Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and Intel Arc B390 combination delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p in Evolve, but the system's overall ranking is dragged down significantly by the GPU, which sits near the bottom of the hardware hierarchy. The data shows a clear pattern: the CPU provides ample processing power for this 2015 title, while the graphics solution becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution and settings increase.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is a desktop processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, supported by a 32 MB L3 cache. With a TDP of 105 W and a 7 nm process node, this chip represents a high-end CPU from the 5000 series, and its benchmark scores confirm it is far more powerful than what Evolve requires.

In synthetic tests, the 5800X demonstrates strong multi-threaded capabilities, scoring 15,476 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 26,608.5 in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Single-thread performance is equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,574.5 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2,032. For a game released in early 2015, which was designed for the quad-core CPUs of that era, this processor offers significant headroom. The 3DMark scores further illustrate this: 7,586 in the 16-thread test and 7,578 in the max-thread test, compared to 943 in the single-thread test.

The CPU's 81 percentile ranking among all tested CPUs places it well above the median, and its average benchmark score of 29,123 is nearly identical to rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H (29,093, deltaPct 0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (28,940, deltaPct 0.6%). This indicates that the processor is not a limiting factor in this system. However, Evolve is a fast-paced FPS where frame pacing and consistency matter more than raw core counts. The 5800X’s high single-thread score of 3,445 in PassMark ensures that the game's primary game logic thread is well-served, while the 16 threads allow any background tasks or secondary game systems to run without contention.

The relationship between the CPU and this game's results is straightforward: the processor delivers performance far exceeding the game's demands. None of the measured frame rates are likely constrained by the CPU. At 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work, the system achieves 89 FPS, which is a strong indicator of the CPU's ability to feed frames quickly. If the CPU were weak, we would see this number drop closer to the GPU's limit, but the data suggests the Ryzen 7 5800X is not the bottleneck in any configuration tested.

How This Combo Ranks, use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The overall combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,530 out of 2,872 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested, which is a poor result for a CPU that is in the top 20% of all processors. The discrepancy between the CPU's strength and the combo's weak rank highlights the GPU as the dominant factor in determining this system's position.

Benchmark results indicate that this ranking is driven entirely by the graphics solution. The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (1,463, deltaPct 1.3%), GeForce 800M (1,460, deltaPct 1.5%), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1,446, deltaPct 2.5%), and GeForce GT 710 (1,443, deltaPct 2.7%). This is a GPU that is competing with entry-level hardware from a decade ago, and it is severely mismatched with a high-end desktop CPU from 2020.

The combo rank of 2,530 means that out of 2,872 systems, only 342 performed worse. This is not a system that will provide a competitive experience in Evolve at higher settings. The data shows that even with a powerful CPU, the frame rates are capped by the GPU's limitations. For context, if the CPU were paired with a more capable GPU, the rank would likely improve substantially, but as configured, this combo is positioned for low-resolution, low-settings play.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Evolve at 1080p with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 89 FPS. At Medium settings, it drops to 69 FPS, and at High it reaches 54 FPS. These are all above the 30 FPS threshold for basic playability, though only the Low setting provides a smooth 60+ FPS experience.

Q: How does the GPU compare to other graphics cards?

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. It performs slightly better than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1,463, 1.3% faster) and the GeForce 800M (1,460, 1.5% faster), but it is only 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Is the CPU strong enough for this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is more than sufficient. It scores 15,476 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,574.5 in single-core, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H and AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT, with performance deltas of less than 1%.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system?

A: The data suggests 1080p Low is the only configuration that delivers a consistently smooth experience at 89 FPS average. At 1440p Low, the average drops to 60 FPS, which is acceptable but leaves no headroom. Higher settings at any resolution result in frame rates below 54 FPS.

Q: Why does the system rank so poorly if the CPU is powerful?

A: The combo ranks 2,530 out of 2,872 due to the GPU's limitations. The Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th GPU percentile, and its low performance caps the frame rates, preventing the strong CPU from being fully utilized. The ranking reflects the weakest link in the system.

Q: Are there any configurations where the system provides a 60 FPS experience?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system averages 89 FPS, and at 2560x1440 with Low settings, it averages 60 FPS. All other tested settings and resolutions fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown, resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured frame rates reveal a consistent pattern where performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 89 FPS, which is the highest measured across all configurations. Moving to Medium settings reduces the average to 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS, indicating a stable experience near the 60 FPS target. High settings at 1080p yield an average of 54 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Ultra settings drop the average to 37 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable play.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades further. Low settings produce an average of 60 FPS, which exactly meets the 60 FPS target but leaves no margin for drops. Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS, showing significant variance. High settings average 36 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 25 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that the GPU is struggling to maintain consistent frame times at this resolution, even at lower settings.

At 3840x2160, the system is not viable for this game. Low settings average 34 FPS, Medium settings average 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 FPS and maximum of 30 FPS, High settings average 21 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 14 FPS. None of these configurations provide a playable experience, as they all fall below the 30 FPS minimum standard for most players. The data shows a clear ceiling: the Intel Arc B390 cannot handle 4K resolutions in Evolve, regardless of settings.

The complete dataset shows that the only configuration exceeding 60 FPS is 1080p Low at 89 FPS. The 1080p Medium configuration (69 FPS) and the 1440p Low configuration (60 FPS) are the only others that approach or meet the 60 FPS standard. Every other tested combination falls below this threshold, with the lowest being 4K Ultra at 14 FPS.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2,500 MHz, delivering a peak FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS.

The most critical limitation is the memory configuration. The GPU uses System Shared memory, with a bus width and bandwidth that are also System Shared and System Dependent. This means the GPU relies on the system's DDR4 memory, and its performance is heavily influenced by the CPU's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. In Evolve, this shared memory setup is a significant bottleneck, as the game requires fast access to textures and geometry data. The GPU's pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are theoretically sufficient for 1080p, but the memory subsystem cannot deliver data fast enough to maintain high frame rates at higher settings.

The GPU's benchmark results confirm its weak standing. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all low-end discrete GPUs from NVIDIA's older lineup. The 80 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate this is a power-efficient part designed for portable devices, not desktop gaming. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor in this combo, as it cannot keep up with the CPU's capabilities. At 1080p Low, the GPU is able to produce 89 FPS, but as settings increase, the frame rate drops proportionally, suggesting that the GPU's shading units and memory system are overwhelmed.

Settings Recommendations, which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal configuration for this system is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which delivers an average of 89 FPS. This is the only setting that provides a high-refresh-rate experience, offering enough headroom to avoid noticeable frame drops during intense combat. The 1080p Medium setting is the next best option, averaging 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, which remains above the 60 FPS target for most of the session. For players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, 1080p High at 54 FPS is acceptable, but it falls into the "playable but not smooth" category.

At 2560x1440, the only recommended configuration is Low settings, which averages exactly 60 FPS. This is a borderline experience, as any complex scene could push the frame rate below 60. The 1440p Medium setting averages 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS, which will result in noticeable stuttering. All other settings at 1440p and all settings at 4K should be avoided, as they produce average frame rates below 40 FPS.

The data strongly suggests that players should stick to 1080p for this game. The difference between 1080p Low (89 FPS) and 1440p Low (60 FPS) is a 48% drop in average frame rate, which is a significant cost for a modest resolution increase. Similarly, the jump from 1080p Medium (69 FPS) to 1440p Medium (46 FPS) represents a 50% decrease in performance. The best experience per the measured rows is definitively 1080p Low, as it is the only configuration that provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining a fluid gameplay experience. For those who prefer Medium settings, 1080p is the only viable resolution, as the 69 FPS average provides a stable foundation, though the 59 FPS minimum indicates occasional dips below 60.