Evolve

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B570 combination presents a specific set of trade-offs in Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data, showing how the CPU’s high thread count and the GPU’s architecture interact across resolutions and settings. The benchmark results reveal a system that is clearly capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, but which becomes heavily GPU-bound as resolution increases, with frame rates dropping below playable thresholds at 4K Ultra.

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 the Alder Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This processor is a strong performer in synthetic benchmarks, placing in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700T and Intel Core i5-13600T, with performance deltas of -0.1% and +0.2% respectively, showing that the 12700KF sits right at the edge of a very tight performance cluster.

For a game like Evolve, which is a fast-paced FPS, single-thread performance is often critical for maintaining high frame rates. The 12700KF scores 1043 in 3dmark_single_thread and 3984 in passmark_single_thread. These scores indicate that the CPU has the raw capability to feed a GPU in less demanding scenarios. However, the measured FPS data shows that the limiting factor changes depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080 Low, the system achieves 137 FPS, suggesting that the CPU is still keeping up with the GPU at this load. The CPU’s multi-threaded strength, evidenced by a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 28838, is less of a factor in Evolve's frame rate, as the game’s engine likely doesn't scale perfectly across 20 threads. The data suggests the processor has ample headroom; the bottleneck lies elsewhere.

The processor’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a substantial amount of cache, which helps reduce memory latency and can improve performance in games that have large working sets. The 12700KF supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the specific memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. In the context of Evolve, the CPU’s role is to provide a stable platform that won't cause frame dips or stuttering. The data shows that the CPU's performance is more than adequate, as the frame rate drops are consistently tied to resolution increases, which are a GPU workload.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this CPU and GPU combo for a high refresh rate experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the frame rates consistently exceed 60 FPS across all settings. At 1920x1080 Low, the average FPS is 137, and even at High settings, it maintains an average of 83 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in Evolve?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. At 1920x1080 Low, the system reaches 137 FPS, indicating the CPU can handle high frame rates. As the resolution increases to 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly regardless of settings, which points to the GPU being the limiting component.

Q: How does the performance at 2560x1440 High compare to 1920x1080 High?

A: At 2560x1440 High, the average FPS is 56, while at 1920x1080 High, it is 83. This is a 32.5% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p, showing the significant impact of resolution on the GPU.

Q: Can this combination handle Evolve at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates that 4K is not playable at higher settings. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 32 on High, 40 on Medium, and only 22 on Ultra. Even on Low settings, the average is just 52 FPS, which is below the typical target for a smooth gaming experience.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080 Low, the average FPS is 137, while at 1920x1080 Ultra, it drops to 58. This represents a 57.7% decrease in performance, highlighting the heavy load that Ultra settings place on the GPU.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570's average benchmark score compare to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556. Its closest rival, the Intel Arc A750, has an average score of 20582, with a deltaPct of -0.1%. This places the B570 in a virtual tie with its predecessor in overall performance.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1920x1080 High, the system averages 83 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 High, the average drops to 56 FPS, a reduction of 27 FPS or roughly 32.5%. This significant drop indicates that the GPU is working much harder to fill the additional pixels. The trend continues at 3840x2160 High, where the average FPS falls to 32, a further reduction of 24 FPS from the 1440p result.

This scaling behavior is a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B570 is the limiting component as resolution increases. The CPU, while powerful, is not able to compensate for the GPU's reduced throughput at higher resolutions. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across all settings, with Low settings going from 137 FPS at 1080p to 52 FPS at 4K, and Ultra settings going from 58 FPS to 22 FPS. The frame rate is nearly halved at each resolution step, which is typical for a GPU that is nearing its memory bandwidth or fillrate limits. The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s and a pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s, which are the specs that determine how quickly it can process pixels. The data shows that these resources are exhausted as the resolution climbs.

The fact that the 1080p numbers are high (83 FPS at High, 137 FPS at Low) suggests that the CPU has enough headroom to push the GPU to its limits at that resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 1440p. The steep drop in FPS at 1440p and 4K points directly to the GPU as the primary constraint. The 10 GB of VRAM on the Arc B570 is likely sufficient for Evolve, but the 160-bit memory bus and the overall compute power of the GPU are what limit performance at higher resolutions.

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

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset yields an average of 137 FPS. Medium produces an average of 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 and a maximum of 122 FPS, showing a stable frame time. High settings drop the average to 83 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, producing an average of 58 FPS. This range shows that the combo is well-suited for 1080p gaming, allowing users to choose between maximum frame rates on Low or a solid 60+ FPS experience on High.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. The Low preset still manages an average of 92 FPS, which is playable for competitive play. Medium settings produce an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 82 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 56 FPS, which is at the edge of what many consider smooth. The Ultra preset falls to an average of 39 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced FPS. At this resolution, the GPU’s limits become apparent, and users will need to compromise on settings to maintain higher frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the performance is severely constrained. The Low preset averages just 52 FPS. Medium averages 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 47 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 32 FPS. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable, with an average of 22 FPS. The data indicates that 4K is not a viable option for this game with this hardware, as even the lowest settings fail to consistently hit 60 FPS. The step from 1080p to 4K results in a performance drop of over 60% on all presets, confirming the GPU is the definitive bottleneck.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and uses the BMG-G21 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a consistent clock speed of 2500 MHz for both base and boost. With 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, the B570 has a theoretical FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS.

In the context of Evolve, the GPU’s role is clearly the primary determinant of frame rate at higher resolutions. The GPU’s benchmark scores show it is a mid-range performer, placing in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 20556 places it in a tie with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750. The PassMark G3D score of 14195 supports this classification. The synthetic benchmarks, such as the 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 2649, indicate the GPU’s ability to handle modern rendering workloads.

The VRAM capacity of 10 GB is unlikely to be a limiting factor in Evolve at 1080p or 1440p, as the game is from 2015 and likely has moderate memory requirements. However, the memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s and the GPU’s pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s are more critical. The data shows that as resolution increases, the frame rate drops almost linearly, suggesting that the GPU is hitting its memory bandwidth ceiling. The 4K results, in particular, show a severe drop, indicating that the GPU is struggling to process the sheer number of pixels. The fact that the Ultra preset at 4K only achieves 22 FPS highlights that the B570 is not designed for high-end 4K gaming in this title.

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

For this specific hardware combination, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 83 FPS. This is a solid, smooth experience for a game like Evolve. For players who prioritize maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 137 FPS is the choice, but the visual fidelity will be significantly reduced. The Medium preset at 106 FPS is a good middle ground, but High provides a better visual experience for only a 23 FPS cost.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS, which ensures a mostly smooth experience. The High preset at 56 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for a competitive FPS. The Low preset at 92 FPS is viable for high-refresh-rate monitors, but sacrifices too much visual detail for most players. The data suggests that the GPU’s performance at this resolution is best suited for Medium settings.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that this hardware is not suitable for 4K gaming in Evolve. The Low preset at 52 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, but it will still suffer from frame drops in intense scenes. The Medium preset at 40 FPS is too low for a smooth experience. Therefore, the recommendation is to avoid 4K and stick to 1440p or 1080p. The best overall experience is at 1920x1080 with High settings, which provides a high frame rate with good visual quality. If a player insists on 1440p, Medium is the only preset that guarantees a minimum of 60 FPS. The measured data clearly shows that the Intel Arc B570 is a 1080p-oriented card for this title, with 1440p Medium being the upper limit of its practical capabilities.