Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents an interesting performance profile for the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. The benchmark data shows a combination that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions and settings, while the 6-core/12-thread Comet Lake processor provides sufficient headroom to keep frame rates high at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to determine where the bottleneck lies and how this specific combo performs across the tested configurations.

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

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 10th-generation desktop processor built on the Comet Lake architecture using Intel's 14 nm process. It offers 6 physical cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The CPU has a 12 MB shared L3 cache, along with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Its memory support is DDR4 with a dual-channel bus, and the processor is designed for the Intel Socket 1200 platform.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates a solid multi-threaded capability relative to its peers. Its average benchmark score is 14185, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs tested. The multi-threaded performance is highlighted by a 3DMark max threads score of 4735, and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283. Single-thread performance is more modest, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 688 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1420, indicating that while it can handle multi-threaded workloads, its per-core strength is not its primary selling point.

The nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Xeon 6756E (with a score of 14163, a delta of 0.2%) and the Intel Core 7 160UL (with a score of 14232, a delta of -0.3%). This places the i5-10400F in a performance bracket where it is essentially tied with these parts. For a game like Evolve, the 12 threads allow the CPU to manage the game's simulation and AI tasks without becoming a primary bottleneck at lower resolutions. As the resolution increases, the load shifts to the GPU, and the CPU's role diminishes, which is evident in the frame rate scaling observed in the measured data.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this pairing. Based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and built on TSMC's 5 nm process, this GPU is a high-end part with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and it features 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. Its compute capabilities are substantial, with an FP32 performance of 48.74 TFLOPS.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4080 is a top-tier performer. Its average benchmark score is 54247, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 6567, and the Geekbench Vulkan score is 263779. The nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER (with a score of 54209, a delta of 0.1%) and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (with a score of 54828, a delta of -1.1%). The RTX 4080 is essentially on par with the 4080 SUPER in these aggregate benchmarks.

For Evolve, this GPU has more than enough raw power and VRAM to handle the game's textures and effects. The 16 GB frame buffer is ample for any resolution tested here, including 4K Ultra settings. The high boost clock ensures that the GPU can push high frame rates when the CPU is not limiting it. The data suggests that the RTX 4080's performance ceiling is far above what the i5-10400F can feed it at lower resolutions, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the definitive limiting factor.

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 how the system scales across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 222 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 194 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 128 FPS. This scaling indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU is the primary bottleneck, as the GPU is not being fully utilized; the frame rate is limited by how fast the CPU can process the game's logic.

As the resolution increases, the frame rate drop becomes more pronounced, pointing to a shift in bottleneck to the GPU. For example, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 186 at 1080p to 137 at 1440p, a drop of 49 FPS, and then to 78 at 4K, a further drop of 59 FPS. This pattern is consistent with a GPU-limited scenario at higher resolutions, where the RTX 4080's rendering workload becomes the constraint.

The most telling data point is the difference between resolutions at the same settings. The transition from 1080p to 4K at Low settings results in a 94 FPS drop, while at Ultra settings, the drop is from 141 FPS to 54 FPS, an 87 FPS reduction. This suggests that while the GPU is heavily stressed at 4K, the CPU still has some influence on performance, as the absolute frame rate at 1080p Ultra (141 FPS) is lower than at 1080p Low (222 FPS), indicating that the higher settings are also increasing CPU load. Overall, this combo is CPU-limited at 1080p and GPU-limited at 4K, with a crossover point in between.

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

The following is the complete list of measured FPS data for this combo in Evolve:

1920x1080:

• Low: 222 avg FPS
• Medium: 203 avg FPS, with min 172 and max 233 FPS
• High: 186 avg FPS
• Ultra: 141 avg FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 194 avg FPS
• Medium: 174 avg FPS, with min 148 and max 200 FPS
• High: 137 avg FPS
• Ultra: 95 avg FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 128 avg FPS
• Medium: 99 avg FPS, with min 84 and max 114 FPS
• High: 78 avg FPS
• Ultra: 54 avg FPS

The data shows a consistent trend where lowering the settings increases the average FPS at every resolution. The spread between Low and Ultra is significant: at 1080p, it is 81 FPS; at 1440p, it is 99 FPS; and at 4K, it is 74 FPS. The 4K Ultra setting is the only configuration that dips below 60 FPS, with an average of 54 FPS. All other configurations maintain an average above 78 FPS, indicating that this combo is capable of smooth gameplay in Evolve at most settings, except for the most demanding 4K Ultra preset.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 585th out of 3700 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the top 16% of all combos tested for this game. This ranking is notable because it reflects the overall performance of the system, which is a blend of CPU and GPU capabilities.

Given that the GPU is a high-end part (86th percentile), the combo's rank is likely dragged down by the more modest CPU (68th percentile). In a game like Evolve, which is not extremely CPU-intensive, the RTX 4080 can still achieve high frame rates, but the i5-10400F prevents the system from reaching the absolute top tier of performance that would be seen with a more powerful processor. The rank of 585 indicates that while this is a strong performer, there are 584 other combinations that deliver higher average frame rates in this specific title, likely those featuring more balanced or higher-end CPUs paired with similar or better GPUs.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo achieve a stable 60 FPS in Evolve at 4K?

A: At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 78, and at Medium it is 99. However, at the Ultra preset, the average FPS drops to 54, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, stable 60 FPS is achievable at High settings but not at Ultra.

Q: What is the best resolution to avoid a CPU bottleneck?

A: The data suggests that the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p, where the frame rate is highest (e.g., 222 FPS at Low). Moving to 1440p or 4K shifts the bottleneck to the GPU, so if you want to avoid the CPU limit, higher resolutions are better.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247. Its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209, a delta of 0.1%. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, a delta of -1.1%.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset yields an average of 194 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 95 FPS. This is a difference of 99 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for performance at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is the primary bottleneck. This is evidenced by the high frame rates (e.g., 222 FPS at Low) which are not limited by the GPU's capabilities, but rather by the i5-10400F's processing speed.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only settings with a recorded minimum FPS are the Medium presets. The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 84 at 4K Medium. Other settings do not have min FPS data listed.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the ideal settings depend on the user's display resolution and refresh rate. For a 1080p display with a high refresh rate (e.g., 144 Hz or higher), the Medium preset is a strong choice. It delivers an average of 203 FPS, with a minimum of 172 FPS, ensuring that frame rates stay well above the refresh rate of most monitors. The High preset at 186 FPS is also viable, but Medium provides a more comfortable margin above the minimum.

For 1440p, the High preset offers an excellent balance, with an average of 137 FPS. This is sufficient for smooth gameplay on a 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor. The Ultra preset at 95 FPS is also playable, but the drop in frame rate may be noticeable in fast-paced action. For a more stable experience, Medium at 174 FPS is a safe bet for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 4K, the High preset is the best choice for a smooth experience, with an average of 78 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS target for most monitors. The Ultra preset, with an average of 54 FPS, is not recommended for competitive play but could be used for visually demanding single-player scenarios. The Medium preset at 99 FPS is also a strong option, providing a comfortable frame rate buffer. In summary, the High preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, offering a good balance between visual quality and performance.