Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS, presents a demanding load for the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination. The measured data shows this pairing produces a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but it struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K Ultra. The system's performance is heavily dictated by the GPU's 6 GB VRAM and the CPU's six-core architecture, with results indicating a clear GPU bottleneck at higher resolutions and a more balanced load at 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake generation, running at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide a solid foundation for gaming. In Evolve, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 148 FPS, which is a strong indicator that the CPU is capable of keeping up with the GPU's output at this resolution. The data shows that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU is less likely to be the limiting factor, as frame rates scale significantly with GPU load.

However, the processor's performance relative to its peers is moderate. Benchmark scores place it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17181. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and the Intel Core i7-1260P, with deltaPct values of 0 and -0.2 respectively, indicating near-identical average scores. In multithreaded workloads, the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14372 and the 3DMark max threads score of 5652 show that the CPU has ample headroom for gaming scenarios. For Evolve, which is a 2015 title, the i5-11400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient to avoid becoming a significant bottleneck, as evidenced by the high frame rates seen at 1080p Low.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this configuration. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's architecture, Turing, is built on a 12 nm process with a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz. The 6 GB VRAM is a critical constraint in Evolve, particularly at higher resolutions and settings where texture data and frame buffers demand more memory. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 23.3 FPS, which is a direct consequence of the GPU being overwhelmed by the rendering load and potentially running out of VRAM.

The GPU's overall performance is in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16074. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, with deltaPct values of 0.5 and -1.7 respectively. In DirectX 11, which is relevant for Evolve, the passmark_directx_11 score is 110, and the passmark_g3d score is 14111. These figures indicate that the RTX 2060 is a capable mid-range card, but its 6 GB VRAM and 192-bit memory bus limit its performance at 4K. At 1080p High, the GPU produces 88.8 FPS, showing that it has sufficient power for mainstream gaming, but the 4K Ultra result of 23.3 FPS highlights its limitations at extreme settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a significant performance drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with High settings, the system averages 88.8 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 62 FPS, a decrease of 30%. At 4K High, the average falls to 34.4 FPS, a 61% reduction from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering resolution directly impacts the GPU's workload. The CPU's performance is less affected by resolution changes, so the frame rate drop is almost entirely attributable to the RTX 2060's inability to sustain high fill rates at 4K.

The data also shows how settings affect scaling. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 148 FPS, while at 4K Low, it manages 54.8 FPS. This 63% drop indicates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is still the primary bottleneck at 4K. The difference between 1080p Ultra (62.4 FPS) and 4K Ultra (23.3 FPS) is a 63% drop as well, suggesting that the GPU's memory bandwidth and processing power are consistently the limiting factors at higher resolutions. The results clearly show that for a smooth experience, users should prioritize 1080p or 1440p with moderate settings, as the 4K performance is only playable at Low settings, which still yields just 54.8 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1349 out of 1695 tested combos for Evolve. This places it in the lower-mid tier of all possible system configurations. The rank reflects the GPU's 6 GB VRAM limitation and the CPU's mid-range positioning. While the CPU scores well in synthetic benchmarks (75th percentile), the GPU's 58th percentile performance drags the overall combo ranking down. The data suggests that many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs will outperform this pairing in Evolve, particularly those with more powerful GPUs or more VRAM.

The deltaPct values from the nearest rivals show that the CPU is closely matched with other mid-range processors, with scores differing by less than 0.2%. This indicates that the CPU is not a differentiator in this combo's ranking. Instead, the GPU is the limiting factor. The RTX 2060's performance is comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, which is 0.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, which is 1.7% slower. The combo's rank of 1349 out of 1695 means that roughly 80% of tested configurations deliver better performance in Evolve, highlighting that this is a budget-conscious pairing that requires settings adjustments for optimal play.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it averages 54.8 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 45.7 FPS, and at High it is 34.4 FPS. Ultra settings are not recommended, as the average is just 23.3 FPS.

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

A: The data shows that 1080p offers the most consistent performance, with an average of 148 FPS at Low settings and 88.8 FPS at High settings. 1440p is also viable, with 100.6 FPS at Low and 62 FPS at High.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck, especially at resolutions above 1080p. The frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, which is a clear sign of GPU limitation. The CPU's performance is sufficient, as it ranks in the 75th percentile.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1349 out of 1695 tested combos, placing it in the lower-mid tier. The GPU's 58th percentile performance and 6 GB VRAM are the key factors holding back the system's overall ranking.

Q: What settings should I use for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: For 1080p, High settings yield 88.8 FPS, and Medium settings yield 114.4 FPS. For 1440p, High settings yield 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target, while Medium settings provide 77.3 FPS.

Q: Is the 6 GB VRAM enough for Evolve?

A: The data indicates that 6 GB is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p with most settings, but it struggles at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 23.3 FPS suggests that the VRAM capacity or bandwidth is a limiting factor at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset in Evolve:

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|---|---|---|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 148 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 114.4 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 88.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 62.4 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 100.6 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 77.3 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 62 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 42.6 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 54.8 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 45.7 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 34.4 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 23.3 |

The data shows a consistent drop in performance as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p, the system delivers playable frame rates across all presets, with even Ultra averaging above 60 FPS. At 1440p, the Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS, and at 4K, all presets except Low fail to reach 60 FPS. The most significant performance degradation occurs between 1440p High (62 FPS) and 4K High (34.4 FPS), a 45% reduction in frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

For a balanced experience at 1080p, the High preset is the optimal choice, delivering 88.8 FPS while maintaining good visual quality. For those seeking maximum fluidity, the Low preset at 148 FPS is ideal for competitive play, but the Medium preset at 114.4 FPS offers a better visual-to-performance ratio. The Ultra preset at 62.4 FPS is also viable, providing the highest visual fidelity while staying above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is recommended, as it provides 77.3 FPS and a significant visual upgrade over Low. The High preset at 62 FPS is also acceptable for those who prefer higher detail, but the Ultra preset at 42.6 FPS should be avoided for a consistently smooth experience. At 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, with 54.8 FPS. The Medium preset at 45.7 FPS may be playable for some, but the High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to their low frame rates. The data indicates that the best overall experience for this combo is 1080p High or 1440p Medium, as these settings balance visual quality with performance.