Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a revealing performance profile in Evolve, a 2015 FPS that remains demanding at higher resolutions. This combination, ranking 783rd out of 1695 tested combos, demonstrates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, while the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance allows for exceptional frame rates at 1080p. The data shows a system that can handle the game well, but the gap between settings widens dramatically as resolution increases, indicating a significant load shift onto the graphics card.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows how the RTX 3070's workload scales across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 216.5 FPS, which drops to 143.9 FPS at 1440p and further to 83.5 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33.5% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a 61.4% decrease from 1080p to 4K, highlighting the pixel-pushing demands at higher resolutions. The scaling pattern suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is providing enough headroom for the GPU to work efficiently, but the GPU becomes increasingly saturated as pixel count grows.

The behavior under Ultra settings is even more telling. At 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 90.6 FPS, but this falls to 62.4 FPS at 1440p and 33.9 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the RTX 3070’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and its 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are being pushed to their limits. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is 62.6%, which is consistent with the Low setting drop, confirming that resolution scaling is the dominant factor regardless of graphical preset.

The data implies that the limiting component shifts based on resolution. At 1080p, the high frame rates across all settings suggest a balanced workload where the CPU’s 10 cores and 16 threads can keep up with the GPU’s output. At 4K, the GPU’s compute capabilities, including its 20.31 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 5888 shading units, become the clear bottleneck, as the CPU has plenty of headroom to feed frames. This is a classic case where the GPU architecture, based on the Ampere design and built on an 8 nm process, determines the ceiling at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 783rd out of 1695 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all tested hardware pairings for Evolve. This position suggests that while the system is capable of running the game well at most settings, it is not among the top performers, likely due to the GPU’s age relative to newer cards. The RTX 3070’s percentile against all GPUs is 72, indicating it performs better than 72% of all graphics cards tested, which is a solid showing for a card that is now end-of-life in production status.

The CPU ranks in the 88th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32508. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-12800H with a score of 32513 and a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are essentially tied in performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 is just 0.2% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 is 0.2% ahead. This tight grouping indicates that the i5-14400F is well-matched with its peers, providing consistent multi-threaded performance that does not bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios.

The combo’s rank in the 46th percentile of all combos suggests that there are many systems with better overall performance, but the data also shows that this pairing is far from weak. The measured FPS values at 1080p, particularly the 216.5 FPS at Low settings, demonstrate that the system can exceed the refresh rate of most monitors, making it a viable option for competitive play. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU’s strong single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3093, and the GPU’s mid-tier position in the current landscape.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data provides clear guidance on which settings offer the best experience based on the measured frame rates. At 1080p, the High preset yields 132.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a smooth experience for most players. However, the Low preset at 1080p hits 216.5 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, though it sacrifices visual quality. The Medium preset at 167.9 FPS offers a balanced compromise, delivering high frame rates while maintaining decent visuals.

At 1440p, the High preset drops to 89 FPS, which is still playable but shows the GPU beginning to struggle. The Medium preset at 112.3 FPS is the better choice for 1440p, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while offering better visuals than Low. The Ultra preset at 62.4 FPS is just above the playable threshold, but it may cause occasional dips in demanding scenes. For 4K, the data suggests that only the Low preset at 83.5 FPS is viable for smooth gameplay, as Medium at 62.1 FPS is borderline, and High at 47.5 FPS falls below the 60 FPS target.

The best experience per the measured rows depends on the user’s display and preference. For 1080p, Medium or High is recommended for a balance of quality and performance, as the frame rates are high enough to avoid noticeable stuttering. For 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot, providing 112.3 FPS, which is smooth and visually appealing. At 4K, users should stick to Low or Medium, accepting lower visual fidelity to maintain playable frame rates, as the Ultra preset at 33.9 FPS is not recommended for a satisfying experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers a wide range of frame rates across settings. The Low preset produces 216.5 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium drops to 167.9 FPS, High to 132.6 FPS, and Ultra to 90.6 FPS, showing a clear progression of performance loss as graphical fidelity increases. The gap between Low and Ultra is 125.9 FPS, indicating that the RTX 3070 can handle the game easily at lower settings but is taxed by the Ultra preset’s demands.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down proportionally. Low yields 143.9 FPS, Medium 112.3 FPS, High 89 FPS, and Ultra 62.4 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, averaging about 33.5% lower, which aligns with the increased pixel count from 2.07 million to 3.68 million pixels. The Ultra preset at 62.4 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold, making it a borderline playable option for those who prioritize visuals.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. Low produces 83.5 FPS, Medium 62.1 FPS, High 47.5 FPS, and Ultra 33.9 FPS. The 4K dataset shows a steeper drop-off, with High and Ultra falling below the 60 FPS mark. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 49.6 FPS, which is smaller in absolute terms than at lower resolutions, but the relative impact is significant, as the Ultra preset is less than half the frame rate of Low. This suggests that the GPU is running out of compute resources at 4K, particularly with the heavier shader and texture loads of higher presets.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 plays a central role in determining the frame rates at higher resolutions. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, the card offers 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p but becomes a limiting factor at 4K. The GPU’s boost clock of 1725 MHz and base clock of 1500 MHz, combined with 5888 shading units, provide the compute power needed for the game’s effects, but the 4K results indicate that the card is struggling to maintain high frame rates with the Ultra preset.

The GPU’s performance in general benchmarks shows it is a capable mid-range card. Its Passmark G3D score of 22214 and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3162 place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT with a deltaPct of 0.9, meaning the RTX 3070 is 0.9% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti with a deltaPct of 1, indicating a 1% advantage. This close grouping suggests that the RTX 3070 is competitive with other mid-range cards, but its end-of-life production status means newer cards may offer better performance.

The data implies that the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is adequate for Evolve at most settings, but the 4K Ultra result of 33.9 FPS suggests that memory capacity or bandwidth is a bottleneck. The game, released in 2015, may not be optimized for modern GPU architectures, but the RTX 3070’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support ensures compatibility. The GPU’s 20.31 TFLOPS FP32 performance is the key metric for this game, as it drives the shading and lighting calculations that become more intensive at higher resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F provides a strong foundation for the system, with 10 cores and 16 threads that ensure the GPU is not starved of data. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.70 GHz and base clock of 2.50 GHz, combined with a 20 MB shared L3 cache, deliver strong single-threaded performance that is crucial for Evolve’s frame pacing. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3093 and multi-core score of 21914 show that the CPU excels in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, which is reflected in the high frame rates at 1080p.

The CPU’s performance in the Passmark benchmarks is particularly strong, with a multi-thread score of 25783 and a single-thread score of 3723. These scores place the CPU in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it outperforms most processors on the market. The nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-12800H with a deltaPct of 0, show that the i5-14400F is competitive with higher-end mobile chips, though it is not the absolute fastest available.

In the context of Evolve, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI, which are less demanding than the GPU’s rendering tasks. The data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution, as the frame rates are primarily limited by the GPU’s rendering capabilities. At 1080p Low, the 216.5 FPS result indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU with enough frames to reach high refresh rates, while at 4K, the CPU has ample headroom, as the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a versatile choice, though the benchmark data does not indicate any memory-related bottlenecks.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS measured for this combo in Evolve?*

A: The highest average FPS is 216.5, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

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

A: The combo ranks 783rd out of 1695 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier.

*Q: Is the RTX 3070’s 8 GB VRAM sufficient for 4K gaming in Evolve?*

A: The data shows 8 GB is adequate for 4K Low at 83.5 FPS, but Ultra drops to 33.9 FPS, indicating VRAM or bandwidth limits at higher presets.

Q: What is the performance difference between the i5-14400F and its nearest CPU rival?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32508, which is equal to the Intel Core i7-12800H’s score of 32513, with a deltaPct of 0.

Q: Which settings provide the best experience at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 1440p yields 112.3 FPS, offering a good balance of visual quality and smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the GPU’s benchmark percentile indicate it is a top-tier card?

A: The RTX 3070 is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms 72% of tested graphics cards but is not among the top performers.