Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a fascinating performance profile in Evolve, one that is heavily dictated by resolution and settings. The data shows a system capable of extreme frame rates, yet the scaling patterns reveal where the bottleneck shifts between the CPU and GPU. This analysis breaks down the measured results across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, examining the GPU's role, answering common questions, and providing clear settings guidance.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking trend in the measured data is the dramatic collapse in frame rates as resolution increases, which is a clear signature of a GPU-bound scenario at higher settings. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 304.5 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 249.1 FPS, a 55.4 FPS decline, and then 4K Low falls further to 143.4 FPS. This represents a 52.9% reduction in average FPS from 1080p Low to 4K Low, demonstrating that even with the mighty RTX 4090, the sheer pixel count at 4K imposes a massive workload.

However, the scaling pattern changes character when we look at higher settings. With Ultra settings, the 1080p average is 156.3 FPS, which drops to 105.7 FPS at 1440p and then to 61.1 FPS at 4K. The relative drop from 1080p to 1440p is 32.4%, and from 1440p to 4K is 42.2%. This steeper proportional decline at higher settings suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor, as the additional visual complexity compounds with the resolution increase.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting component, especially at lower settings. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p only reduces the average from 304.5 FPS to 277.2 FPS, a modest 27.3 FPS penalty. This relative insensitivity to settings at 1080p suggests the Intel Core i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is nearing its ceiling in this game. The CPU's benchmark scores support this, with a single-thread score of 910 in 3dmark and a passmark single-thread score of 3456, which are solid but not exceptional.

At 4K, the scales tip completely toward the GPU. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 82.3 FPS (143.4 vs 61.1), which is a 57.4% performance loss. This massive gap highlights that the RTX 4090 is working at full capacity at 4K Ultra, while the CPU has ample headroom. The transition from 1440p to 4K at High settings shows a 65.4 FPS drop (154.1 to 88.7), further confirming that resolution is the dominant factor in this range.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an absolute powerhouse, and its specifications explain why it can push such high frame rates in Evolve. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. This vast memory pool and bandwidth are crucial for high-resolution gaming, ensuring that texture data and geometry are fed to the GPU without stuttering. The GPU's 16,384 shading units and 512 TMUs allow it to process the complex scenes in Evolve with ease.

The clock speeds are also noteworthy. With a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, the RTX 4090 operates at very high frequencies. This is complemented by a pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s. These figures translate directly to the ability to fill pixels and apply textures at the rates seen in the measured FPS data. The GPU's FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS is staggering, though Evolve, being a 2015 title, likely does not fully utilize this raw compute power.

The RTX 4090's 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores are overkill for this game, but they do not hinder performance. The data shows that the GPU is the clear bottleneck at 4K Ultra, where it produces 61.1 FPS. This is not a sign of weakness but rather proof of the game's demanding nature at maximum settings. The GPU's passmark G3D score of 38194 places it in the 91st percentile of all GPUs, confirming its elite status. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA Tesla T4 (avgScore 66733, deltaPct -0.4), show that the RTX 4090 is essentially at parity with professional compute cards in synthetic benchmarks, though its gaming-specific features are far superior.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 304.5, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This indicates the combo can easily exceed 300 FPS when the CPU is not overly constrained.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 61.1. This is still playable, but it shows the game is heavily GPU-bound at this resolution and preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p, especially at Low settings. The small FPS difference between Low (304.5) and Medium (277.2) at 1080p indicates the Intel Core i5-12400 is nearing its performance ceiling.

Q: How much of a performance hit does moving from 1440p to 4K High incur?

A: Moving from 2560x1440 High (154.1 FPS) to 3840x2160 High (88.7 FPS) results in a 65.4 FPS drop. This represents a 42.4% reduction in average frame rate.

Q: Does the RTX 4090's 24 GB VRAM matter in Evolve?

A: The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory is far more than Evolve requires, but it ensures no memory-related bottlenecks. The 1.01 TB/s bandwidth ensures smooth texture streaming at all resolutions and settings.

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

A: The combo holds rank 52 out of 1695 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the top 3.1% of all tested systems, indicating it is a very high-performing pairing.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for this combo, and the choice depends heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset is the clear winner, delivering 304.5 FPS. This allows for maximum responsiveness on high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 1440p, Low settings produce 249.1 FPS, which is still exceptionally high.

However, for a balanced visual and performance experience, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. At 1080p, it delivers 277.2 FPS, only 27.3 FPS less than Low, while providing significantly better visuals. At 1440p, Medium yields 193.9 FPS, which is still well above the 144 Hz threshold for most gaming monitors. The High preset is also viable, with 154.1 FPS at 1440p and 229 FPS at 1080p, but it does not offer a proportional visual improvement over Medium for the frame rate cost.

At 4K, the recommendations shift. High settings at 88.7 FPS offer a good balance for a 60-90 Hz display, but Ultra is the only option for maximum visual fidelity, albeit at 61.1 FPS. The Low preset at 4K (143.4 FPS) is an option for those who prioritize frame rate over everything else, but it negates the point of 4K resolution. The data shows that Medium at 4K (109 FPS) is a strong compromise, offering a significant boost over High while maintaining a high frame rate. For most users, the best experience is either Medium at 1440p for high refresh rates or High at 4K for visual quality on a standard refresh rate monitor.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 + RTX 4090 pairing holds a rank of 52 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This top-3.1% placement is remarkable, especially considering the CPU is a mid-range part. The RTX 4090's dominance is the primary driver of this high ranking, as its GPU-bound performance at higher resolutions compensates for the CPU's limitations.

This ranking is particularly impressive when you consider the CPU's benchmark standing. The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700 (avgScore 19831, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core i7-8700 (avgScore 19894, deltaPct -0.2). These rivals are essentially tied with the i5-12400 in synthetic tests, but they do not hold a candle to the RTX 4090 in gaming. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking (avgBenchmarkScore 66473) is what boosts this combo to the top 3.1% of all tested systems.

The data indicates that this combo is a prime example of GPU-dominant performance. In Evolve, the RTX 4090 is the star, and the i5-12400 is a capable supporting actor. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p, but at 4K, the GPU is fully utilized, making the CPU's relative weakness irrelevant. The rank of 52 confirms the RTX 4090's raw power, and it shows that pairing a mid-range CPU with a flagship GPU can yield top-tier results in this title.