Evolve

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a remarkably consistent high-refresh-rate experience in Evolve, with the data showing that the GPU is the primary driver of performance across all tested resolutions and settings. The combination ranks in the 79th percentile of all tested combos (793rd out of 3700), placing it firmly in the upper tier of systems capable of running this 2015 FPS at playable framerates. The most striking finding is the sheer headroom available at 1080p, where even Ultra settings exceed 120 FPS, making this pairing a strong choice for competitive play on high-refresh monitors.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. It operates at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boosts up to 4.30 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache, connected to the system via a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. This is a mid-range desktop part from the 10th generation Core series, released in April 2020.

In the context of Evolve's benchmark results, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU, but it is not a bottleneck. The processor's single-threaded performance is adequate for the game's engine, as evidenced by the fact that framerates scale consistently with resolution changes. At 1080p, the CPU must feed the GPU with enough draw calls to sustain 222 FPS at Low settings, which it does without becoming a limiting factor. The 3DMark single-thread score of 688 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1451 both place this CPU in a position where it can comfortably handle the game's physics and AI calculations at high framerates.

The 6-core configuration with 12 threads provides sufficient parallel processing headroom for background tasks and game logic. The PassMark multi-thread score of 12115 and the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283 indicate that the CPU has enough aggregate throughput to avoid stalling the GPU in most scenarios. When compared to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, the i5-10400F sits within a narrow performance band: it is 0.2% faster than the Intel Xeon 6756E, 0.3% slower than the Intel Core 7 160UL, 0.5% faster than the AMD EPYC 7552, and 0.6% slower than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. These deltas are negligible for gaming purposes.

The CPU's 68th percentile ranking among all tested processors and its average benchmark score of 14185 suggest that while it is not a top-tier part, it has more than enough compute power for Evolve. The game is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards, and the i5-10400F's 12 threads provide ample headroom for the game's engine to spawn monsters, manage player physics, and handle the asymmetric multiplayer logic without introducing frame hitches.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, and the measured FPS data makes this clear. This GPU is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process from TSMC, featuring 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. It has 7168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, along with 56 ray tracing cores and 224 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1980 MHz and boosts to 2475 MHz, with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory running at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) across a 192-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s.

In Evolve, the RTX 4070 SUPER's role is to push framerates to the upper limits of display refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p, while maintaining playable performance at 4K. The GPU's raw compute capabilities, reflected in its FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS and its PassMark G3D score of 29995, translate directly into the high average framerates observed. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for this game, even at Ultra settings at 4K, as the game's textures and geometry from 2015 do not stress modern memory pools.

The GPU's 83rd percentile ranking among all tested GPUs and its average benchmark score of 43223 place it well above the median. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (0.1% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile (0.1% faster), and the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 (0.2% faster). The RTX 4070 SUPER is also 1% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile, which is a notably more powerful mobile part. This positioning indicates that the GPU is a high-end desktop solution that can handle Evolve with ease.

The GPU's memory subsystem is particularly relevant for resolution scaling. The 192-bit bus and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth provide enough throughput to feed the shading units at all tested resolutions, which is why the FPS drops are relatively modest when moving from 1080p to 1440p. The 21 Gbps effective memory speed ensures that texture fetch operations do not become a bottleneck, even when the game's asset detail is pushed to Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling across resolutions. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by a factor of approximately 0.67 at High settings (177 to 119), and from 1440p to 4K, the drop is again approximately 0.57 (119 to 68). This consistent scaling behavior indicates that the GPU is the limiting component throughout, as the CPU's performance headroom does not introduce a variable constraint at lower resolutions.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is steeper: 123 FPS at 1080p drops to 82 FPS at 1440p (a 0.67 factor) and then to 47 FPS at 4K (a 0.57 factor). This pattern suggests that the GPU's shading and memory bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions, which is expected for a game with heavy particle effects and dynamic lighting. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 2475 MHz boost clock is maintained across the resolution range, but the workload per frame increases proportionally with pixel count.

The Low settings preset shows the most linear scaling, with 222 FPS at 1080p, 194 FPS at 1440p, and 111 FPS at 4K. The smaller percentage drop at 1080p to 1440p (approximately 13%) compared to 1440p to 4K (approximately 43%) suggests that at Low settings, the CPU begins to exert a mild influence at 1080p, where the GPU is not fully saturated. However, even at 1080p Low, the system maintains over 200 FPS, so this is not a practical concern.

The 4K results are the most telling for the limiting component analysis. At High settings, the card produces 68 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. At Ultra, the 47 FPS average is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, indicating that the GPU is fully saturated at this resolution and settings combination. The Medium preset at 4K yields 86 FPS, which is the sweet spot for 4K gaming on this hardware, balancing visual fidelity with responsiveness.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4070 SUPER delivers exceptional performance across all settings. The Low preset produces an average of 222 FPS, which is near the ceiling of most high-refresh monitors. The Medium preset averages 203 FPS, with a minimum of 172 FPS and a maximum of 233 FPS, showing tight frame pacing. High settings reduce the average to 177 FPS, while Ultra settings still maintain a healthy 123 FPS average. These numbers confirm that 1080p is not a challenge for this pairing, and players can opt for Ultra settings without sacrificing competitive framerates.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low settings average 194 FPS, which is still excellent for 1440p gaming. Medium settings average 152 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 174 FPS. High settings drop to 119 FPS, which is right at the threshold for 120 Hz displays. Ultra settings average 82 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced FPS action. The Medium preset at 1440p offers the best combination of smoothness and visual quality, with the minimum FPS staying above 120.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits become apparent. Low settings average 111 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K and suggests the game's engine scales well with reduced effects. Medium settings average 86 FPS, with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS, providing a playable 4K experience. High settings drop to 68 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings average 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and not recommended for this resolution. The 4K results indicate that the RTX 4070 SUPER can handle Evolve at 4K, but only at Medium settings or lower for a consistent experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 793rd out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve, placing it in the 79th percentile of all systems. This is a strong showing, as it means the pairing outperforms roughly four out of five other combinations in the database. The ranking reflects the GPU's high-end capabilities and the CPU's adequate support, without any significant bottleneck dragging down the overall score.

In the context of the CPU's nearest rivals, the i5-10400F's performance is essentially equivalent to that of the Intel Xeon 6756E, Intel Core 7 160UL, AMD EPYC 7552, and AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, with deltas ranging from -0.6% to +0.5%. This means that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would have a negligible impact on Evolve's performance, as the GPU is the dominant factor. The GPU's nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, RTX 5050 Mobile, and RTX 4090 Mobile, are also within 1% of the RTX 4070 SUPER's performance, further indicating that this combo's ranking is primarily due to the GPU's position in the upper echelon of graphics cards.

The 79th percentile ranking is particularly impressive given that Evolve is a game from 2015, which means many modern systems with newer CPUs and GPUs are included in the database. The fact that this 10th-gen CPU and 40-series GPU combination still lands in the top 80% of all tested combos underscores the GPU's raw power and the game's efficient engine. The data shows that this combo is not just playable but actually excels, with the ability to drive high refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p while maintaining respectable 4K performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and whether the priority is competitive responsiveness or visual fidelity. For 1080p users with 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitors, the Ultra preset at 123 FPS average is the best choice, as it delivers the highest visual quality while still exceeding the refresh rate of most displays. The High preset at 177 FPS is also viable for 240 Hz monitors, but the visual upgrade from High to Ultra is worth the 54 FPS drop for most players.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended balance, with an average of 152 FPS and a minimum of 129 FPS. This ensures that the framerate never drops below 120 FPS, which is the target for most 1440p high-refresh monitors. The High preset at 119 FPS is acceptable for 120 Hz displays, but the minimum FPS data is not provided, so it carries more risk of dips. The Ultra preset at 82 FPS is not recommended for competitive play but could be used for single-player or less demanding scenarios.

For 4K, the Medium preset is the only sensible choice, with an average of 86 FPS and a minimum of 73 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on 60 Hz and 75 Hz 4K displays, with some headroom for frame spikes. The High preset at 68 FPS is playable but close to the edge, and the Ultra preset at 47 FPS should be avoided entirely. The Low preset at 111 FPS is viable for 120 Hz 4K displays, but the visual compromise is significant. Overall, the data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can fully leverage the GPU's power, while 4K is limited to Medium settings for a consistent experience.