Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT delivers a performance profile in Evolve that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics settings. The data shows a clear transition from a CPU-bound state at 1080p to a GPU-bound state at 4K, with the mid-range settings offering the most balanced experience. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) to reveal where the bottleneck lies and how the hardware handles the 2015 FPS title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data illustrates a steep performance drop as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the GPU becomes the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 156 FPS, but this falls to 107.4 FPS at 1440p and further to 59.6 FPS at 4K. This represents a 31% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 45% reduction from 1440p to 4K, indicating that the RX 5700 XT is struggling to maintain frame rates as pixel count rises.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. At High settings, the drop from 97.4 FPS at 1080p to 61.9 FPS at 1440p is a 36% decrease, and then to 34.9 FPS at 4K is another 44% decrease. The scaling factor between 1440p and 4K is nearly identical across all presets, suggesting that the GPU’s raw throughput, not memory bandwidth or CPU limitations, is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 22.7 FPS is particularly telling, as it shows the GPU is overwhelmed when both pixel count and graphical fidelity are maximized.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe than from 1440p to 4K for all settings. For instance, Medium settings drop from 120 FPS at 1080p to 83.7 FPS at 1440p (a 30% decrease), but then to 48.5 FPS at 4K (a 42% decrease). This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU’s compute units are saturated at 4K, while at 1080p, the CPU is likely still able to feed frames efficiently, keeping the GPU busier. The data implies that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combination, offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p without the severe frame rate penalty seen at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark results indicate that the High preset at 1440p provides the best balance between visual quality and performance. At 61.9 FPS, this setting is playable and offers a substantial improvement over the Medium preset's 83.7 FPS in terms of graphical detail, while staying above the 60 FPS threshold. Pushing to Ultra at 1440p drops the frame rate to 44.6 FPS, which is a noticeable compromise for marginal visual gains.

For users targeting 1080p, the High preset at 97.4 FPS is the recommended choice. It delivers a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience without the performance overhead of Ultra, which still achieves a respectable 66.5 FPS. The data suggests that Ultra settings are only viable at 1080p, where the CPU can partially offset the GPU’s load, but the gains over High are not worth the 32% frame rate reduction.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset achieves 59.6 FPS, which is just below the ideal 60 FPS target, while Medium drops to 48.5 FPS. Given the data, Low is the only playable option at 4K, but it sacrifices most of the graphical fidelity that makes the game visually appealing. The Medium preset at 1440p (83.7 FPS) is a strong alternative for those who prioritize smoothness over maximum detail, offering a 35% improvement over High while still looking significantly better than Low.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus, plays a critical role in Evolve’s performance, particularly at higher resolutions. The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is sufficient for the game’s textures, as evidenced by the consistent frame rate drops when moving from Medium to High settings, which likely increase texture detail and memory usage. The 8 GB capacity appears adequate, as the game does not exhibit sudden stutters or crashes in the data, but the GPU’s compute power is the limiting factor.

The GPU’s boost clock of 1905 MHz and game clock of 1755 MHz are relatively high, yet the performance scaling suggests that the RDNA 1.0 architecture’s 2560 shading units are not enough to handle 4K Ultra. The benchmark scores reflect this, with a PassMark G3D score of 16277 placing the GPU in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. This is a mid-range performer, and the data confirms that it is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The 4K results, particularly the 22.7 FPS at Ultra, are a clear indication that the GPU is out of its depth at this resolution, despite having the memory capacity to store the required assets.

The GPU’s FP32 performance of 9.754 TFLOPS is a key indicator of its rasterization capability, and the measured FPS at 1080p Low (156 FPS) suggests that the GPU is not the bottleneck at lower settings. However, as settings increase, the GPU’s fill rate and shader processing become the dominant factors, leading to the observed frame rate drops. The data implies that the RX 5700 XT is a capable 1440p card for this title, but 4K gaming requires a significant reduction in settings to remain playable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the combo demonstrates its strength. The Low preset achieves 156 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the CPU and GPU are both well-utilized. The Medium preset drops to 120 FPS, a 23% reduction, while High follows at 97.4 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 66.5 FPS. This progression shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with settings, but even at Ultra, the frame rate is above 60 FPS, making 1080p a comfortable environment.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates become more moderate. Low achieves 107.4 FPS, which is still excellent, but Medium drops to 83.7 FPS, and High falls to 61.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at 44.6 FPS is the first instance where the combo fails to maintain 60 FPS, indicating that the GPU is starting to strain. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 58%, which is larger than the 57% gap at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU’s performance is decreasing at a faster rate as resolution increases.

At 4K, the results are harsh. Low achieves 59.6 FPS, which is barely playable, but Medium drops to 48.5 FPS, and High falls to 34.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at 22.7 FPS is nearly unplayable. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a 62% reduction, and the data clearly shows that the GPU is overwhelmed. The frame rates at 4K are roughly half of those at 1440p for the same settings, which aligns with the 2.25x pixel count increase, confirming that the GPU is the sole bottleneck at this resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p with High settings (61.9 FPS) offers the best balance. It provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a playable frame rate, unlike 4K which requires Low settings (59.6 FPS) to stay near 60 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with the RX 5700 XT?

A: The data shows that 4K is only viable at Low settings (59.6 FPS). Higher presets, such as Medium (48.5 FPS) and High (34.9 FPS), result in frame rates below 60 FPS, and Ultra (22.7 FPS) is unplayable.

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

A: The Core i5-12400’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at 1080p, as evidenced by the high frame rates (156 FPS at Low). The CPU’s boost clock of 4.40 GHz and 18 MB of L3 cache help maintain consistent frame delivery.

Q: What settings should be avoided for a smooth experience?

A: Ultra settings should be avoided at both 1440p (44.6 FPS) and 4K (22.7 FPS), as they lead to sub-60 FPS performance. At 1080p, Ultra is acceptable (66.5 FPS), but High (97.4 FPS) provides a better margin for frame rate dips.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions above 1080p Low. The data shows that frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings, which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. The CPU only becomes a potential bottleneck at 1080p Low, where the frame rate is very high.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 1309 out of 1695 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle range of all tested systems. This ranking reflects the GPU’s mid-range status, as the CPU is a strong performer but is held back by the GPU’s limitations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 per core provide ample bandwidth for game logic and AI calculations in Evolve. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15935 and a PassMark multithread score of 18747, place it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong multi-threaded performance.

In this game, the CPU’s role is evident at 1080p, where the low settings yield 156 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough draw calls to keep it busy. However, as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU’s performance becomes less critical. The data shows that the frame rate drops are consistent with GPU-bound behavior, as the CPU’s 12 threads are more than enough for Evolve’s requirements, which was released in 2015.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-9700 (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i5-11600K (0.4% slower), have similar average benchmark scores, confirming that the i5-12400 is a competitive mid-range processor. Its 65W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a flexible choice, but in Evolve, the CPU is never the limiting factor. The measured FPS at 4K, regardless of settings, is far below what the CPU could theoretically support, proving that the RX 5700 XT is the primary constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combination ranks 1309 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the 77th percentile of all tested systems. This ranking is lower than the CPU’s individual percentile (77th) and the GPU’s percentile (68th), suggesting that the combo’s performance is dragged down by the GPU’s mid-range capabilities. The ranking indicates that this system is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates, rather than 4K.

The combo’s rank of 1309 out of 1695 means that 386 other tested combinations perform better in this game. This places it in the lower half of the ranking, which is consistent with the GPU’s position as a 68th percentile performer. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as its performance is above average, but the overall combo is held back by the GPU’s inability to handle high resolutions and settings simultaneously. For users with this hardware, the measured FPS suggests that prioritizing 1440p High settings is the most effective way to maximize the system’s potential, as it balances visual quality with playable frame rates.