Evolve

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier combination for Evolve, ranking in the 99th percentile of all tested combos. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet retains enough CPU headroom to deliver exceptionally high frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, focusing on how each component contributes to the final experience across the game's preset settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly indicates a GPU-limited scenario at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 204.2 FPS at 1920x1080 to 138.6 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 65.6 FPS. Pushing further to 3840x2160 brings the average down to 79.7 FPS, a 61.1% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern is consistent across all settings, with the most dramatic scaling seen at Ultra, where the frame rate drops from 142.9 FPS at 1080p to 56.5 FPS at 4K.

This scaling behavior confirms that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases. The massive pixel throughput required at 4K, especially with Ultra settings, overwhelms the GPU's capabilities, which are reflected in its 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs. The i5-12600KF, with its high boost clock of 4.90 GHz and 10 cores, is not the bottleneck in this range. The evidence is clear: at 1440p and 4K, the frame rate is dictated by the GPU's rendering speed, not the CPU's ability to feed it data.

CPU Role

The Core i5-12600KF's specifications point to a processor that provides ample headroom for this title. Its 10 cores and 16 threads, along with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, are more than sufficient to keep up with the RTX 4080 SUPER. This is corroborated by its average benchmark score of 27827, which places it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs and makes it a near-perfect match for its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, with a deltaPct of 0.

The game's CPU demands are modest at 1080p, where the system achieves a staggering 331 FPS on Low settings. Even with the heavy load of Ultra settings at 1080p, the CPU manages to drive the GPU to 142.9 FPS. The single-thread performance, shown by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 1016, is strong enough to avoid creating a bottleneck in a 2015 FPS title. The data suggests that the i5-12600KF's performance ceiling is well above what Evolve requires, ensuring that the GPU is the sole determinant of frame rates in most scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Is the Core i5-12600KF a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 SUPER in Evolve?

A: The benchmark data indicates no. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination produces 331 FPS, and at 4K with Ultra, it produces 56.5 FPS. The consistent scaling with resolution and settings shows the GPU is the limiting factor, not the CPU.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve over 100 FPS?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. On Medium settings, it achieves 175.9 FPS, and even on High settings, it maintains 138.6 FPS. At 4K, only the Low preset (127.1 FPS) and Medium preset (96.1 FPS) come close to or exceed 100 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its nearest competitor in general benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 53610. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, scores 53489, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.2, meaning the RTX 4080 SUPER is only 0.2% faster in that aggregate score.

Q: How does the i5-12600KF's multi-threaded performance compare to the i9-10900K?

A: The i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27827, which is effectively tied with the i9-10900K's score of 27829. The deltaPct is 0, indicating identical aggregate performance in this metric.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1080p with the Ultra preset?

A: The measured average FPS for this combination at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 142.9 FPS, which is well above the threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of VRAM a factor at 4K?

A: While the data does not measure VRAM usage directly, the performance at 4K Ultra (56.5 FPS) suggests that the GPU's processing power, not its memory capacity, is the limiting factor. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory with a 736.3 GB/s bandwidth is unlikely to be a constraint in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system is incredibly fast. The Low preset yields an average of 331 FPS. Moving to Medium drops the average to 258.1 FPS. The High preset still delivers a buttery-smooth 204.2 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 142.9 FPS, ensuring a high-refresh-rate experience is possible at all quality levels.

At 2560x1440, performance remains excellent. The Low preset achieves 224.9 FPS, and Medium follows at 175.9 FPS. High settings produce a very playable 138.6 FPS. The Ultra preset, while demanding, still manages an average of 95.5 FPS, which is near the 100 FPS mark.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. The Low preset is the only one to comfortably exceed 120 FPS, with an average of 127.1 FPS. Medium settings produce 96.1 FPS. High settings drop to 79.7 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 56.5 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for competitive play.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is clearly the dominant component in this pairing. With a boost clock of 2550 MHz, 10240 shading units, and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, it has the raw resources to push high frame rates. However, the data shows its performance is finite and heavily taxed by Evolve's Ultra preset at high resolutions.

The GPU's 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs is reflected in its ability to handle 1440p with ease, but the 4K results show a clear performance ceiling. The drop from 127.1 FPS at 4K Low to 56.5 FPS at 4K Ultra represents a 55.5% performance penalty for enabling the highest visual fidelity. This suggests that while the card is powerful, Evolve's Ultra settings are designed to be punishing. The GPU's 45,900 million transistors on a 5 nm process provide the computational might, but the game's demands at 4K Ultra exceed what this otherwise top-tier card can deliver at high refresh rates.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the recommended starting point. The data shows this combination yields 138.6 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. It offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium (175.9 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 100 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as it delivers 142.9 FPS without any compromise. The CPU and GPU have enough headroom to run the game at maximum settings while still providing a high-refresh-rate experience.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the most viable option for a high-refresh-rate experience, producing 96.1 FPS. The High preset (79.7 FPS) is acceptable for a slower-paced experience, but the Ultra preset (56.5 FPS) is best avoided if a smooth frame rate is the priority.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a top performer for Evolve. The data places it at rank 99 out of 1695 tested combinations, placing it in the top 6% of all systems. This high ranking is a direct result of the synergy between the strong single-threaded and multi-threaded capabilities of the CPU and the formidable raw power of the GPU.

The ranking confirms that this is an elite setup for this game, capable of delivering exceptional performance at 1080p and 1440p, and respectable performance at 4K. The i5-12600KF's position in the 84th percentile of CPUs and the RTX 4080 SUPER's position in the 88th percentile of GPUs combine to create a system that is greater than the sum of its parts, with no single component holding the other back in most scenarios.