to Medium (112 FPS) yields an 84% improvement, and to Low (145 FPS) a 138% improvement. At 1440p, the same preset changes produce 84% and 137% improvements, respectively. At 1080p, the improvements are 84% and 137% as well, showing a consistent GPU workload scaling across resolutions. The CPU's performance, as measured by its 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs, ensures that it does not bottleneck the GPU in any tested configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination covers three resolutions and four presets each, providing a comprehensive view of performance.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is the lowest measured average in the entire dataset. The Medium preset achieves 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery. The High preset reaches 88 FPS, while the Low preset produces 145 FPS. These figures show that 4K Ultra is playable but leaves little margin above the 60 FPS threshold, while lower presets provide substantial headroom. The 4K Medium range of 95-129 FPS demonstrates that even the minimum frame rate stays well above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves 107 FPS, more than 70% higher than the 4K Ultra result. The Medium preset reaches 197 FPS with a minimum of 168 FPS and a maximum of 227 FPS, showing excellent frame consistency. The High preset delivers 155 FPS, and the Low preset hits 254 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p Ultra provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, while Medium and lower presets offer frame rates suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. The 1440p Medium range of 168-227 FPS is particularly notable for its tight spread, suggesting stable performance.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves 160 FPS, the Medium preset reaches 294 FPS with a minimum of 250 FPS and a maximum of 338 FPS, the High preset delivers 231 FPS, and the Low preset produces 379 FPS. The 1080p Medium range of 250-338 FPS shows that the minimum frame rate is over four times the playable threshold, and the Low preset’s 379 FPS average is the highest measured across all configurations. These results indicate that at 1080p, the combination of the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 5090 is capable of driving frame rates that exceed the refresh rates of most monitors.

The minimum and maximum FPS data, available only for Medium presets, provides insight into frame pacing. At 4K Medium, the 95-129 FPS range represents a 34 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the spread is 59 FPS (168-227). At 1080p Medium, the spread is 88 FPS (250-338). The increasing spread at lower resolutions is consistent with the higher average frame rates, where minor variations become more pronounced in absolute terms. None of these minimum values fall below the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that the system maintains playability even during demanding scenes.

The Verdict

Based on the verdictByResolution data, this PC can run Evolve at every tested resolution with all presets clearing the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset achieves 61 FPS, which meets the playable threshold, and the High, Medium, and Low presets all exceed it with averages of 88, 112, and 145 FPS, respectively. The verdict confirms that all four settings at 4K are playable, with Ultra being the most demanding but still playable.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 107 FPS, providing a substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset reaches 155 FPS, Medium hits 197 FPS, and Low achieves 254 FPS. All four presets at 1440p are marked as playable, with even the most demanding setting offering nearly twice the required frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves 160 FPS, the High preset reaches 231 FPS, Medium hits 294 FPS, and Low produces 379 FPS. Every preset at 1080p is playable, with the lowest average still being more than 2.5 times the playable threshold. The verdict data shows that this combination has no playability issues at any resolution or preset, making it a versatile option for Evolve players who prioritize either visual fidelity or high frame rates.

Best Settings per Resolution

For players seeking the most demanding preset that still maintains at least 60 FPS, the data provides clear guidance for each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, which achieves 61 FPS. This is the only resolution where the maximum preset sits so close to the playable threshold, leaving just 1 FPS of margin. Players who prefer a larger safety buffer might opt for High at 88 FPS, but the data confirms that Ultra is technically playable.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 107 FPS. This provides a comfortable 47 FPS margin above the threshold, making it a safe choice for consistent performance. The High preset at 155 FPS offers even more headroom, but Ultra remains the most demanding playable option.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, achieving 160 FPS. This represents the highest average frame rate at maximum settings across all resolutions. The 100 FPS margin above the playable threshold ensures that even the most intense gameplay moments will remain smooth.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination ranks 51st out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the top 1.4% of all configurations. This high ranking reflects the exceptional performance of both components working together in this game. The RTX 5090, with its 21760 shading units and 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, contributes the bulk of the rendering power, while the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its 96th percentile CPU ranking, ensures that the system never becomes CPU-bound at the tested resolutions.

The GPU’s 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs further supports this high combo placement. In the context of Evolve, a game from 2015, this modern hardware combination vastly exceeds the requirements, which explains why even 4K Ultra settings are playable. The rank of 51 out of 3700 indicates that only 50 other tested combinations deliver better performance in this specific title, likely involving even more specialized or overclocked configurations.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearestRivals data for both the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this combination.

For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the closest match, with an average benchmark score of 83807, representing a deltaPct of 0.2% compared to the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus’s 84003. This means the 285K would deliver nearly identical CPU performance in Evolve, making it a viable alternative if the 290K Plus were unavailable. The AMD EPYC 4584PX, with a score of 83090 and a deltaPct of 1.1%, is also close, though its server-oriented design might affect gaming performance differently. The AMD EPYC 9135 at 82980 shows a 1.2% delta, and the AMD EPYC 7F72 at 85072 is actually 1.3% faster, though these EPYC processors are not typical gaming CPUs.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB is the nearest rival, with an average score of 79605 and a deltaPct of 0.3% compared to the RTX 5090’s 79842. The Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB at 79396 shows a 0.6% delta, while the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT at 78940 has a 1.1% delta. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X at 80959 is actually 1.4% faster. However, these rival GPUs have different memory configurations and architectural characteristics that could affect their performance in Evolve specifically.

The benchmark results show that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 5090 form a powerful pairing for Evolve, with the data indicating that players can enjoy maximum settings at 4K and exceptionally high frame rates at lower resolutions. The 51st place ranking out of 3700 combos confirms that this is among the top configurations for this game, and the nearest rivals suggest that users with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or a Tesla P100-class GPU would see similar performance levels.