Evolve

The Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT pairing in Evolve presents a notable study in bottleneck dynamics. The CPU, a 6-core, 12-thread Rocket Lake part with a 2.60 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost clock, sits in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU, a RDNA 3.0 flagship with 20 GB of GDDR6, holds only the 55th percentile. This disparity suggests the processor is the more dominant component relative to its peers, yet the frame rates tell a story of GPU-bound scaling at higher resolutions. The data shows the combo ranks 781st out of 3700 tested configurations, placing it in the top 21% of all pairings. This is a system that delivers playable performance across the board, but the relationship between the CPU’s single-thread strength and the GPU’s raw throughput shifts dramatically depending on the resolution and preset chosen.

CPU Role

The i5-11400F’s architecture is central to understanding its performance in Evolve. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it provides ample parallel processing for a 2015 title, but its single-thread capabilities are the more critical factor for this game’s engine. The benchmark data shows a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and a passmark_single_thread score of 2981, indicating solid per-core performance. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz is the key driver here, allowing the CPU to quickly process the game’s simulation and physics threads. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache is also relevant, as it reduces the latency penalty when threads share data, which is common in FPS titles. This CPU’s performance is closely matched by its nearest rivals, sitting just 0.3% above the AMD EPYC 7H12 and 0.6% above the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, but 0.4% below the Intel Core i5-12450H.

In the context of Evolve’s measured results, the CPU’s role becomes clear when examining the 1080p Low preset, where the system achieves 260 FPS. This is the only configuration where the CPU might approach its limits, as the GPU has less work to do. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 5619 and the cinebench_r23_multicore score of 14340 suggest that the CPU has sufficient multi-threaded headroom to avoid being the primary constraint at higher settings. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and DDR4 memory support with dual-channel bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s are adequate for feeding the GPU, though the data does not indicate any memory bottleneck. The performance delta between the CPU and its nearest rivals is minimal, with the largest gap being 0.6%, which means the i5-11400F is a consistent performer in this title, unlikely to cause unexpected stutters or frame dips due to processor limitations.

The benchmark results indicate that the CPU’s influence on Evolve is most pronounced at lower resolutions and settings where frame rates are highest. At 1080p Low, the 260 FPS average suggests the engine is being fed with data as fast as the CPU can process it. However, the 3dmark_8_threads score of 4691 versus the max_threads score of 5652 shows that scaling beyond 8 threads yields diminishing returns, which is typical for a game of this era. The CPU’s 71st percentile ranking versus all CPUs is respectable, but the data does not show it as a limiting factor in the Ultra presets, where the GPU clearly takes over. The passmark_physics score of 842 is particularly relevant, as physics calculations are often a CPU bottleneck in FPS games, yet the frame rates at 1440p and 4K remain high, indicating that the i5-11400F is handling the workload without issue.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the undisputed performance driver in this configuration, and its specifications align with the observed frame rates. The GPU features a boost clock of 2394 MHz and a game clock of 2025 MHz, with 5376 shading units and 192 ROPs. This raw compute power translates to a passmark_g3d score of 29009, which places it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. The 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus provides 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Evolve’s textures at any resolution. The pixel rate of 459.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 804.4 GTexel/s are the key metrics for rasterization-heavy games like this one. The GPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 660M and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile, which are within 0.5% of its average benchmark score, but the deltaPct values show the RX 7900 XT is 1.5% below the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT.

The GPU’s role is most evident in the Ultra preset results, where the frame rates drop significantly across all resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the system averages 45 FPS, while at 1440p Ultra it reaches 80 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra it hits 119 FPS. This scaling is directly attributable to the GPU’s pixel and texture throughput. The memory bandwidth of 800.0 GB/s becomes a critical factor at higher resolutions, as the GPU must access more texture data per frame. The DirectX 12 Ultimate support and 12_2 feature level are also relevant, as Evolve was released before this API became standard, but the GPU’s backward compatibility ensures smooth operation. The passmark_directx_11 score of 340 and directx_12 score of 110 indicate that the GPU performs better on older APIs, which aligns with the game’s 2015 release date.

The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K High, where the system averages 66 FPS. This is a steep drop from the 115 FPS at 1440p High, indicating that the 4K resolution is taxing the GPU’s fill rate. The 20 GB VRAM capacity is never a constraint, as the game’s maximum VRAM usage is not listed, but the capacity far exceeds what a 2015 title would require. The GPU’s 300 W TDP and 700 W suggested PSU are consistent with its high-end positioning, and the dual-slot design with 2x 8-pin connectors is standard for this class. The 55th percentile ranking is surprisingly low for such a powerful GPU, but the benchmark data shows that its average score of 13745 is closely matched by much less capable cards, suggesting that the synthetic benchmarks may not fully capture its gaming performance in this specific title.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 offers the best balance of performance and visual quality, with a High preset delivering 115 FPS and an Ultra preset delivering 80 FPS. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 172 FPS on High, but the 260 FPS on Low suggests the CPU is being pushed. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset drops to 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 Low, the system reaches 260 FPS, which is the highest recorded value. This indicates that the i5-11400F’s 4.40 GHz boost clock and 6 cores are sufficient to feed the GPU at this resolution. The 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and passmark_single_thread score of 2981 support this, showing strong per-core performance.

Q: Is the GPU powerful enough for 4K gaming?

A: The RX 7900 XT delivers 66 FPS at 3840x2160 High and 45 FPS at Ultra. While the High preset is playable, the Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS. The GPU’s 800.0 GB/s bandwidth and 459.6 GPixel/s pixel rate are the limiting factors at this resolution, as the frame rates drop by roughly half when moving from 1440p to 4K.

Q: What is the frame time consistency at Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded min and max FPS values. At 1920x1080, the range is 186 to 252 FPS, with an average of 219. At 2560x1440, the range is 125 to 169 FPS, with an average of 147. At 3840x2160, the range is 71 to 96 FPS, with an average of 84. These ranges indicate consistent frame pacing with no major stutters.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 781st out of 3700 tested configurations, placing it in the top 21% of all pairings. This is a strong result, but the CPU’s 71st percentile ranking versus the GPU’s 55th percentile suggests that the processor is the more competitive component relative to its peers.

Q: Does the game favor the CPU or GPU more?

A: The performance scaling indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. Moving from 1080p Ultra (119 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (80 FPS) to 4K Ultra (45 FPS) shows a consistent drop that aligns with the GPU’s pixel rate. The CPU’s influence is minimal, as the frame rates at Low settings are consistently high across all resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which preset offers the best experience. The Medium preset is the only one with min and max FPS values, and it delivers the most consistent performance. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 219 FPS with a range of 186 to 252 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most monitors. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 147 FPS with a range of 125 to 169 FPS, making it the optimal choice for high-refresh-rate 1440p displays. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 84 FPS with a range of 71 to 96 FPS, which is playable on a 60 Hz display but not ideal for 120 Hz panels.

The High preset offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium, but the frame rate impact is substantial. At 1440p High, the system averages 115 FPS, which is 32 FPS lower than Medium. At 4K High, the average drops to 66 FPS, which is 18 FPS lower than Medium. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 119 FPS at 1080p, 80 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that for most users, the Medium preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it is the only setting that maintains a 60+ FPS average at 4K. The Low preset offers the highest frame rates, with 260 FPS at 1080p and 189 FPS at 1440p, but the visual downgrade is likely not worth the performance gain for most players.

For users with 1080p monitors, the High preset at 172 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a significant visual improvement over Medium while still exceeding 144 Hz. For 1440p users, the Medium preset at 147 FPS is the best option, as the High preset at 115 FPS is still smooth but leaves performance on the table. For 4K users, the Medium preset at 84 FPS is the only viable option for consistent gameplay, as the High preset at 66 FPS is borderline and the Ultra preset at 45 FPS is not smooth. The data does not provide any frame generation or upscaling information, so these recommendations are based solely on the measured native rendering performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 781 out of 3700 tested configurations places it in the 78th percentile of all tested systems. This is a strong result, but the ranking is more impressive when considering the individual components’ percentiles. The CPU sits in the 71st percentile, while the GPU sits in the 55th percentile, meaning the combo outperforms what the GPU’s percentile would suggest. This indicates that the CPU is not holding back the GPU in Evolve, and the system is performing above expectations for its component mix. The nearest CPU rivals show a deltaPct of less than 1%, with the AMD EPYC 7H12 being 0.3% faster and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U being 0.6% slower, so the CPU is in a tightly contested performance band.

The GPU’s nearest rivals are more variable, with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT being 1.5% faster, while the AMD Radeon 660M and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile are 0.5% slower. This suggests that the RX 7900 XT’s performance in Evolve is not significantly different from much lower-tier GPUs, which is unusual for a high-end card. The combo’s rank of 781 out of 3700 is likely influenced by the GPU’s relatively low percentile, as many cheaper GPUs could achieve similar frame rates in this title. The data shows that the system is capable of high frame rates, but the GPU’s performance is not exceptional for its class in this specific game.

The rank also indicates that the system is in the top 21% of all tested combos, which is a solid result for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The 3700 total combos include a wide range of hardware, so being in the top 781 is a positive outcome. The data does not provide information on how the combo ranks against similar CPU-GPU pairings, but the individual component percentiles suggest that the CPU is the stronger performer relative to its peers. This is a system that is well-balanced for Evolve, with the CPU providing enough single-thread performance to keep the GPU fed at high frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 260 FPS on Low, 219 FPS on Medium, 172 FPS on High, and 119 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a range of 186 to 252 FPS, indicating a 35% variance between min and max. At 2560x1440, the frame rates are 189 FPS on Low, 147 FPS on Medium, 115 FPS on High, and 80 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset range is 125 to 169 FPS, a 35% variance as well. At 3840x2160, the system delivers 108 FPS on Low, 84 FPS on Medium, 66 FPS on High, and 45 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset range is 71 to 96 FPS, a 35% variance.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent drop of approximately 27% across all settings. For example, Low drops from 260 to 189 FPS, a 27.3% reduction, while Ultra drops from 119 to 80 FPS, a 32.8% reduction. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is more severe, with Low dropping from 189 to 108 FPS, a 42.9% reduction, and Ultra dropping from 80 to 45 FPS, a 43.8% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the frame rate drops are more pronounced than the resolution increase would suggest. The Medium preset shows the most consistent behavior, with a 35% variance between min and max FPS at all three resolutions.

The data shows that the system is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p across all settings, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 80 FPS at 1440p. At 4K, the system is limited to the Medium preset for smooth gameplay, as the High preset at 66 FPS is borderline and the Ultra preset at 45 FPS is not playable. The Low preset at 4K achieves 108 FPS, which is playable but requires significant visual compromises. The frame rate ranges for the Medium preset indicate that the system maintains consistent performance without major dips, which is important for a fast-paced FPS like Evolve. The data does not include 1% low or 0.1% low values, so the min FPS values provide the only indication of frame time consistency.