Evolve

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a specific performance profile in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The measured frame rates show a system that can deliver playable performance at 1080p and 1440p, but which struggles to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K with higher settings. The data indicates a combination where the GPU is the dominant factor at lower resolutions, while the CPU's limitations become more apparent as the resolution increases. This analysis walks through the benchmark results step by step, examining the CPU and GPU roles, the measured FPS breakdown, and the implications for settings and resolution scaling.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall ranking of this CPU and GPU combination for Evolve?

A: The combo ranks 2787 out of 3700 tested combinations for this game, placing it in the lower percentile of all tested systems.

Q: What is the best average FPS achieved with this combo at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 155. The Medium preset yields an average of 120 FPS, and High settings produce 94 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. It is virtually tied with the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2259, a difference of -0.2%. It is also within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, which scores 2246.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity?

A: The Intel Arc B580 features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo in Evolve?

A: The lowest average FPS is 25, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU have a higher percentile ranking among their respective categories?

A: The GPU has a significantly higher percentile ranking. The Intel Arc B580 is in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, while the Intel Core i5-9400 is in the 47th percentile of all CPUs.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this specific configuration at rank 2787 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve. This position in the lower quartile suggests that while the system is capable of running the game, its overall performance is not competitive with the majority of other tested setups. The ranking reflects the combined capabilities of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the Intel Arc B580. The CPU's position in the 47th percentile of all processors indicates it is a mid-range part, while the GPU's 68th percentile placement shows it is a stronger performer relative to its peers. The combination of a slightly below-average CPU with a well-above-average GPU results in a system that is often limited by its processor, which is a common dynamic in gaming builds. The data suggests that the overall rank is pulled down by the CPU's relative weakness, as the GPU is capable of much higher frame rates in less CPU-bound scenarios. This is a system where the graphics card has more headroom than the processor can consistently feed it, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU's workload is higher relative to the GPU's.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are standard for its generation, and its 65 W TDP classifies it as a mainstream desktop part. In synthetic Cinebench R23 tests, it scores 6629 points in multi-core and 935 points in single-core, which places it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 2254 is nearly identical to that of the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2259, a difference of only -0.2%. This data indicates that the i5-9400 provides a solid, if unspectacular, level of processing power.

In the context of Evolve, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and draw calls. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 155 FPS, which is a high frame rate that suggests the CPU is capable of handling the game's demands at that setting. However, as the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the average FPS drops significantly, even at Low settings. At 1440p Low, the average is 104 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 59 FPS. This scaling pattern is typical of a system where the CPU's performance is a limiting factor at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. The CPU's modest single-core performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 score of 935, may be a constraint in a game like Evolve, which is an FPS title that often relies on strong single-threaded performance. The data shows that while the CPU is not the sole bottleneck, its capabilities cap the maximum achievable frame rate, particularly when the GPU is not under heavy load.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo performs across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 155 FPS on Low, 120 FPS on Medium, 94 FPS on High, and 65 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset also shows a minimum FPS of 102 and a maximum of 138, indicating a stable frame time experience in that configuration. These numbers show that the combo is more than capable of handling 1080p gaming, with even the Ultra preset maintaining an average above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops but remains playable. The average FPS is 104 on Low, 80 on Medium, 63 on High, and 44 on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. This resolution represents a good balance for the combo, as the High preset still achieves an average of 63 FPS, which is acceptable for many players. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls below 60 FPS, suggesting that this setting is too demanding for a consistently smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops considerably. The average FPS is 59 on Low, 46 on Medium, 36 on High, and 25 on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only viable at the Low preset, which achieves an average of 59 FPS, just shy of a consistent 60 FPS target. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not playable, as their average FPS falls well below acceptable thresholds for a fast-paced FPS. The data shows a consistent and predictable scaling of performance as resolution increases, with the average FPS at each settings level dropping by roughly 30-40% when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and by a similar margin from 1440p to 4K.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is a powerful graphics card based on the Xe2-HPG architecture, built on a 5 nm process. It features 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2670 MHz. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a substantial 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and its 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power positions it as a high-performance part. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 15748 in Passmark G3D, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 23021 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which scores 23061, a difference of only -0.2%. This data confirms that the Arc B580 is a capable GPU that can handle modern games at high settings.

In Evolve, the GPU's role is to render the game's graphics, including textures, lighting, and effects. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the primary performance driver at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully utilized, as the CPU limits the frame rate. For example, the jump from Low to Medium settings at 1080p only reduces the average FPS from 155 to 120, a 23% drop, while the jump from Medium to High reduces it from 120 to 94, a 22% drop. This suggests that the GPU has enough headroom to handle these increases in graphical load without becoming the bottleneck. However, at 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The drop from Low to Medium at 4K reduces the average FPS from 59 to 46, a 22% drop, and the drop from High to Ultra reduces it from 36 to 25, a 31% drop. This shows that at 4K, the GPU's processing power and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at higher settings. The GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor in this game, as even at 4K Ultra, the VRAM capacity is likely sufficient; instead, the GPU's raw compute power is the constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 1080p display, the High preset offers the best balance, delivering an average of 94 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and provides a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset, which averages 120 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 65 FPS, is also viable, but the drop from High to Ultra is a 31% performance hit, which may not justify the marginal visual improvement in a fast-paced FPS.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides an average of 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS, ensuring a stable experience. The High preset at 1440p, with an average of 63 FPS, is also playable, but its minimum FPS is not recorded, and the average is closer to the 60 FPS boundary. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 44 FPS, is not recommended for a competitive or smooth experience.

For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, achieving an average of 59 FPS. While this is just below a consistent 60 FPS, it is the only setting that provides a reasonably playable frame rate at this resolution. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 46 FPS, is playable but not ideal for an FPS, and the High and Ultra presets are not viable. The data suggests that players should prioritize resolution over settings for this combo, using the Low preset at 4K rather than dropping to a lower resolution for higher graphical fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern across resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 155 at 1080p to 104 at 1440p, a 33% decrease, and then to 59 at 4K, a 43% decrease from 1440p. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 94 at 1080p to 63 at 1440p, a 33% decrease, and then to 36 at 4K, a 43% decrease from 1440p. This consistent scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the performance drops are proportional to the increase in pixel count.

However, the scaling is not perfectly linear. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 33% reduction in FPS, while the pixel count increases by 78%. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is partially limiting performance, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. As the resolution increases, the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck, and the FPS drops are more closely aligned with the increase in pixel count. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 43% reduction in FPS, while the pixel count increases by 125%, indicating that the GPU is now the limiting factor, but other bottlenecks, such as memory bandwidth or fill rate, are also playing a role. The data shows that the i5-9400 is sufficient for 1080p gaming, but it becomes less relevant at higher resolutions where the Arc B580's performance is the deciding factor. This analysis confirms that the system is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where the CPU and GPU are both adequately utilized, but it is not optimized for 4K gaming, where the GPU's limitations are exposed.