Evolve

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents an extreme asymmetry in Evolve: a high-end 12th Gen desktop processor driving an integrated-class GPU. Benchmark results for this combo place it at rank 2530 out of 2872 tested combinations, putting it in the bottom 12% of all systems. The data shows a platform that is almost entirely GPU-limited, where the CPU’s substantial multi-threading capabilities are effectively idle in this FPS title. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second, the scaling across resolutions, and what settings deliver the most playable experience given the hardware constraints.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on Alder Lake 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. The chip carries 25 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 80 KB of L1 per core. This processor scores in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35365. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the Intel Core i7-13700T (avg score 35403, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-13600T (avg score 35305, delta 0.2%), the Intel Core 5 213PE (avg score 35428, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-12700K (avg score 35287, delta 0.2%). These deltas are negligible, meaning the 12700KF performs statistically on par with those chips in general benchmarks.

In Evolve, however, the CPU’s role is minimal. The game was released on 2015-02-09, and the measured FPS at 1080p Low reaches 89 avg FPS. That number is far below what this CPU could theoretically produce if paired with a stronger GPU. The 12700KF’s multi-core strength is evident in benchmarks like Cinebench R23 multi-core (28838) and Passmark multi-thread (34092), but those scores do not translate into higher frame rates here. The bottleneck is clearly elsewhere. At 1080p High, the average FPS drops to 54, which is a 39% reduction from Low settings. That drop is not a CPU limitation — it is the GPU struggling with increased shader complexity.

The CPU’s single-thread performance, measured at 1043 in 3dmark single-thread and 4071 in Cinebench R23 single-core, is more than adequate for a 2015-era FPS. Even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS falls to 14, the processor is not the limiting factor. The frame time variance across resolutions shows that the CPU maintains its end of the pipeline, but the integrated Arc B390 cannot keep up. For a game like Evolve, which relies on consistent frame pacing for competitive play, the 12700KF’s high boost clock of 5.00 GHz helps avoid CPU-side stutter, but the measured minimum FPS of 22 at 4K Medium indicates the GPU is the source of frame drops. The processor’s 12 cores and 20 threads are overkill for this workload, but they ensure that no CPU-bound scenario occurs even at the lowest settings where the GPU is pushed hardest relative to its capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2530 out of 2872 tested combinations in Evolve. This rank places it in the lower 12% of all configurations, which is a poor result for a system built around a top-tier desktop CPU. For context, the GPU alone sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482 from the 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 test. The CPU’s 85th percentile ranking does not compensate for the GPU’s position. The nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (avg score 1463, delta 1.3%), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (avg score 1460, delta 1.5%), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (avg score 1446, delta 2.5%), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (avg score 1443, delta 2.7%). These are all entry-level or legacy mobile/desktop parts, confirming that the Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution, not a discrete card.

The rank of 2530 means that in Evolve specifically, this combo is beaten by a wide margin by the majority of tested systems. The data shows that even with the 12700KF’s high multi-threaded performance, the measured FPS numbers are consistent with what a low-end GPU would produce. For example, at 1080p Low, the 89 avg FPS is playable, but that is the best case scenario. At 1080p Ultra, the 37 avg FPS is borderline. The combo rank reflects the overall experience across all settings and resolutions, and the trend is downward as settings increase. The CPU’s 20 threads provide no benefit in a game that likely uses fewer than 8 threads effectively, so the rank is almost entirely determined by the GPU. In a database of 2872 combos, the 2530th position indicates that users should expect performance similar to systems with decade-old discrete GPUs, not modern mid-range cards. The delta between the CPU’s rivals (all within 0.2%) shows that swapping the 12700KF for a similar chip would change the rank negligibly, because the GPU remains the same.

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

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 89 avg FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 60 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K Low, the average is 34 FPS, another 43% drop from 1440p. This steep decline with resolution is the signature of a GPU that runs out of fillrate and shading capacity as pixel count increases. The Arc B390 has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. Those numbers are small for 4K workloads, explaining why the 4K results are so low.

At 1080p High, the average FPS is 54, and at 1440p High it drops to 36, a 33% reduction. At 4K High, the average is 21 FPS, a 42% drop from 1440p. The pattern holds across all settings: the percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistently around 33%, and from 1440p to 4K it is around 40-42%. This consistency indicates that the limiting component scales linearly with resolution, which is typical for a GPU with a fixed memory bandwidth. The GPU’s memory is "System Shared" with bandwidth listed as "System Dependent," meaning it relies on system RAM bandwidth, which is a further constraint at higher resolutions. The CPU’s role in resolution scaling is minimal because the 12700KF’s cache and core counts do not change with resolution. The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 14, which is unplayable. At 4K Medium, the average is 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 and maximum of 30, indicating severe frame time inconsistency.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings (89 to 34 FPS) represents a 62% performance loss. This is a larger relative drop than what a discrete mid-range GPU would show, because the Arc B390’s 3 nm process (Xe3-LPG architecture) does not compensate for its low transistor budget. The 12700KF’s 10 nm process and high boost clock do not influence resolution scaling. The data strongly suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield significant gains at all resolutions, while upgrading the CPU would yield almost none. For a user targeting 4K, this combo is not viable, as even Low settings produce only 34 avg FPS. For 1440p, Low settings hit 60 avg FPS, which is the threshold for smooth play, but Medium drops to 46 avg FPS. The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU, as the CPU’s performance metrics (e.g., Passmark integer math score of 113521) are far above what this game requires.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS by settings is as follows: Low 89, Medium 69, High 54, Ultra 37. The Medium setting provides a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS, which is the only setting at 1080p with min/max data. The gap between Low and Medium is 20 FPS (89 to 69), while the gap between Medium and High is 15 FPS (69 to 54), and between High and Ultra is 17 FPS (54 to 37). This shows a fairly linear degradation as settings increase, with no sudden cliffs, indicating that the GPU is being progressively loaded without hitting a thermal or power wall. The Ultra setting at 37 avg FPS is below the 60 FPS target, making it less desirable, but it is still technically playable in a non-competitive context.

At 2560x1440, the numbers are: Low 60, Medium 46, High 36, Ultra 25. The Medium setting has a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 14 FPS, from Medium to High is 10 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 11 FPS. The 1440p Low result of 60 avg FPS is exactly at the playable threshold, but the minimum FPS for Low is not provided. The Medium setting’s minimum of 39 FPS means that even at 1440p Medium, there are noticeable frame drops below 40 FPS, which can cause stutter in a fast-paced FPS. The Ultra setting at 25 avg FPS is not recommended for any gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the results are: Low 34, Medium 26, High 21, Ultra 14. The Medium setting provides a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 8 FPS, Medium to High is 5 FPS, and High to Ultra is 7 FPS. The 4K numbers are uniformly poor, with even Low settings failing to reach 35 FPS. The Medium setting’s range of 22-30 FPS shows that the GPU is struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate, which would be a poor experience for any gamer. The 4K Ultra result of 14 avg FPS is essentially a slideshow. Across all resolutions, the trend is that the Arc B390 is only capable of delivering playable frame rates (above 60) at 1080p Low, and marginally playable (around 60) at 1440p Low. The 12700KF’s performance is consistent, but it cannot overcome the GPU’s limitations.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a slot width of IGP, meaning it shares memory with the system. Its memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical limitation for Evolve, as the game’s textures and geometry at higher settings require substantial memory bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 300 MHz, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The boost clock is relatively high for an integrated part, but the low base clock suggests aggressive power management. The GPU’s TDP is 80 W, which is modest, and it has no power connectors because it is integrated into the processor package (Panther Lake chip, Xe3-LPG architecture).

The GPU’s FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, and its FP16 performance is 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1). These numbers are respectable for integrated graphics, but they do not translate into strong gaming performance. The 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it at the 9th percentile, with rivals like the GT 520MX scoring 1463 (delta 1.3%) and the GT 710 scoring 1443 (delta 2.7%). This means the Arc B390 is only about 1-3% faster than those legacy parts, which are from 2011-2014. In Evolve, a 2015 title, the GPU’s age relative to the game’s requirements is not the issue; instead, it is the sheer lack of compute and memory resources.

The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with 12 ray tracing cores. The ray tracing cores are irrelevant for Evolve, which does not use ray tracing. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are the key metrics for fillrate-bound scenarios. At 4K, the pixel rate is insufficient, which explains the 14-34 FPS range. The GPU’s boost clock of 2500 MHz helps at lower resolutions, but the system-shared memory is a bottleneck. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (89) is the only result that approaches a smooth experience. The GPU’s role in this combo is to be the sole limiter, and the data shows that its performance is comparable to a 12-year-old discrete GPU, not a modern solution. The 80 W TDP and 3 nm process indicate efficiency, but efficiency does not overcome the lack of dedicated VRAM.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo in Evolve is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which delivers 89 avg FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay with minimal stutter. The Medium preset at 1080p achieves 69 avg FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, which is also playable, but the minimum FPS is close to the 60 FPS threshold, so occasional dips may be noticeable. For users who prefer higher visual fidelity, 1080p High at 54 avg FPS is acceptable for single-player sessions, but in a competitive FPS, the 54 FPS average could lead to input lag. The Ultra preset at 1080p (37 avg FPS) is not recommended due to the low frame rate.

At 1440p, the Low preset hits 60 avg FPS exactly, which is the minimum for smooth play, but this leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. The Medium preset at 1440p (46 avg FPS) is borderline, and the minimum of 39 FPS means that during intense moments, the frame rate will drop below 40, causing visible stutter. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p (36 and 25 FPS) are not viable for gameplay. At 4K, no preset is recommended, as even Low only reaches 34 avg FPS, which is far below playable standards. The Medium preset at 4K (26 avg FPS) has a minimum of 22 FPS, which is an unpleasant experience.

The practical advice is to use 1080p Low or Medium. The 1080p Low preset provides the best frame pacing, while Medium offers a 29% FPS reduction (89 to 69) for improved visuals. The data shows no benefit to using High or Ultra at any resolution, as the FPS drops below 60 in all cases except 1080p High (54 FPS), which is still below the target. For users with a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only option that reaches 60 FPS, but the lack of min/max data for that setting means it could dip below 60 in practice. The Medium preset at 1440p has a documented minimum of 39 FPS, so it is safer to stay at Low. The CPU’s performance is not a factor in these recommendations, as the 12700KF provides ample headroom. The GPU is the sole determinant, and the measured rows clearly show that sacrificing settings is necessary to achieve playable frame rates. In summary, prioritize 1080p Low for the smoothest experience, with 1080p Medium as a compromise if visual quality is more important than absolute frame stability. Avoid 1440p High and above, and do not attempt 4K with this combo.