Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a broad performance envelope in Evolve, ranging from 42 FPS at 4K Ultra to 261 FPS at 1080p Low. The measured data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-threaded and multi-threaded capabilities ensure that even the lowest preset at 1080p yields frame rates well beyond typical display refresh rates. This analysis breaks down how the components interact across the measured resolution and settings matrix.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The most striking pattern in the data is the steep, consistent performance penalty as resolution increases. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 158 FPS at 1920x1080 to 106 FPS at 2560x1440, a 33% drop, and then to 60 FPS at 3840x2160, a further 43% drop from the 1440p figure. This translates to a total reduction of 62% when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings. The scaling at other presets follows a similar trajectory: Low settings see a drop from 261 FPS at 1080p to 175 FPS at 1440p (33% lower) and then to 99 FPS at 4K (43% lower than 1440p). Medium settings show a drop from 202 FPS to 135 FPS to 77 FPS across the three resolutions, and Ultra settings fall from 110 FPS to 74 FPS to 42 FPS.

The fact that the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is nearly identical (around 43%) regardless of whether the preset is Low or Ultra is a strong indicator that the limiting factor is the GPU’s fillrate and memory bandwidth, not the CPU or the game’s logic. The RTX 3080 Ti’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth, but the pixel workload at 3840x2160 (over 8.3 million pixels) is substantial. The data shows that at 4K, even the low preset, which typically reduces shading complexity, only manages 99 FPS, while the high preset drops to 60 FPS. This suggests that the GPU’s raw compute (34.10 TFLOPS FP32) and pixel rate (186.5 GPixel/s) are being saturated by the resolution increase.

The scaling pattern also implies that the CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads boosting up to 5.20 GHz, is not a bottleneck at these resolutions. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a much smaller difference between 1440p and 4K results, as the GPU would be idle waiting for draw calls. Instead, the consistent ~43% drop across all presets points to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K. At 1080p, the situation is different; the high FPS numbers (158-261) suggest the CPU is still capable of feeding the GPU, but the GPU is no longer the sole constraint, as the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe (33% drop) than from 1440p to 4K.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). Its base clock is 4.70 GHz and it boosts to 5.20 GHz, which is reflected in its synthetic benchmarks: a single-thread score of 1212 in 3DMark and 2080 in Cinebench R23 single-core. These scores are critical for Evolve, a 2015 FPS that likely relies on a few primary threads for game simulation and physics. The processor’s high boost clock ensures that those threads have ample headroom.

However, the data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most measured scenarios. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 261, which is a very high frame rate. If the CPU were weak, we would see this number cap out at a lower value, regardless of the GPU’s speed. The fact that the frame rate scales linearly with resolution from 1080p to 1440p (e.g., from 261 to 175 FPS on Low) indicates that the GPU is still the main driver of performance at these settings. The CPU’s 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable feature, as it can hold more of the game’s working set, potentially reducing memory latency. This is particularly relevant for a game like Evolve where monster AI and physics calculations might benefit from faster data access.

The multi-threaded performance of the CPU is also adequate, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23230 and a 3DMark max-thread score of 10067. This ensures that background tasks or the game’s secondary threads do not cause stutters. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the 9800X3D’s average benchmark score of 39768 is 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, but 0.7% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 0.8% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 7700. These are marginal differences, indicating that the CPU’s performance is in line with other top-tier processors. In the context of Evolve, the data suggests that the CPU is never the limiting factor; even at the highest frame rates measured (261 FPS), the processor is delivering enough throughput.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the clear performance driver in this combination. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, a 384-bit memory bus, and a memory clock of 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective), yielding a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1665 MHz, and it has 10240 shading units. The GPU’s synthetic scores are strong, with a Passmark G3D score of 26896 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 170037. However, its percentile rank of 83rd among all GPUs and the fact that its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (2% faster) and AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (0.8% slower) suggest it is a high-end, but not top-tier, card in the current landscape.

The measured FPS data directly reflects the GPU’s capabilities. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 42, which is below the 60 FPS threshold commonly considered playable. This indicates that the RTX 3080 Ti’s 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is insufficient for the combined load of 4K resolution and maximum settings in Evolve. The transition from Medium to Ultra at 4K is particularly telling: the average FPS drops from 77 to 42, a 45% reduction. This shows that the Ultra preset introduces significant extra shading or post-processing work that the GPU cannot handle at this resolution.

Conversely, at 1080p, the GPU is more than capable. The 261 FPS average on Low settings suggests that the game is not heavily GPU-bound at this resolution. The GPU’s 186.5 GPixel/s pixel rate and 532.8 GTexel/s texture rate are more than enough for the lower pixel count. The 12 GB of VRAM is also sufficient for Evolve, as the game’s release date in 2015 means it likely does not require more than a few gigabytes of memory even at 4K. The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 3080 Ti is a performance ceiling at 4K, but provides a smooth experience at 1440p and an exceptionally high frame rate at 1080p, making the resolution the primary determinant of the experience.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the ideal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For a 60 Hz display at 4K, the High preset is the exact match, averaging 60 FPS. However, this leaves no headroom for drops, so the Medium preset, which averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 66 FPS, is a safer choice for maintaining a consistent 60 FPS experience. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as its 42 FPS average is below the playable threshold for most users.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 106 FPS, which is ideal for a 100 Hz or 144 Hz monitor. The Ultra preset averages 74 FPS, which is playable on a 60 Hz display but may feel less smooth on a higher refresh rate panel. The Medium preset averages 135 FPS, providing a good balance for 144 Hz displays, but the data shows that High offers a more substantial visual upgrade for a smaller FPS cost (from 135 to 106, a 21% drop). For competitive play, the Low preset at 175 FPS is an option, but it sacrifices visual fidelity for a marginal frame rate increase over Medium.

At 1920x1080, all presets are highly playable. The Ultra preset averages 110 FPS, which is sufficient for a 100 Hz monitor, while the High preset at 158 FPS is excellent for 144 Hz. The Medium preset at 202 FPS and Low at 261 FPS are overkill for most displays, but they are useful for reducing input latency in a fast-paced FPS. The data suggests that High is the best overall preset at 1080p, as it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium (which averages 202 FPS) for a still very high 158 FPS average. The Low preset is only recommended for those seeking the absolute highest frame rate, as the jump from 202 to 261 FPS is less perceptible than the visual downgrade.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 106 at 2560x1440 with High settings.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings in Evolve?*

A: No, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 42, which is below the standard 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 39768, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, but 0.7% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 0.8% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 7700.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings average 261 FPS, while Ultra settings average 110 FPS, a difference of 151 FPS.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The frame rate drops consistently by about 43% from 1440p to 4K across all settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS varies by resolution: 172 at 1080p, 115 at 1440p, and 66 at 4K.

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

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 261 FPS average
• Medium: 202 FPS average (min 172, max 232)
• High: 158 FPS average
• Ultra: 110 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 175 FPS average
• Medium: 135 FPS average (min 115, max 156)
• High: 106 FPS average
• Ultra: 74 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 99 FPS average
• Medium: 77 FPS average (min 66, max 89)
• High: 60 FPS average
• Ultra: 42 FPS average

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, the lowest preset achieves 261 FPS, which is 2.4 times the frame rate of the Ultra preset. At 1440p, the spread narrows slightly, with Low (175 FPS) being 2.4 times faster than Ultra (74 FPS). At 4K, the spread is even larger in absolute terms, with Low (99 FPS) being 2.4 times faster than Ultra (42 FPS). This consistent ratio across resolutions suggests that the Ultra preset imposes a fixed additional workload on the GPU, regardless of resolution. The Medium preset provides a middle ground, with frame rates that are roughly 77% of the Low preset’s performance at each resolution (e.g., 202/261 at 1080p, 135/175 at 1440p, 77/99 at 4K). The High preset is closer to Medium, averaging about 75% of Low’s performance. This scaling behavior is typical of a GPU that is being progressively more loaded as both resolution and settings increase.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is ranked 960th out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This places it in the top 26% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a high-performing setup for this game. The rank reflects the aggregate performance across all measured resolutions and settings, and the data shows that the combo is particularly strong at lower resolutions and settings, where the CPU’s high clocks and the GPU’s ample bandwidth allow for very high frame rates.

The rank of 960 suggests that while this is a strong combo, there are many other systems that perform better. This is likely due to the GPU’s position in the market; its 83rd percentile rank among all GPUs and its proximity to rivals like the RTX 5070 (which is 2% faster in average benchmark score) mean that newer or higher-end GPUs would push this combo down the rankings. The CPU’s 87th percentile rank is higher, but it is not the limiting factor in Evolve. The data implies that the bottleneck is the GPU at higher resolutions, which is consistent with the measured FPS drops. In the context of all tested combos, this pairing offers a balanced but not top-tier experience, excelling at 1080p and 1440p but struggling to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings. The rank of 960 out of 3700 confirms the fact that while this is a capable system, the GPU’s age (released in 2021) means it is outclassed by more recent additions to the database, even though it remains a solid performer for Evolve.