Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetrical FPS, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB pairing. The data places this combination at rank 897 out of 1695 tested combos, suggesting a mid-field performance tier that reveals distinct bottlenecks depending on the resolution and settings chosen. The benchmark results indicate a system that is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p but becomes increasingly GPU-limited as resolution scales upward, with the CPU's role in the equation becoming more nuanced than a simple core count would suggest.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake generation, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz provide the computational foundation for this combo. The CPU's benchmark profile shows a significant gap between single-thread and multi-thread performance: a 3dmark_single_thread score of 910 contrasts with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 5890. This indicates strong per-core efficiency, which is often crucial for older game engines that may not scale perfectly across many cores. The Cinebench R23 scores of 2249 single-core and 15935 multi-core further confirm this pattern, with the multi-core result being roughly 7 times the single-core score, close to the expected scaling from 6 physical cores with hyper-threading.

In Evolve, a game released in 2015, the engine's thread utilization is likely to favor fewer, faster cores over many slower ones. The i5-12400's 3dmark_2_threads score of 1692 is relatively strong, suggesting that the processor can handle the primary game logic and rendering threads without becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache also helps maintain data locality for frequently accessed game assets. However, the data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 197.6 FPS, which is substantially higher than at 4K Low (74.7 FPS). This delta suggests that while the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates, it is not the sole limiting factor; the GPU's workload increases dramatically with resolution, shifting the bottleneck.

The i5-12400's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core i7-9700 and i7-8700, with deltaPct values of 0.1% and -0.2% respectively. This indicates that the i5-12400's overall processing capability is nearly identical to those older i7 processors, despite having fewer cores. For Evolve, this means the CPU is not a weak link in the chain; it is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at most settings, and its performance headroom only becomes apparent when the GPU is under less stress, such as at 1080p Low, where the FPS ceiling is likely dictated by the game's engine or CPU single-thread limits.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this combo if targeting 60 FPS?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 with Medium settings achieves exactly 100 FPS, while 3840x2160 with Medium settings drops to 59.1 FPS. For a stable 60 FPS experience, 2560x1440 at High settings (80.7 FPS) is a safer choice, as the 4K Medium result is borderline.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in processing power?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700, scores 19831, a delta of 0.1% in favor of the i5. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 19928, which is 0.4% higher, indicating that the i5-12400 is well within the performance envelope of these very different processors.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM of the RX 9060 XT a limiting factor at 4K Ultra?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo produces 33.9 FPS. While the FACT PACK does not list VRAM usage, the significant drop from 4K High (44.2 FPS) to 4K Ultra (33.9 FPS) suggests that the highest settings impose a heavy rendering load, where memory capacity and bandwidth (322.3 GB/s) likely contribute to the performance floor.

Q: What is the difference in performance between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 120.9. Moving to 2560x1440 at High settings reduces the average to 80.7 FPS. This represents a 33% decrease in frame rate, showing the increased pixel count directly impacts the GPU's rendering workload.

Q: Does the CPU's single-thread performance matter for this game?

A: The CPU's 3dmark_single_thread score is 910, and its Passmark single-thread score is 3456. Given the game's 2015 release and the FPS scaling observed, strong single-thread performance is likely critical for maintaining high frame rates at low settings, where the GPU is not the bottleneck. The data cannot confirm this directly, but the high 1080p Low result (197.6 FPS) implies the CPU can handle the game's primary thread efficiently.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested systems?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB combo is ranked 897 out of 1695 total combinations tested for Evolve. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance distribution, meaning there are 798 combos that achieve higher average frame rates.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Examining the measured FPS rows, the sweet spot for this combo appears to be the High preset at 2560x1440 resolution. This configuration yields an average of 80.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay while maintaining a high level of visual fidelity. The jump to Ultra at 1440p drops performance to 53.5 FPS, a 34% reduction, which is a steep price for the marginal visual improvements that Ultra typically offers over High. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 120.9 FPS, which is excellent for high refresh rate monitors, but the visual detail at 1440p is often more immersive for a game like Evolve, which relies on environmental awareness to track the monster.

For players prioritizing frame rate above all else, the 1080p Low preset at 197.6 FPS is the clear choice, but this sacrifices most graphical effects. The Medium preset at 1080p (154.2 FPS) offers a better balance, though still far above the refresh rate of most standard displays. The data suggests that 4K is not a viable option for this combo if aiming for competitive play, as even the Low preset at 4K only reaches 74.7 FPS, and the High preset falls to 44.2 FPS. Therefore, the recommended experience is 1440p High, which provides the best combination of visual clarity and performance headroom, ensuring that the game remains responsive during intense firefights and monster chases.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo's rank of 897 out of 1695 tested combinations places it squarely in the middle of the pack, indicating that it is a balanced but not top-tier setup for Evolve. This position suggests that while the RX 9060 XT is a capable GPU, its 8 GB memory configuration and mid-range architecture (RDNA 4.0) prevent it from competing with higher-end cards, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus of 77 shows that the i5-12400 is a strong processor relative to all CPUs, but the overall combo ranking is dragged down by the GPU's performance ceiling in this specific game.

The ranking implies that there are 798 other combinations that deliver better average FPS in Evolve. This could be due to more powerful GPUs with higher memory bandwidth or greater compute throughput (the RX 9060 XT has 25.64 TFLOPS FP32), or perhaps CPUs with higher single-thread scores. However, the data also shows that this combo outperforms many others, as it sits above the median (847.5). The gap between the CPU's high percentile (77%) and the combo's mid-tier rank (52.9%) highlights that the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing. For a game like Evolve, which may not be heavily optimized for multi-threaded CPUs, the i5-12400's six cores are likely sufficient, meaning the 897th rank is a reflection of the GPU's ability to render the game's environments and effects.

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 performance degradation as resolution increases, which is indicative of GPU-bound scaling. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 120.9 at 1080p to 80.7 at 1440p (a 33.3% decrease), and then to 44.2 at 4K (a further 45.2% decrease from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 63.4%, which is consistent with the pixel count increasing by a factor of 4. This near-linear scaling with pixel count strongly suggests that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is the primary bottleneck; the CPU is not being stressed to its limits, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS does not plateau at lower resolutions.

For Low settings, the pattern is similar but with higher absolute values: 197.6 FPS at 1080p, 133.3 FPS at 1440p, and 74.7 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 32.5% and 44.0% respectively, again showing GPU-bound behavior. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller FPS difference between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU workload remains relatively constant while the GPU workload increases. The fact that the FPS scales nearly proportionally with resolution indicates that the i5-12400 has ample headroom to feed the GPU, and the RX 9060 XT's 128-bit memory bus and 322.3 GB/s bandwidth are the constraints. The 8 GB VRAM might also come into play at 4K Ultra, where the 33.9 FPS result is likely a combination of compute and memory limitations.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 197.6 FPS, which is the peak performance in the entire dataset. Medium settings reduce this to 154.2 FPS, while High brings it down to 120.9 FPS. Ultra at 1080p produces 80.1 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant 59.5% drop from Low.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings average 133.3 FPS, Medium achieves exactly 100 FPS, High hits 80.7 FPS, and Ultra falls to 53.5 FPS. The differences between each preset step are roughly 20-30 FPS, showing a consistent cost for higher graphical fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings average 74.7 FPS, which is barely above the 60 FPS target. Medium drops to 59.1 FPS, High further reduces to 44.2 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 33.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 40.8 FPS, indicating that the highest settings are not viable for smooth gameplay at this resolution. The data shows that the Low preset at 4K is the only 4K option that approaches playability, while 1080p and 1440p offer multiple viable settings for different preferences.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB is the other half of this pairing, and its specifications directly influence the measured FPS. The GPU has a base clock of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2530 MHz, and a boost clock of 3130 MHz, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 322.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The 64 ROPs and 128 TMUs handle pixel and texture processing, and the 2048 shading units deliver 25.64 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. The GPU's 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is an average performer, which aligns with the combo's mid-tier rank in Evolve.

The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is a notable factor for a 2015 game, but the memory bandwidth of 322.3 GB/s might be more critical. The large FPS drops at 4K suggest that the GPU's memory subsystem is strained, as the 128-bit bus is narrow by modern standards. The 4nm process node and RDNA 4.0 architecture provide efficiency, but the raw throughput is limited. The boost clock of 3130 MHz is high, yet the game's performance at 4K Ultra (33.9 FPS) shows that clock speed alone cannot compensate for the memory bandwidth and compute limitations. The GPU's 150 W TDP and PCIe 5.0 x16 interface are standard, but the data indicates that for Evolve, the GPU is the clear limiting factor, especially at resolutions above 1080p where the rendering workload outpaces the card's capabilities.