Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. Benchmark data indicates the pairing is heavily influenced by the GPU at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance ensures high framerates at 1080p. The measured results show a clear scaling pattern from 4K to 1080p, with the system ultimately ranking in the 58th percentile of all tested combos for this game, placing it at rank 1664 out of 2872.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer). Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and it is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process. For a game like Evolve, which launched in 2015, the CPU’s capability in handling game logic and physics is crucial. The processor’s benchmark scores indicate a strong single-threaded presence, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 917 and a passmark_single_thread score of 3364. This is complemented by a cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 1541.

The 5600X’s multi-threaded performance is also notable. The cinebench_r23_multicore score of 11838 and a passmark_multithread score of 21858 suggest that even when the game can utilize more cores, the processor has sufficient headroom. The average benchmark score for the CPU is 21771, placing it in the 75th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, with an average score of 21749 (0.1% slower), and the Intel Core i7-11700, with an average score of 21891 (0.5% faster). These tight margins in synthetic benchmarks suggest that the 5600X is a very competitive part for its generation.

In the context of Evolve, the CPU’s role in the lowest resolution tested (1080p) is significant. Here, the framerates are high enough that the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU becomes the primary limiter. The data shows that the system achieves 176 FPS at Low settings and 107 FPS at High settings at 1080p, indicating that the CPU can sustain frame times well above 60 FPS. The 3dmark_8_threads score of 4811 and 3dmark_4_threads score of 3363 suggest that the processor’s performance on a few cores is robust, which is directly relevant to gaming workloads that often rely on fewer threads.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achieved by this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average framerate is 176 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average framerate drops to 28 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the framerates scale significantly with settings (from 50 FPS at Ultra to 118 FPS at Low), suggesting the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as lowering the graphical load yields a substantial performance increase.

Q: Does the CPU outperform a specific rival processor in a meaningful way?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600X’s average benchmark score is 21771, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H’s 21749. However, it trails the Intel Core i7-11700 by 0.5%, as that chip scores 21891.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average framerate drops from 176 FPS at Low settings to 74 FPS at Ultra settings, a difference of 102 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU’s performance percentile compare to the CPU’s?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 sits in the 59th percentile among all GPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X sits higher, in the 75th percentile among all CPUs.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling that is typical for a balanced system. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average framerate drops from 107 FPS to 72 FPS, a 32.7% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is becoming increasingly stressed as the pixel count rises. The trend continues when moving from 1440p to 4K, where the High settings framerate falls from 72 FPS to 41 FPS, a further 43.1% drop. This steep decline highlights that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the component that limits performance as resolution increases.

The data also demonstrates how the scaling factor changes with settings. At Low settings, the drop from 1080p (176 FPS) to 1440p (118 FPS) is a 33.0% reduction, and then to 4K (67 FPS) is a 43.2% reduction from 1440p. This shows that even at the lowest settings, where the CPU has more influence, the GPU still dictates the scaling. The 4K results are particularly telling: the highest average FPS at 4K is only 67 FPS on Low settings, which falls to 28 FPS on Ultra. This suggests that 4K gaming on Evolve is only viable at lower presets with this specific hardware.

The behavior at 4K Medium settings provides a specific data point on the limiting component. With an average of 52 FPS, a minimum of 44 FPS, and a maximum of 60 FPS, the frame rate is not only low but also variable. The 44 FPS minimum indicates that there are moments of significant frame drops, which could be disruptive in gameplay. This variability, combined with the low average, points to the GPU being overburdened at this resolution, as the CPU has already demonstrated it can handle higher frame rates at lower resolutions (e.g., 137 FPS at 1080p Medium).

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows a wide range of performance depending on the preset. With Low settings, the average FPS is 176, providing a very smooth experience. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. High settings yield an average of 107 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 74 FPS. This data indicates that the CPU has enough power to drive very high frame rates, but the GPU load increases with settings, pulling the average down.

At 2560x1440, the performance is still respectable for most presets but begins to show strain at the higher quality levels. The Low preset averages 118 FPS, which is excellent. Medium settings average 92 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS, ensuring playability. High settings average 72 FPS, which is still smooth. Ultra settings, however, drop to an average of 50 FPS, which may be less ideal for competitive play but is still within a playable range for many.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 67 FPS, which is the only setting at 4K that exceeds 60 FPS. Medium settings average 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS, showing that the low end can dip noticeably. High settings average 41 FPS, and Ultra settings average only 28 FPS. These numbers suggest that 4K gaming is only recommended at Low or Medium settings for a consistent experience, and even then, the frame rate will not be as high as at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060, based on the Navi 44 chip and RDNA 4.0 architecture, is the central component for rendering Evolve. It features a boost clock of 2990 MHz and a game clock of 2400 MHz. The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. With 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, the card is designed to handle modern graphics workloads. Its synthetic performance is measured by a 3dmark_3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 3322 and a passmark_g3d score of 17631, placing it in the 59th percentile among all GPUs.

The GPU’s role in Evolve is best illustrated by the scaling data. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 102 FPS (from 176 to 74), which demonstrates that the GPU is the primary variable when changing graphical fidelity. At 4K, the impact is even more pronounced, as the card cannot maintain high frame rates at higher presets. The card’s average benchmark score is 16014, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, scores 16129, making the RX 9060 0.7% slower. This close competition suggests that the RX 9060 is a mid-range performer, which aligns with the observed FPS figures.

The GPU’s memory configuration is also a factor. With 8 GB of VRAM, the card has enough memory for most of the tested settings, but the 128-bit bus and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely contributors to the significant performance drop at 4K Ultra. The texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s are respectable, but the data shows that the card’s compute capabilities are stretched at higher resolutions. The passmark_directx_11 score of 182 is relatively low, which might indicate that the card is better optimized for newer APIs, but for a 2015 title like Evolve, the DirectX 11 performance is what matters most.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the display resolution. For 1920x1080, the system is capable of high refresh rates. The Ultra preset, with an average of 74 FPS, is playable, but the High preset offers a better balance, with an average of 107 FPS, ensuring a smoother experience without a significant visual sacrifice. For players with a 144Hz monitor, the Medium preset, which averages 137 FPS, is the recommended choice, as it provides a high enough frame rate to take advantage of the display’s refresh rate while maintaining good visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the best option, delivering an average of 72 FPS. This is a solid frame rate for a 60Hz display and provides a good visual experience. The Medium preset, at 92 FPS, is also an excellent choice for those who prefer a higher frame rate, as it remains above 60 FPS and ensures smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset, at 50 FPS, is less desirable, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold and may be noticeable in a fast-paced FPS.

For 3840x2160, the recommendations are more constrained. The Low preset, with an average of 67 FPS, is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience above 60 FPS. The Medium preset, at 52 FPS, is playable but has a minimum of 44 FPS, which could cause noticeable stuttering in intense scenes. High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they average 41 FPS and 28 FPS, respectively, which are too low for a responsive gaming experience. The data suggests that for 4K, players should accept lower visual quality to maintain playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall ranking for Evolve, this combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and AMD Radeon RX 9060 is placed at rank 1664 out of 2872 tested combos. This places the system in the 58th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that it performs better than a majority of other setups. This ranking is a holistic measure that takes into account performance across all settings and resolutions tested.

The ranking reflects the system’s strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, where it excels in delivering high frame rates. However, the lower 4K performance, where the GPU is a bottleneck, prevents the combo from ranking higher. The data shows that the system is well-matched for competitive gaming at standard resolutions, but it is not a top-tier 4K solution. The CPU’s 75th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 59th percentile ranking contribute to this overall position, with the GPU being the weaker link in the chain for this specific title. The high frame rates at 1080p, reaching up to 176 FPS, are proof of the CPU’s strength, but the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions are what ultimately define the combo’s mid-range standing in the overall rankings.