Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER pairing represents a study in contrast: a flagship, future-proof processor yoked to an end-of-life graphics card. In Evolve, this asymmetry dictates the entire performance profile. The data shows a system where the CPU’s immense capabilities are largely held in reserve, while the GPU's limitations define the playable envelope. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions tell a clear story of a graphics-bound configuration.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It brings 8 cores and 16 threads to the table, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This is a 9000-series part, manufactured on a 4 nm process with a 120 W TDP. The processor’s large 96 MB shared L3 cache is a key feature for gaming, and its benchmark results confirm its high-end positioning. It scores 22,807 points in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2,228 in single-core, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4,704. Its average benchmark score is 58,386, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Evolve, however, the CPU’s role is almost entirely passive. The game is not a multi-threaded stress test; it relies more on the graphics subsystem. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmark suite include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M and the Intel Core i9-14900, with performance deltas of 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively. These are all heavy hitters in compute tasks. Yet, in Evolve, the differences between these CPUs would be nearly impossible to observe because the GTX 1660 SUPER becomes the bottleneck long before the processor’s thread scheduling or cache hierarchy is challenged. The CPU’s high single-core performance (2,228 in Cinebench R23) ensures it will not cause frame drops, but it also cannot compensate for the GPU’s rendering limits. The processor is a silent partner, ensuring the graphics card is always the limiting factor.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the definitive performance ceiling in this configuration. Based on the Turing architecture (TU116 chip) and manufactured on a 12 nm process, this card is end-of-life but still relevant in the lower mid-range. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The card’s clocks are 1530 MHz base and 1785 MHz boost, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). With 1,408 shading units, it delivers 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The GTX 1660 SUPER’s benchmark scores place it in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 12,986. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580, is only 0.4% behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile is 0.4% ahead. This places the card squarely in the middle of the pack. In Evolve, this mid-pack status is painfully apparent. The 6 GB VRAM is ample for the game’s textures at 1080p, but the raw shader throughput is the limiting factor. The card’s Passmark G3D score of 12,699 and DirectX 11 score of 104 indicate a capability that is quickly overwhelmed at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows that this GPU is the single most important determinant of FPS in this pairing.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a textbook example of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 123 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 83 FPS, a 32.5% reduction. The leap to 4K Low yields just 47 FPS, a 61.8% drop from 1080p. This steep decline is the signature of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing power. The CPU is not the constraint; if it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions.

The pattern holds across all settings. At High settings, the system goes from 75 FPS at 1080p to 50 FPS at 1440p (a 33.3% drop) and then to 29 FPS at 4K (a 61.3% drop from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops strongly indicates that the GTX 1660 SUPER’s fill rate and shading units are the bottleneck. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is capable of feeding frames far faster than this GPU can render them. The 4K results, in particular, show the card is struggling, with the Ultra preset dropping to just 20 FPS. This scaling behavior confirms that any attempt to play at 4K will be a compromise, regardless of the CPU’s power.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 2,450 out of 2,872 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 15% of all configurations. The low rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s mid-tier standing. While the CPU is in the 92nd percentile, the GPU’s 53rd percentile drags the entire combination down. The data suggests that the pairing is fundamentally imbalanced for this game.

This rank is not a reflection of a broken system, but rather of a severe hardware mismatch. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a top-tier processor that would pair well with a high-end graphics card. In this combo, its potential is wasted. The benchmark results indicate that the combo’s performance is almost entirely dictated by the GTX 1660 SUPER. If a user were to upgrade the GPU, the rank would improve dramatically, as the CPU has headroom to spare. The current rank of 2,450 is a clear signal that this configuration is not optimized for Evolve.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system’s capabilities. All numbers below are from the FACT PACK.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 123 FPS average. This is the only setting that provides a truly fluid, high-refresh-rate experience.
• Medium: 96 FPS average, with a minimum of 81 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS.
• High: 75 FPS average.
• Ultra: 52 FPS average. This is playable but a significant step down from the other presets.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 83 FPS average. Still a good experience, but the drop from 1080p is noticeable.
• Medium: 64 FPS average, with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS.
• High: 50 FPS average. This is on the edge of smoothness.
• Ultra: 35 FPS average. This is borderline unplayable for a fast-paced FPS.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 47 FPS average.
• Medium: 37 FPS average, with a minimum of 31 FPS and a maximum of 42 FPS.
• High: 29 FPS average. This is not a playable experience.
• Ultra: 20 FPS average. This is a slideshow.

The data shows that the system is only capable of delivering a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1080p with Low or Medium settings. At 1440p, Low settings are required for a smooth experience. 4K is not a viable option for competitive play.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 4K 60 FPS?

A: No. The measured data shows that at 4K, even the Low preset only achieves 47 FPS. The High and Ultra presets drop to 29 FPS and 20 FPS, respectively. The GTX 1660 SUPER cannot sustain 60 FPS at this resolution.

Q: What is the best resolution for smooth gameplay?

A: 1080p is the only resolution where the system can consistently exceed 60 FPS. At Low settings, it hits 123 FPS, and at Medium, it averages 96 FPS. Even High settings at 1080p achieve 75 FPS.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D holding back the performance?

A: No. The benchmark data indicates the CPU is not the bottleneck. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a sign of GPU limitation. The CPU’s high single-core score (2,228 in Cinebench R23) suggests it is more than capable for this game.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER’s average benchmark score of 12,986 is only 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 580 and 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile. This places it in a tight performance cluster.

Q: What is the best setting preset to use?

A: For a competitive experience, the Low preset at 1080p yields the highest FPS (123). For a balance of visuals and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p offers 96 FPS, which is still very smooth. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended due to the significant FPS penalty.

Q: Is the CPU’s performance in other benchmarks indicative of game performance here?

A: Not directly. The CPU ranks in the 92nd percentile overall, but the combo ranks 2,450 out of 2,872. This discrepancy shows that the GPU is the sole limiting factor in Evolve, and the CPU’s general benchmark strength does not translate to higher FPS in this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

The data points to a clear hierarchy of playable experiences. For the best experience, which prioritizes smooth gameplay, the 1080p Low preset is the top choice. With an average of 123 FPS, it ensures the game remains fluid and responsive, maximizing the potential of the GTX 1660 SUPER. This is the only preset that delivers a frame rate high enough for a high-refresh-rate monitor.

For users who prefer visual fidelity without sacrificing playability, the 1080p Medium preset is the optimal compromise. The 96 FPS average is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the minimum of 81 FPS ensures few noticeable dips. The step up from Low to Medium provides a better visual experience while maintaining a performance margin that is acceptable for most players.

The 1080p High preset, at 75 FPS, is playable but begins to show the GPU’s strain. At 1440p, the Low preset (83 FPS) is the only viable option for smooth play. All other settings at 1440p and all settings at 4K result in average FPS below 60, which is not ideal for an FPS title. The Ultra presets, while visually appealing, incur a massive performance cost (52 FPS at 1080p, 20 FPS at 4K) and are not recommended for this configuration. The data suggests that the system’s sweet spot is firmly at 1080p with Low or Medium settings.