Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetrical FPS, shows a clear and predictable performance hierarchy when paired with the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070. The data indicates that the RTX 4070 is the dominant component, with frame rates scaling directly with resolution and settings, while the six-core i5-9400 provides a stable foundation that rarely becomes the primary bottleneck. This combination delivers a highly playable experience across all tested configurations, though achieving the highest refresh rates requires careful settings management.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, revealing the GPU's workload as the primary limiting factor. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 158.8 FPS. Moving to 1440p reduces this to 108.5 FPS, a 31.7% decrease. At 4K, the average falls further to 58.5 FPS, which is 63.2% lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline strongly indicates that the RTX 4070's rendering pipeline is saturated as pixel count increases, and the CPU is not holding the system back at lower resolutions.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. With Low settings, the system goes from 212.2 FPS at 1080p to 176.2 FPS at 1440p and then to 98 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, showing a 44.4% reduction. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is working at its limits, and the frame rate is almost entirely dependent on the graphics card's fill rate and memory bandwidth. Conversely, the smaller gap between 1080p and 1440p (a 17% difference on Low) implies that at 1080p, there is still some headroom, but the GPU is already the main constraint.

The data shows that the i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, is sufficient to feed the RTX 4070 at 1080p. The fact that FPS scales so dramatically with resolution proves that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates around a certain point, but instead, the FPS continues to climb as resolution drops. This is a healthy sign for the pairing, as it means the GPU is being utilized effectively, and the CPU is not leaving performance on the table.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting a 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the optimal choice, delivering 58.5 FPS. While the Ultra preset dips to 42.4 FPS, which is not smooth, High offers a playable frame rate that only requires a slight visual compromise. The Medium preset at 4K yields 75.8 FPS, which is a better option for those with 60Hz displays, providing a comfortable margin above the refresh rate.

At 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors, producing 108.5 FPS. This is a significant step up from the Ultra preset's 76.2 FPS, and the visual difference between High and Ultra is often minimal in fast-paced action. For those with 144Hz displays, the Low preset at 176.2 FPS is the only way to fully saturate the refresh rate, but Medium at 135.8 FPS is a strong compromise that maintains high detail without sacrificing the competitive edge.

The 1080p results show that the Ultra preset is perfectly viable, achieving 107.8 FPS. However, the jump to High yields 158.8 FPS, a 47.3% improvement, which is a massive gain for a single settings tier. For esports-style play, Low at 212.2 FPS is the clear winner, ensuring the highest possible frame pacing. The benchmark results indicate that High is the best overall experience at 1080p, balancing visual fidelity with a frame rate that exceeds most 144Hz displays. The data consistently shows that the High preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions, making it the recommended starting point.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the clear performance driver in this pairing. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is crucial for handling the high-resolution textures and effects in Evolve. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1920 MHz show a high thermal and power headroom, allowing it to sustain high performance under load. The 5888 shading units and 64 ROPs are well-utilized, as evidenced by the smooth scaling across settings.

The GPU's performance metrics are strong relative to its peers. Its average benchmark score of 37283 places it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. In the PassMark G3D test, it scores 26927, which is a strong result. The data shows it is closely matched with the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which has a deltaPct of -0.6%, meaning the Vega 56 is slightly faster in the aggregate benchmark. The RTX 4070 also trails the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A by 1.9% and the RTX 4080 Mobile by 2.2% in the synthetic benchmarks, but these differences are minor and do not translate into meaningful in-game performance gaps.

The GPU's 200 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a power-hungry component, but the measured frame rates justify the power draw. The 4K Ultra result of 42.4 FPS is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, and this reflects the GPU's capability. The RTX 4070's performance in Evolve is not limited by its VRAM capacity, as the 12 GB buffer is more than sufficient for this title. The benchmark results confirm that the GPU is the primary factor determining the frame rate, and its capabilities are the ceiling for this system's performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset achieves 212.2 FPS, followed by Medium at 193.8 FPS, High at 158.8 FPS, and Ultra at 107.8 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is 35 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra is 51 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset has a significant performance cost. All presets are playable, but only Low and Medium exceed 144 Hz refresh rates.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low averages 176.2 FPS, Medium 135.8 FPS, High 108.5 FPS, and Ultra 76.2 FPS. The drop from 1080p is consistent across presets, with the High preset losing 50.3 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the first configuration that dips below 100 FPS, but it still provides a smooth experience on a 60Hz monitor. The Low preset at 1440p is a viable option for high-refresh-rate gaming, though the gains over Medium are less pronounced than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset averages 98 FPS, which is impressive for 4K, but the Medium preset drops to 75.8 FPS, and High falls to 58.5 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding just 42.4 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 4K is 16.1 FPS, while the difference between Low and Medium is 22.2 FPS. This data shows that at 4K, the High preset is the highest playable option for a standard 60Hz display, and the Ultra preset is not recommended for competitive play.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 4K 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only with the High preset, which averages 58.5 FPS. The Medium preset achieves 75.8 FPS, and the Low preset hits 98 FPS, but the Ultra preset falls short at 42.4 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 144Hz gaming?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 212.2 FPS, and Medium hits 193.8 FPS. At 1440p, the Low preset reaches 176.2 FPS, which is the only way to fully utilize a 144Hz monitor at that resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck, as frame rates scale significantly with resolution. The CPU provides a stable foundation, but the RTX 4070's performance dictates the final FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37283, which is 0.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56's score of 37507. It also trails the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A by 1.9% and the RTX 4080 Mobile by 2.2%.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p, the difference is 51 FPS (158.8 vs 107.8). At 1440p, it is 32.3 FPS (108.5 vs 76.2). At 4K, it is 16.1 FPS (58.5 vs 42.4). The Ultra preset is significantly more demanding.

Q: Is the RTX 4070's 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Evolve?

A: Yes, the 12 GB of GDDR6X memory is more than adequate for this game, as there are no signs of memory-related performance issues in the measured FPS data.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 provides a solid foundation for this gaming system, but its role is secondary to the GPU. With 6 cores and 6 threads, it lacks the multi-threading of its competitors, but its boost clock of 4.10 GHz ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is critical for game logic. The CPU's benchmark scores show it is a mid-range part, with an average score of 2305, placing it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs.

The i5-9400's performance is closely matched with its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i3-10305 and the Intel Core i3-1125G4, and 0.4% faster than the Intel Xeon E-2134. It is 0.6% slower than the Intel Core i7-8809G. These small deltas mean that in real-world gaming, the choice between these CPUs would result in negligible differences. The CPU's 9 MB of shared L3 cache is sufficient for the game's working set, and the dual-channel DDR4 memory support provides adequate bandwidth.

In Evolve, the CPU's role is to manage the game's simulation and AI, which is not excessively demanding. The measured FPS data shows that the i5-9400 is never the limiting factor, as the frame rate scales directly with GPU load. The CPU's 65 W TDP is low, indicating it runs cool and does not require a massive cooler. The data suggests that this CPU is a good match for the RTX 4070, as it does not hold the GPU back at any resolution, while also being a power-efficient component.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 515th out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the top 30.4% of all system configurations, which is a strong showing. The high ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's excellent performance, as the CPU is a modest contributor. The fact that it ranks above the median indicates that this pairing will provide a better-than-average experience in this game.

The ranking confirms the RTX 4070's power, as it is the main driver of high frame rates. The i5-9400, while not a top-tier processor, does not detract from the overall performance. The data shows that this combo is well-balanced for Evolve, with the GPU providing the muscle and the CPU providing enough speed to keep up. A lower-ranked combo might feature a slower GPU, while a higher-ranked combo would likely include a more powerful CPU, but the i5-9400's contribution is sufficient to avoid being a bottleneck.

This ranking means that users with this system can expect a high-quality experience in Evolve, with the ability to play at high settings and high resolutions. The combo's position in the database suggests that it outperforms a majority of other tested configurations, making it a reliable choice for this specific game. The measured data confirms that the system is more capable than the median, and the performance is consistent with its component parts.