Evolve

# CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer) at TSMC's 7 nm process node. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz are modest by current standards, but the architecture's efficiency compensates in gaming workloads. The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a key asset for FPS titles like Evolve, where repeated access to game state data benefits from larger on-die storage. The L1 and L2 caches are sized at 64 KB and 512 KB per core, respectively.

Benchmark results place the 5600F in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with a PassMark multithread score of 19,236 and a single-thread score of 2,872. Its average benchmark score of 36,945 sits nearly exactly between the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36,938, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37,018, -0.2% delta). The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 trails by 0.4% with a score of 37,093, while the Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.5% behind at 37,112. This clustering indicates the 5600F delivers performance essentially at parity with a set of diverse rivals, making CPU-bound bottlenecks unlikely in most scenarios.

In Evolve, the measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 245 FPS on average. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is feeding the GPU adequately without becoming a limiting factor, even at lower resolutions where CPU load typically scales. The 6-core/12-thread configuration is sufficient for Evolve's engine, which was designed around the hardware available at its 2015 release, and the Zen 3 architecture's strong single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread score of 2,872) ensures that game logic and physics calculations are handled with minimal latency. The CPU's 65 W TDP and DDR4 memory support (dual-channel, 51.2 GB/s bandwidth) complement the GPU without introducing thermal or bandwidth constraints that would throttle sustained gaming sessions.

# GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a RDNA 4.0 architecture GPU (Navi 48 chip) built on TSMC's 4 nm process, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock reaches 2970 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 1660 MHz. Memory runs at 2518 MHz (20.1 Gbps effective). With 4,096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, the card is a high-end part designed for demanding visual workloads. Its 48.66 TFLOPS FP32 compute capability and 64 RT cores provide ample headroom for modern rendering techniques.

The GPU's benchmark profile is mixed: it holds the 55th percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 26,795 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 65,879. However, its average benchmark score of 13,543 places it surprisingly close to older, lower-tier cards — the AMD Radeon HD 7770M scores 13,536 (0.1% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13,515 (0.2% delta), and the NVIDIA P106-090 scores 13,470 (0.5% delta). These nearest rivals are all significantly older architectures, yet the delta percentages are tiny, suggesting that the RX 9070 XT's average benchmark score is skewed by specific tests rather than reflecting its true gaming performance. The PassMark DirectX 12 score of 78 is notably low, but modern game engines often utilize features not captured by legacy benchmark suites.

In Evolve, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM is far more than the game requires, eliminating any texture-swapping or memory-pressure issues even at 4K Ultra settings. The measured FPS data shows the GPU scales smoothly across resolutions: at 4K High, it averages 61 FPS, and at 4K Low, it jumps to 100 FPS. The memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s ensures that high-resolution textures and particle effects in Evolve's sci-fi environments are streamed without stutter. The GPU's boost clock of 2970 MHz provides the raw throughput needed to sustain high frame rates, though the 304 W TDP and suggested 700 W PSU indicate power demands that should be considered in system planning.

# FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's percentile rank among all processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36,945.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The RX 9070 XT's average score of 13,543 is 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 7770M (13,536), 0.2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (13,515), and 0.5% higher than the NVIDIA P106-090 (13,470). The AMD Radeon Pro 555 trails by 1% at 13,407.

Q: What are the measured FPS differences between 1080p and 4K at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the combo averages 203 FPS (min 172, max 233). At 4K Medium, it drops to 77 FPS (min 66, max 89), representing a significant reduction due to resolution scaling.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is not a limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 245 FPS, showing the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond typical refresh rates. The CPU's 85th percentile rank and single-thread score of 2,872 support this.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Evolve?

A: The combo ranks 718 out of 2,872 tested combinations, placing it in the top 25% of all CPU-GPU pairings for this game.

Q: How does the GPU's VRAM capacity affect Evolve's performance?

A: The 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM is far more than Evolve requires, even at 4K Ultra settings where the average FPS is 42. Memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s ensures no texture streaming bottlenecks, as evidenced by consistent FPS across settings.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Evolve spans three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four quality presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). At 1080p, the combo delivers exceptional frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 245 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 203 FPS with a minimum of 172 and maximum of 233 FPS. High settings average 159 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 110 FPS. This progression shows a smooth scaling curve, with each quality tier reducing performance by roughly 20-30% relative to the previous step.

At 1440p, the pattern continues but with lower absolute numbers. Low settings average 176 FPS, Medium averages 136 FPS (min 116, max 156), High averages 107 FPS, and Ultra averages 74 FPS. The relative drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings: approximately 28% for Low, 33% for Medium, 33% for High, and 33% for Ultra. This consistency indicates that the GPU is handling the resolution increase without introducing unexpected bottlenecks.

At 4K, the performance scales down further. Low settings average 100 FPS, Medium averages 77 FPS (min 66, max 89), High averages 61 FPS, and Ultra averages 42 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced: 43% for Low, 43% for Medium, 43% for High, and 43% for Ultra. This uniform percentage decrease suggests that the GPU's pixel throughput is the primary constraint at 4K, as the number of pixels roughly doubles while the FPS halves.

The minimum and maximum FPS values are only recorded for Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the range spans 172 to 233 FPS, a 61 FPS spread that indicates some scene-to-scene variability. At 1440p, the range narrows to 116 to 156 FPS (40 FPS spread), and at 4K, it narrows further to 66 to 89 FPS (23 FPS spread). This tightening of the FPS range at higher resolutions suggests that GPU-bound scenarios are more consistent than CPU-bound ones, which tend to exhibit more variance.

# Resolution Scaling

Resolution scaling in Evolve reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance. Moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces average FPS by approximately 33% across all settings, while moving from 1440p to 4K reduces average FPS by approximately 43% across all settings. This compounding effect means that the total drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly 60% for each setting: Low goes from 245 to 100 FPS (59% drop), Medium from 203 to 77 FPS (62% drop), High from 159 to 61 FPS (62% drop), and Ultra from 110 to 42 FPS (62% drop).

The consistent percentage drops across all quality settings indicate that the GPU is the limiting component at every resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller absolute FPS differences at lower resolutions, where CPU load is relatively higher. Instead, the FPS scales almost linearly with pixel count, a hallmark of GPU-bound rendering. The CPU's strong single-thread score (2,872) and 85th percentile rank further support this interpretation.

The data also shows that the GPU's performance headroom is sufficient for high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p High, the combo averages 159 FPS, which is well above 144 Hz refresh rates. At 1440p High, it averages 107 FPS, which is suitable for 100 Hz+ displays. Only at 4K does the combo struggle to maintain high refresh rates, with Ultra settings averaging 42 FPS and High settings averaging 61 FPS. For 4K gaming, Medium settings at 77 FPS provide the best balance of visual fidelity and smoothness.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but Medium provides the best balance of visual quality and performance. The average of 203 FPS (min 172, max 233) ensures smooth gameplay even during intense firefights, and the 172 FPS minimum is well above the 144 Hz threshold. High settings at 159 FPS are also excellent, offering better visual fidelity with only a 22% performance penalty. Ultra settings at 110 FPS are still smooth but may not fully utilize high refresh rate monitors.

At 1440p, Medium settings at 136 FPS (min 116, max 156) are the recommended choice for high refresh rate displays. The 116 FPS minimum ensures that frame times remain consistent. High settings at 107 FPS are suitable for 100 Hz monitors and offer improved visual quality. Low settings at 176 FPS are excessive for most displays and sacrifice visual fidelity without tangible benefits. Ultra settings at 74 FPS are playable but may exhibit occasional dips below 60 FPS in demanding scenes.

At 4K, Medium settings at 77 FPS (min 66, max 89) are the best option for a smooth experience. The 66 FPS minimum stays above the 60 FPS baseline, and the visual quality is a significant upgrade over Low. High settings at 61 FPS are marginal — the average is just above 60 FPS, but any scene complexity could push it below. Ultra settings at 42 FPS are not recommended for competitive play, though they may be acceptable for slower-paced exploration. Low settings at 100 FPS are viable for players who prioritize frame rate over visual detail, but Medium offers a better balance.

Across all resolutions, Medium is the most consistent preset, with measured minimum FPS values that stay within 15% of the average. This stability is crucial for a fast-paced FPS like Evolve, where frame time spikes can disrupt aiming and movement.

# How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F + AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT ranks 718 out of 2,872 tested combinations in Evolve, placing it in the top 25% of all CPU-GPU pairings. This rank reflects the combo's ability to deliver high frame rates across all resolutions and settings, as demonstrated by the measured FPS data. The rank is particularly notable given the GPU's relatively low average benchmark score (13,543) and 55th percentile ranking — the in-game performance far exceeds what synthetic benchmarks suggest.

The CPU's contribution to this ranking is significant. Its 85th percentile rank and strong single-thread performance (2,872) ensure that Evolve's game logic is processed without delays, even at 1080p Low where the combo achieves 245 FPS. The CPU's nearest rivals — the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (-0.2% delta), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (-0.4% delta), and Intel Core i9-12900T (-0.5% delta) — are all within 0.5% of its average benchmark score, indicating that any of these CPUs would likely produce similar results in Evolve.

The GPU's in-game performance is the primary driver of the combo's rank. Despite its modest average benchmark score, the RX 9070 XT excels in Evolve's specific rendering workload, delivering 159 FPS at 1080p High and 61 FPS at 4K High. The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database — the AMD Radeon HD 7770M, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, NVIDIA P106-090, and AMD Radeon Pro 555 — are all older, lower-performance parts, and their small delta percentages (0.1% to 1%) do not reflect the RX 9070 XT's actual gaming capabilities. This discrepancy highlights the importance of game-specific testing over synthetic benchmarks.

In the context of all tested combos, the 718th rank out of 2,872 places this pairing in the 75th percentile of performance. This means that approximately 75% of tested combinations produce lower frame rates in Evolve, while 25% produce higher ones. The combo's strength lies in its balance — the CPU and GPU complement each other without either becoming a significant bottleneck, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling across resolutions and settings. For a game released in 2015, this modern hardware pairing delivers far more performance than the original target hardware, ensuring that Evolve runs at maximum settings with high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, and remains playable at 4K with adjusted settings.