Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS, presents an interesting challenge for the Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. The data reveals a combination that is heavily constrained by the graphics card, with the processor's considerable headroom left largely untapped. This pairing produces a wide range of performance depending on resolution and quality settings, making it a case study in system bottleneck dynamics.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data from this combination shows a predictable and steep drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which strongly indicates that the graphics card is the primary limiting component. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 123. When the resolution is scaled up to 1440p, the average FPS falls to 83, a reduction of 32.5%. At 4K, the frame rate drops to 47, which is a 61.8% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is typical of a system where the GPU is saturated, as the rendering workload increases exponentially with each pixel count jump.

The trend continues across other quality settings. At Medium, the average FPS at 1080p is 95, dropping to 64 at 1440p, and then to 36 at 4K. This shows a similar consistent scaling pattern. At High settings, the drop is from 75 FPS at 1080p to 50 at 1440p, and down to 29 at 4K. The Ultra setting, which is the most demanding, starts at 52 FPS at 1080p, falls to 35 at 1440p, and hits a lowly 20 FPS at 4K.

The nature of this scaling suggests that the CPU, an Intel Core i7-12700KF, is not the bottleneck. If the processor were limiting performance, we would expect to see a smaller FPS disparity between resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain constant. Instead, the halving of frame rates from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The data indicates a gaming experience that is smooth at 1080p but becomes increasingly less playable as the resolution climbs, with 4K and Ultra settings proving to be the most demanding.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti combination ranks 3185th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 14% of all tested configurations, a surprisingly low standing for a system with a recent high-end CPU. This suggests that in this specific game, the GPU is such a significant limiting factor that the CPU's capabilities are rendered nearly irrelevant for the final result.

The ranking is likely dragged down by the GTX 1660 Ti's performance. As a component, the GPU sits in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, which is a below-average standing. The CPU, on the other hand, has a much stronger profile. The i7-12700KF is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, showcasing a significant performance gap between the two components.

Looking at the data, the GTX 1660 Ti's average benchmark score is 7723, and it has close rivals in the AMD Radeon 540, which scores 7673 (0.7% lower), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 at 7580 (1.9% higher), the AMD Radeon R7 250 at 7557 (2.2% higher), and Intel Arc A310 at 7550 (2.3% higher). This means the GPU is performing in line with these lower-tier cards, which is not a great sign for a demanding game like Evolve.

This combination's ranking indicates that it is not an optimal pairing for this specific game. The high-ranking CPU is wasted when paired with a GPU that is only average at best. The data suggests that the GPU is the single most important factor in determining the final FPS in Evolve, and its performance limitations are what holds this combo back from a higher standing.

GPU Role

The GPU is the dominant factor shaping the results in Evolve. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, with its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivers a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. It has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz. The GPU also has a TDP of 120 W.

The benchmarks show a mixed bag for the GTX 1660 Ti. Its Passmark G3D score is 12871, but its Passmark G2D is 804, and its Passmark DirectX 12 score is only 51, which is quite low. The GPU's performance in this game aligns with its overall profile, which is a mid-range card.

The GPU is in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, showing that it is below the median. Its average benchmark score of 7723 places it in a bracket with the AMD Radeon 540, which scores 7673 (0.7% higher), and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 at 7580 (1.9% higher). This indicates that the GTX 1660 Ti is a modest performer compared to the rest of the GPU market.

In Evolve, the GPU's limitations are clearly shown by the FPS numbers. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 123, which is a good result. However, the difference between Low and Medium settings is a 22.7% drop in FPS (from 123 to 95). The drop from Medium to High is a further 21.1% (95 to 75). The most demanding setting, Ultra, sees a drop from 75 to 52 FPS, which is a 30.7% decrease. This shows how quickly the GPU becomes a bottleneck as settings are raised.

The 6 GB of VRAM is a key consideration for a 2015 game. Evolve was released in 2015, and its memory requirements are likely well within what a 6 GB frame buffer can handle, even at 4K. The data suggests that the GPU's core and memory clock speeds are more of a limiting factor than its memory capacity.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 75.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark scores compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7723. The AMD Radeon 540 scores 7673 (0.7% higher), while the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 scores 7580 (1.9% higher), the AMD Radeon R7 250 scores 7557 (2.2% higher), and Intel Arc A310 scores 7550 (2.3% higher).

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU more important for this combo's performance in Evolve?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU, an Intel Core i7-12700KF, is in the 85th percentile, but the GPU is in the 41st percentile. The performance data on a consistent basis shows that at 4K, the FPS drops significantly due to the GPU's limitations.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 54, with an average of 64.

Q: What is the best average performance in terms of FPS at 4K?

A: At 4K, the highest average FPS is achieved with Low settings, which yields 47 FPS. The next best is Medium at 36 FPS, then High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 20 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data shows a clear trade-off between visual quality and performance. For the best overall experience, users should focus on the 1080p resolution, as it offers the highest frame rates. At 1080p, Low settings deliver an excellent average of 123 FPS, while Medium at 95 FPS is also very fluid. High settings at 75 FPS are still very playable, and Ultra at 52 FPS is quite good for a demanding preset.

For those aiming for a 60 FPS target, the 1440p resolution is a solid choice. At 1440p, Low settings yield an average of 83 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. Medium settings at 64 FPS also hit this target, but High settings at 50 FPS fall short. Ultra at 1440p is also below the target, with an average of 35 FPS.

At 4K, the situation becomes more challenging. Low settings at 47 FPS are the only setting that comes close to the 60 FPS target. Medium at 36 FPS, High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 20 FPS are all well below the mark. For a playable experience at 4K, Low settings are the only viable option.

The data indicates that the "best" experience depends on the player's priorities. If a smooth, high-refresh-rate game is the goal, 1080p with Low to High settings is the best. If a higher resolution is more important, then 1440p with Low to Medium settings is recommended. 4K gaming is possible with Low settings, but the visual quality will be significantly reduced.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12th-generation processor with 12 cores and 20 threads. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, which is a strong result. Its average benchmark score is 35365, and its closest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13700T at 35403 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i5-13600T at 35305 (0.2% lower), the Intel Core 5 213PE at 35428 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-12700K at 35287 (0.2% lower). This shows the i7-12700KF is a high-performance processor, but its performance is not being fully utilized in this game.

The CPU's benchmarks show strong multi-threaded performance. For example, its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 28838, and its Geekbench multi-core score is 14367. Its single-thread performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4071 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2255.

In Evolve, the CPU's role is minimal. Because the GTX 1660 Ti is the bottleneck, the CPU's high core and thread counts do not translate into higher FPS. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The frame rates at 1080p are high, but they are still limited by the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we'd expect to see lower FPS at 1080p and a smaller difference between resolutions.

The CPU's performance headroom indicates that it could handle a much more powerful GPU in this game. For a game like Evolve, the i7-12700KF is more than enough, and its high core count is not a significant factor in the performance outcome. The data suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor, and the GPU is the sole reason for the low ranking of this combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti in Evolve is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 47 average FPS
• Medium: 36 average FPS (31 min, 42 max)
• High: 29 average FPS
• Ultra: 20 average FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 83 average FPS
• Medium: 64 average FPS (54 min, 74 max)
• High: 50 average FPS
• Ultra: 35 average FPS

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 123 average FPS
• Medium: 95 average FPS (81 min, 110 max)
• High: 75 average FPS
• Ultra: 52 average FPS

The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution and settings increase, FPS decreases. At 1080p, the system is able to deliver high frame rates, with Low settings exceeding 120 FPS. At 1440p, it can handle 60+ FPS on Low and Medium. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS even on Low settings.

The average FPS at 1080p Low (123) is more than double the average FPS at 4K Ultra (20), showcasing the heavy impact of resolution and settings on this combination. The data also shows that the difference between Medium and High is consistent across resolutions, with a roughly 20-25% drop in FPS. The jump from High to Ultra is also significant, with a roughly 25-30% reduction.

The overall picture is that this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming, with playable performance up to High settings. At 1440p, the system can handle Low and Medium settings for a smooth experience. At 4K, it is only capable of Low settings, and even then, it falls short of a 60 FPS target. The data confirms that the GTX 1660 Ti is the primary bottleneck, and the CPU's high performance is not fully utilized in this game.