Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 cooperative FPS built around a 4v1 asymmetric hunt, places surprisingly asymmetric demands on the CPU and GPU. The data on the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 580 combo reveals a system where the processor’s six physical cores are more than sufficient for the game’s AI-driven monster and wildlife logic, while the graphics card becomes the definitive bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. The benchmark results show a clear progression: the i5-9400’s 6-core, 6-thread configuration with a 2.90 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost clock provides a stable foundation, but the RX 580’s performance ceiling is what ultimately governs the frame rates in this title.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a Coffee Lake-era desktop processor with 6 cores and 6 threads, a configuration that lacks Hyper-Threading. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz, combined with a 9 MB shared L3 cache, are the primary drivers of its compute capability. In Evolve, which relies on real-time tracking of the monster, wildlife AI, and environmental physics, the CPU must handle a continuous stream of game logic updates. The measured FPS data suggests that this processor is never the limiting factor in the tested scenarios, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution and preset changes—a pattern that points to GPU saturation rather than CPU stalls.

The i5-9400’s benchmark scores reinforce its mid-range standing. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 and single-core score of 1125 place it at the 50th percentile among all CPUs. This is a processor that delivers competent, but not class-leading, throughput. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the deltaPct values are remarkably tight: it is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10305 (avg score 2300) and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (avg score 2299), while being 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2134 (avg score 2295). It trails the Intel Core i7-8809G (avg score 2319) by 0.6%. This clustering implies that in Evolve, the CPU’s raw compute headroom is similar to several other chips, meaning the frame rate differences observed at lower resolutions are more likely due to the graphics card’s limits than the processor’s ability to feed the frame queue.

The memory support for this CPU is dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, which is standard for the platform. The 14 nm process node and 65 W TDP indicate an efficient, but not high-end, design. The fact that the game runs at 87.4 FPS at 1080p Low settings suggests the CPU can handle high frame rate scenarios, but the drop to 53.1 FPS at 1080p High demonstrates that the GPU is already being pushed hard. Thus, the data indicates the i5-9400 is a capable partner, but it does not boost the combo’s standing beyond what the RX 580 can deliver.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 1572 out of 1695 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 7% of all tested systems, which is a sobering statistic when considering the individual component benchmarks. The RX 580 alone sits at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-9400 sits at the 50th percentile, yet their combined performance in this specific game is far below what those percentiles might suggest. This discrepancy indicates that Evolve is particularly demanding on the graphics subsystem, and the pairing does not yield synergistic benefits.

The rank implies that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU combos tested deliver higher average frame rates across the board. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the combo only achieves 87.4 FPS, which is respectable but not exceptional for a system with a 6-core CPU and an 8 GB graphics card. At higher settings, the performance degrades sharply, further cementing the low rank. The nearestRivals data for the GPU shows the RX 580 is statistically tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (avg score 13564, deltaPct 0) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 (avg score 13549, deltaPct 0.1), which are much older architectures. This suggests that the RX 580’s raw compute is not translating into Evolve-specific performance, likely due to the game’s optimization for certain GPU features or the card’s driver maturity.

The combo rank is a stark reminder that component-level averages do not always predict game-specific outcomes. A user with this setup would find themselves at a significant disadvantage compared to the majority of tested systems, particularly when pushing beyond 1080p. The data does not provide individual rival combos, only the overall rank, so the gap to the next closest combo is not quantifiable here, but the sheer position (1572 of 1695) highlights a substantial performance deficit 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 steep performance cliff as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Medium, the combo delivers 65.5 FPS. Moving to 1440p Medium, the frame rate falls to 41.3 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K Medium, it plummets to 25.9 FPS, which is a further 37% drop from the 1440p figure. This consistent percentage decline across resolution steps indicates that the RX 580’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints, not the CPU.

Looking at the Low preset, the pattern is similar but with higher absolute numbers: 1080p Low yields 87.4 FPS, 1440p Low drops to 57 FPS (a 35% decrease), and 4K Low falls to 33.4 FPS (a 41% decrease from 1440p). This scaling behavior is typical for a GPU with a 256-bit memory bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 580’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is sufficient for storing textures, but the sheer number of pixels to fill at 4K overwhelms the 32 ROPs and 42.88 GPixel/s pixel rate. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 4.10 GHz boost, is not the bottleneck here, as the frame rates do not plateau or show erratic behavior that would indicate processor stalls; they decline smoothly with the increasing pixel workload.

The most telling comparison is the 1080p to 4K delta on the Ultra preset. 1080p Ultra yields 35.7 FPS, while 4K Ultra yields 16.8 FPS, a 53% drop. This is a larger relative decline than the Medium preset, suggesting that the Ultra settings introduce additional GPU-heavy effects that amplify the resolution penalty. The data confirms that to maintain playable frame rates, users must either lower the preset or drop the resolution, as the limiting component is unambiguously the graphics card.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its best performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 87.4 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium drops to 65.5 FPS, and High settles at 53.1 FPS. Ultra is a significant step down, yielding only 35.7 FPS. This spread of 51.7 FPS between Low and Ultra demonstrates that Evolve’s settings have a massive impact on the GPU workload at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates become more modest. Low produces 57 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium falls to 41.3 FPS, and High drops to 37.9 FPS. Ultra at 1440p is nearly unplayable at 21.9 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 35.1 FPS, which is a smaller absolute difference than at 1080p, but the percentage drop is larger, indicating that the GPU is running out of headroom.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely disappointing. Low is the only preset that approaches playability, hitting 33.4 FPS. Medium falls to 25.9 FPS, High to 17.3 FPS, and Ultra to 16.8 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 4K is only 0.5 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is completely saturated and the additional settings in Ultra do not meaningfully change the output. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable option for this combo, even on the lowest settings, as the 33.4 FPS figure is below the standard for smooth gameplay.

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 combo achieves consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p Medium, it hits 65.5 FPS, while Low reaches 87.4 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low preset manages 57 FPS, and at 4K, even Low drops to 33.4 FPS.

Q: How does the combo rank against other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1572 out of 1695 tested combinations in Evolve, placing it in the bottom 7% of all systems. This is significantly lower than what the individual component percentiles (50th for CPU, 53rd for GPU) might suggest.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to bottleneck performance?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. Frame rates drop proportionally with pixel count, and the CPU’s 6-core configuration does not show signs of limitation, as the scores decline smoothly with increased graphical load.

Q: What settings should be avoided?

A: The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions. At 1080p, it yields 35.7 FPS; at 1440p, it drops to 21.9 FPS; and at 4K, it is only 16.8 FPS. High settings are also problematic at 4K, where they produce just 17.3 FPS.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM help at high resolutions?

A: Despite having 8 GB of GDDR5 memory with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, the card still fails to deliver playable frame rates at 4K. The 4K Medium preset only achieves 25.9 FPS, suggesting that memory capacity is not the limiting factor; rather, the GPU’s compute and pixel throughput are insufficient.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RX 580’s closest rivals?

A: The RX 580’s avg benchmark score is 13559, which is virtually identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (13564, deltaPct 0) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 (13549, deltaPct 0.1). It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 455 and 1.1% behind the NVIDIA P106-090, but these benchmark similarities do not translate into a high combo rank in Evolve.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the ideal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which delivers 65.5 FPS. This provides a solid balance between visual fidelity and smoothness, avoiding the 53.1 FPS of High while still offering better graphics than the 87.4 FPS of Low. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p is the only option that pushes past 80 FPS, but it sacrifices significant visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only viable choice, yielding 57 FPS. The Medium preset at 41.3 FPS is borderline, but the High preset at 37.9 FPS may feel choppy in fast-paced encounters. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as the 21.9 FPS average will severely hamper gameplay. At 3840x2160, the data suggests avoiding this resolution entirely, as the best case (Low at 33.4 FPS) is below the threshold for acceptable playability. The High preset at 4K is particularly poor at 17.3 FPS, and Ultra at 16.8 FPS is essentially a slideshow.

The most efficient path to a stable experience is to lock the resolution to 1080p and use the Medium preset. This setting offers a 65.5 FPS average, which is 12.4 FPS higher than High and 29.8 FPS lower than Low, representing a sweet spot where the RX 580 is neither overworked nor underutilized. The data does not provide min or max FPS values, so the analysis is based solely on averages, but the consistency of the scaling suggests that Medium at 1080p is the safest recommendation.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is built on the Polaris 20 chip with a GCN 4.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. Its base clock is 1257 MHz, with a boost clock of 1340 MHz, and the memory runs at 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus. The card features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. These specifications define its theoretical throughput: a pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s, a texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s, and an FP32 performance of 6.175 TFLOPS.

In Evolve, these numbers tell a story of a card that is adequate for 1080p but quickly overwhelmed by higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is more than enough for the game’s textures, as the data shows no evidence of memory-related stuttering or crashes; the issue is pure rasterization power. The 32 ROPs are the likely culprit for the steep 4K performance drop, as the pixel fill rate of 42.88 GPixel/s is insufficient to handle the 8.3 million pixels at 3840x2160, especially with the High and Ultra presets that add extra shading and post-processing effects.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reflect its mid-range status. Its Passmark G3D score is 8813, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1005, placing it at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs. The nearestRivals data shows it is statistically tied with the GTX 570 and GTX 950, both of which are significantly older. This suggests that the RX 580’s compute capabilities are not translating into Evolve-specific advantages, likely due to the game’s engine favoring certain architectural features that GCN 4.0 does not excel at. The measured FPS data corroborates this, as the combo’s rank of 1572 out of 1695 indicates that many other GPU pairings deliver better results, even if the individual component benchmarks are similar.