Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER produces a surprisingly balanced set of results in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title that remains sensitive to both CPU and GPU capabilities. The data reveals a configuration where the processor’s immense headroom is frequently capped by the graphics card’s older Turing architecture, yet the combination still delivers playable frame rates across most settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, component roles, and where this specific pairing stands among the 2,872 tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable degradation as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop reveals the system’s primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 160 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 107 FPS, a decline of 53 FPS or roughly 33%. Pushing further to 4K Low yields 61 FPS, which is another 43% reduction from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern—where each step up in resolution costs a substantial fraction of the previous frame rate—indicates that the GPU is the dominant limiting factor even at the lowest quality preset.

The trend becomes more pronounced at higher settings. With Ultra settings, the average frame rate falls from 68 FPS at 1080p to 45 FPS at 1440p (a 34% drop), and then to 26 FPS at 4K (a 42% drop from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage losses across different quality levels suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER is running out of raw pixel-pushing capacity rather than encountering a memory or bandwidth ceiling at specific resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 26 FPS is particularly telling—it is the only measured configuration that falls below the 30 FPS threshold generally considered the minimum for acceptable motion, and it represents a 74% loss from the 1080p Low result.

What the scaling data indicates is that this combination is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where the 9900X3D’s 12 cores and 24 threads can keep feeding frames to the GPU without being the constraint. At 4K, the system is entirely GPU-bound, and the massive CPU headroom goes unused. The 2:1 ratio between 1080p Low and 1440p Low (160 vs 107 FPS) and the near-2:1 ratio at 4K Low (61 FPS) versus 1440p Low (107 FPS) suggest a linear scaling model where each resolution doubling roughly halves the frame rate, confirming the GPU’s role as the sole arbiter of performance at higher pixel counts.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture card built on a 12 nm TSMC process, featuring 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. Its memory configuration is 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The card’s boost clock is rated at 1650 MHz, with a base clock of 1470 MHz. These specifications place the GPU at the 62nd percentile among all tested graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 18,093.

The GPU’s role in Evolve is clearly dominant, as evidenced by the resolution scaling data. The card’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s texture loads, even at Ultra settings, since no VRAM-related crashes or stutters are indicated in the min FPS data. The measured minimum frame rates for Medium settings (40 FPS at 4K, 71 FPS at 1440p, 106 FPS at 1080p) show that the card maintains reasonably stable frame pacing without sudden drops that would indicate memory exhaustion. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for the game’s data streaming, but it is not sufficient to overcome the raw compute limitations at 4K Ultra.

The RTX 2060 SUPER’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database—the RTX 3060 Mobile (deltaPct -0.4%), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (deltaPct -0.5%), AMD Radeon RX 460 (deltaPct -1.5%), and Intel Arc A770M (deltaPct -1.6%)—all have average scores within 1.6% of the 2060 SUPER. This clustering around the 18,000-point mark indicates that the card’s performance profile is well-established, and its behavior in Evolve aligns with its overall standing. The card’s 7.181 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 224.4 GTexel/s texture rate are the key metrics that drive the measured frame rates, and they explain why the card excels at 1080p but struggles at 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 9000-series processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), manufactured on a 4 nm TSMC process. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a substantial 128 MB L3 cache. This large L3 cache is particularly beneficial for gaming workloads that exhibit high data locality, and it contributes to the CPU’s strong benchmark performance.

The 9900X3D sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54,762. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (deltaPct -0.6%), Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (deltaPct 1.3%), Intel Xeon 6505P (deltaPct 2%), and Intel Core i7-14700F (deltaPct 2.1%). In single-threaded workloads, the CPU scores 1,269 in 3DMark single-thread and 6,739 in Cinebench R23 single-core, indicating excellent per-core performance that is essential for older games like Evolve that may have limited thread utilization.

In Evolve, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic updates. The measured FPS data suggests that the 9900X3D is never the bottleneck, even at 1080p Low where the system reaches 160 FPS. At this setting, a weaker CPU would likely cap frame rates below 160 FPS, but the 9900X3D’s high boost clock and large cache allow it to keep pace with the RTX 2060 SUPER’s output. The CPU’s 24 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks and any potential multi-threading in the game, though Evolve’s 2015 release date means it likely relies primarily on a few high-performance threads rather than scaling across all 24.

The data indicates that the CPU’s 5.50 GHz boost clock is the key enabler for high frame rates at 1080p, where the GPU can render frames quickly enough to become CPU-limited on lesser processors. The 9900X3D’s 128 MB L3 cache also helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for the game’s asset streaming. However, the CPU’s potential is never fully utilized in this pairing because the GPU caps performance at all resolutions above 1080p Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four quality settings. At 1080p, the system achieves its highest frame rates: 160 FPS on Low, 124 FPS on Medium (with min/max of 106/143), 97 FPS on High, and 68 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is 92 FPS, or roughly 2.35x, indicating that the GPU’s workload increases substantially with quality settings even at the same resolution.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates drop noticeably: 107 FPS on Low, 83 FPS on Medium (min/max 71/96), 65 FPS on High, and 45 FPS on Ultra. The spread between Low and Ultra is 62 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p but a similar relative reduction. The 1440p Medium result of 83 FPS is notable because it remains above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making this a viable configuration for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors if the user is willing to accept Medium quality.

At 4K, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates: 61 FPS on Low, 47 FPS on Medium (min/max 40/55), 37 FPS on High, and 26 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Low result is the only 4K configuration that stays above 60 FPS, and it does so by a slim margin. The 4K Medium result of 47 FPS is borderline playable for slower-paced games, while 4K High at 37 FPS and 4K Ultra at 26 FPS are likely to feel sluggish in a fast-paced FPS environment. The min FPS of 40 at 4K Medium indicates that even the average frame rate is not stable, as the minimum dips close to the 30 FPS threshold.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each quality tier costs approximately 25-30% of the frame rate at a given resolution. From Low to Medium, the average drop is roughly 22% across all resolutions. From Medium to High, the drop is approximately 22-25%. From High to Ultra, the drop is approximately 30%. This suggests that Ultra settings impose a disproportionate penalty, likely due to increased shader complexity and post-processing effects that heavily tax the GPU’s 2176 shading units.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 4K with acceptable performance?*

A: Only at Low settings, where the measured average is 61 FPS. At Medium, the average drops to 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS, which may be playable but not ideal. High and Ultra settings yield 37 FPS and 26 FPS respectively, which are below the 60 FPS target for smooth FPS gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this pairing to maintain a 60+ FPS average?

A: At 1080p, all settings except Ultra (68 FPS) exceed 60 FPS: Low (160), Medium (124), and High (97). At 1440p, only Low (107) and Medium (83) exceed 60 FPS, while High (65) is just above the threshold. At 4K, only Low (61) reaches 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18,093, placing it at the 62nd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the RTX 3060 Mobile (deltaPct -0.4%), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (deltaPct -0.5%), AMD Radeon RX 460 (deltaPct -1.5%), and Intel Arc A770M (deltaPct -1.6%), all within 1.6% of its score.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck at all resolutions above 1080p Low. The CPU’s high benchmark scores (91st percentile, 54,762 average) and strong single-thread performance indicate it can deliver frames faster than the RTX 2060 SUPER can render them. The resolution scaling data confirms this, as frame rates drop by roughly 40-50% with each resolution increase.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking among tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2,025 out of 2,872 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, reflecting the GPU’s age and its position at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs.

*Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM on the RTX 2060 SUPER cause any issues in Evolve?*

A: The measured data shows no evidence of VRAM-related stuttering or crashes. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings (40 FPS at 4K, 71 FPS at 1440p, 106 FPS at 1080p) are consistent with GPU compute limits rather than memory capacity issues, suggesting 8 GB is sufficient for this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal configuration for this combo depends on the user’s target resolution and frame rate preference. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 97 FPS average provides an excellent balance between visual quality and performance, offering a smooth experience on most displays. Users with 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitors may prefer the Medium preset at 124 FPS, which sacrifices some visual fidelity but stays well above the refresh rate threshold. The Low preset at 160 FPS is only recommended for competitive play where maximum frame rate is paramount, as the visual downgrade is substantial.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 83 FPS is the clear recommendation for most users. It provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target, and the minimum FPS of 71 ensures that even demanding scenes remain smooth. The High preset at 65 FPS is also viable for users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate stability, but the average is dangerously close to the 60 FPS threshold, and any scene complexity spike could push it lower. The Low preset at 107 FPS is suitable for esports-style play, while the Ultra preset at 45 FPS should be avoided due to its sub-60 FPS average.

For 4K gaming, the options are limited. The Low preset at 61 FPS is the only configuration that achieves a playable average, but it is barely above the 60 FPS line. The Medium preset at 47 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced games or if the user can tolerate occasional dips to 40 FPS, but it is not recommended for a competitive FPS. The High preset at 37 FPS and Ultra at 26 FPS are not recommended for any gameplay scenario, as they fall below the 30 FPS threshold for minimum acceptable motion in an action title.

The data suggests that users should prioritize the Medium preset at 1440p as the “sweet spot” for this combo, as it delivers 83 FPS average with a 71 FPS minimum, providing a stable and visually pleasing experience. For 1080p users, the High preset offers the best balance of quality and speed without requiring the aggressive compromises of Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination ranks 2,025 out of 2,872 tested configurations in Evolve. This places the combo in the 70.5th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 29.5% of configurations perform worse. However, this ranking must be interpreted in context: the CPU is a top-tier processor released in 2025, while the GPU is an end-of-life product from 2019. The ranking reflects the GPU’s limitations more than the CPU’s capabilities.

The combo’s position is consistent with the GPU’s overall standing at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. The CPU’s 91st percentile ranking provides significant headroom that is unused in this pairing, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor at all resolutions above 1080p Low. This suggests that the same CPU paired with a more powerful GPU would likely achieve a much higher ranking, while the RTX 2060 SUPER paired with a weaker CPU might see similar results at lower resolutions where the CPU could become a secondary bottleneck.

The ranking indicates that this combo is a mid-to-low-tier configuration for Evolve, suitable for 1080p and 1440p gaming with adjusted settings, but not competitive for 4K or high-refresh-rate 1440p play. The 847 configurations that rank below this combo likely feature older or less capable GPUs, while the 2,024 configurations above it benefit from more modern graphics hardware. For users with this combo, the data supports targeting 1080p High or 1440p Medium as the primary gaming modes, with 4K reserved for Low settings only when visual fidelity is less important than frame rate.