Evolve

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 delivers a performance profile in Evolve that is firmly positioned within the lower-mid tier of tested hardware combinations. The data shows that this pairing ranks 3053 out of 3700 tested combos, placing it in the 18th percentile of all systems tested — a result that illustrates a significant bottleneck on the graphics side. While the CPU is a modern, high-performance part, the GPU’s age and limited capabilities dictate the overall experience. This combination is not designed for high refresh rates at high resolutions; instead, it serves as a baseline for 1080p gaming. The following analysis breaks down the specific contributions of the CPU and GPU, detailed frame rate measurements, and the implications of resolution scaling.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested configurations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 stands at rank 3053 out of 3700 combos. This is a low position, reflecting a system that is fundamentally unbalanced for this particular title. The CPU is a top-tier performer in its own right, but the GPU is a mid-range part from a previous generation. The bottleneck is stark: the GPU is the limiting factor in nearly all scenarios.

The combo’s ranking suggests that among the 3700 systems tested, a substantial majority outperform it. This is not a configuration for players seeking high refresh rates or maximum detail settings. The data indicates a system that is best suited to budget-conscious gaming at 1080p, where medium to high settings are the realistic ceiling. The rank is a composite measure, and the performance is heavily influenced by the GPU’s inability to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor from the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, which can boost up to 5.30 GHz. This is a modern, high-end CPU with a 24 MB shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In the context of Evolve, is a game released in 2015, the CPU is likely not the limiting factor. The game’s engine, while demanding for its time, is not designed to utilize 20 threads effectively, and the high clock speeds and modern architecture over the game’s requirements.

The CPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks is impressive. For instance, it scores 32,544 in a multi-core benchmark and 4,594 in single-core, and it holds a 90th percentile rank among all CPUs. However, in this game, the CPU’s power is mostly irrelevant. The bottleneck is the GPU. The data does not suggest a CPU limitation at any tested settings; the frame rates are consistently dictated by the GPU’s workload. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU load is the least demanding, the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GPU. The CPU’s multi-core performance is not a factor, but its strong single-core performance is beneficial for the game’s physics and AI, though it does not translate into higher frame rates because the GPU cannot keep up.

The CPU's memory support is dual-channel, and it supports ECC memory, but these are not factors in the game’s performance. The CPU has a TDP of 125 W, which is a modest figure for a high-end desktop processor. In a gaming context, the CPU is not a concern; it is the GPU that holds the system back.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the clear bottleneck in this configuration. This is a product from 2016, built on the Pascal architecture with the GP104 chip. It has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. The core runs at a base of 1506 MHz with a boost of 1683 MHz. The GPU has 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. The pixel rate is 107.7 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 202.0 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS.

These specs are respectable for a mid-range GPU of its generation, but the GTX 1070’s age is apparent. It ranks in the 47th percentile of all GPUs, and its benchmark scores show a wide range, from a DirectX 12 score of 48 to a DirectX 11 score of 100. The GPU’s performance in this game is the primary factor in the overall ranking. At 4K, the GPU is utterly overwhelmed. At 1080p, it can provide acceptable frame rates, but not at the highest settings. The 8 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor at 1080p or 1440p, but the GPU’s raw compute power is insufficient for the game’s demands at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s performance is also limited by its memory bandwidth and its lack of modern features. It supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, but the game is not designed to take full advantage of these APIs. The GPU’s compute performance in the benchmark, a score of 6,102, is a clear indicator of its mid-range status. In a game like Evolve, the GPU’s role is to render the environment and characters. The data shows that the GPU is consistently the limiting factor, with frame rates scaling directly with resolution and settings, and always falling short of a smooth experience at high settings and high resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combination show a clear pattern. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 31 on High settings, 39 on Medium, and 50 on Low. The Ultra setting drops to 21 FPS, which is the lowest measured. These figures show that 4K is not a viable option for this system; even on Low settings, the frame rate is only 50 FPS, which is playable but not smooth, and the Ultra setting is unplayable.

At 2560x1440, the picture improves. The average FPS is 54 on High, 68 on Medium, and 88 on Low. The Ultra setting is 37 FPS. This resolution is more playable, but still not ideal. The Medium setting is the best balance with an average of 68 FPS, and the frame times are stable, with a min of 58 and a max of 79.

At 1920x1080, the system finally performs well. The average FPS is 80 on High, 102 on Medium, and 132 on Low. The Ultra setting is 55 FPS. The Medium and Low settings are above 100 FPS, which is smooth for most players. The High setting is still playable at 80 FPS. The data indicates that 1080p is the best resolution for this combination, with a sweet spot between Medium and High settings.

The frame rate data shows the GPU’s scaling. From 1080p to 1440p, the frame rate drops are consistent. For example, on Low settings, the drop from 132 FPS to 88 FPS is a 33% decrease. From 1080p to 4K, the drop is more severe, with the High setting dropping from 80 FPS to 31 FPS, a 61% decrease. The resolution scaling is not linear, and the GPU’s limitations are exposed at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are steep, indicating that the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the system hits 132 FPS, which is a high frame rate, but this is an outlier. The typical setting is Medium, which at 1080p is 102 FPS. When moving to 1440p, the frame rate drops to 68 FPS, a 33% decrease. At 4K, it drops to 39 FPS, a 62% decrease from the 1080p Medium.

This scaling is not linear, and it shows that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute power are not sufficient for higher resolutions. The fact that the frame rate drops so much at 4K suggests that the GPU is not just a bottleneck, but it is the only component that matters. The CPU’s power does not help at higher resolutions. The game is clearly GPU-limited, and the only way to achieve high frame rates is to reduce the resolution and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system based on the data?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At 1080p, the average frame rate is 80 FPS on High, 102 FPS on Medium, and 132 FPS on Low. These are the only settings that provide a consistently smooth experience.

Q: Is it possible to play at 4K with this setup?

A: The data indicates that 4K is not a viable option. The average frame rate at 4K is 31 FPS on High, 39 FPS on Medium, and 50 FPS on Low. These frame rates are below the threshold for a responsive experience, and the Ultra setting is 21 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its rivals?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 9,780. Its closest rivals are the AMD FirePro W5000 with a score of 9,803 (0.2% higher), the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M with a score of 9,832 (0.5% higher), and the NVIDIA Tesla M10 with a score of 9,724 (0.6% lower). The performance is very close to these cards.

Q: What is the frame rate on Medium settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average frame rate on Medium settings is 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 79.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the bottleneck?

A: The data shows the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU has a high ranking and strong benchmark scores, but the frame rates are limited by the GPU’s performance. For example, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate is 21 FPS, which is a GPU limitation, not a CPU one.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate measured in the game?

A: The highest average frame rate is 132 FPS, achieved at 1080p with Low settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data indicates that the best experience is at 1080p with Medium settings. This setting offers an average frame rate of 102 FPS, with a min of 87 and a max of 117. This is a smooth experience for a game like Evolve, and it is the highest average frame rate with a stable frame time. The High setting at 1080p is also playable, with an average of 80 FPS, but the Medium setting provides a noticeable improvement in frame rate without a significant visual penalty.

For players who prefer higher visual quality, the High setting at 1080p is the max. At 1440p, the Medium setting offers an average of 68 FPS, which is playable, but the frame rate is not as high. The Low setting at 1440p is the best for frame rate, with an average of 88 FPS, but the visual quality is significantly lower. The Ultra setting is not recommended, as it drops the frame rate to 55 FPS at 1080p and 37 FPS at 1440p. The data suggests that the best experience is at 1080p with Medium settings, which provides a high frame rate and a visual quality that is still good enough for a fast-paced game.