Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark study in component imbalance when running Evolve. The data shows a powerful 14-core processor constrained by a GPU whose benchmark percentile sits at just 9, resulting in frame rates that are playable only at lower resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the combo's ranking, and examines the specific roles of the CPU and GPU in this title.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable but severe performance degradation as resolution increases, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 89 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops that average to 60 FPS, a reduction of 29 FPS. The jump to 4K at Low settings yields just 34 FPS, which is less than half of the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated by pixel throughput demands, leaving the CPU's substantial headroom unused.

The trend continues across all settings presets. At Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 69 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p and finally to 26 at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, with a 20 FPS loss, indicating that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are overwhelmed at the higher resolution. High settings show a similar collapse: 54 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. In every case, the 4K results are marginal at best, with the Ultra preset at 4K falling to an unplayable 14 FPS average.

What is most telling is the delta between Low and Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, the gap is 52 FPS (89 vs 37). At 1440p, the gap narrows to 35 FPS (60 vs 25). At 4K, the gap is a mere 20 FPS (34 vs 14). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions implies that the GPU is so heavily loaded that even reducing the graphical settings provides diminishing returns. The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU; the Intel Core i5-14600KF, with its high single-thread and multi-thread scores, is not the factor restraining performance. The data suggests that the i5-14600KF is capable of feeding frames far faster than the Arc B390 can render them, making the GPU the sole arbiter of playability.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined performance of this CPU and GPU pair in Evolve is poor, as evidenced by its combo rank. The data places this configuration at rank 2530 out of 2872 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's low benchmark performance, which drags down the otherwise strong CPU. The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482, and its percentile versus all GPUs is 9, meaning it outperforms only 9% of all graphics cards in the database. This is a severely underpowered component for a game like Evolve, which is a fast-paced FPS.

The CPU's own ranking provides a stark contrast. The Intel Core i5-14600KF has a percentile versus all CPUs of 90, indicating it is more powerful than 90% of all processors. Its average benchmark score of 49394 is competitive with its nearest rivals. The data shows it is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. It trails the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 by only 0.8%. This high CPU performance, however, is irrelevant to the in-game rank, as the GPU becomes the primary barrier.

The massive discrepancy between the CPU's high percentile (90) and the GPU's low percentile (9) explains the low combo rank. The combo rank is not an average of the two; it is a measure of how well the pair performs in a specific game. Since Evolve is heavily GPU-bound at the tested settings, the weak GPU dictates the outcome, resulting in a rank that is closer to the GPU's percentile than the CPU's. This configuration is a clear example of a bottleneck, where a high-end processor is paired with a low-end integrated GPU, leading to a system that cannot utilize its full potential in gaming workloads.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this combo's Evolve performance. Its specifications reveal a component designed for low-power, integrated use rather than high-end gaming. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which is a disadvantage in a game that requires rapid texture and geometry data access. This shared memory configuration likely contributes to the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions, where memory pressure increases.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS. These figures, while adequate for basic tasks, are insufficient for maintaining high frame rates in a demanding FPS at higher resolutions. The GPU's benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1482, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GeForce GT 625 OEM, and GeForce GT 710. The Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than the GT 520MX and 2.7% faster than the GT 710, which are legacy, entry-level parts.

This data points to a fundamental mismatch. The GPU's 80 W TDP and "IGP" slot width classify it as an integrated graphics processor, not a discrete solution. The 3nm process node and Xe3-LPG architecture are modern, but the implementation is clearly targeted at efficiency over performance. In Evolve, this results in the measured FPS being too low for a smooth experience at 4K on any preset, and even at 1440p, only the Low preset achieves 60 FPS. The GPU is the primary constraint, and its shared memory system and low compute throughput are the likely reasons for the performance ceiling observed in the data.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in Evolve?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 89, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: The combo is ranked 2530 out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested in Evolve.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo fail to reach 30 FPS?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution, the combo fails to reach 30 FPS on High (21 FPS) and Ultra (14 FPS) settings. The Medium preset at 4K averages 26 FPS, which is also below 30.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 has a benchmark percentile of 9, while the Intel Core i5-14600KF has a percentile of 90, showing a massive performance gap that limits the system.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p and 4K at Low settings?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 89 at 1920x1080 to 34 at 3840x2160, a difference of 55 FPS.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B390 have dedicated VRAM?

A: No, the memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses shared system memory instead of dedicated graphics memory.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a high-performance desktop processor that is vastly overqualified for the graphical demands of this pairing. It is a 14-core, 20-thread CPU with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This specification alone suggests it is more than capable of handling the game's physics and AI calculations. Its benchmark results confirm this capability; the Cinebench R23 multicore score is 32544, and the single-core score is 4594. The PassMark single-thread score is 4273, and the multithread score is 38697. These are strong numbers that place the CPU in the 90th percentile of all processors.

The CPU's architecture, Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process, provides a substantial amount of cache, including 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 per core. This cache hierarchy is beneficial for gaming, as it reduces latency for frequently accessed data. The CPU also supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which allows for flexible system configuration. In Evolve, the CPU's role is to process game logic, manage entities, and prepare draw calls. Given its high single-thread performance (Cinebench R15 single-core score of 462), it is unlikely to be the source of any frame rate limitations.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, where the CPU load is typically higher relative to the GPU, the system achieves 89 FPS. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions at the same settings, as the CPU's workload would saturate first. Instead, we see FPS dropping drastically from 1080p to 4K, proving that the GPU is maxed out while the CPU has spare capacity. The i5-14600KF is a powerful processor that is being held back by the Arc B390, and its high core count and clock speeds are not being utilized to their full extent in this game.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based strictly on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo balances playability with visual quality. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 89, which is excellent for competitive play. However, the Medium preset still provides a very playable 69 FPS average with a minimum of 59 FPS, suggesting it can maintain a stable experience. The High preset at 1080p drops to a 54 FPS average, which is still acceptable, but the Medium preset offers a better frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset at 1080p (37 FPS average) is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold that is desirable for a smooth FPS experience.

At 1440p, the choices become more constrained. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a 60 FPS average. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, which is playable but may exhibit noticeable stutter during intense action. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p (36 and 25 FPS averages, respectively) are not recommended for a responsive gaming experience. At 4K, all presets are below 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset hits a low of 14 FPS. None of the 4K settings provide a playable frame rate for a fast-paced FPS.

The best "measured" experience is at 1080p with Medium settings. This preset offers a 69 FPS average and a minimum of 59 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target and provides a significantly better visual quality than Low. The Medium preset at 1440p (46 FPS average) could be considered if the user prioritizes resolution over frame rate, but the 1080p Medium configuration is the sweet spot. It provides the best combination of a high frame rate, a stable minimum FPS, and improved graphical fidelity over the Low preset, based on the data provided.

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

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS (and minimum/maximum where available) for Evolve with the Intel Core i5-14600KF and Intel Arc B390.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Ultra: 14 FPS average
• High: 21 FPS average
• Medium: 26 FPS average (minimum 22, maximum 30)
• Low: 34 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Ultra: 25 FPS average
• High: 36 FPS average
• Medium: 46 FPS average (minimum 39, maximum 53)
• Low: 60 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Ultra: 37 FPS average
• High: 54 FPS average
• Medium: 69 FPS average (minimum 59, maximum 79)
• Low: 89 FPS average

The data shows a clear hierarchy. The 1080p Low preset is the only configuration to break the 80 FPS barrier, while 1080p Medium is the only other to exceed 60 FPS. The 1440p Low preset achieves exactly 60 FPS. All other combinations fall below 54 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with the best being 34 FPS on Low and the worst being 14 FPS on Ultra. The minimum FPS data available only for the Medium preset shows that 1080p maintains a minimum of 59 FPS, 1440p has a minimum of 39 FPS, and 4K has a minimum of 22 FPS. This indicates that as resolution increases, frame pacing becomes more inconsistent, further degrading the experience.