Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS, places unique demands on a system, and the measured data for the Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveals a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics component. The benchmark results show a clear pattern across resolutions and settings, indicating that the Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck in nearly every scenario tested. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data to explain how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the final experience, where the combo ranks among other tested systems, and what settings offer the most playable outcome.

Resolution Scaling

The most telling data point for this combo is the steep performance drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 89 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average falls to 60 FPS, a reduction of approximately 33%. At 3840x2160, the average drops further to 34 FPS. This pattern is consistent across all settings, indicating that the rendering resolution has a profound impact on frame rates.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a significant decline, but the jump to 4K is even more punishing. For instance, at High settings, the frame rate goes from 54 FPS at 1080p to 36 FPS at 1440p, and then to 21 FPS at 4K. This behavior is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel throughput and fillrate capacity. The Arc B390’s specifications list a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, which are modest figures that directly limit high-resolution performance.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the system is less constrained, allowing for playable frame rates at lower presets. However, as the pixel count increases, the GPU’s limitations become the dominant factor. The delta between 1440p and 4K is particularly stark, with performance nearly halving at many settings. This is a clear sign that the limiting component is the graphics card, not the CPU, as a more capable processor would not compensate for the GPU's inability to process the increased pixel workload. The combination is simply not suited for 4K gaming, with even Low settings yielding an average of only 34 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores are respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22604 and a single-core score of 3191. In the context of Evolve, a game released in 2015, this CPU provides more than enough computational headroom for the game's logic and physics. The data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this pairing, as frame rates scale heavily with resolution and settings, which are GPU-bound variables.

The processor’s performance percentile of 77 places it well above the average CPU, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, boast similar average benchmark scores, with deltas of 0% and -0.3% respectively. This suggests that the i5-13400F is a strong performer in general computing tasks. For Evolve, the high single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 960 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3634, is likely sufficient to feed the GPU with draw calls and game state updates without introducing a CPU-side frame rate limit.

The fact that the measured FPS at 1080p Low (89 FPS) is much higher than at 4K Low (34 FPS) confirms that the CPU can push frames well beyond what the GPU can render at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a more consistent frame rate across different resolutions, as the CPU workload does not change as dramatically with resolution. Instead, the GPU’s rendering load is the primary variable, and the CPU is clearly keeping pace with the data presented.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 89 FPS, which is the highest measured in the entire dataset. This is the only configuration that approaches high-refresh-rate territory. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 69 FPS, which is also playable, but the step up to High drops the average to 54 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37 FPS. For a smooth 1080p experience, Low or Medium settings are the clear choices, with Medium offering a good balance if visual fidelity is preferred over maximum frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. The Low preset achieves 60 FPS, which is just at the edge of playability. The Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, and High falls to 36 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as it produces an average of only 25 FPS. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience, while Medium may be acceptable for players who prioritize visuals over frame rate stability.

For 3840x2160, no settings are truly playable. The best-case scenario is the Low preset at 34 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. All other settings at 4K produce averages below 30 FPS, with High at 21 FPS, Medium at 26 FPS, and Ultra at 14 FPS. The data clearly shows that this combo is not intended for 4K gaming. The recommendation is to stick to 1080p with Low or Medium settings for the best experience, or 1440p with Low settings if a higher resolution is desired, accepting a lower frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2530 out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the lower percentile of all configurations, indicating that it is not a high-performing pairing for this specific game. The rank reflects the GPU’s significant limitations, as the CPU is a capable unit on its own. The Arc B390’s benchmark performance is notably weak, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in its benchmark data are all older, low-end NVIDIA cards, such as the GeForce GT 520MX and the GeForce GT 710, with score deltas of 1.3% and 2.7% respectively. This context is crucial: the Arc B390 is performing at a level comparable to decade-old entry-level graphics solutions. Consequently, the combo’s rank of 2530 out of 2872 is expected. The data indicates that while the CPU is a modern, mid-range part, the GPU drags the overall gaming performance down to a level that is not competitive with other tested combos.

This low ranking is consistent with the measured FPS, which shows that the system struggles to maintain high frame rates even at 1080p. The combo is not a balanced pairing for gaming, and the data suggests that users would see a massive improvement by upgrading the graphics card while keeping the CPU, or by selecting a different, more powerful GPU from the start.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear bottleneck in this system. Its specifications show a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent." This architecture explains the GPU's poor performance, as shared memory systems often have lower bandwidth and higher latency compared to dedicated VRAM.

The GPU’s benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is very low, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, are legacy mobile parts, confirming that the Arc B390’s performance is extremely limited. The measured FPS data in Evolve reflects this, with the GPU unable to maintain 60 FPS at 1080p on any setting above Low. The FP32 compute power is listed at 7.680 TFLOPS, but this theoretical figure does not translate into real-world gaming performance due to the memory constraints and low fillrate.

The GPU’s role in Evolve is to handle the rendering pipeline, and the data shows it fails to do so efficiently at higher resolutions. The drop from 89 FPS at 1080p Low to 34 FPS at 4K Low is a direct consequence of the GPU’s limited pixel processing capabilities. The system is heavily GPU-bound, and the CPU is left waiting for the graphics card to finish its work. This is a classic case of a weak GPU undermining an otherwise capable system.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 89 FPS. This is the highest performance point in the dataset.
• Medium: Average 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 79 FPS. This is a playable setting.
• High: Average 54 FPS. This is a marginal frame rate for fast-paced action.
• Ultra: Average 37 FPS. This is not smooth enough for a competitive FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 60 FPS. This is the only 1440p setting that hits the 60 FPS target.
• Medium: Average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53 FPS. This is below the ideal range.
• High: Average 36 FPS. This is a significant drop from 1080p.
• Ultra: Average 25 FPS. This is not playable.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 34 FPS. This is the best 4K result, but still below 60 FPS.
• Medium: Average 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30 FPS. This is not playable.
• High: Average 21 FPS. This is a slideshow.
• Ultra: Average 14 FPS. This is the worst-case scenario.

The data shows a clear progression: as resolution increases, frame rates drop by roughly half at each major step. The Medium preset provides the only data with min/max FPS values, showing a variance of about 20 FPS at each resolution, which indicates some inconsistency in frame pacing. The overall picture is one of a system that is only viable at 1080p with lower settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in Evolve?

A: The best measured result is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, yielding an average of 89 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p is also viable at 69 FPS, offering a better visual experience while remaining playable.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 34 FPS. All other settings at 4K produce averages below 30 FPS, which is not considered playable.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combo?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The frame rates drop significantly with resolution, which is a GPU-bound characteristic. The Intel Core i5-13400F has high benchmark scores and is not the cause of the low performance.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2530 out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the lower percentile. This is due to the Intel Arc B390's weak performance, which is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this system?

A: The highest average FPS is 89, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches high-refresh-rate performance.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, has a nearly identical score of 25284 with a delta of 0%, indicating comparable overall CPU performance.