Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti pairing in Evolve presents a study in contrast: a modern, high-core-count processor paired with a legacy high-end GPU. The measured FPS data reveals that this combination is heavily constrained by the graphics card, with the CPU’s substantial capabilities largely untapped. Across all resolutions, the scaling of performance aligns with the GTX 1080 Ti’s profile, making this a clear case of GPU-bound gameplay.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. It operates with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, and it possesses a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates exceptional multi-threaded capability; for instance, it scores 47,737 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 13795 in 3DMark max threads. Its single-thread performance is also strong, with a Geekbench single-core score of 3041 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6739.

The CPU’s performance percentile stands at 91, meaning it outperforms 91% of all tested CPUs. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which is 0.6% slower, and the Intel Core i7-14700F, which the 9900X3D leads by 2.1%. This raw processing power is far beyond what is necessary for a 2015 FPS title like Evolve, which was designed for the multi-core processors of its era.

In the context of this game's measured results, the CPU is not the limiting factor. The data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, where CPU load is typically highest relative to GPU load, the average FPS is 181. This figure is high, but it does not indicate that the CPU is being pushed to its limits. Given the 9900X3D’s 3DMark 2-thread score of 2512 and 4-thread score of 4885, the game’s thread utilization is unlikely to stress the processor. The CPU’s role here is to provide a massive, untapped headroom of performance, ensuring that it will never bottleneck the GPU in this title. The bottleneck is firmly located elsewhere.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a Pascal-architecture GPU with 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s. Its base clock is 1481 MHz, with a boost clock of 1582 MHz. The card has 3584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 88 ROPs. This hardware gives it a passmark G3D score of 18600, placing it at the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (0.8% faster) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (1.7% slower), showing that the 1080 Ti remains competitive with much newer mid-range cards.

For Evolve, the GPU is the primary determinant of the measured FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution and settings increase, average FPS drops significantly. This is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The GTX 1080 Ti’s 11 GB of VRAM is ample for a game from 2015, even at 4K, so memory capacity is not a limiting factor at any of the tested settings. The card’s raw compute and fillrate are what dictate the results.

The performance drop from Low to Ultra settings at any resolution is substantial. For example, at 1440p, the average FPS falls from 121 on Low to 51 on Ultra, a reduction of more than half. This is the signature of a GPU that is being progressively more heavily taxed. The GTX 1080 Ti, while powerful for its generation, lacks the raw horsepower to maintain high frame rates at maximum settings in this title, particularly at higher resolutions. The data strongly suggests the GTX 1080 Ti is the sole performance ceiling for this combo.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern across resolutions, further confirming the GPU-bound nature of this pairing. At High settings, the average FPS is 110 at 1080p, dropping to 74 at 1440p, and further down to 42 at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 43% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is similar for other settings, with Low settings yielding 181 FPS at 1080p, 121 at 1440p, and 69 at 4K.

This pattern is indicative of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing capability. As resolution increases, the number of fragments to process grows, and the GTX 1080 Ti’s fillrate and shading power are exhausted. The fact that FPS drops so dramatically with resolution—even at Low settings, where the CPU has more relative work to do—proves that the processor is not the bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see less FPS variation between resolutions, especially at Low settings where the GPU load is lighter.

The data shows that the limiting component is the GPU. For instance, the jump from 4K Low (69 FPS) to 4K High (42 FPS) is a 39% reduction, purely due to graphical settings. The CPU’s performance is likely to be nearly identical in both scenarios, as it is not the one doing the heavy lifting for these calculations. Therefore, the GTX 1080 Ti’s architecture and clock speeds are the sole arbiters of frame rate, and the scaling from 1080p to 4K is a textbook example of a graphics-card-limited system.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 94, with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 108.

Q: How much faster is the Ryzen 9 9900X3D compared to the Intel Core i7-14700F?

A: Based on their average benchmark scores, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is 2.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700F.

Q: What is the best performance percentiles for the CPU and GPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D ranks in the 91st percentile for all CPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks in the 58th percentile for all GPUs.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K?

A: No, the measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 69 on Low settings. On High settings, it drops to 42, and on Ultra it is 29.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for Medium settings?

A: The measured minimum FPS for Medium settings are 119 at 1920x1080, 80 at 2560x1440, and 45 at 3840x2160.

Q: How does the GTX 1080 Ti compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 in average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1080 Ti has an average benchmark score that is 1.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Evolve, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks 2088 out of 3700 combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking, which is a direct consequence of the GPU’s performance ceiling. The CPU is a top-tier component, but the overall ranking is dragged down by the GTX 1080 Ti, which is an older, end-of-life product.

The ranking suggests that while this combo is perfectly playable, it is not competitive with modern high-end systems. The data implies that the GPU is the weak link; pairing this same CPU with a more powerful graphics card would yield a significantly higher rank. The rank of 2088 is a quantitative measure of the system’s overall capability in this specific game, and it accurately reflects the imbalance between the processor’s high potential and the graphics card’s more modest output. The performance is dictated by the GPU, and the ranking confirms that this is a mid-tier setup for Evolve.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's target resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For a smooth gaming experience, the data suggests that Medium settings offer the best balance. At 1080p, Medium yields an average of 140 FPS, which is excellent for a fast-paced FPS. At 1440p, Medium provides an average of 94 FPS, which is still very playable, with a minimum of 80 FPS ensuring no major dips. Even at 4K, Medium settings achieve an average of 54 FPS, which is borderline acceptable for a less demanding title.

High settings are also a viable option, providing better visuals while maintaining decent performance. At 1080p, High settings deliver 110 FPS, and at 1440p, they achieve 74 FPS. However, at 4K, High settings drop to 42 FPS, which may feel sluggish. Low settings are the only way to get close to 60 FPS at 4K, with an average of 69 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant. Ultra settings should be avoided, as they produce an average of 76 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p, and only 29 FPS at 4K, which is not a playable experience at higher resolutions.

The recommendation is clear: for most users, Medium settings provide the most consistent and enjoyable frame rate across all resolutions. If the user prioritizes visual quality at 1080p, High settings are a good choice. For 4K gaming, the user must accept Low settings for a playable frame rate or tolerate the sub-60 FPS of Medium. Ultra is not recommended for this GPU in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured average FPS data for this combo, broken down by resolution and settings.

1920x1080:

• Low: 181 FPS
• Medium: 140 FPS (min 119, max 161)
• High: 110 FPS
• Ultra: 76 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 121 FPS
• Medium: 94 FPS (min 80, max 108)
• High: 74 FPS
• Ultra: 51 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 69 FPS
• Medium: 54 FPS (min 45, max 62)
• High: 42 FPS
• Ultra: 29 FPS

These numbers illustrate a consistent and predictable degradation of performance with increased graphical load. The data shows a clear hierarchy, with 1080p Low providing the highest frame rate and 4K Ultra the lowest. The FPS deltas between settings are substantial, confirming that the GPU’s workload is the primary variable. The minimum and maximum FPS figures for Medium settings show that frame times are relatively stable, with a spread of 42 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K, indicating a well-behaved experience without extreme stuttering. This data provides a definitive picture of what to expect from this hardware combination.