Evolve

The pairing of Intel’s six-core Core i5-9400 with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070 Ti presents a curious generational contrast: a 2018 Coffee Lake processor driving a 2025 Blackwell flagship. In Evolve, a 2015 FPS with a mix of fast action and dense particle effects, the data reveals a system that can dominate at high refresh rates but also shows clear bottlenecks depending on the resolution and preset. The benchmark results indicate a combo that is highly capable, yet its behavior across settings provides a detailed look at where the CPU and GPU respectively take charge.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo averages 212 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 185 FPS, a reduction of approximately 12.7%. Pushing further to 4K Low yields 120 FPS, which is a 35.1% drop from the 1440p figure and a 43.4% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steepening curve suggests that while the RTX 5070 Ti is powerful, the sheer pixel throughput at 4K starts to challenge even its 896.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 43.94 TFLOPS of raw compute.

The scaling pattern changes when looking at higher presets. At High settings, the drop from 1080p (177 FPS) to 1440p (129 FPS) is 27.1%, and the drop to 4K (73 FPS) is a massive 58.8% from the 1440p result. This is a much more aggressive falloff than what we see at Low settings. The data implies that at higher quality presets, the game’s visual effects and draw calls become more demanding on the GPU’s shading units and TMUs, making the resolution increase more punishing. The RTX 5070 Ti’s 280 TMUs and 96 ROPs are put to work, but the frame rate still halves between 1440p and 4K at High.

The most telling data point for the CPU’s role in scaling is the 4K Ultra result, which sits at just 51 FPS. While this is the most demanding preset, the fact that it is so much lower than the 4K High score of 73 FPS suggests that the combination of high resolution and maximum settings is overwhelming the entire pipeline. The 6-core, 6-thread i5-9400, with its 2.90 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost clock, may not be able to feed the GPU enough data at these settings, or the GPU itself is simply saturated. The lack of min/max FPS data for most rows makes it hard to isolate stuttering, but the average scores alone paint a clear picture of a system that scales well from 1080p to 1440p, but takes a significant hit when transitioning to 4K.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor from the Coffee Lake generation, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and a 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth. In Evolve, the CPU’s influence is most apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the primary constraint. At 1080p Low, the 212 FPS average is likely near the upper limit of what this processor can sustain in terms of game logic and draw calls. The jump from 1080p Medium (193 FPS) to 1080p Low (212 FPS) is only a 9.8% increase, which is smaller than the jump from 4K Ultra (51 FPS) to 4K High (73 FPS), showing that the CPU is starting to plateau.

The benchmark scores for the i5-9400 place it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (avg score 2259, -0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (avg score 2246, 0.4% delta). This indicates that the i5-9400 is a mid-pack performer by modern standards, which is expected for a CPU released in 2018. In Evolve, this means that while it can handle high frame rates, it is not a top-tier processor for pushing beyond 200 FPS consistently. The 6 threads are a limiting factor in a modern gaming context, though Evolve’s 2015 engine may not be heavily multithreaded.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at 4K, where the GPU is clearly struggling to maintain high frame rates. However, at 1080p, the CPU's 4.10 GHz boost clock is likely working at full capacity to keep up with the RTX 5070 Ti's frame output. The fact that the 1080p High (177 FPS) is lower than 1080p Medium (193 FPS) indicates that the CPU can handle the workload, but the GPU is still the limiting factor at that resolution. The real takeaway is that the i5-9400 is a sufficient partner for this GPU in Evolve, but it does cap the system's maximum potential in low-resolution, high-refresh-rate scenarios.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the undisputed star of this pairing, with a 16 GB GDDR7 memory pool on a 256-bit bus, providing 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2295 MHz with a boost of 2452 MHz, and it features 8960 shading units, 280 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The GPU’s performance percentile is 86, and its average benchmark score is 49957. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (avg score 50001, -0.1% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (avg score 50951, -2% delta), which shows that the RTX 5070 Ti is a high-end card that trades blows with previous generation flagships.

In Evolve, the GPU’s dominance is clear at 1440p and 4K. At 1440p High, the card delivers 129 FPS, which is a smooth experience on a high-refresh monitor. At 4K High, the 73 FPS average is still playable, but it shows the card’s limits. The most impressive result is the 4K Low score of 120 FPS, which demonstrates that the RTX 5070 Ti has enough raw power to push 4K at high frame rates when the visual settings are lowered. The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Evolve, as the game is not likely to exceed even 8 GB at these settings, so memory capacity is not a bottleneck.

The GPU’s clock speeds are relatively modest for a flagship, but the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and the high shading unit count compensate. The data shows that the RTX 5070 Ti is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 51 FPS is the only sub-60 FPS average in the entire dataset, which indicates that the GPU is being pushed to its absolute limits with all settings maxed out. The transition from 4K High to 4K Ultra is a 30.1% drop in frame rate, which is a significant cost for the extra visual fidelity. This suggests that the Ultra preset in Evolve includes effects that are particularly taxing on the GPU's pixel and texture processing capabilities.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the combo’s performance across the most common gaming resolutions and presets.

At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high. Low settings produce an average of 212 FPS. Medium settings drop to 193 FPS, with a minimum of 164 FPS and a maximum of 222 FPS. High settings yield 177 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 133 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 79 FPS, which is a 37.3% performance penalty for maxing out the game. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 164 suggests that there are some dips, but the average is still very high.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings average 185 FPS. Medium settings average 164 FPS, with a range of 139 FPS to 189 FPS. High settings drop to 129 FPS, and Ultra settings settle at 89 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at High settings is 48 FPS (27.1%), which is a notable but expected decrease. The 1440p Ultra result of 89 FPS shows that the combo can handle max settings at this resolution without dropping below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings still manage an average of 120 FPS, which is impressive. Medium settings drop to 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. High settings fall to 73 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 51 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only average below 60 FPS in the entire dataset, and it is a 31.7% drop from the 4K High result. This indicates that 4K Ultra is only suitable for players who are willing to accept frame rates in the 50s, or who have adaptive sync technology to smooth out the experience.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti ranks 748th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the top 20.2% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing given that the CPU is a mid-range part from 2018. The rank is a composite measure that likely takes into account all measured FPS rows, giving weight to the fact that the combo can achieve high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but is held back somewhat by its 4K Ultra performance.

The ranking suggests that while the RTX 5070 Ti is a top-tier GPU (86th percentile), the i5-9400’s lower standing (47th percentile) drags the combo down from the very top positions. A combo with a more modern CPU, such as a higher-core-count or higher-clock part, would likely rank higher because it would be able to push the GPU harder at 1080p and 1440p. The data shows that the combo is still very capable, but it is not a perfect pairing for those seeking the absolute highest frame rates in Evolve. The rank of 748 out of 3700 is a clear indicator that there is room for improvement, but it is also proof of the GPU’s ability to carry the system to a respectable position.

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU individually provide context. The CPU’s rivals have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with deltas of less than 1%. This means that swapping the i5-9400 for an Intel Core i7-10710U or AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 would likely result in very similar performance in Evolve. The GPU’s rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, have a 2% higher average score, which could translate to a few more FPS in certain scenarios. However, the combo rank is what matters, and it shows that this specific pairing is a solid mid-to-high-tier performer.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For players using a 1080p monitor with a high refresh rate, the Medium preset is the optimal choice. The 193 FPS average is well above the 144 Hz standard, and the minimum of 164 FPS ensures that there are no significant dips that would cause visible stuttering. High settings at 177 FPS are also viable, but the 16 FPS gain from dropping to Medium is worthwhile for the added stability. Ultra settings at 133 FPS are still playable, but the 60 FPS drop from Medium is a significant cost for marginal visual improvements.

For 1440p, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. The 129 FPS average is smooth, and the GPU has enough headroom to handle intense action sequences. Medium settings at 164 FPS are also excellent for competitive play, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. Ultra settings at 89 FPS are a good option for those who prioritize image quality, as the frame rate is still above 60 FPS, but the 40 FPS gap between High and Ultra suggests that the extra settings have a high performance cost.

For 4K, the Low preset is the only way to achieve a high refresh rate experience, with 120 FPS. Medium settings at 93 FPS are the best option for a balance of quality and speed, as the minimum of 79 FPS keeps the experience playable. High settings at 73 FPS are acceptable for slower-paced gameplay, but the 20 FPS drop from Medium is steep. Ultra settings at 51 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience, as the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The data suggests that 4K Ultra is best left for screenshots or systems with more powerful hardware.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this combo for a 144 Hz monitor?*

A: At 1440p, the High preset delivers 129 FPS, which is close to 144 Hz. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers 193 FPS, which is well above 144 Hz, making 1080p the safest bet for a locked high-refresh experience.

Q: Does this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The 4K Ultra preset averages 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The 4K High preset at 73 FPS is the highest settings level that maintains a 60+ FPS average at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, which is a 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% difference. All are within a tight performance band.

Q: Is the RTX 5070 Ti a significant upgrade over the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT based on the data?

A: The benchmark data shows the RX 6900 XT has an average score of 50951, which is 2% higher than the RTX 5070 Ti's 49957. This indicates they are very close in raw performance, with the AMD card holding a slight edge in average benchmark scores.

Q: What is the frame time stability at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The 1440p Medium preset has an average of 164 FPS, with a minimum of 139 FPS and a maximum of 189 FPS. The 25 FPS spread between the average and the minimum suggests some variance, but the minimum is still high enough to avoid major stuttering.

*Q: Given the combo rank, is this a top-tier pairing for Evolve?*

A: The combo ranks 748th out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the top 20.2%. This is a strong result, but not a top-tier one, as the CPU's mid-pack performance (47th percentile) limits the system from reaching the very top rankings.