Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti pairing is a classic mid-range 1080p and 1440p build, and the measured data for Evolve shows exactly where its strengths and limits are. The CPU provides six Performance cores with 12 threads, a 2.50 GHz base clock, and a 4.40 GHz boost clock. In synthetic benchmarks, this chip posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15935 and a single-core score of 2249, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core i7-9700 and Intel Core i5-11600K, with the i5-12400 edging out the former by 0.1% and trailing the latter by 0.4%. The GPU, meanwhile, is an Ampere-architecture card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 1665 MHz, and it carries 4864 shading units. The GPU sits in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, with its average score of 25120 placing it within 0.2% of the AMD Radeon RX 6700M and 0.5% of the AMD Radeon RX 6600. For a game like Evolve, a fast-paced FPS, the balance between these two components determines whether you get smooth gameplay or a stuttery mess.

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

The i5-12400 is a six-core, 12-thread processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process. Its 4.40 GHz boost clock is the key figure for gaming, as it allows the CPU to push high single-thread performance when the game demands it. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2249 and the 3DMark single-thread score of 910 both indicate strong per-core capability, which is what Evolve—a 2015 title—primarily relies on. The game's engine was designed in an era when quad-core CPUs were the norm, so the i5-12400's six cores are more than sufficient to feed the GPU without bottlenecking it at most settings.

The multi-threaded performance is also solid, as shown by the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15935 and the Passmark multithread score of 18747. However, these figures matter less for Evolve itself and more for background tasks or streaming while playing. The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache helps with data locality, reducing the latency when fetching game assets. In the measured results, the CPU's ability to maintain high frame rates at 1080p Low—where the GPU is not the limiting factor—shows that the i5-12400 can keep up with the RTX 3060 Ti without dragging down performance. The CPU's percentile rank of 77 against all CPUs confirms it is a well-above-average part, and it sits just 0.1% above the Intel Core i7-9700 in average score, meaning it trades blows with older high-end parts.

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

The RTX 3060 Ti's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is the most critical spec for Evolve, as the game's texture-heavy environments can consume VRAM quickly at higher resolutions. The memory runs at 14 Gbps effective, and with a 256-bit bus, the 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is ample for moving textures and geometry. The GPU's 1665 MHz boost clock and 4864 shading units give it a raw compute throughput of 16.20 TFLOPS FP32, which is more than enough for a game from 2015. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 20349 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2626 place it in the 69th percentile, with its closest rival being the AMD Radeon RX 6700M at a 0.2% higher score.

In Evolve, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates at higher settings and resolutions. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 65.4, which is still playable but indicates the GPU is working hard. The card's 80 ROPs and 152 TMUs handle pixel and texture processing efficiently, but the 8 GB VRAM becomes a constraint at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS falls to 28.7. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support ensures compatibility with modern rendering paths, though Evolve predates many of those features. The GPU's TDP of 200 W and suggested 550 W PSU are reasonable for a mid-range build, and the dual-slot design keeps it manageable in most cases.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data for Evolve shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 157.4 FPS, which drops to 107.2 FPS at 1440p Low—a 31.9% reduction—and then to 59.5 FPS at 4K Low, a 62.2% reduction from 1080p. This steep drop at 4K indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution. The same pattern holds for Medium settings: 126.7 FPS at 1080p, 85.1 FPS at 1440p, and 49.6 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are consistent, suggesting the GPU is being pushed harder as pixel count increases.

At High settings, the drop from 1080p (99.4 FPS) to 1440p (63.6 FPS) is a 36.0% reduction, and then to 4K (37.4 FPS) is a 62.4% reduction from 1080p. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 65.4 FPS at 1080p, 45.2 FPS at 1440p, and 28.7 FPS at 4K. The fact that the GPU is clearly the bottleneck at 4K across all settings is evidenced by the fact that the CPU's 3DMark 16-thread score of 5873 is not the limiting factor—the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and compute throughput simply cannot sustain high frame rates at 3840x2160. At 1080p and 1440p, the combo is well-balanced, with the CPU providing enough headroom to keep frame rates high.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong results across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 157.4 FPS, Medium yields 126.7 FPS, High gives 99.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 65.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 92.0 FPS, showing that the GPU is heavily taxed by the Ultra preset's additional effects. All of these are playable on a standard 60 Hz monitor, and the Low and Medium presets are well-suited for high-refresh-rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain respectable. Low settings average 107.2 FPS, Medium hits 85.1 FPS, High manages 63.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45.2 FPS. The 1440p results are about 30-35% lower than 1080p across the board, which is expected given the pixel increase. For a 144 Hz monitor at 1440p, Low or Medium settings are required; High and Ultra will be capped below 64 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings. Low averages 59.5 FPS, Medium drops to 49.6 FPS, High falls to 37.4 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 28.7 FPS. Only Low settings are viable for a smooth experience at 4K, and even then, the 59.5 FPS average is borderline for a fast-paced FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: this combo is a 1080p and 1440p performer, not a 4K solution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combos for Evolve, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1198 out of 1695 total combinations. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems, which is surprising given the individual component performance. The rank suggests that Evolve favors higher-end configurations, and this mid-range combo, while competent, does not sit at the top. The CPU's benchmark percentile of 77 and GPU's percentile of 69 are both solid, but the combination does not synergize as well as some other pairings in this specific game.

The rank of 1198 out of 1695 indicates that many combos—likely those with higher-tier GPUs or CPUs with more cores—achieve better frame rates. However, this does not mean the combo is poor; it simply reflects that Evolve is a demanding title at higher settings. For context, the CPU's nearest rivals in average score (Intel Core i7-9700, Intel Core i7-8700) and the GPU's nearest rivals (AMD Radeon RX 6700M, AMD Radeon RX 6600) would likely produce similar rankings, given the close benchmark deltas. The combo is a mid-pack performer in this game, excelling at 1080p and 1440p but falling behind at 4K.

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

For a smooth, competitive experience in Evolve, the data suggests prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. At 1080p, the Low preset's 157.4 FPS is ideal for high-refresh monitors, while Medium at 126.7 FPS offers a good balance of visuals and speed. High at 99.4 FPS is still excellent, and even Ultra at 65.4 FPS is playable if you prefer maximum quality on a 60 Hz display. The sweet spot for most users is Medium, as it provides a 27.3% FPS increase over High while maintaining decent visuals.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts to Low or Medium. Low at 107.2 FPS is the only preset that can push past 100 FPS, making it the best choice for high-refresh 1440p monitors. Medium at 85.1 FPS is still smooth, but High at 63.6 FPS and Ultra at 45.2 FPS are better suited for slower-paced games. For 4K, only Low at 59.5 FPS is viable; Medium at 49.6 FPS and above will result in noticeable stuttering in a fast FPS. The data indicates that the Ultra preset is not worth the frame rate sacrifice at any resolution, as the 65.4 FPS at 1080p is the only time it exceeds 60 FPS, and it drops to 45.2 FPS at 1440p. Stick with Medium for the best experience per the measured rows, unless you have a 1080p 60 Hz monitor and prioritize visuals above all else—then High is acceptable.