Evolve

The pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a stark study in bottleneck dynamics within Evolve. The data shows a powerful GPU consistently restrained by a mid-range CPU, yet the combination still delivers playable to exceptional frame rates across all tested presets. This combo ranks 43rd out of 2872 tested configurations in this game, placing it in the top 1.5% of all systems, but the performance ceiling is clearly defined by the processor's limits rather than the graphics card's immense capability.

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 from the Alder Lake-S architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It features 18 MB of shared L3 cache and uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. In synthetic benchmarks, its 3DMark single-thread score of 909 and multi-thread score of 5912 highlight a processor with solid single-core performance but modest multi-core throughput compared to higher-end chips. Its Cinebench R23 scores of 1680 (single-core) and 12380 (multi-core) reinforce this profile.

In Evolve, the CPU's role is critical for maintaining frame pacing, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the primary constraint. The benchmark results indicate that at 1920x1080, the average frame rates are remarkably high, but the scaling between Low (305 FPS) and Ultra (170 FPS) presets shows a clear CPU-imposed limit. The 135 FPS difference between these settings is substantial, yet the CPU manages to keep up with the GPU's demands across all settings at this resolution.

The processor's performance relative to its nearest rivals is telling. The data shows the i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039, placing it at the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047, a negligible 0% difference. The Intel Core 3 201E trails slightly at 19056 (-0.1% delta), while the Intel Core i5-1335U and AMD EPYC 7773X are both within 0.3% of the i5's score. This indicates that the i5-12400F is positioned firmly in the mid-range tier, and its performance is not exceptional but rather typical for its class.

At 2560x1440, the CPU's influence becomes more apparent. The frame rates scale from 267 FPS on Low to 114 FPS on Ultra, showing a 153 FPS swing. This suggests that while the GPU is being pushed harder at this resolution, the CPU still has headroom to feed frames efficiently. The 4.40 GHz boost clock is likely the key factor here, providing sufficient single-thread performance to avoid becoming a severe bottleneck in this older title. However, the 3DMark 16-thread score of 5895 indicates that the processor's multi-threading capabilities are modest, which could limit performance in scenes with heavy physics or AI calculations.

The most telling data point for CPU limitation comes at 3840x2160. Here, the frame rates drop to 154 FPS on Low and 65 FPS on Ultra. While the GPU is certainly being stressed at 4K, the fact that the Low preset still achieves 154 FPS suggests the CPU is managing to keep up even at this high resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra (89 FPS) is narrower than at lower resolutions, indicating that the GPU is becoming the more significant bottleneck as resolution increases. Still, the CPU's mid-range standing is evident when considering that the combo ranks 43rd overall, not higher, given the GPU's top-tier status.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a behemoth of a graphics card, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process node. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a staggering 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 2017 MHz with a boost clock of 2407 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). With 21760 shading units and 680 tensor cores, this card is designed for extreme workloads. In synthetic tests, it scores 44065 in Passmark G3D and 14326 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it at the 92nd percentile of all GPUs.

In Evolve, the RTX 5090 D's raw power is undeniable, but the game's age means the GPU is rarely the limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the GPU's 32 GB VRAM is grossly underutilized, yet the card still delivers 305 FPS on Low settings. The 170 FPS on Ultra at this resolution is more indicative of the game's engine limits or CPU constraints rather than GPU deficiency. The card's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (76904, 1.1% faster) and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (78940, -1.6% slower), showing that the RTX 5090 D's synthetic performance is not overwhelmingly superior to some mobile parts.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to show its strength. The card achieves 267 FPS on Low and 210 FPS on Medium, with the Medium preset showing a min FPS of 179 and max of 242. This indicates smooth frame delivery with minimal stuttering. The Ultra preset at 114 FPS is still very playable and suggests the GPU has ample headroom. The 32 GB VRAM is certainly not a constraint here, as Evolve from 2015 likely uses less than 8 GB even at maximum settings.

The 3840x2160 results are where the RTX 5090 D's architecture truly matters. At 4K Ultra, the card delivers 65 FPS, which is playable but not the high-refresh-rate experience seen at lower resolutions. The Low preset at 154 FPS shows the GPU's scaling efficiency, but the gap between Medium (120 FPS) and High (94 FPS) reveals how demanding the Ultra preset is. The card's 423.6 GPixel/s pixel rate and 1,636.8 GTexel/s texture rate are more than sufficient for this title, yet the 65 FPS at Ultra suggests the game's optimization or CPU bottleneck limits the GPU's utilization.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data across all resolutions points to the Medium preset as the optimal balance between visual quality and performance for this combination. At 1920x1080, Medium yields 278 FPS average with a min of 236 and max of 320, providing a smooth and responsive experience that far exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. The jump from Low (305 FPS) to Medium (278 FPS) is only 27 FPS, but the visual improvement is typically substantial, making Medium the clear choice.

At 2560x1440, Medium delivers 210 FPS with a min of 179 and max of 242. This is still exceptionally high and leaves room for the GPU to handle any demanding scenes. The High preset at 165 FPS is also viable, but the 45 FPS drop from Medium to High might not justify the visual gains. The Ultra preset at 114 FPS is acceptable for those prioritizing image quality, but it sacrifices significant frame rate headroom.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is again the recommended choice, delivering 120 FPS with a min of 102 and max of 138. This is a solid 60+ FPS experience that maintains smoothness. The High preset at 94 FPS is also playable, but the 26 FPS difference between Medium and High is substantial. The Ultra preset at 65 FPS is borderline for fast-paced FPS gameplay, as it sits just above the 60 FPS minimum but leaves little margin for frame drops. The data suggests that Medium at 4K provides the best experience, offering high frame rates while still looking significantly better than Low.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination ranks 43rd out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the top 1.5% of all systems tested. This high ranking is impressive, but it is somewhat misleading given the GPU's top-tier status. The rank suggests that the combo outperforms 98.5% of all other pairings, yet the CPU is clearly the limiting factor.

This rank confirms the RTX 5090 D's ability to compensate for the i5-12400F's mid-range performance. In a game like Evolve, which is not heavily threaded, the CPU's single-core boost clock of 4.40 GHz helps maintain high frame rates. The combo's 73rd percentile CPU and 92nd percentile GPU scores indicate a significant mismatch, yet the results show that the pair still achieves top-tier performance in this specific title.

The ranking also reflects the game's age and optimization. Evolve, released in 2015, does not require the RTX 5090 D's full capabilities. The GPU's 32 GB VRAM and 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 performance are largely untapped, as the game's engine likely cannot utilize such resources. This means the combo's rank is more indicative of the CPU's ability to feed frames to a very fast GPU rather than the GPU's raw power being the primary driver.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS is 278, with a minimum of 236 and a maximum of 320, providing a very smooth experience.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D bottleneck the i5-12400F in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are extremely high, but the scaling between presets indicates CPU constraints rather than GPU limitations.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 144+ FPS?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset achieves 210 FPS, and the High preset achieves 165 FPS, both above the 144 FPS target. At 3840x2160, only Low (154 FPS) and Medium (120 FPS) come close.

Q: How does the combo rank against other tested systems in Evolve?

A: It ranks 43rd out of 2872 combos, placing it in the top 1.5% of all tested systems, which is excellent for a mid-range CPU paired with a top-tier GPU.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 3840x2160?

A: The Ultra preset delivers an average of 65 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play where higher frame rates are preferred.

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark percentile compared to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 D is at the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, has a 1.1% higher average benchmark score, while the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.6% lower.

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

1920x1080:

• Low: 305 FPS average
• Medium: 278 FPS average, 236 FPS min, 320 FPS max
• High: 246 FPS average
• Ultra: 170 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 267 FPS average
• Medium: 210 FPS average, 179 FPS min, 242 FPS max
• High: 165 FPS average
• Ultra: 114 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 154 FPS average
• Medium: 120 FPS average, 102 FPS min, 138 FPS max
• High: 94 FPS average
• Ultra: 65 FPS average

The data reveals a consistent pattern: the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate across all resolutions. At 1080p, the combo exceeds 240 FPS on Medium, ensuring a highly responsive experience. At 1440p, the Medium preset maintains over 200 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 4K, the Medium preset provides 120 FPS, a strong result that keeps the experience smooth even at higher resolutions. The Ultra preset, while playable at 1080p (170 FPS) and 1440p (114 FPS), drops to 65 FPS at 4K, making it the only setting where the combo fails to maintain a strong frame rate. The min FPS values for the Medium preset (236 at 1080p, 179 at 1440p, 102 at 4K) indicate that frame pacing is stable, with no significant drops that would cause stuttering.