Evolve

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 is a configuration that produces a starkly CPU-heavy profile in Evolve, but the data shows the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. With a combo rank of 2639 out of 2872 tested configurations, this pairing lands in the bottom 9% of all tested combos. This is not a combination for high-refresh-rate play, but the measured results offer clear guidance for squeezing playable performance out of a very unusual hardware pairing.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake-S architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and can boost up to 5.00 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 25 MB L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it offers Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes from the CPU itself.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates substantial headroom for gaming workloads. Its 3DMark scores scale from 1043 in single-thread to 9979 in max-thread tests, and 9276 in the 16-thread test. Cinebench R23 results show 1850.5 points single-core and 19784 points multi-core. Geekbench reports 2308 single-core and 15790 multi-core. PassMark results show a multi-thread score of 34404 and a single-thread score of 4013. The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs is 84, meaning it outperforms the majority of processors in the database.

The nearest rivals confirm the i7-12700K's position. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305 on average, which is 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365, 0.2% lower. The Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, 0.3% lower. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, 0.4% lower. The i7-12700K's average benchmark score is 35287, so it sits just behind these rivals by fractions of a percent, which is effectively a statistical tie.

Given that Evolve is a 2015 FPS title, the i7-12700K's 12 cores and 20 threads are far beyond what this game can utilize. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 80, while at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 34. The CPU is not the limiting factor here; its single-thread score of 1043 in 3DMark and 4013 in PassMark single-thread is more than adequate for a game from this era. The data indicates that the CPU is providing more than enough processing power, and the frame rates are being constrained elsewhere.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is a fundamentally different story. This is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake chip), built on Intel's 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The memory is "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM; it uses system memory, and bandwidth is "System Dependent." It has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest: 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.29 TFLOPS of FP16 (2:1 ratio). Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The TDP is just 25 W, and it requires no power connectors, as it is an IGP (integrated graphics processor). The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The only 3DMark benchmark available for this GPU is 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, where it scores 1184. This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, 0.2% higher), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, 0.5% higher), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, 0.7% higher), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4% lower). The Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184.

This GPU is the clear bottleneck in this configuration. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 80, which is playable, but this drops rapidly as settings increase. At 1080p High, it is 49 FPS, at Medium 62 FPS, and at Ultra 34 FPS. The pattern is consistent with a GPU that lacks the raw shading power to sustain high frame rates at high-quality settings. The shared memory architecture also means the GPU is competing with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which likely contributes to the performance cliffs seen at higher settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this configuration in Evolve is 2639 out of 2872 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 8.1% of all tested configurations. This is a very low ranking, and it reflects the GPU's limited performance rather than the CPU's capabilities.

To contextualize this, consider that the CPU alone is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 35287 is nearly 30 times higher than the GPU's 1184. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor; the GPU is. The i7-12700K is a high-end desktop processor, while the Arc B370 is an integrated mobile-class GPU that is only in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

When comparing this combo to others in the database, it is clear that the GPU is dragging the overall performance down. The CPU scores are competitive with its nearest rivals, but the GPU scores are comparable to legacy ATI and AMD parts from over a decade ago. This is a classic case of a powerful processor being paired with a very weak graphics solution, resulting in a low overall combo rank.

The implications for gaming are clear from the FPS data. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 80 FPS, which is acceptable for a 2015 title. However, at any higher setting or resolution, the frame rates fall below the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider smooth. At 4K, the frame rates are unplayable, with the highest average being 31 FPS at Low settings.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo good for playing Evolve at 1080p?

A: The measured data shows it depends heavily on settings. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 80, which is smooth. At 1080p Medium, it drops to 62 FPS, and at 1080p High, it falls to 49 FPS. At 1080p Ultra, it is 34 FPS, which is not smooth.

Q: Why are the frame rates so low at 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 31, and at 4K High, it is 19. The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it lacks the fill rate and shading power for high-resolution rendering.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-12700K's average benchmark score is 35287. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-13600T (35305, 0.1% lower), Intel Core i7-12700KF (35365, 0.2% lower), Intel Core i7-13700T (35403, 0.3% lower), and Intel Core 5 213PE (35428, 0.4% lower). The differences are less than half a percent, so performance is effectively equal.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the low combo rank?

A: The data points to the GPU. The CPU is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1184 is vastly lower than the CPU's 35287, indicating the GPU is the primary constraint.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo?

A: Based on the measured rows, 1080p Low is the only preset that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average FPS of 80. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 62 FPS, which is playable but closer to the edge.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated VRAM?

A: No. The Arc B370 uses System Shared memory, meaning it relies on system RAM. Its memory bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which further limits its performance in demanding scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals the GPU bottleneck clearly. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 80. Moving to 1440p Low, it drops to 54 FPS, a 32.5% reduction. At 4K Low, it drops to 31 FPS, a 61.3% reduction from 1080p Low.

The same pattern holds for High settings. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 49. At 1440p High, it is 33 FPS, a 32.7% drop. At 4K High, it is 19 FPS, a 61.2% drop from 1080p High.

This scaling behavior is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The i7-12700K is more than capable of feeding frames at any resolution, but the Arc B370's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. The number of pixels to fill quadruples from 1080p to 4K, and the FPS drops roughly in half at each step, which is consistent with a GPU that is hitting its fill rate limits.

The Medium settings data provides some insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the FPS ranges from 53 to 72, with an average of 62. At 1440p Medium, the range is 35 to 48, with an average of 42. At 4K Medium, the range is 20 to 27, with an average of 24. The frame times are relatively stable, suggesting no CPU-related hitches, but the overall performance is constrained by the GPU's raw throughput.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the only settings preset that delivers a consistently smooth experience is 1080p Low, with an average FPS of 80. This is the recommended configuration for any player who prioritizes frame rate over visual fidelity.

If you are willing to accept slightly lower performance, 1080p Medium offers an average of 62 FPS, with a minimum recorded of 53 FPS. This is still playable and provides a better visual experience, but it is closer to the edge of what is considered smooth.

The High preset at 1080p drops to 49 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players prefer. The Ultra preset at 1080p is 34 FPS, which is not recommended for a responsive FPS experience.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 54 FPS. This is borderline playable, but the Medium preset at 42 FPS and High preset at 33 FPS are not smooth. At 4K, no preset is playable, with the best being Low at 31 FPS.

The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with Low or Medium settings. The i7-12700K has ample headroom, but the Arc B370's performance ceiling is low. For a 2015 FPS title like Evolve, 1080p Low at 80 FPS is the most practical configuration, offering a smooth experience without requiring a reduction in resolution.