Evolve

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 in Evolve produces a combination that is heavily GPU-limited at nearly every resolution, with the measured frame rates showing a clear ceiling imposed by the Arc B390’s low benchmark standing. The data indicates that this combo ranks 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all systems, and the GPU itself sits at the 9th percentile among all tested graphics cards. Across all settings, the frame rate at 1080p is the only point where the CPU begins to show its capability, yet even there, the GPU prevents the system from reaching consistently high performance. The most useful finding is that the Low preset at 1920x1080 delivers 89 FPS average, which is the only configuration that approaches a smooth experience, while Ultra settings at 4K drop to 14 FPS, making that combination effectively unplayable. This analysis will break down the resolution scaling, answer common questions, examine the CPU’s role, rank the combo, and provide settings guidance based strictly on the measured data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a pronounced drop as pixel count increases, which is expected for a system where the GPU is the limiting component. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 89 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 on the same Low preset, the average falls to 60 FPS, a reduction of 29 FPS (roughly 33% lower). At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields only 34 FPS average, which is a 55 FPS drop from 1080p Low — a 62% decrease. This scaling pattern suggests that the Arc B390’s rendering throughput is the dominant factor, as the CPU’s capabilities (6 cores, 12 threads, 2.90 GHz base, 4.30 GHz boost) are not being stressed at higher resolutions.

For the Medium preset, the trend is similar but with a narrower absolute spread: 69 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. The 4K Medium result includes a min FPS of 22 and max of 30, showing some variability. The High preset shows 54 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 37 FPS at 1080p, 25 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across presets: roughly 60-62% for Low, Medium, and High, and 62% for Ultra. This uniformity indicates that the GPU’s fill rate and pixel processing are the bottleneck, not the CPU or memory bandwidth.

The fact that the GPU has 24 ROPs and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s, combined with a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, suggests that higher resolutions will disproportionately load these fixed-function units. The data supports this: at 4K Ultra, the system only manages 14 FPS, which is below playable thresholds. The CPU’s role at 1080p is more relevant because lower pixel counts reduce GPU load, allowing the i5-10400F’s 12 threads to feed frames more effectively — evidenced by the 89 FPS Low result at 1080p versus 34 FPS at 4K on the same preset. In summary, resolution scaling shows a typical GPU-bound curve, with the Arc B390 being the limiting component across all settings, and 1080p being the only resolution where the combo can approach 60+ FPS, and only on Low or Medium.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Evolve?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves playable frame rates. At 1080p, the Low preset averages 89 FPS, Medium averages 69 FPS, and High averages 54 FPS. At 1440p, only Low reaches 60 FPS, while Medium drops to 46 FPS. At 4K, no preset exceeds 34 FPS (Low), making that resolution unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Arc B390 perform relative to its closest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, placing it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% slower), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% slower), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% slower), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7% slower). This means the B390 outperforms these older mobile and entry-level desktop GPUs by a small margin, but it remains in the lowest performance tier.

Q: Is the Core i5-10400F a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck except at very low settings and resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 89 FPS, which is likely near the CPU’s limit for this game given its 6-core/12-thread design. However, at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU’s limited throughput (7.680 TFLOPS FP32, 24 ROPs) becomes the limiting factor. The CPU’s 3DMark scores (4748 for 16 threads, 688 for single thread) indicate adequate multithreaded performance for a 2015-era FPS.

Q: What is the combo’s ranking among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve, which puts it in the bottom 11% of all systems. This low ranking is primarily due to the Arc B390’s weak performance (9th percentile among GPUs), as the CPU alone sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. The GPU’s benchmark score of 1482 is far below what modern games require for high settings.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most consistent frame rate?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p provides the most stable experience with an average of 69 FPS, a minimum of 59 FPS, and a maximum of 79 FPS. This is the only preset where the min FPS stays above 60, ensuring minimal stutter. At 1440p, Medium averages 46 FPS with a min of 39 and max of 53, which is playable but not smooth. Low presets at 1080p offer higher averages (89 FPS) but no min/max data, suggesting less predictable performance.

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

A: No. At 4K, the highest average FPS is 34 on Low settings, and the lowest is 14 on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K averages 26 FPS with a min of 22 and max of 30. These numbers are below the 30 FPS threshold for playability on most presets, and the Ultra preset at 14 FPS is unusable. The GPU’s 24 ROPs and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient for 4K rendering in this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Its benchmark results show a balanced profile: 3DMark single-thread score of 688, 4-thread score of 2560, and 16-thread score of 4748. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1451 single-core and 10283 multi-core. These numbers place the CPU at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a solid mid-range processor for its generation.

In Evolve, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. Given the game’s 2015 release date, it is unlikely to require more than 6 cores, and the 12 threads provide headroom for background tasks. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 89 FPS, which is likely close to the CPU’s maximum frame output for this game. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 69 FPS, and at High to 54 FPS, indicating that the GPU is taking over as the limiter as settings increase. The fact that 1080p Low (89 FPS) is only 48% higher than 1080p High (54 FPS) suggests that the CPU can deliver more frames, but the GPU’s shading units (1536) and TMUs (48) are overwhelmed by higher-quality effects.

The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s (dual-channel DDR4) is adequate for this game, and its PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes interface is sufficient for the Arc B390, which uses system shared memory. The GPU’s memory bandwidth is listed as “System Dependent,” meaning it relies on the CPU’s memory controller, which could limit performance at high resolutions. However, the data shows that scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K is consistent, so memory bandwidth is not causing an unusual bottleneck. The CPU’s 3DMark 2-thread score of 1350 and 4-thread score of 2560 suggest that even at low thread counts, it can handle the game’s logic. The CPU’s passmark single-thread score of 2541 is modest, but the game’s age means it does not require high single-core performance. In summary, the i5-10400F is more than capable for Evolve, and the data confirms that the GPU is the limiting component in this combo.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank in Evolve is 3288 out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the 11th percentile — meaning 89% of tested systems perform better. This low rank is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B390, which sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 1482. To contextualize, the GPU’s nearest rivals are all NVIDIA entry-level or mobile parts: the GT 520MX (1.3% slower), GeForce 800M (1.5% slower), GT 625 OEM (2.5% slower), and GT 710 (2.7% slower). These are GPUs from the early 2010s or low-end segments, indicating the B390’s performance is roughly equivalent to a decade-old budget graphics solution.

In contrast, the CPU alone ranks at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14185. The nearest CPU rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E (0.2% faster), Intel Core 7 160UL (0.3% slower), AMD EPYC 7552 (0.5% faster), and AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (0.6% slower). This shows the i5-10400F is a competent processor, but its pairing with a weak GPU drags the overall combo down. The measured FPS data confirms this: the highest average FPS across all resolution/settings combinations is 89 at 1080p Low, and the lowest is 14 at 4K Ultra. For comparison, a mid-range combo would likely achieve 60+ FPS at 1440p High, but this system only manages 36 FPS at that setting.

The rank of 3288 out of 3700 means the combo is in the bottom 412 combinations, which is a severe limitation for gaming. The data suggests that even at 1080p, users must choose between Low (89 FPS) or Medium (69 FPS) to get smooth performance, while High (54 FPS) and Ultra (37 FPS) are below 60 FPS. This ranking is a direct result of the GPU’s 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 24 ROPs, which are insufficient for modern gaming workloads. The CPU’s 12 threads and 4.30 GHz boost clock are not the issue, as evidenced by the 89 FPS at 1080p Low — a figure that would be higher with a stronger GPU. In practical terms, this combo is suitable for esports titles at low settings or older games, but for Evolve, it will require significant compromises.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo prioritize frame rate stability over visual fidelity. The best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which delivers an average of 69 FPS, a minimum of 59 FPS, and a maximum of 79 FPS. The min FPS above 60 means the game will not experience major stutters, making this the most consistent configuration. The Low preset at 1080p offers a higher average (89 FPS) but lacks min/max data, so stability is uncertain; however, it is the only preset that breaks 85 FPS, making it ideal for competitive play where frame rate is paramount.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only one that reaches 60 FPS (average), but it lacks min/max data. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 46 FPS with a min of 39 and max of 53, which is playable but may feel less smooth. The High preset at 1440p drops to 36 FPS, and Ultra to 25 FPS, neither of which is recommended. For 4K, no preset is viable: the highest average is 34 FPS on Low, and the Medium preset has a min of 22 FPS, which is below playable thresholds. Therefore, the recommendation is to play at 1080p Medium for a balanced experience, or 1080p Low if maximum frame rate is desired. Users should avoid Ultra settings at any resolution, as the highest Ultra average is 37 FPS at 1080p, which is too low for smooth action.

The data also shows that the High preset at 1080p (54 FPS) is only 15 FPS slower than Medium (69 FPS), but the visual difference may not justify the frame rate loss. The Medium preset at 1080p provides the best compromise between quality and performance, with a min FPS of 59 ensuring minimal drops. For those with 1440p monitors, the Low preset is the only way to achieve 60 FPS, but the lack of min/max data suggests potential variability. In summary, the recommended settings are 1080p Medium for most users, 1080p Low for competitive play, and 1440p Low for those who prioritize resolution over frame rate — all other combinations are either sub-60 FPS or below 30 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 89 FPS, Medium averages 69 FPS (min 59, max 79), High averages 54 FPS, and Ultra averages 37 FPS. This shows a clear gradient, with Low being the only preset that exceeds 85 FPS, and Ultra being the only one below 40 FPS. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 59 is notable because it is the only preset across all resolutions where the minimum stays above 55 FPS, indicating strong frame pacing.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly: Low averages 60 FPS (exactly at the 60 FPS threshold), Medium averages 46 FPS (min 39, max 53), High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. The Low preset at 1440p is the only one that reaches 60 FPS, but the Medium preset’s min FPS of 39 shows that it can dip below 40, which may cause noticeable hitches. At 3840x2160, the results are mostly unplayable: Low averages 34 FPS, Medium averages 26 FPS (min 22, max 30), High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. The 4K Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, showing a range of 22-30 FPS, which is consistently below 30 FPS.

Comparing resolutions at the same settings, the data shows a consistent pattern. For Low, 1080p (89 FPS) is 48% higher than 1440p (60 FPS), and 1440p is 76% higher than 4K (34 FPS). For Medium, 1080p (69 FPS) is 50% higher than 1440p (46 FPS), and 1440p is 77% higher than 4K (26 FPS). For High, 1080p (54 FPS) is 50% higher than 1440p (36 FPS), and 1440p is 71% higher than 4K (21 FPS). For Ultra, 1080p (37 FPS) is 48% higher than 1440p (25 FPS), and 1440p is 79% higher than 4K (14 FPS). These percentages show that the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly a 50% reduction, while 1440p to 4K is a 70-80% reduction, indicating that the GPU’s pixel throughput is the primary constraint.

The only min/max data available are for the Medium preset at each resolution: 1080p (59-79), 1440p (39-53), and 4K (22-30). This data shows that the frame time variance increases with resolution, as the gap between min and max is 20 FPS at 1080p, 14 FPS at 1440p, and 8 FPS at 4K. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU can cause more variable frame rates, while at higher resolutions, the GPU’s consistent (but slow) rendering results in tighter ranges. Overall, the measured FPS breakdown confirms that the combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming, with Medium being the best preset for stability, and Low being the best for raw speed. All other combinations either fail to reach 60 FPS or fall below 30 FPS, making them unsuitable for a smooth gaming experience in Evolve.