Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a fascinating case study in system bottlenecking within the context of Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The data shows a processor with immense headroom paired with an integrated GPU that severely limits the overall experience. The combination ranks at 2639 out of 2872 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all system pairings for this specific game.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and can boost up to 5.30 GHz, drawing 125 W TDP. This is a desktop-class CPU with substantial multi-threaded capabilities, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544 and a single-core score of 4594. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4273 further confirms strong per-core performance, which is typically crucial for gaming workloads.

However, in this specific benchmark configuration, the CPU's role is almost entirely theoretical. The performance data reveals that the system's frame rates are not constrained by the processor. Even at the lowest resolution and settings (1080p Low), the system achieves an average of 80 FPS. While this is a playable frame rate, it is far below what this CPU is capable of driving in a 2015 title. The CPU's performance percentile of 90 versus all other CPUs indicates it is a top-tier part, yet the system ranks in the 8th percentile for Evolve.

The core count and clock speeds are effectively wasted in this pairing. The game does not appear to be demanding enough to stress the 14 cores. The data suggests that the i5-14600KF is not the limiting factor at any point. The CPU's average benchmark score of 49394 puts it on par with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which scores 49228 (a 0.3% difference), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, which scores 49796 (a -0.8% difference). This indicates that the CPU is a high-end performer, but its capabilities are irrelevant when the graphics processor cannot keep up.

The fact that the system's FPS scales so dramatically with resolution and settings points directly to the GPU as the primary constraint. The CPU is likely waiting idle for the Arc B370 to complete its rendering tasks. For a game like Evolve, which relies on fast-paced action, the CPU's 5.30 GHz boost clock could theoretically provide excellent frame pacing, but the data shows no evidence of this benefit being realized due to the GPU bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo rank of 2639 out of 2872 is a stark indicator of the system's overall performance. This rank places the pairing in the bottom 8.1% of all tested combinations for Evolve. This is a remarkably poor showing for a CPU that sits in the 90th percentile of all processors. The discrepancy between the CPU's individual percentile and the combo's rank highlights a severe imbalance.

This ranking suggests that most other system configurations, even those with significantly weaker CPUs, outperform this specific pairing in Evolve. The data implies that the Intel Arc B370 is holding back the system so severely that it negates the i5-14600KF's considerable advantages. The GPU's own percentile of 5 versus all other GPUs confirms its position as a very low-performance part.

In practical terms, this combo will struggle to deliver a consistent experience. The ranking is not just about peak FPS; it reflects the overall capability to run the game smoothly across various scenarios. The data shows that even the best-case scenario (1080p Low) only yields 80 FPS, which is mediocre. The 4K Ultra result of 13 FPS is practically unplayable. The benchmark results indicate that this combination is not well-suited for Evolve, and the rank of 2639 out of 2872 accurately communicates this to potential users.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling data provides clear evidence of a GPU-bound system. Moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 on Low settings, the average FPS drops from 80 to 31. This represents a 61.25% reduction in frame rate. For High settings, the drop is from 49 FPS at 1080p to 19 FPS at 4K, a 61.2% reduction.

These proportional drops are classic indicators of a GPU bottleneck. When a system is CPU-bound, reducing resolution typically has a minimal impact on FPS because the CPU is still processing the same number of draw calls. Here, the FPS scales almost directly with the number of pixels, meaning the GPU's fill rate and shading power are the limiting factors.

The data shows the Arc B370's capabilities. Its pixel rate is listed as 48.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. These are low figures that explain the dramatic performance collapse at higher resolutions. The GPU's 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs are simply insufficient for 4K rendering in this game. The frame rates at 4K (19 FPS High, 24 FPS Medium, 31 FPS Low) are all below playable thresholds, confirming that this resolution is not viable for this combo. The scaling behavior makes it clear that the CPU has no influence on the performance ceiling at any resolution tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent pattern across all resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 80. Moving to Medium settings drops the average to 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72. High settings yield an average of 49 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, producing an average of only 34 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 46 FPS, which shows the GPU's sensitivity to graphical complexity.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades significantly. Low settings produce an average of 54 FPS. Medium settings drop to 42 FPS, with a range of 35 to 48 FPS. High settings average 33 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 23 FPS. This resolution represents the middle ground, where the system starts to become uncomfortable for smooth gameplay on higher presets.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly overmatched. Low settings yield an average of just 31 FPS. Medium settings produce 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. High settings drop to 19 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 13 FPS. None of these results are playable for a fast-paced FPS. The data shows a clear linear progression of performance loss as resolution increases, with no settings combination at 4K reaching even 35 FPS.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this combo?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can maintain an average FPS above 60. At 1080p Low, it averages 80 FPS, and at Medium, it averages 62 FPS. All 1440p and 4K results fall below 60 FPS.

*Q: Can this system run Evolve at Ultra settings?*

A: It can run the game at Ultra settings, but the frame rates are low. The best Ultra result is 34 FPS at 1080p. At 1440p, it drops to 23 FPS, and at 4K, it reaches only 13 FPS. These results would likely be a poor experience.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF or the Intel Arc B370 the bottleneck?

A: The benchmark results indicate the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component. The FPS scales proportionally with resolution, a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU is highly capable, but the GPU's performance prevents it from being utilized effectively.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49394. This is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49228) and 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49196). It is 0.8% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (49796).

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190). It is 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168).

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 80, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. The next highest is 62 FPS at 1080p with Medium settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based strictly on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo are at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This is the highest settings level that maintains an average FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, which is generally considered the minimum for smooth gameplay in an FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS, indicating it can hold a playable frame rate in most scenarios.

The Low preset at 1080p offers a higher average of 80 FPS, but the visual quality is likely significantly reduced. The Medium preset provides a better balance between visual fidelity and performance for this hardware. The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 49 FPS, is a step down in smoothness. At 1440p, the best option would be Low settings, which averages 54 FPS, but this still falls below the 60 FPS target. The data suggests that 1440p is not a viable resolution for a consistently smooth experience.

For 4K, all settings are below 31 FPS average, making the game effectively unplayable. The recommendation is clear: stick to 1080p. Within that resolution, the Medium preset is the best choice for a responsive experience. If the user prioritizes frame rate over visual detail, the Low preset is the only other option that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as its highest average FPS is 34 at 1080p.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and a Panther Lake chip. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. It features 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. The GPU's memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM.

The GPU's performance metrics are low. Its FP32 compute power is 6.144 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s. These specifications are reflected in its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end cards, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190.

The "System Shared" memory is a significant factor. Since it shares bandwidth with the CPU, the effective memory bandwidth is "System Dependent." This can cause performance to fluctuate based on system memory configuration. The measured FPS data shows this GPU is the clear bottleneck. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is drastic, which is consistent with a GPU that lacks the raw pixel throughput and memory bandwidth for high-resolution rendering. The 20 ROPs are a particularly limiting factor for fill-rate heavy tasks like increasing resolution. In Evolve, the GPU's role is to render the game world, and its low compute and pixel rates directly translate to the low frame rates observed across all settings.