Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents a fascinating case study for the Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination. The data indicates this pairing is a formidable 1080p and 1440p performer, yet it reveals a significant performance cliff at 4K with maximum settings. The measured average frame rates show the combo ranking 590th out of 1695 tested configurations, placing it in the 65th percentile of all tested combos, a solidly above-average result. The benchmark results point to a system that excels at high refresh rates, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck only at the most demanding resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combo in Evolve?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination ranks 590th out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the 65th percentile of all tested configurations.

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves its highest measured average frame rate of 224.3 FPS. With High settings, it still delivers a very strong 151.7 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The benchmark shows the combo achieving an average of 102.3 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, which is a smooth and highly playable frame rate for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: Is the RX 9070's 16 GB of VRAM a significant factor for Evolve?

A: Yes. The 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on the RX 9070 is more than sufficient for a 2015 title like Evolve. The data shows performance is limited more by the GPU's processing power than memory capacity, as frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings.

Q: What is the most demanding setting, and what FPS does it yield at 4K?

A: Ultra settings at 3840x2160 is the most demanding configuration measured. The combo averages 37.8 FPS here, which is below the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the RX 9070's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 34780. This puts it in a dead heat with the NVIDIA A2, which scores 34866, a delta of -0.2%. It is also 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro GV100 and 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7970.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the dominant component in this pairing, and its capabilities are clearly reflected in the measured FPS. The GPU's high boost clock of 2520 MHz and substantial 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s, are more than adequate for Evolve. The benchmark results show that the GPU is capable of pushing frame rates far beyond what the CPU would restrict at lower resolutions. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system hits 224.3 FPS, demonstrating the raw power of the RDNA 4.0 architecture. The GPU's performance is so robust that at 1080p and 1440p, the frame rates are primarily a measure of its own scaling with settings, indicating it is the main driver of performance in these scenarios.

The GPU's role becomes even more defined at higher resolutions. The measured data shows a clear progression of performance drops as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload. The RX 9070's 36.13 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power allows it to handle the increased pixel count at 1440p, but at 4K, the load becomes significantly heavier. This is evident in the drastic drop from 72.9 FPS at Medium settings to 37.8 FPS at Ultra settings at 3840x2160. The GPU is not the bottleneck at 1080p, but it becomes the limiting factor at 4K, where its performance, while still respectable at lower settings, cannot maintain high frame rates on the Ultra preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 holds a rank of 590 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places the pairing in the upper half of all configurations tested, indicating a strong, balanced system for this game. While the rank is a general indicator, the measured FPS data provides a more detailed picture of its standing. The system can achieve frame rates that would be competitive with much more expensive setups, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. For instance, a 151.7 FPS average at 1920x1080 on High settings is a very strong result that many other combos would fail to match.

The rank of 590 is likely held back by the 4K Ultra results. While the combo is a top-tier performer at lower resolutions, its inability to break 60 FPS at 4K Ultra prevents it from ranking higher. This suggests that the CPU+GPU pairing is well-optimized for high-refresh-rate gaming but is not positioned as an ultimate 4K powerhouse. The data shows a system that is versatile and powerful, but its rank within the database is a reflection of its performance across all tested settings, including the most punishing ones where it falls short of the 60 FPS mark.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset is the clear sweet spot. It delivers a superb 151.7 FPS average, which is far above the threshold for competitive play. While the Ultra preset at 104.7 FPS is also playable, the jump from High to Ultra yields a noticeable 47 FPS penalty for what is often a marginal visual improvement in a 2015 game. For players with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, the Low preset at 224.3 FPS or Medium at 190.7 FPS could be used to push frame rates to the absolute maximum.

At 2560x1440, the High preset again provides the best balance, achieving an average of 102.3 FPS. This is an excellent result for 1440p gaming, ensuring smooth gameplay. Dropping to Medium yields 127.5 FPS, which could be preferable for those seeking even higher refresh rates. However, the Ultra preset at 72.8 FPS is still perfectly playable and might be chosen for maximum visual fidelity. At 4K, the recommendation shifts. The High preset at 59.7 FPS is marginal, but the Medium preset at 72.9 FPS offers a more comfortable buffer above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 37.8 FPS should be avoided for a smooth experience, making Medium the recommended setting for 4K play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset yields a massive 224.3 FPS, which drops to 190.7 FPS on Medium, 151.7 FPS on High, and 104.7 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show a linear scaling with settings, confirming the GPU has ample headroom at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, performance remains high but begins to show more strain. The Low preset hits 165.8 FPS, Medium achieves 127.5 FPS, High delivers 102.3 FPS, and Ultra falls to 72.8 FPS. The delta between High and Ultra at this resolution is 29.5 FPS, indicating a significant cost for the highest settings. Finally, at 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes demanding. The Low preset is the only one to remain comfortably above 60 FPS, hitting 92.5 FPS. Medium drops to 72.9 FPS, High falls to 59.7 FPS, and Ultra is the only setting below 40 FPS, at 37.8 FPS. This breakdown illustrates a performance curve that is very strong at lower resolutions but degrades significantly at 4K with higher settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides a solid foundation for the RX 9070. Its boost clock of 4.30 GHz ensures that it can keep up with the GPU's frame generation at lower resolutions. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p, as the frame rates scale predictably with GPU settings. For example, the jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p results in a 119.6 FPS drop, which is a GPU-bound characteristic. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are sufficient to feed the GPU data without creating a significant performance limit.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent when looking at the 4K results. The fact that the FPS drops dramatically from 92.5 at Low to 37.8 at Ultra at 3840x2160 is a clear sign that the GPU is the limiting factor. This is not a scenario where the i5-10400F is holding the system back; instead, the data shows the CPU is capable of handling the game's physics and game logic. Its 3dmark single-thread score of 688 and multi-thread score of 4735 indicate a capable processor that, while not the most powerful, is well-matched to deliver high frame rates in Evolve without being the primary constraint on performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on High settings, the average FPS drops from 151.7 to 102.3, a reduction of 49.4 FPS (approximately 32.6%). This is a significant drop that indicates the GPU is beginning to work harder to fill the additional pixels. The scaling continues when moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 on High settings, where the average FPS falls from 102.3 to 59.7, a further reduction of 42.6 FPS (approximately 41.6%). This steeper decline at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU-bound system.

This resolution scaling pattern is critical for identifying the limiting component. Because the frame rate drops so consistently and significantly as resolution increases, the data strongly points to the AMD Radeon RX 9070 as the primary bottleneck at 4K. The CPU's performance is consistent across these resolutions; it is the GPU's fill rate and compute power that are being taxed. The fact that the FPS at 4K Ultra (37.8) is less than half of the FPS at 1080p Ultra (104.7) highlights the immense workload increase on the GPU. This analysis confirms that while the i5-10400F is sufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming at lower resolutions, the RX 9070 is the component that determines the system's ultimate performance ceiling in Evolve.