Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetrical FPS, presents a fascinating benchmark case when paired with the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D. This combination of a 10-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake CPU with a flagship Blackwell GPU in a last-generation title yields results that are more nuanced than a simple "max everything" prescription. The data reveals a system capable of extraordinary frame rates, yet one where the CPU and GPU play distinctly different roles depending on the resolution and preset. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, focusing on how this specific pairing scales across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data for this combo shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, but the rate of that drop-off tells the real story about where the bottleneck lies. When comparing the High preset, the system delivers an average of 246 FPS at 1920x1080. Moving up to 2560x1440, that average drops to 165 FPS, a reduction of 33%. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 94 FPS, which is 62% below the 1080p figure. This steep decline with each resolution step is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario at higher detail settings.

However, the scaling at the Low preset reveals a different dynamic. At 1920x1080, the system achieves a massive 324 FPS average. At 2560x1440, it drops to 271 FPS (a 16% decrease), and at 3840x2160, it hits 154 FPS (a 52% decrease from 1080p). The relatively smaller penalty from 1080p to 1440p on Low suggests that at these lower settings, the Intel Core i5-14400F is starting to become a more significant factor. The CPU has to feed the RTX 5090 D frames as fast as it can, and the 1440p Low result of 271 FPS is likely closer to the CPU's practical limit in this game than the 324 FPS at 1080p. The jump to 4K Low still shows a substantial drop, indicating the GPU is again becoming the primary limiter.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, which is expected given the immense load it places on the GPU. The system goes from 170 FPS at 1080p to 114 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 65 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 65 FPS is the only sub-100 FPS average in the entire measured set, underscoring that this is the most demanding configuration. The data suggests that for the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, users should be aware that 4K Ultra is a significant stress test for even a card as powerful as the RTX 5090 D in this title. The scaling behavior confirms that the RTX 5090 D is the dominant performance driver in Evolve, with the i5-14400F providing enough headroom to avoid being a severe constraint until frame rates climb well past 250 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Benchmark results indicate that a "one-size-fits-all" settings recommendation is not appropriate for this combo; the ideal preset is heavily dependent on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p gaming, the data shows that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate displays. With an average of 295 FPS and a minimum of 251 FPS, it provides a massive performance buffer over the High preset's 246 FPS average. The Low preset at 324 FPS offers even more headroom, but the 29 FPS gain over Medium is less impactful than the visual quality loss, making Medium the more practical choice for a 240Hz or 360Hz monitor.

At 1440p, the Medium preset continues to be the standout performer. The average of 210 FPS with a minimum of 179 FPS is exceptionally smooth and should easily saturate most high-refresh-rate 1440p panels. The High preset at 165 FPS is also viable for 144Hz displays, but the data shows that Medium offers a 27% performance increase while likely maintaining a comparable visual experience in a fast-paced game like Evolve. The Ultra preset at 114 FPS is playable but represents a significant performance sacrifice for the highest settings.

For 4K gaming, the choices become more defined. The High preset, with an average of 94 FPS, is the recommended starting point. It offers a solid 60+ FPS experience with good visual quality. The Medium preset provides a more comfortable buffer at 120 FPS, making it the better choice for smoother motion, though it comes with a 22% average FPS cost compared to High. Ultra is not recommended for 4K, as the 65 FPS average is below the threshold for a consistently fluid experience on many modern displays. The Low preset at 4K, while hitting 154 FPS, is a niche option that sacrifices too much visual detail for a high frame rate. In summary, Medium is the go-to preset for high-refresh 1080p and 1440p, while High is the practical choice for 4K on this hardware.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, has a clear and measurable impact on Evolve's performance, even when paired with a GPU as powerful as the RTX 5090 D. The CPU's base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz are sufficient for this game, but the data suggests that its role shifts from a supporting actor at high resolutions to a potential co-star at low resolutions. The processor's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and single-core score of 3055 indicate strong all-around capability, which is reflected in its ability to maintain high frame rates.

The most telling evidence of the CPU's role is the difference in scaling between the Low and High presets. At 1080p Low, the system hits 324 FPS, but at 1440p Low, it only drops to 271 FPS. This 16% reduction is less than the 33% drop seen on the High preset between the same resolutions. This suggests that at 1080p Low, the i5-14400F is likely reaching its maximum frame generation capability, preventing the RTX 5090 D from achieving even higher numbers. The data implies that this CPU can sustain roughly 271-324 FPS in Evolve's lighter scenes, and it becomes the limiting factor beyond that point.

This is further supported by the 4K Low result of 154 FPS, which is a massive drop from the 1440p Low figure. This indicates that once the GPU is freed from the CPU's frame-rate ceiling at 1080p, its own workload at 4K becomes the primary constraint. The CPU's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support are adequate for feeding the GPU, but the benchmark data makes it clear that for users targeting the absolute highest frame rates at 1080p, the CPU is the component that will hold the system back. In this context, the i5-14400F is a very capable partner, but it is not a limitless one.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested hardware combinations for Evolve, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D holds a position at the top of the performance hierarchy. The combo ranks at number 33 out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the top 1% of all systems benchmarked for this game. This top-tier ranking confirms the sheer power of the RTX 5090 D, which is confirmed by its own performance percentile of 92 against all GPUs.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 77712 is only 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, according to the nearestRivals data. While these are synthetic benchmarks, they show the RTX 5090 D is in a performance class of its own in the database. The CPU, while not as dominant in its own percentile ranking (83rd percentile), still holds its own against its nearest rivals. It is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i9-11900, while being 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12800H. This indicates that the i5-14400F is a solid mid-to-high-range performer, but the combo's stellar rank is primarily driven by the GPU.

The fact that this combo is ranked 33rd out of 3700, despite the CPU not being a top-10 performer, highlights how GPU-bound Evolve is at higher settings. The measured FPS data confirms this, with the system producing playable frame rates at 4K High (94 FPS) and exceptional rates at 1080p Medium (295 FPS). The rank suggests that for the vast majority of other tested combos, the GPU is the primary limiting factor, and only a handful of systems with even more powerful or more balanced hardware can surpass this configuration.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 4K with maximum settings?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the system achieves an average of 65 FPS. While this is technically playable, it is below the 94 FPS average seen on the High preset, making High the recommended setting for a smoother 4K experience.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 240Hz 1080p monitor?

A: The Medium preset is the most suitable choice. It delivers an average of 295 FPS with a minimum of 251 FPS, which is high enough to keep a 240Hz display fully fed. The Low preset is faster at 324 FPS on average, but the visual quality trade-off is not necessary.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D in this game?

A: At higher resolutions like 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. However, at 1080p with the Low preset, the 324 FPS average suggests the CPU may be limiting the GPU's potential, as the frame rate does not scale as much as expected when moving to lower resolutions.

Q: How does this combo's overall performance rank compared to other systems?

A: The combination ranks 33rd out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This places it in the top 1% of all configurations in the database, indicating exceptional performance.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between the High and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 165 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 114 FPS. This represents a 31% performance decrease for the Ultra settings.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D have a high benchmark score compared to its closest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 77712. It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, showing it performs in a similar tier to these other high-end cards in synthetic tests.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured performance data for the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D in Evolve.

Resolution: 1920x1080

• Low: Average FPS of 324. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo.
• Medium: Average FPS of 295, with a minimum of 251 and a maximum of 340.
• High: Average FPS of 246.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 170.

Resolution: 2560x1440

• Low: Average FPS of 271.
• Medium: Average FPS of 210, with a minimum of 179 and a maximum of 242.
• High: Average FPS of 165.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 114.

Resolution: 3840x2160

• Low: Average FPS of 154.
• Medium: Average FPS of 120, with a minimum of 102 and a maximum of 138.
• High: Average FPS of 94.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 65. This is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo.