Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination. The benchmark data shows a pairing where the GPU is clearly the dominant force, yet the legacy game engine and the CPU's capabilities create a ceiling that prevents the system from fully utilizing the RTX 5090's raw power at lower resolutions. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data to interpret how this specific hardware duo behaves across different settings and resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern: as resolution increases, frame rates drop, but the rate of that drop tells a story about system bottlenecks. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination produces an average of 305 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings drops this to 254 FPS, a decrease of approximately 16.7%. Pushing further to 4K at Low settings yields 145 FPS, another significant reduction of about 42.9% from the 1440p figure.

This pattern of diminishing returns at higher resolutions indicates that the system is heavily CPU-limited at 1080p. The GPU is capable of rendering far more frames than the CPU can feed it, so the frame rate is capped by the processor's ability to handle game logic and draw calls. As resolution increases, the rendering load on the GPU grows, and the bottleneck shifts. At 4K, the frame rate drops are much more severe, suggesting that the RTX 5090 is now the limiting factor, fully engaged in rendering the higher pixel count.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings reinforces this. At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 160 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it falls to 107 FPS, a 33.1% reduction. At 4K Ultra, it hits 61 FPS, a further 43% reduction from 1440p. The percentage drops are substantial at every step, but the absolute frame rates remain high, showing the RTX 5090's dominance. The data suggests that for a game like Evolve, the sweet spot for high refresh rate gaming is at 1080p or 1440p, where the CPU is the primary constraint, while 4K is where the GPU starts to work harder and the frame rate becomes more dependent on its raw throughput.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this specific combination at rank 130 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This places it within the top 3.5% of all tested systems, a strong showing that underscores the raw power of the RTX 5090. However, its position is not at the very top, which is notable given the GPU's high benchmark scores. The rank suggests that other combinations, likely with more powerful CPUs, achieve higher frame rates in this game, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU bottleneck is more pronounced.

The Intel Core i5-12400F's own benchmark percentile is 73, meaning it performs better than 73% of all CPUs in the database. This is a solid mid-range result, but it is not a top-tier processor. Its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark list include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core 3 201E, with score deltas of 0% and -0.1%, respectively. This indicates that the i5-12400F is a capable processor, but it does not offer the extreme multi-threaded performance of higher-end desktop chips. The combo's rank of 130 out of 3700 reflects the fact that while the GPU is exceptional, the CPU's performance ceiling prevents the system from achieving the absolute highest frame rates possible in Evolve, especially when compared to combos featuring more powerful processors.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a monster of a graphics card, and its role in this combination is to provide overwhelming rendering power. The data shows that with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, it has a massive 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth, which is crucial for high-resolution textures and complex scenes. Its boost clock is rated at 2407 MHz, and with 21760 shading units, it is designed to push pixels at an extraordinary rate.

In Evolve, the GPU's power is most evident at 4K resolution. At 4K High settings, the combo manages 88 FPS, and at 4K Low, it jumps to 145 FPS. These are high frame rates for a 2015 title at 4K, showing the RTX 5090 is far more than enough for this game's demands. The benchmark data shows the GPU's average benchmark score is 79842, and it ranks in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the GPU database, such as the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, have a delta of only 0.3%, indicating it is at the very top of the performance chart.

The GPU's VRAM and bandwidth are not limiting factors here. The game's textures and geometry are easily handled by the 32 GB frame buffer, even at 4K Ultra settings. The data suggests that the GPU is rarely the bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p, as the frame rates are exceptionally high. The limiting factor is the CPU, as the i5-12400F struggles to keep up with the GPU's frame generation capabilities at those lower resolutions. This is a classic case of a powerful GPU being held back by a mid-range CPU in a CPU-bound scenario.

FAQ

Q: Is this combination capable of running Evolve at 4K?

A: Yes, the data shows it runs at 4K with an average of 88 FPS on High settings and 61 FPS on Ultra settings. Even at the most demanding settings, it maintains a playable frame rate.

Q: Why is there such a large difference between 1080p and 4K frame rates?

A: The difference is due to the shifting bottleneck. At 1080p, the Intel Core i5-12400F is the limiting factor, capping the frame rate. At 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 becomes the primary constraint, as it is tasked with rendering a significantly larger number of pixels.

Q: What is the best resolution for maximizing frame rate with this combo?

A: Based on the data, 1080p with Low settings yields the highest average frame rate at 305 FPS. For higher visual fidelity while maintaining high speed, 1440p with High settings offers 155 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047, a delta of 0%. The Intel Core 3 201E scores 19056, a delta of -0.1%. This shows the CPU is squarely in the middle of its performance tier.

Q: Does the RTX 5090's massive 32 GB VRAM matter for this game?

A: The data indicates it is more than sufficient. The game does not appear to be VRAM-limited, as the frame rates are high even at 4K Ultra. The 32 GB capacity provides a massive buffer, but it is not a determining factor for performance in this specific title.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 130 out of 3700 mean?

A: It means this specific pairing outperforms 3570 other tested combinations in Evolve. It is a top-tier result, but not the absolute best, suggesting that other combos with more powerful CPUs achieve higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table breaks down the exact measured average, minimum, and maximum FPS for each resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Minimum FPS | Maximum FPS |

|:--------- |:------- |:---------- |:---------- |:---------- |

| 3840x2160 | High | 88 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 145 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 112 | 95 | 129 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 61 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 155 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 254 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 197 | 168 | 227 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 107 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 231 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 305 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 278 | 236 | 320 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 160 | - | - |

The data shows a consistent trend across all settings. At each resolution, the Low preset provides the highest average frame rate, followed by Medium, then High, and finally Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, particularly at 1440p, where the difference is 147 FPS. This indicates that the Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly taxing on the system. The Minimum and Maximum FPS data, available only for the Medium preset, shows a frame time variance, with a spread of 34 FPS at 1080p, 59 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K, indicating some instability but within a reasonable range.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache is a key feature for gaming performance. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 1680 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 12380 in multi-core, demonstrating a strong single-thread capability which is often more critical for gaming.

Its role in this combination is to feed the RTX 5090 with data. The benchmark results indicate that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is the primary bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 305 FPS, which is exceptionally high. However, the CPU's performance ceiling is what prevents the frame rate from going even higher. The data shows that the CPU's average benchmark score is 19039, and it ranks in the 73rd percentile. This is a good score, but it is not at the level of top-tier processors that could push frame rates beyond 400 FPS in this scenario.

The processor's 6-core, 12-thread configuration is sufficient for Evolve, a game from 2015 that is not heavily multi-threaded. The single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1680, is what matters most here. The CPU's boost clock of 4.40 GHz provides the necessary speed for game logic. The data suggests that while the CPU is a capable partner, its mid-range positioning is the reason this combo ranks 130th rather than in the top 10. The system is not CPU-starved, but it is also not fully releasing the RTX 5090's potential at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's priority: maximum frame rate or maximum visual quality.

For players with a high refresh rate monitor (144Hz or higher), the 1440p High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 155 FPS. This provides a significant boost in visual fidelity over Low settings while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 144Hz threshold. If a player is using a 1080p 240Hz monitor, the 1080p Medium preset, with an average of 278 FPS, is a strong option, offering a good balance between image quality and speed, though it does dip to a minimum of 236 FPS.

For those prioritizing the absolute smoothest experience, the 1080p Low preset provides the highest average at 305 FPS. This is the best choice for competitive play where frame rate is king. Conversely, for players with a 4K display who want the best visual experience, the 4K High preset, averaging 88 FPS, is recommended. The 4K Ultra preset, while visually superior, drops to 61 FPS, which is less fluid. The data suggests that the High preset at 4K offers the best compromise, as the jump to Ultra provides diminishing returns in visual quality for a 27 FPS loss. The Medium presets offer a middle ground, but the High preset at each resolution provides a strong balance of quality and performance.