Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 asymmetrical FPS, presents an interesting stress test for the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but is heavily constrained by graphics settings and resolution scaling, particularly at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to understand where the bottlenecks lie and how to best configure the game for this specific hardware pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and expected drop in performance as resolution increases, but the rate of that drop is telling. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 103 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average falls to 69 FPS, a reduction of 33%. This is a substantial hit, but it is at 4K where the performance collapses. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS plummets to 39, which is a further 43% decrease from the 1440p figure.

This scaling pattern strongly suggests that the GPU becomes the dominant limiting factor at higher resolutions. The RTX 5050, with its 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus, is being saturated by the pixel throughput required at 4K. The jump from 1440p to 4K is far more punishing than the jump from 1080p to 1440p, indicating that the GPU is running out of headroom. The data implies that while the CPU can likely feed frames at 1080p and 1440p, it is the graphics card that determines the final output at 4K.

The trend holds across all settings. At Low settings, the FPS goes from 169 at 1080p, to 113 at 1440p, and then to 64 at 4K. While each step down is significant, the 4K result is less than half of the 1080p result. For a game like Evolve, which relies on fast-paced action, the 4K performance across all settings is either marginal or unplayable. The 39 FPS average at High and 27 FPS at Ultra are well below the smooth 60 FPS target. The data clearly indicates that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware combo in Evolve, as the GPU's rendering capabilities are insufficient to maintain fluid gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark results provide a clear hierarchy of performance per settings preset, allowing for a data-driven recommendation. The most balanced experience is found at Medium settings. At 1080p, Medium yields an average of 131 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS. This provides a significant performance buffer and ensures a very smooth experience. At 1440p, Medium delivers an average of 88 FPS, which is still highly playable and offers a better visual experience than 1080p.

High settings are a viable option for users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, as the 103 FPS average is still excellent. However, at 1440p, the 69 FPS average is starting to dip below the ideal 70+ FPS threshold for competitive play, making Medium the safer choice for that resolution. Low settings, while providing the highest frame rates (169 FPS at 1080p), likely sacrifice too much visual fidelity for the marginal benefit over Medium. Ultra settings are the least recommended, as the 71 FPS average at 1080p and 48 FPS at 1440p show that the cost is simply too high. The jump from Medium to Ultra at 1080p costs 60 FPS (from 131 to 71), a massive 46% performance penalty that is unlikely to be justified by the visual improvements.

For 4K, no setting is truly ideal. The best 4K result is 64 FPS on Low, which is playable but not ideal. Medium at 4K drops to 50 FPS, and High to 39 FPS. Based on the data, the recommended configuration is Medium settings for both 1080p and 1440p, as it provides the best combination of high frame rates and visual quality. The data suggests that users should avoid Ultra settings on this hardware, as the performance cost is disproportionately high.

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 benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935, place it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates it is a mid-range processor. In the context of Evolve's results, its role appears to be secondary to the GPU.

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, but the CPU is likely not the primary bottleneck at these resolutions. The fact that the GPU is a modern, high-performance part (66th percentile) paired with a 47th percentile CPU suggests a potential imbalance. However, the data shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of generating very high frame rates (169 FPS on Low), which would stress the CPU. The i5-9400's 6 physical cores and lack of hyper-threading could be a limiting factor in pushing beyond that 169 FPS ceiling, but for the measured settings, it seems to provide enough throughput.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-9400's average benchmark score of 2254 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259), the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246). This means its computational power is very much in line with those parts. The CPU's performance is sufficient to keep the RTX 5050 well-fed at 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by the high frame rates. The data suggests that the CPU is not the main constraint in this pairing for Evolve, but its age and core count might prevent it from achieving the absolute maximum frame rates possible with a more modern processor. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU, especially when resolution and settings are increased.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global database of tested combinations for Evolve, the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combo ranks 1749 out of 2872 tested configurations. This places it in the bottom half of all tested systems, which is a surprising result given the individual components' specifications. The RTX 5050 is a new-generation GPU, and the i5-9400 is a capable 6-core processor, yet their combined performance in this specific game is not exceptional.

This ranking suggests that Evolve is a demanding title that punishes the combination of a mid-range CPU with a new, but entry-level, GPU. While the GPU's individual benchmark score (average 21035) is in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, its performance in Evolve is dragged down by the system's overall capabilities. The 1749th rank puts it behind a significant number of other combos, many of which likely feature stronger CPUs or more powerful GPUs. The data implies that for Evolve, this specific pairing is not an optimal match, and users should expect performance that is below the median for the database.

The delta percentages from the GPU's nearest rivals are minimal (e.g., -0.6% vs AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL), which shows that the RTX 5050's raw compute power is very similar to those older parts. However, the system's overall rank in Evolve shows that game-specific performance can deviate significantly from synthetic benchmarks. This combo might be better suited for other, less demanding titles, but for Evolve, it is a mid-to-low-tier performer. The data suggests that the combination is held back by a balance issue, where the CPU's age and the GPU's memory bandwidth limit the system's ability to achieve a higher rank.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve on with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system consistently delivers high frame rates across all settings. At 1080p, even Ultra settings achieve an average of 71 FPS, while Medium and High provide 131 and 103 FPS respectively.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: The data shows 4K performance is poor. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 64 on Low settings. Medium, High, and Ultra settings at 4K yield 50, 39, and 27 FPS respectively, which are not sufficient for smooth gameplay.

Q: Should I use Ultra settings for the best visual experience?

A: No. The performance cost is too high. At 1080p, Ultra settings drop the average FPS to 71, which is a 46% decrease from Medium settings (131 FPS). The visual improvement does not justify the significant loss in frame rate.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. The FPS drops significantly from 1440p to 4K, and from Medium to Ultra settings, which are both GPU-intensive operations. The CPU's performance is sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 1080p.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its direct rivals in terms of raw processing power?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. This is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246), showing it is a comparable mid-range processor.

Q: What settings are recommended for a 1440p monitor?

A: Medium settings are the best choice for 2560x1440. This preset provides an average of 88 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. High settings at 1440p drop to 69 FPS, which is still playable but less ideal for fast-paced action.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete dataset of measured average frame rates for this hardware combination in Evolve.

1920x1080

• Low: 169 FPS average
• Medium: 131 FPS average (min 111, max 150)
• High: 103 FPS average
• Ultra: 71 FPS average

2560x1440

• Low: 113 FPS average
• Medium: 88 FPS average (min 75, max 101)
• High: 69 FPS average
• Ultra: 48 FPS average

3840x2160

• Low: 64 FPS average
• Medium: 50 FPS average (min 42, max 57)
• High: 39 FPS average
• Ultra: 27 FPS average

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the clear driver of performance in this pairing, and its characteristics directly explain the observed results. This GPU, based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. Its clock speeds are a base of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz. The GPU's individual benchmark scores show it to be a solid performer, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. However, its performance in Evolve reveals its limitations.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor. At 4K resolution, the demand for texture memory and frame buffer space increases dramatically. The data shows a severe performance drop at 3840x2160 (e.g., 39 FPS on High), which is a classic sign of the GPU being overwhelmed by memory bandwidth and capacity demands. The 320 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable, is not sufficient for the high pixel throughput required at 4K in a modern game. The GPU's computed pixel rate is 82.30 GPixel/s, but this is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with high settings.

The RTX 5050's performance relative to its nearest rivals is interesting. Its average benchmark score (21035) is within 1.6% of parts like the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (20713) and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (21237). This indicates that, in terms of raw compute, it is a comparable part to those older cards. However, its newer architecture and features like ray tracing cores (20) and tensor cores (80) do not translate to a significant advantage in Evolve's rasterization-focused workload. The data shows that the GPU's performance is heavily dependent on resolution and settings, and its 8 GB memory configuration is a limiting factor for high-resolution gaming. The GPU is the component that determines the performance ceiling in Evolve, and that ceiling is significantly lower than what the CPU can potentially provide.