Evolve

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 presents a balanced mid-range configuration for Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The CPU provides six cores and twelve threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This 11th Gen Rocket Lake processor, built on Intel's 14 nm process, delivers strong single-thread performance that is critical for older game engines like the one powering Evolve. Its benchmark results show a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2029 and a multi-core score of 14372, indicating that the processor has ample headroom for both the game's logic and background tasks. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache helps maintain responsive frame pacing, and the dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth is sufficient for this era of gaming.

The CPU's performance percentile of 75 versus all CPUs places it above the majority of processors, and its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, Intel Core i7-1260P, and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, all within a 0.2% delta. This suggests that the i5-11400F's compute capabilities are well-matched to the RX 6600's output. In Evolve, where the action involves large monsters and dynamic environments, the CPU's ability to maintain a steady frame rate is paramount. The data shows that this combo does not appear to be CPU-limited in most scenarios, as the GPU's rendering load scales predictably with resolution changes.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 achieves a rank of 1403 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places the setup in the lower 18% of all configurations tested, which might initially seem disappointing. However, this ranking must be contextualized by the fact that the database includes many high-end, modern systems with far more powerful components. The combo's position is not a reflection of poor individual performance, but rather a consequence of Evolve being a less demanding title where even mid-range hardware like this can reach playable frame rates, so the ranking is dominated by systems with much stronger GPUs.

Benchmark results indicate that the combo sits in a competitive zone relative to its peers. The GPU's average benchmark score of 25235 places it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 890M and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, with deltas of 0% and 0.5% respectively. This suggests the RX 6600 is a capable performer, but its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's rank of 75th percentile is higher than the GPU's 69th percentile, which suggests that in this pairing, the graphics card is more likely to be the bottleneck, especially at 4K.

The delta between the CPU's and GPU's percentiles is the key insight. The i5-11400F is a stronger component relative to the rest of the market than the RX 6600. In Evolve, this means the CPU is rarely the limiting factor; instead, the GPU's rendering capabilities dictate the final frame rate. The ranking of 1403 out of 1695 shows that while this combo is not top-tier, it is far from the bottom, and the data suggests that the performance ceiling is defined by the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute units.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 146.4 FPS. This drops to 95.9 FPS at 1440p and further to 58.1 FPS at 4K. This scaling pattern indicates that the system is primarily GPU-bound, as the frame rate drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count. The CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures that it is not the constraint at these lower resolutions.

At High settings, the same trend is visible: 89 FPS at 1080p, 58.3 FPS at 1440p, and 33.9 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 34% reduction, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is a 42% reduction. This non-linear scaling is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of memory bandwidth or shading power as the resolution increases. The RX 6600's 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth and 8 GB of VRAM are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the GPU's 64 ROPs and 1792 shading units struggle to keep up with the pixel fill rate.

The Ultra settings are the most demanding, with 61.6 FPS at 1080p, 41.1 FPS at 1440p, and a mere 21.4 FPS at 4K. This shows that the combo is not suitable for Ultra settings at 4K, as the frame rate falls well below the 30 FPS threshold for playability. The data suggests that the limiting component at 4K is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU's performance remains constant regardless of resolution. The user should target 1080p or 1440p for a smooth experience, with 1440p High being a reasonable compromise.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 146.4 FPS, providing a highly responsive experience for competitive play. Medium settings yield 116.5 FPS, while High settings produce 89 FPS. Ultra settings at 1080p average 61.6 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant drop as the graphical load increases. This resolution is clearly where the combo shines, delivering high frame rates across all settings levels.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 95.9 FPS, which remains smooth, and Medium settings produce 73.6 FPS. High settings dip to 58.3 FPS, approaching the lower bounds of what is considered fluid gameplay. Ultra settings at 1440p average 41.1 FPS, which is playable but may feel less responsive in fast-paced action sequences. The data shows that 1440p is the upper limit for this combo if the user wants to maintain high refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 58.1 FPS, which is acceptable, but Medium settings drop to 42.9 FPS. High settings produce 33.9 FPS, which is borderline playable, and Ultra settings collapse to 21.4 FPS. The step from Medium to High at 4K is a 21% reduction, while the step from High to Ultra is a 37% reduction. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is not high enough for a competitive advantage. The combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is the primary driver of the frame rate in this configuration. Built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, the GPU features 1792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. Its base clock is 1626 MHz, with a boost clock of 2491 MHz, and a game clock of 2044 MHz. These clocks allow the GPU to deliver a peak FP32 performance of 8.928 TFLOPS. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory operates at an effective speed of 14 Gbps, providing a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s over a 128-bit bus.

The GPU's benchmark results show a Passmark G3D score of 15096 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 73130, placing it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, has a delta of -0.2%, meaning the RX 6600 is essentially on par with that older card. More surprisingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is only 0.5% ahead in average benchmark score, which suggests that the RX 6600 offers competitive compute performance despite having less memory bandwidth.

In Evolve, the GPU's role is to handle the game's visual effects, which include dynamic lighting and particle effects from the monsters' abilities. The data shows that the GPU's performance is the deciding factor in the measured FPS. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully saturated, allowing the CPU to push higher frame rates. However, as resolution increases, the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth become saturated, leading to the observed frame rate drops. The 64 ROPs are particularly stressed at 4K, as they must process a much higher pixel count, resulting in the sub-30 FPS figures at Ultra settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 6600 in Evolve?

A: The data suggests no. The CPU's percentile of 75 is higher than the GPU's 69, and the frame rate scaling with resolution indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 146.4 FPS, showing the CPU can feed the GPU effectively.

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the sweet spot. All settings levels are playable, with Ultra averaging 61.6 FPS. At 2560x1440, High settings average 58.3 FPS, which is also acceptable, but 4K should be avoided for anything above Low settings.

Q: How does the RX 6600 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RX 6600 has an average benchmark score of 25235. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 890M, has a delta of 0%, meaning they are identical. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is only 0.5% ahead, and the AMD Radeon RX 6700M is 0.2% behind.

Q: Can the combo handle Evolve at 4K resolution?

A: Only at lower settings. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 58.1, which is playable. However, at 4K High, it drops to 33.9 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 21.4 FPS, which is not recommended. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for high settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance relative to its multi-thread performance?

A: The CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2029 and a multi-core score of 14372. This shows a strong single-thread performance that is beneficial for Evolve's engine, while the multi-core score provides ample headroom for background tasks.

Q: How does the combo's rank in Evolve compare to its component percentiles?

A: The combo ranks 1403 out of 1695 combos, placing it in the lower 18%. However, the CPU is in the 75th percentile and the GPU in the 69th percentile. This discrepancy is due to the game being less demanding, allowing many higher-end combos to achieve similar or higher frame rates, pushing this combo down the ranking relative to the broader database.