Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This configuration provides a substantial amount of parallel processing power, as evidenced by its benchmark scores: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16518 and a single-core score of 2332. In the context of Evolve, a fast-paced FPS, the processor's single-thread performance is critical for maintaining high frame rates, while the multi-threaded capabilities help manage the game's background simulation and AI.

The CPU's benchmark profile places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19221. Its nearest rivals in synthetic testing are the Intel Core i7-8700K, which scores 19210 (a negligible 0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, which scores 19364 (0.7% higher). This indicates that the i5-12400F delivers performance squarely in the mainstream-to-high-end tier, more than adequate to feed a modern discrete GPU in a game like Evolve. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) further ensure that data throughput is not a bottleneck, allowing the processor to handle the game's dynamic monster and hunter interactions efficiently.

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

The Core i5-12400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are a strong match for Evolve's engine, which was designed to scale across multiple threads for rendering, physics, and AI. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz is particularly relevant for the game's frame pacing; higher clocks reduce the time it takes to process a single frame's worth of draw calls and game logic. Data from the measured FPS shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 191.3 FPS on average. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of pushing well beyond 144 Hz in lighter scenes, provided the GPU can keep up.

However, the CPU's influence becomes more apparent at higher resolutions and settings where the GPU load increases. At 3840x2160 on Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 32. This is primarily a GPU limitation, but the CPU's role in maintaining a minimum frame rate is still critical to avoid hitches. The processor's 3DMark scores, such as 5912 for max threads and 909 for single thread, show a balanced profile. The multi-threaded score of 5895 for 16 threads is nearly identical to the max threads score, indicating that the processor is efficiently utilizing its available threads, which helps ensure consistent performance in Evolve's more chaotic firefights. The CPU's percentile rank of 77 (vs all CPUs) confirms it is well above average, ensuring it will not be the primary constraint in most gaming scenarios tested here.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 utilizes the Ada Lovelace architecture on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. In Evolve, the 8 GB VRAM buffer is sufficient for the game's textures and effects at all tested settings, even at 4K, as the game's release date of 2015 means its asset sizes are modest by modern standards. The memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s is adequate to feed the 3072 shading units without causing severe stutter, though it does become a factor at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark results show a PassMark G3D score of 19545 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4060 is very competitive: it is 0.6% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (score 23321) and 0.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (score 23338). Conversely, it is 0.7% faster than the Intel Arc B580 (score 23021). This tight grouping indicates the RTX 4060's raw compute performance is solidly mid-range. The measured FPS data shows the GPU's scaling: at 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 78.9 on Ultra to 191.3 on Low. This demonstrates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance differences between settings, while the CPU handles the frame pacing. The GPU's 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 performance is what allows for playable frame rates at 2560x1440 on Medium (101.4 FPS), but the 4K Ultra setting (32 FPS) proves to be too demanding for the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a high refresh rate?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 149 FPS on Medium settings and 116.1 FPS on High, making it ideal for 144 Hz monitors. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset still delivers 101.4 FPS, which is also suitable for high refresh rates, though not as consistently.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K?

A: The Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19221, which is a 0.1% difference from the Intel Core i7-8700K's score of 19210. This means they are effectively tied in raw processing power, making the i5-12400F a strong modern alternative.

Q: Is the RTX 4060 capable of running Evolve at 4K?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160 on Low settings, it averages 71.1 FPS, which is playable. On Medium, it drops to 58.1 FPS, and on High it falls to 44.8 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as the average FPS is only 32.

Q: What is the GPU's performance relative to the Intel Arc B580?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score is 23181, which is 0.7% higher than the Intel Arc B580's score of 23021. This indicates the RTX 4060 holds a slight edge in synthetic benchmarks, though real-world gaming performance will vary.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 973 out of 1695 tested combos. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all possible pairings, suggesting it is a balanced configuration that offers solid performance but is not at the absolute top end.

Q: Does the CPU's multi-threading help in this game?

A: Yes. The CPU's Cinebench R20 multi-core score is 6937, and its 3DMark 16-thread score is 5895. These scores indicate strong parallel processing, which assists in handling Evolve's AI and physics simulations, preventing CPU bottlenecks at high frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 achieves a rank of 973 out of 1695 tested combos. This ranking places it in the 57th percentile of all pairings, indicating a balanced system that is neither overkill for the game nor underpowered. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking and the GPU's 66th percentile ranking suggest that the processor is slightly more capable relative to its peers than the graphics card, meaning the GPU is likely the primary limit in demanding scenarios.

In practical terms, this mid-tier rank means the combo will handle Evolve's 1080p and 1440p resolutions with ease, as evidenced by the measured FPS data. The 4K performance is below the 60 FPS threshold on High and Ultra settings, which is consistent with the GPU's mid-range 3DMark score of 2302. The rank also implies that there are 722 more powerful combos, but those likely feature higher-tier GPUs like the RTX 4070 or better, which are not necessary for smooth gameplay at mainstream resolutions. The data suggests this combo is a solid sweet spot for a 1080p/1440p gamer looking to play Evolve at high settings without experiencing frame drops.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best experience, delivering 116.1 FPS on average. This is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides headroom for V-Sync or G-Sync monitors. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 149 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but the visual quality trade-off may not be worth the extra 33 FPS for most players. Ultra settings at 1080p still achieve 78.9 FPS, which is playable, but the jump to High offers a more stable frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, achieving 101.4 FPS. This balances visual fidelity with smoothness, as High drops to 76.4 FPS, which is still playable but less consistent. Low at 1440p hits 124.8 FPS but sacrifices too much detail for the 4K resolution. For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option for a smooth experience, averaging 71.1 FPS. Medium at 4K drops to 58.1 FPS, which is borderline, and High falls to 44.8 FPS. Therefore, the recommended preset is High at 1080p, Medium at 1440p, and Low at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the combo scales across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 191.3 on Low to 78.9 on Ultra. The progression is: Low (191.3) > Medium (149) > High (116.1) > Ultra (78.9). This represents a 58% drop from Low to Ultra, showing that the GPU is the limiting factor at the highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low (124.8) > Medium (101.4) > High (76.4) > Ultra (53.9). The drop from Low to Ultra is 56.8%, almost identical to the 1080p scaling, indicating that the GPU's performance per pixel is consistent. The 1440p Ultra setting is the first to fall below the 60 FPS threshold, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low (71.1) > Medium (58.1) > High (44.8) > Ultra (32). The drop from Low to Ultra is 55%, which is consistent with the other resolutions. However, only the Low setting maintains an average above 60 FPS. The 4K Ultra average of 32 FPS confirms that this resolution and setting combination is too demanding for the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus, resulting in a slideshow-like experience. The data shows a linear and predictable scaling pattern, with the GPU being the dominant factor in performance variance across all tested configurations.