Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER presents a classic high-end CPU, mid-range GPU configuration in Evolve. The measured data reveals a system where the graphics card is the definitive bottleneck, yet the processor’s strength ensures consistent frame pacing. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics across resolutions and settings, focusing strictly on the measured FPS data.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, confirming the GTX 1660 SUPER is the limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 121.4 FPS at 1920x1080 to 83.8 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 37.6 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 44.9 FPS, which is a 63% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU’s shading and memory bandwidth are being saturated as pixel count rises, while the 5900X has ample headroom.

The trend is similar at Medium settings. The average FPS goes from 97.4 at 1080p to 62.7 at 1440p, and then to 36.3 at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is 34.7 FPS, while the jump to 4K costs another 26.4 FPS. This suggests that the GPU’s fillrate and texture processing are the primary constraints, with the CPU’s 12 cores and 24 threads not being taxed by the increased resolution.

At High settings, the scaling is more pronounced. The average FPS is 73.6 at 1080p, 51.5 at 1440p, and 28 at 4K. The 4K result is below the 30 FPS threshold often considered playable, indicating that this setting is too demanding for the 1660 SUPER at that resolution. Ultra settings exacerbate this, with the 4K average falling to 21.3 FPS. The data shows that resolution scaling is not linear; the cost of each additional pixel increases as settings rise, pointing to the GPU’s memory interface and compute units being overwhelmed.

The 5900X’s role in this scaling is minimal. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 941, ensures that it is not the bottleneck at any resolution. The frame rate drops are entirely attributable to the GTX 1660 SUPER’s limitations, as the CPU’s performance headroom remains constant across all tested configurations.

GPU Role

The GTX 1660 SUPER’s specifications are central to understanding its performance in Evolve. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K results suggest that the capacity and bandwidth are stretched thin, especially at higher settings. The GPU’s base clock of 1530 MHz and boost clock of 1785 MHz are modest by modern standards, which explains its mid-range standing.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in a specific performance tier. With a passmark_g3d score of 12699 and a percentileVsAllGpus of 55, it sits just above the 50th percentile, indicating average performance relative to all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, have average scores of 14314 and 14315, respectively, with deltaPct values of -0.2% for both. This means the GTX 1660 SUPER is statistically tied with these integrated and entry-level discrete options, which is a crucial context for its 4K performance.

In Evolve, the GPU’s role is to render the game’s dynamic environments and effects. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the GPU can deliver 121.4 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. However, at 4K Ultra, the performance collapses to 21.3 FPS, demonstrating that the 6 GB frame buffer and the TU116 chip’s compute power are insufficient for high-fidelity rendering at that resolution. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 5.027 TFLOPS is the limiting factor, as the CPU’s computing capacity is vastly underutilized.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 9 5900X and GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 1507 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 11% of configurations, which is a direct reflection of the GPU’s mid-range standing. The CPU’s own standing is much higher; the 5900X has a percentileVsAllCpus of 90, meaning it outperforms 90% of all CPUs. This disparity highlights the imbalance of this pairing.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in general benchmarks are the AMD EPYC 4245P, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, Intel Core i7-13700F, and Intel Core i7-13700. The EPYC 4245P has an average score of 39383, which is a deltaPct of 0.2% from the 5900X’s 39453. The Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS scores 39747, a -0.7% delta, while the i7-13700F scores 39095, a 0.9% delta. These small differences indicate that the 5900X is competitive with these parts, yet the combo rank is dragged down by the GPU.

The combo’s rank of 1507 suggests that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the limiting factor. In a game like Evolve, which is an FPS with moderate system requirements, the GPU’s performance is the primary driver of the final frame rate. The CPU’s high core count and clock speeds are irrelevant if the GPU cannot render frames fast enough. The rank data confirms that this is an unbalanced pairing, where the CPU is overqualified for the GPU’s capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for the optimal settings at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 121.4 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset offers 97.4 FPS, which is still very smooth and likely provides a better visual experience without a significant performance hit. High settings yield 73.6 FPS, which is playable, while Ultra drops to 53.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only one that maintains a high refresh rate, with 83.8 FPS. Medium settings drop to 62.7 FPS, which is still acceptable for most players. High settings at 51.5 FPS are playable but may feel slightly less responsive. Ultra settings at 35.8 FPS are borderline, and the 4K results suggest this is not a viable option.

For 3840x2160, the data is clear: the Low preset is the only playable option, with 44.9 FPS. Medium settings at 36.3 FPS are barely playable, while High at 28 FPS and Ultra at 21.3 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience. The recommendation is to use Low settings at 4K, Medium at 1440p, and High at 1080p, as these provide the best balance of visual quality and frame rate based on the measured rows.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete breakdown of measured average FPS for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER in Evolve:

1920x1080:

• Low: 121.4 FPS
• Medium: 97.4 FPS
• High: 73.6 FPS
• Ultra: 53.5 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 83.8 FPS
• Medium: 62.7 FPS
• High: 51.5 FPS
• Ultra: 35.8 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 44.9 FPS
• Medium: 36.3 FPS
• High: 28 FPS
• Ultra: 21.3 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern: each increase in settings tier costs roughly 20-25% of the frame rate at a given resolution. The transition from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 24 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs another 23.8 FPS. This indicates that the GPU’s shader and texture units are the primary bottlenecks, as the CPU’s performance remains constant.

At 1440p, the same pattern holds, but the absolute numbers are lower. The Low to Medium transition costs 21.1 FPS, and the Medium to High transition costs 11.2 FPS. The Ultra setting at 1440p is particularly demanding, with a 15.7 FPS drop from High, suggesting that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is exhausted. At 4K, the performance is uniformly low, with even the Low preset struggling to maintain 45 FPS. The 4K results highlight the GPU’s limitations, as the 5900X’s processing power cannot compensate for the 1660 SUPER’s lack of raw throughput.