Evolve

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Evolve, though 4K Ultra settings push the GPU to its limits. The data shows a combination that is heavily front-loaded toward raw rasterization performance, with the CPU providing sufficient single-thread throughput to keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions but capping performance in specific high-refresh scenarios. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, contextualizes the hardware against its nearest rivals, and provides actionable settings recommendations based on the benchmark rows.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a TDP of 58 W. For a game like Evolve, which is a 2015 FPS title with a release date of 2015-02-09, the CPU's single-thread performance is often the deciding factor for frame pacing, while multi-threaded capabilities matter less due to the game's age and engine design.

The benchmark data shows the i3-12100F scoring 893 in 3dmark_single_thread and 1674 in Cinebench R23 single-core. These are strong figures for a 4-core part, indicating that the CPU can handle the primary game logic and rendering threads without becoming a bottleneck at standard refresh rates. In multi-threaded workloads, the CPU scores 4023 in 3dmark_max_threads and 11860 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which are respectable but not class-leading. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 or DDR5) provide adequate bandwidth for feeding the GPU.

When comparing to its nearest rivals, the i3-12100F's average benchmark score is 13494, placing it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. This is nearly identical to the Intel Core 3 N355 (avg score 13492, deltaPct 0) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 (avg score 13452, deltaPct 0.3). It trails the Intel Core 5 120UL (avg score 13594, deltaPct -0.7) by a small margin. In the context of Evolve, this CPU performance is sufficient to drive high frame rates, as evidenced by the measured FPS at 1080p Low (292 avg FPS) and 1440p Low (196 avg FPS). The CPU is not the limiting factor at these settings, as the GPU is clearly capable of rendering frames far above 144 Hz.

However, the data suggests a potential CPU limitation at very high frame rates. The jump from 1080p Medium (226 avg FPS) to 1080p Low (292 avg FPS) is a 66 FPS increase, which is significant but not proportional to the GPU load reduction. This indicates that the CPU's single-thread ceiling begins to assert itself around 300 FPS. For most users with a 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor, the i3-12100F is more than adequate, but for extreme 360 Hz esports displays, it may become a minor constraint.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1980 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, and memory runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). With 7168 shading units, 224 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, this card is built for high-throughput rasterization, which is exactly what Evolve demands.

The GPU's benchmark results place it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 43223. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (avg score 43262, deltaPct -0.1) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile (avg score 43268, deltaPct -0.1). The RTX 4070 SUPER is essentially on par with these, trailing the RTX 4090 Mobile (avg score 43667, deltaPct -1) by just 1%. This indicates that the GPU is a high-end performer, but not the absolute top tier.

In Evolve, the GPU's role is to handle the game's visual effects, textures, and particle systems. The measured FPS data shows the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 47, which is likely GPU-bound given the 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth being taxed by the game's high-resolution textures. At 1080p Low, the GPU can push 292 avg FPS, demonstrating its raw capability. The GPU's 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 554.4 GTexel/s texture rate ensure that even at 1440p High, the card maintains 119 avg FPS, which is smooth for most displays.

The data shows that the RTX 4070 SUPER is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions, but it becomes the clear limiting factor at 4K Ultra. The 47 FPS average at 4K Ultra versus 68 FPS at 4K High (a 31% drop) indicates that the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are saturated by the ultra preset's additional effects.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 616th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the top 16.6% of all configurations. This is a strong position, indicating that this pairing performs well above the median for this game. The rank is likely driven by the GPU's high percentile (83rd) and the CPU's solid 68th percentile, which together provide a balanced system for a game that is not overly CPU-intensive.

Compared to other combos, this pairing sits in the upper echelon. The data shows that the combo is measured (dataIsMeasured: true), meaning these are real benchmark results, not estimates. The rank of 616 out of 3700 suggests that there are 615 combos that outperform it, likely those featuring higher-tier CPUs (like i7 or i9 parts) or more powerful GPUs (like the RTX 4090). However, the i3-12100F's 4-core, 8-thread design does not hold back the RTX 4070 SUPER significantly in Evolve, as the game's engine is not heavily multi-threaded.

The combo's ranking is also influenced by the fact that Evolve is an older title (2015), meaning it does not leverage modern CPU features like AVX-512 or high core counts. The CPU's single-thread performance (1674 in Cinebench R23 single-core) is sufficient to keep the GPU fed at most settings. The ranking would likely be much lower if the game were a modern, multi-threaded title, but for Evolve, this combo punches above its weight due to the GPU's dominance.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER in Evolve?*

A: The data shows that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at most settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 47, which is GPU-bound. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 292 avg FPS, suggesting the CPU can push very high frame rates. However, the CPU's single-thread score of 893 in 3dmark_single_thread may cap performance around 300 FPS, but this is beyond typical display refresh rates.

Q: How does this combo perform at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the measured data shows 119 avg FPS on High, 152 avg FPS on Medium, and 196 avg FPS on Low. These are excellent results for a 1440p monitor, with Ultra dropping to 82 avg FPS, which is still playable. The GPU's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for this resolution.

Q: What is the best setting for a 4K display?

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset delivers 68 avg FPS, which is smooth for most users. The Medium preset offers 86 avg FPS, but with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS, providing a better balance. Ultra drops to 47 avg FPS, which may be too low for fast-paced FPS gameplay.

Q: Why does the FPS drop so much from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra?

A: The data shows a drop from 292 avg FPS at 1080p Low to 47 avg FPS at 4K Ultra, a 84% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the increased pixel count and effects tax the RTX 4070 SUPER's 35.48 TFLOPS compute and memory bandwidth.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its rivals for this game?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452) and 0.7% lower than the Intel Core 5 120UL (13594). For Evolve, this small difference is unlikely to impact FPS, as the game is more GPU-dependent.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER a high-tier GPU?

A: Yes, the GPU ranks in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 43223. It is within 1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (43667) and slightly ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43262), indicating it is a top-tier performer.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 177 avg FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 119 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 68 FPS, another 43% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component as resolution increases.

At 1080p Low, the combo hits 292 avg FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 196 avg FPS (a 33% reduction), and at 4K Low, it falls to 111 avg FPS (a 43% reduction from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings (roughly 33% from 1080p to 1440p, and 43% from 1440p to 4K) strongly suggests that the GPU's pixel throughput is the bottleneck. The RTX 4070 SUPER's pixel rate is 198.0 GPixel/s, which is taxed heavily at 4K.

The data also shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The FPS drops are proportional to the pixel count increases (2.25x from 1080p to 1440p, and 4x from 1080p to 4K), which is typical of GPU-bound scenarios. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would not scale as dramatically with resolution. For example, at 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 123 avg FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 47 avg FPS. This 61% reduction is larger than the pixel count increase, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional GPU load (shadows, reflections) is also a factor.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target refresh rate and resolution. For 1080p displays, the High preset (177 avg FPS) is the best choice for a 144 Hz monitor, as it provides a smooth experience without the CPU overhead of Ultra (123 avg FPS). The Medium preset (226 avg FPS) is ideal for 240 Hz displays, offering a high frame rate with a minimum of 192 FPS, ensuring no drops below 144 Hz. Low (292 avg FPS) is only necessary for 360 Hz esports panels, but it sacrifices visual quality.

For 1440p, the High preset (119 avg FPS) is the sweet spot for a 120 Hz monitor, providing a near-locked experience. The Medium preset (152 avg FPS) is better for 144 Hz displays, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 174 FPS, offering headroom. Ultra (82 avg FPS) is playable on a 60 Hz or 75 Hz monitor, but the frame pacing may not be ideal for competitive play. Low (196 avg FPS) is overkill for most displays but offers the highest frame rate.

For 4K, the Medium preset (86 avg FPS) is the recommended choice, as it provides a smooth experience on a 60 Hz display with a minimum of 73 FPS. The High preset (68 avg FPS) is also viable, but the lower minimum frame rate may cause occasional stutters. Ultra (47 avg FPS) is not recommended for FPS gameplay, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold. Low (111 avg FPS) is an option for those prioritizing frame rate over visuals, but the visual quality loss is significant.

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

The following data is directly from the measuredFps array, providing exact average FPS and, where available, minimum and maximum FPS.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 292 avg FPS
• Medium: 226 avg FPS (min 192, max 260)
• High: 177 avg FPS
• Ultra: 123 avg FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 196 avg FPS
• Medium: 152 avg FPS (min 129, max 174)
• High: 119 avg FPS
• Ultra: 82 avg FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 111 avg FPS
• Medium: 86 avg FPS (min 73, max 99)
• High: 68 avg FPS
• Ultra: 47 avg FPS

These numbers illustrate the GPU's scaling behavior across resolutions. At 1080p, the RTX 4070 SUPER is barely taxed, with even Ultra settings exceeding 120 FPS. At 1440p, the GPU begins to show its limits at Ultra (82 avg FPS), but remains strong at lower presets. At 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, with only Low and Medium presets maintaining playable frame rates above 60 FPS. The minimum FPS data at Medium settings (192 at 1080p, 129 at 1440p, 73 at 4K) shows a consistent pattern of frame time stability, indicating no CPU-related stutters. The combination of the i3-12100F and RTX 4070 SUPER is best utilized at 1080p High or 1440p High for a balanced visual and performance experience.