Evolve

The data for Evolve, captured with an Intel Core i5-14600KF and an AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT, presents a clear picture of a system where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. The measured frames per second across the three tested resolutions and four quality presets reveal a significant performance curve that is heavily influenced by the GPU's capabilities. The following analysis breaks down these results, examining the roles of the processor and graphics card in shaping the final experience.

Resolution Scaling

The most immediate observation from the measured data is the predictable yet steep decline in average frame rate as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 167.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low preset, the average drops to 112.4 FPS, a reduction of approximately 33%. At 4K with Low settings, the frame rate falls further to 61.6 FPS, which is roughly 45% lower than the 1440p figure and only about 37% of the 1080p performance.

This scaling pattern strongly suggests that the system is operating in a GPU-limited state. Had the CPU been the limiting factor, we would expect to see a much smaller performance delta between 1080p and 1440p, as the processor's workload would remain relatively constant. Instead, the consistent performance drop with each resolution increase points directly to the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus, struggling to maintain fill rates as pixel count grows. The gap between the Ultra preset at 1080p (71.7 FPS) and the Ultra preset at 4K (27.3 FPS) is a stark illustration of this strain. The data indicates that for a smooth 4K experience, even on Low settings (61.6 FPS), the user is at the mercy of the GPU's rendering capabilities. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings shows a 62% performance loss, confirming that this combination is far better suited for 1440p and 1080p gaming than for 4K.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the defining component in this system's Evolve performance. Its specifications, including a boost clock of 2635 MHz and 2048 shading units, provide the raw compute power, but the data shows its limits are quickly reached. The GPU's percentile rank of 72 places it above the median of all GPUs in the database, yet the measured results in Evolve demonstrate that it is best paired with 1080p or 1440p displays for fluid gameplay. The card's 8 GB of VRAM is likely a significant factor at 4K, where the High and Ultra presets demand more memory and bandwidth, causing the average frame rate to plummet to 37.8 and 27.3 FPS respectively.

The benchmark scores for the GPU further contextualize its performance. Its Passmark G3D score of 17166 and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1859 are moderate, aligning with its mid-range positioning. The nearest rivals in the database, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6800M and the RX 470, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with deltaPct values of 0.0 and 0.1 respectively. This indicates that the RX 6650 XT is firmly in a competitive tier where small performance variations are common. However, in this specific Evolve test, the GPU's role is clear: it is the primary limiter. The transition from Low to Ultra at 1080p results in a frame rate drop from 167.2 to 71.7 FPS, a 57% reduction. This substantial penalty for higher visual fidelity is a direct consequence of the GPU's workload, confirming that the processor is not the one holding back the system in this scenario.

CPU Role

In contrast to the GPU, the Intel Core i5-14600KF appears to have ample headroom in this workload. With 14 cores and 20 threads, and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, the processor's capabilities far exceed what Evolve seems to require based on the frame rate patterns. The CPU's percentile rank of 93 among all CPUs, coupled with an average benchmark score of 49367, places it in the upper echelon of desktop processors. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889 and single-core score of 4643 indicate formidable processing power that is unlikely to bottleneck a mid-range GPU like the RX 6650 XT.

The evidence for this is that the frame rates scale almost entirely with resolution and settings, which are GPU-centric variables. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see the 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra scores to be much closer together, as the CPU would be maxed out in both scenarios. Instead, the 57% difference between these two settings shows that the GPU is the component doing the heavy lifting. The CPU's nearest rivals, which include the Intel Core i5-14600K and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, have benchmark scores within a 0.6% delta of the 14600KF. This suggests that this processor is a high-performance part whose role in this specific test is to provide a stable platform without becoming a bottleneck. The data confirms that the i5-14600KF is more than sufficient to feed the RX 6650 XT, and its performance is effectively capped by the graphics card's output.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Evolve?

A: The data suggests 1080p or 1440p are the optimal choices. At 1080p Medium, the combo averages 131 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it averages 86.3 FPS. 4K performance is playable only on Low settings, where it averages 61.6 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49367. This is 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600K and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. It is 0.5% lower than the AMD EPYC 4345P.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck in this system?

A: Yes, the benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rate drops significantly when resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. For instance, the 1080p Ultra average of 71.7 FPS falls to 27.3 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Q: How much of a performance hit is taken by using Ultra settings over Low settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the average frame rate drops from 112.4 FPS on Low to 46.3 FPS on Ultra. This represents a performance reduction of approximately 59% for the highest visual quality preset.

Q: What is the GPU's standing in the overall database?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT has a percentile rank of 72, meaning it performs better than 72% of all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 29024.

Q: What kind of performance can be expected at 4K with this setup?

A: 4K performance is limited. The only playable setting is Low, which yields an average of 61.6 FPS. Medium drops to 46.3 FPS, and High and Ultra produce averages of 37.8 and 27.3 FPS, which are not ideal for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal experience balances visual fidelity with a smooth frame rate. For a 60 FPS target, the data shows that 1080p Ultra with an average of 71.7 FPS is the highest quality preset that can comfortably exceed this threshold. However, for a more demanding 144Hz monitor, 1080p Low (167.2 FPS) or Medium (131 FPS) are the only settings that come close to that refresh rate. For 1440p gaming, the Medium preset at 86.3 FPS offers a strong balance, while High at 65.6 FPS is also viable for a 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 1440p yields only 46.3 FPS, making it less desirable. At 4K, the Low preset at 61.6 FPS is the only setting that achieves a playable frame rate, though users seeking higher visual quality will face a significant performance penalty. The data strongly suggests that for the best overall experience, users should prioritize 1080p with High or Ultra settings, or 1440p with Medium or High settings, to avoid the steep performance cost of the Ultra preset at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

A detailed look at the measured average FPS across all configurations reveals the full performance envelope of this system.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 167.2 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average is 131 FPS, a 21.6% decrease. The High preset produces 103.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 71.7 FPS. This shows a clear and consistent trade-off between visual quality and performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. The Low preset averages 112.4 FPS. The Medium preset follows at 86.3 FPS, and High is at 65.6 FPS. The Ultra preset brings the average down to 46.3 FPS. This resolution provides a good middle ground, with High settings still offering a playable 65.6 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset averages 61.6 FPS, which is the only playable option. Medium averages 46.3 FPS, High averages 37.8 FPS, and Ultra averages 27.3 FPS. The 4K results highlight the GPU's limitations, with all but the lowest settings falling below the 60 FPS threshold. The data is measured and shows a clear progression of performance loss as resolution and quality increase, with the most dramatic drops occurring between the Low and Ultra presets at each resolution.