Evolve

# Evolve with Intel Core i5-12400F + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

The Intel Core i5-12400F pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER in a combination that ranks 1499th out of 1695 tested combos for Evolve, placing it in the lower third of the database. This is a pairing of a modern 6-core processor with a last-generation GPU, and the measured frame rates reveal a system that is heavily constrained by graphics performance at higher resolutions while showing surprising CPU headroom at 1080p. The data tells a story of a combo that can deliver smooth gameplay at lower settings but struggles to maintain playable framerates at 4K Ultra.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F brings 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This Alder Lake-S architecture processor, built on Intel's 10 nm process, has an 18 MB shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 16,518 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2,332 in single-core, with a PassMark multithread score of 19,433 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3,481.

What stands out in the measured FPS data is that the CPU appears to be far from the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 125.1 FPS, which suggests the processor can feed the GPU adequately even in a fast-paced FPS title. The CPU's percentile ranking of 77th among all tested CPUs indicates it sits comfortably above average, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700K with a delta of 0.1% and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS at -0.7%. Given that Evolve is a 2015 FPS title, the 6-core/12-thread configuration with a 4.40 GHz boost clock provides more than enough computational headroom for the game's physics and AI workloads. The data implies the CPU is not the bottleneck until the GPU is pushed to its limits at lower resolutions where frame rates exceed 100 FPS.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture with a TU116 chip manufactured on TSMC's 12 nm process. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU clocks run at 1530 MHz base and 1785 MHz boost, with memory operating at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). Its compute capabilities include 1,408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines, producing 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

In the context of Evolve, the GPU's 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the performance cliff at 4K Ultra (21.2 FPS) reveals the hardware's limitations. The GPU's percentile ranking of 55th places it near the median of all tested GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.7% of its average benchmark score: the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 at -0.2%, the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics at -0.2%, and the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT at -0.7%. The measured frame rates show the GTX 1660 SUPER's pixel rate of 85.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s are adequate for smooth 1080p gameplay but become overwhelmed when pixel count quadruples at 4K.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 74.1 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 52.9 FPS; and at 4K High, it falls to 28.3 FPS. This translates to a 28.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 46.5% drop from 1440p to 4K, indicating that the GPU is the primary constraint as resolution increases.

Looking at Low settings, the pattern is more revealing. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 125.1 FPS, which drops to 81 FPS at 1440p (a 35.3% reduction) and then to 47.4 FPS at 4K (a 41.5% reduction). The fact that even at Low settings the 4K frame rate is below 60 FPS strongly suggests the GPU, with its 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth, cannot sustain the pixel throughput required at 3840x2160. The CPU, by contrast, shows it can push high frame rates at 1080p Low, but the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the wall that prevents scaling to higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo ranks 1499th out of 1695 tested combinations for Evolve, placing it in the bottom 11.6% of all tested systems. This low ranking is notable given that the CPU alone sits at the 77th percentile and the GPU at the 55th percentile. The disparity between the individual component rankings and the combo ranking suggests that while each part is mid-range on its own, their combination does not synergize well for this specific title.

The rank implies that most other tested combos — likely featuring more balanced pairings or higher-end GPUs — outperform this configuration in Evolve. The measured FPS data supports this: even at 1080p Low, the combo's 125.1 FPS is respectable but not exceptional, and at 4K Ultra the 21.2 FPS is firmly in unplayable territory. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-8700K (0.1% delta), would not meaningfully change the ranking if swapped in, because the GPU remains the bottleneck. The ranking reflects that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming with medium-to-high settings, not for high-refresh-rate or 4K scenarios.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce 125.1 FPS average, Medium settings yield 96.8 FPS, High settings achieve 74.1 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 51.1 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 74 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution but that Ultra settings push it near the edge of playability.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades predictably. Low settings average 81 FPS, Medium settings hit 61.3 FPS, High settings manage 52.9 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 35.5 FPS. The 1440p results show that only Low and Medium settings maintain frame rates above 60 FPS, with High just below the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overmatched. Low settings average 47.4 FPS, Medium settings deliver 38 FPS, High settings produce 28.3 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to 21.2 FPS. None of the 4K settings reach 60 FPS, and even Low settings fall short of the standard for smooth gameplay. The data indicates that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo in Evolve, regardless of settings.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 60 FPS across Low, Medium, and High settings, with 125.1 FPS at Low and 74.1 FPS at High. At 2560x1440, only Low (81 FPS) and Medium (61.3 FPS) surpass 60 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: No. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only reach 47.4 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 21.2 FPS. All 4K measurements fall below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19,221, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-8700K (19,210) and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-1335U (19,167). It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS by 0.7% (19,364).

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 14,286, which is 0.2% lower than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14,314) and 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon Vega 11 (14,352). It also trails the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT by 0.7% (14,389).

Q: What settings should be avoided with this combo?

A: Ultra settings should be avoided at 2560x1440 (35.5 FPS) and 3840x2160 (21.2 FPS), as well as at 1920x1080 where they drop to 51.1 FPS. High settings at 4K also produce unplayable results at 28.3 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this combo?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 125.1 FPS, indicating CPU headroom, but at 4K Ultra it drops to 21.2 FPS, showing the GPU cannot handle the pixel load. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 55th percentile confirms this imbalance.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combo in Evolve, the data points to 1920x1080 with High settings as the optimal balance of visual quality and performance. At this configuration, the combo delivers 74.1 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold while still providing meaningful visual fidelity over Low settings. Players prioritizing frame rate over visuals could use Medium settings at 1080p to achieve 96.8 FPS, which offers a significant smoothness advantage.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings at 61.3 FPS is the only configuration that combines acceptable frame rates with moderate visual quality. High settings at 1440p drop to 52.9 FPS, which may be tolerable for some players but falls short of the 60 FPS standard. Low settings at 1440p (81 FPS) are viable for competitive play, but the visual compromise is substantial.

The data clearly shows that 3840x2160 should be avoided entirely. Even Low settings at 47.4 FPS feel sluggish for an FPS title, and Medium (38 FPS), High (28.3 FPS), and Ultra (21.2 FPS) are all below playable thresholds. For this combo, the recommended path is 1080p High for a balanced experience, or 1080p Medium for higher frame rates. The GPU's VRAM and bandwidth limitations make 4K impractical, and the combo ranking of 1499th out of 1695 confirms that this pairing is best suited for 1080p gaming rather than pushing higher resolutions.