Evolve

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti produces a performance profile in Evolve that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics settings. The data shows a system that can deliver highly playable frame rates at 1080p with adjusted settings, but which struggles to maintain smooth performance at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to identify the primary performance bottlenecks and provides specific recommendations based on the benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a significant performance drop as resolution increases, a pattern that clearly indicates the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 123 FPS. This drops to 83 FPS at 1440p, a 32.5% reduction, and further plummets to 47 FPS at 4K, which is a 61.8% reduction from the 1080p result. This steep decline suggests that the GTX 1660 Ti is being pushed to its limits as pixel count increases.

The trend is consistent across all settings. With Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 95 at 1080p to 64 at 1440p (a 32.6% drop) and then to 36 at 4K (a 62.1% drop from 1080p). The High preset shows a similar pattern: 75 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p (a 33.3% drop), and 29 FPS at 4K (a 61.3% drop). This uniformity in percentage drops across different settings confirms that resolution scaling is the dominant factor affecting performance, rather than the complexity of the specific scene or settings configuration.

The Ultra preset exhibits the most dramatic scaling, with average FPS of 52 at 1080p, 35 at 1440p, and just 20 at 4K. The performance at 4K Ultra is particularly telling, as it represents a 61.5% drop from the already challenging 1080p Ultra result. This data suggests that while the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, the GTX 1660 Ti's rendering throughput becomes the bottleneck as the resolution increases, causing the sharp FPS decline.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, based on the Turing architecture with a TU116 chip, is the central component in this performance analysis. Its specifications, including 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU's core clocks are rated with a base of 1500 MHz and a boost of 1770 MHz. These characteristics directly influence the frame rates observed in the measured data.

The 6 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor for higher resolutions and settings. While Evolve may not require the full 6 GB at 1080p, the data suggests that at 4K, particularly with higher presets, memory capacity and bandwidth can become limiting. The 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is substantial for the era, but the 192-bit bus width can constrain performance at 4K resolutions where data throughput demands are high. The benchmark results show that at 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 20 FPS, indicating that the GPU is saturated, potentially due to memory bandwidth limitations or raw shader throughput constraints.

The GPU's compute capabilities, measured at 5.437 TFLOPS FP32, are sufficient for smooth 1080p gaming but are clearly stretched at 4K. The pixel rate of 84.96 GPixel/s and texture rate of 169.9 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits, and the measured FPS data shows that the card is operating near these limits at 4K, resulting in the low average frame rates observed. The 12 nm process node and 120 W TDP are also relevant, as they define the thermal and power envelope within which the card operates, though the benchmark data itself is the primary indicator of its gaming performance.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo in Evolve?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 123, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: Is this combination capable of 4K gaming in Evolve?*

A: The data shows 4K performance is limited. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 47, and with High settings it drops to 29. This suggests that 4K is not a viable option for smooth, consistent gameplay.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7723. It is only 0.7% faster than the AMD Radeon 540, and 1.9% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100. It is 2.2% faster than the AMD Radeon R7 250 and 2.3% faster than the Intel Arc A310.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-9400's multicore performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: In the Cinebench R23 multicore test, the i5-9400 scores 6629. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, has an average score of 2259, which is only 0.2% lower. The i5-9400 is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i7-10710U and 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500.

Q: What is the best resolution to use for a balance of visual quality and performance?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the most balanced resolution. It offers a high average FPS of 95 on Medium settings, and even 75 FPS on High, while still providing respectable visual fidelity.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination is ranked 3185 out of 3700 tested combos for Evolve, placing it in the lower half of all configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the combo performs best. Low settings deliver an average of 123 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 95 FPS, with a minimum of 81 and a maximum of 110 FPS. High settings yield an average of 75 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset results in an average of 52 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance drops notably. Low settings average 83 FPS. Medium settings average 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 and a maximum of 74 FPS. High settings average 50 FPS. Ultra settings fall to an average of 35 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily strained. Low settings average 47 FPS. Medium settings average 36 FPS, with a minimum of 31 and a maximum of 42 FPS. High settings average 29 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of only 20 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti holds a rank of 3185 out of 3700 tested combinations for Evolve. This places it in the 14th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that the vast majority of other combos deliver higher performance in this game.

This ranking is consistent with the individual component benchmarks. The CPU has a percentile rank of 47 among all processors, and the GPU has a percentile rank of 41 among all graphics cards. The combined rank of 3185 suggests that the pairing does not synergize to exceed the expectations set by their individual standings, and the overall performance is indicative of a mid-range system from its era. The data shows that it sits just above the bottom 15% of all tested systems for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and smooth gameplay, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the most optimal choice. This configuration delivers an average FPS of 95, with a minimum of 81 FPS, ensuring that frame rates rarely drop below the threshold for comfortable play. This is a significant improvement over the High preset, which yields 75 FPS, and provides a much better experience than the Ultra preset at 52 FPS.

If a higher frame rate is the priority, the Low preset at 1080p yields an average of 123 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or for users with high refresh rate monitors. However, this comes at the cost of visual fidelity. For users with a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset is still viable, with an average of 64 FPS and a minimum of 54 FPS, though this is less consistent than the 1080p experience. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as it produces an average of 52 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and only 20 FPS at 4K, all of which are below the ideal range for a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from 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 provide sufficient bandwidth for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 6629 points in Cinebench R23 multicore and 935 points in single-core, demonstrating a reasonable level of computational power.

However, the measured FPS data in Evolve suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this system. The significant frame rate drops observed when moving from 1080p to 4K, regardless of the settings preset, are indicative of a GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p, the CPU is likely capable of feeding the GTX 1660 Ti efficiently, as shown by the high frame rates of 123 FPS on Low settings. The consistent percentage drops in FPS across all settings when the resolution increases strongly point to the GPU being the limiting factor.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals is modest. 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%. It is also within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500. This indicates that the i5-9400 provides a typical level of performance for its class, and it is not a source of exceptional strength or weakness in this gaming configuration. The data confirms that while the CPU is adequate, the overall system performance is defined by the GPU's capabilities.