Evolve

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a compelling performance profile in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of extremely high frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, interprets the CPU and GPU roles, and provides practical settings recommendations based solely on the provided benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 146 FPS at 1080p to 98 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 56 FPS at 4K. This represents a significant 61.6% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the rendering load on the GPU is the primary constraint.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 241 at 1080p to 161 at 1440p and 92 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 61.8%, nearly identical to the High preset. This consistency suggests that the performance bottleneck is almost exclusively the GPU's rendering throughput, rather than any CPU limitation that would manifest differently at lower resolutions where the CPU has more headroom to feed frames.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, with average FPS of 186 at 1080p, 125 at 1440p, and 71 at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, starting at 101 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 68 at 1440p, and falling to 39 at 4K. The relative performance drop from 1080p to 4K for Ultra is 61.4%, reinforcing the pattern. This uniformity across presets strongly indicates that the limiting component is the GPU, as the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution in a way that would alter these ratios.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the system has ample GPU headroom to push very high frame rates, but the CPU is not the bottleneck even at the lowest settings, given that the frame rate scales down so consistently with resolution. The 4K results, particularly the 56 FPS at High and 39 FPS at Ultra, show that this combination is not ideal for maximum visual fidelity at 4K, but it remains playable at Medium settings, which averages 71 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 holds a combo rank of 885 out of 2872 tested combinations for Evolve. This places it in the upper third of all tested systems, indicating a strong overall performance level for this game, though not at the absolute top tier.

The rank of 885 out of 2872 means that approximately 69% of tested combos perform better, while 31% perform worse. This is a notable result considering the hardware involved. The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs is 95, meaning it outperforms 95% of all processors in the database. The GPU's percentile vs all GPUs is 86, indicating it is faster than 86% of all graphics cards. Despite these high individual percentiles, the combo rank is lower than either component's percentile would suggest, implying that the game's engine may not fully utilize the extreme capabilities of both components, or that other system configurations with different component pairings achieve better results in this specific title.

The nearest rival CPUs, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX, which scores 1.6% higher, and the Intel Core i9-14900K, which scores 1.7% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is 2% behind. For the GPU, the closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which is just 0.1% faster on average, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% slower. These narrow deltas show that the components are well-matched with their immediate competitors, and the combo's rank is a function of how this pairing performs in Evolve specifically, not a reflection of weak individual parts.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. It features a substantial 64 MB of shared L3 cache and is built on TSMC's 4 nm process. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35314 and a single-core score of 2044. Its Geekbench multi-core score is 20992, and single-core is 2464.

In the context of Evolve, a game released in 2015, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI. The data shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any tested resolution. The consistent frame rate scaling with resolution, as discussed previously, is the primary evidence. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the CPU would be most likely to bottleneck due to the high frame rate demand of 241 FPS, the system still delivers that performance, indicating the CPU has sufficient headroom.

The CPU's multi-threaded capability is substantial, but Evolve, being an older title, may not be optimized to use all 32 threads. The PassMark multi-thread score of 54934 and single-thread score of 4147 demonstrate a high level of both parallel and single-threaded performance. The high single-thread performance is often more critical for older game engines, and the 5.10 GHz boost clock suggests this processor is well-suited for that task. The data confirms that for this game, the CPU's 16 cores and 32 threads are more than adequate, with the performance ceiling being set by the GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed picture of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. The Low preset averages 241 FPS, which is well beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset averages 186 FPS, with a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 214 FPS, showing good frame time consistency. The High preset averages 146 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 101 FPS. All 1080p settings are highly playable and provide a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 161 FPS, while Medium averages 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 and maximum of 144. The High preset averages 98 FPS, which is still suitable for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 68 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play. The transition from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance cost of roughly 33-35% across all presets, which is expected for a 77% increase in pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. The Low preset averages 92 FPS, which is a solid result for 4K. The Medium preset averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS, making it a viable option for a 60 Hz display. The High preset averages 56 FPS, which dips below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset averages only 39 FPS, which is not recommended for a playable experience. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p for maximum frame rates, 1440p for a balance of speed and fidelity, and 4K only at Low or Medium settings for acceptable performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 9728 shading units and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. Its base clock is 2205 MHz, with a boost clock of 2505 MHz. The GPU's benchmark scores are consistent with its high-end positioning, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6567 and a PassMark G3D score of 34457.

In Evolve, the GPU is the dominant component determining frame rates. The benchmark data clearly shows that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload increases proportionally, leading to the observed FPS drops. The GPU's performance is directly correlated with the settings preset, with the Ultra preset demanding the most from the card. The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Evolve at any resolution, as the game's textures and assets from 2015 are unlikely to exceed even 8 GB, so VRAM capacity is not a bottleneck.

The GPU's memory clock of 22.4 Gbps effective and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth provide ample data throughput for the game's rendering needs. The card's FP32 performance of 48.74 TFLOPS is substantial, and it is this raw compute power that drives the high frame rates seen at 1080p and 1440p. The data suggests that the RTX 4080 is overkill for 1080p in this game, as it delivers 241 FPS at Low settings, but it is appropriately challenged at 4K, where it provides a playable 56 FPS at High settings. The GPU's percentile rank of 86 among all GPUs is reflected in its performance, but the game's age means it does not utilize the RTX 4080's newer features, such as ray tracing cores, to any significant degree.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset is recommended for the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering an average of 146 FPS. The Ultra preset is also viable at 101 FPS, but the jump to High provides a significant FPS increase with likely minimal visual difference in a game of this era. The Low and Medium presets are unnecessary at this resolution, as the system has ample headroom to run higher settings.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the clear recommendation, with an average of 98 FPS. This provides a high-quality image and is suitable for a 144 Hz monitor, though not at its maximum refresh rate. The Medium preset, at 125 FPS, is a strong alternative for users prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. The Ultra preset, at 68 FPS, is playable but represents a significant compromise in smoothness for marginal visual gains.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the only sensible choice for a good experience, with an average of 71 FPS and a minimum of 60 FPS. This ensures a framerate that matches a standard 60 Hz 4K display. The High preset, at 56 FPS, will result in occasional dips below 60 FPS and is not recommended for consistent smoothness. The Low preset, at 92 FPS, is an option for those who prioritize frame rate, but it sacrifices visual quality. The Ultra preset, at 39 FPS, should be avoided for any serious gameplay. In summary, the data supports using High at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: The average FPS is 146, making it a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: It can, but with compromises. At 4K, the High preset averages 56 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 71 FPS. The Ultra preset only reaches 39 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance in Evolve?

A: The data indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck. The frame rate scaling with resolution is consistent, showing the GPU is the limiting component at all settings.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 241, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 885 out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the upper third of all systems tested for Evolve.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS is 106, with an average of 125 FPS, indicating good frame time consistency.