Evolve

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz position it as a mainstream desktop part, but the benchmark data reveals how it handles Evolve's demands. This game, released in 2015, was designed for an era when 4-core CPUs were the norm, so the i5-12400F's additional threads provide substantial headroom.

The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L2 cache of 1.25 MB help with the game's asset streaming and entity management. In the measured results, the CPU's influence is visible when dropping from Ultra to Low settings at the same resolution—the frame rate increases significantly, indicating that at lower settings the CPU is less likely to become a bottleneck.

Benchmark scores for the i5-12400F show a single-thread score of 909 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2332 in cinebench_r23_singlecore. These single-thread results matter for Evolve because the game's core logic, including AI for the monster and hunter interactions, often relies on a few heavily loaded threads. The multithreaded scores—5912 in 3dmark_max_threads and 16518 in cinebench_r23_multicore—indicate that the CPU can handle multiple simultaneous tasks, which is relevant when the game spawns multiple creatures or during intense firefights.

The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs is 77, placing it above most processors in the database. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400F is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-8700K (deltaPct 0.1, meaning the i5 is 0.1% faster in average benchmark score), and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U (0.3% faster). It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS by 0.7% and the AMD EPYC 7773X by 1.3% in the same metric. These small margins suggest that for Evolve, which is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards, the i5-12400F provides consistent performance without being a limiting factor in most scenarios.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, built on the Ampere architecture with an 8 nm process, is the primary driver of frame rates in Evolve. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus delivers 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock of 1500 MHz and boost clock of 1725 MHz, combined with 5888 shading units and 96 ROPs, determine how quickly it can render the game's environments and character models.

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 3070 scales with resolution and settings, but the scaling is not linear. At 1920x1080, the GPU can push well beyond 200 FPS at Low settings (215.3 FPS), but this drops to 89.9 FPS at Ultra. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields only 36.9 FPS, while Low settings achieve 80.2 FPS. This indicates that the RTX 3070's compute power is sufficient for high refresh rates at lower resolutions, but 4K Ultra pushes the GPU to its limits.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is a factor at higher resolutions. While the game's textures at 1080p and 1440p fit within this capacity, the 3840x2160 Ultra preset likely approaches or exceeds the VRAM limit, contributing to the sharp drop from 52 FPS at High to 36.9 FPS at Ultra. The GPU's 20.31 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 317.4 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for the game's effects, but the 4K Ultra result suggests that Evolve's highest settings demand more than what this card can deliver smoothly.

In the broader GPU landscape, the RTX 3070 ranks at the 72nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals show it is 0.9% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT and 1% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, but 0.6% faster than the AMD FirePro S7150 and 1.1% faster than the AMD Radeon R9 M295X in average benchmark scores. These margins are small, meaning the RTX 3070 sits in a competitive performance tier where specific game optimizations matter more than raw benchmark differences.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 60 FPS in 4K?

A: At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 52, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. However, dropping to Medium settings raises the average to 65.4 FPS, so 60 FPS is achievable at 4K with Medium settings or lower.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate gaming in Evolve?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 215.3 FPS, and at 2560x1440 with Low settings it reaches 144.7 FPS. For a 144 Hz monitor, 1440p Low settings provides a near-perfect match, while 1080p allows for even higher frame rates.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 62.4 FPS, while High settings average 85.9 FPS—a difference of 23.5 FPS. The High preset offers a smoother experience with only a modest visual downgrade.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game at 1080p?

A: The i5-12400F has a 77th percentile CPU ranking, and the measured FPS at 1080p Low (215.3 FPS) suggests the CPU can feed the GPU effectively at high frame rates. The CPU's 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock are sufficient for Evolve's workload.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings average 215.3 FPS, while Ultra settings average 89.9 FPS. This represents a 125.4 FPS gap, indicating that the Ultra preset imposes a significant rendering load on the GPU.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for Evolve?

A: The combo ranks 786th out of 1695 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle range. This indicates that while it is not a top-tier setup for this game, it outperforms the majority of tested systems.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured results provide a complete picture across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates: Low settings produce 215.3 FPS, Medium settings yield 164.6 FPS, High settings average 133.1 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 89.9 FPS. This resolution shows the RTX 3070's full potential, with even the Ultra preset maintaining playable frame rates above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales downward as expected. Low settings average 144.7 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh monitors. Medium settings drop to 111 FPS, High settings yield 85.9 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 62.4 FPS. The 1440p results show a clear gradient, with each settings tier reducing performance by roughly 20-30 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the demands of 4K resolution become apparent. Low settings average 80.2 FPS, which is respectable for 4K. Medium settings drop to 65.4 FPS, High settings average 52 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 36.9 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only data point below 40 FPS, indicating that this preset is not suitable for smooth gameplay at this resolution.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: the gap between High and Ultra settings is larger than the gap between Medium and High. For example, at 1440p, the difference between Medium (111 FPS) and High (85.9 FPS) is 25.1 FPS, while the difference between High (85.9 FPS) and Ultra (62.4 FPS) is 23.5 FPS. At 4K, the High-to-Ultra drop is 15.1 FPS, while the Medium-to-High drop is 13.4 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset adds disproportionately heavy effects that strain the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 786 out of 1695 tested combinations places it in the 46th percentile of all tested systems for Evolve. This means that while the combo is not a top performer, it sits comfortably above the median. The RTX 3070's 72nd percentile GPU ranking and the i5-12400F's 77th percentile CPU ranking both contribute to this mid-tier placement.

In context, this combo is likely limited by the GPU at higher settings and resolutions. The CPU's benchmark scores are competitive with its nearest rivals—it is within 1.3% of the AMD EPYC 7773X and 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS—suggesting that CPU performance is not a weak link. The GPU's nearest rivals show a similar clustering, with the RTX 3070 within 1.1% of the AMD Radeon R9 M295X and 1% of the GTX 980 Ti.

The measured results align with this ranking: at 1080p, the combo achieves frame rates that would satisfy most gamers, but at 4K Ultra it falls below the playable threshold. This indicates that the combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it can leverage the GPU's strengths without exceeding its memory or compute limitations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset (133.1 FPS) provides an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, easily exceeding 60 FPS and approaching 144 Hz territory. The Ultra preset (89.9 FPS) is also viable for 60 Hz displays, but the 43.2 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not justify the visual gains.

At 2560x1440, the High preset (85.9 FPS) is the recommended choice for smooth gameplay on 60-75 Hz monitors. The Medium preset (111 FPS) is better suited for 100 Hz or 120 Hz displays, while the Low preset (144.7 FPS) matches a 144 Hz refresh rate. The Ultra preset (62.4 FPS) is playable but leaves little headroom for frame-time spikes, making it a risky choice for competitive play.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset (65.4 FPS) is the only setting that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The Low preset (80.2 FPS) offers a smoother experience with reduced visual fidelity, while the High preset (52 FPS) and Ultra preset (36.9 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS threshold and are not recommended for gameplay.

In summary, the High preset at 1080p or 1440p delivers the best combination of visual quality and frame rate for most users. For those prioritizing frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 1440p provides near-144 FPS performance. At 4K, Medium settings are the ceiling for playable frame rates, and users with 4K displays should accept reduced visual quality to maintain smooth gameplay.