Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetric FPS, is an older title, but the data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination shows that this pairing is still a dominant force, ranking in the 960th position out of 3,700 tested combos. The benchmark results indicate this system is heavily GPU-bound at higher settings, with the CPU providing a massive headroom that only becomes a factor at lower resolutions and settings. For a game from the mid-2010s, this hardware delivers exceptional performance, with the primary challenge being managing the GPU load at 4K Ultra to maintain playable frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10nm process. Its performance profile is defined by a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, making it a high-frequency part that excels in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates its strength, scoring 4,071 points in Cinebench R23 single-core and a massive 28,838 points in the multi-core test. These scores place the processor in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it is a top-tier performer.

The data suggests that in Evolve, the CPU is rarely the bottleneck. This conclusion is drawn from the scaling of frame rates across different resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 261 FPS, which is a staggering frame rate that indicates the CPU is feeding the GPU with data as fast as it can be processed. The high single-thread score of 4,071 in Cinebench R23 is critical for game logic and physics, which are often single-thread dependent. The multi-threaded capacity, with a score of 28,838, ensures that background tasks and the game's various AI-driven monster and hunter mechanics do not cause hitches, even when the main game thread is under load.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-12700KF is effectively at parity. It is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i5-13600T and 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-12700K. The average benchmark score of 35,365 puts it in a dead heat with these chips, meaning that in a game like Evolve, which is not known for being extremely CPU-intensive, the differences would be negligible. The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency. The benchmark results indicate that the i7-12700KF provides a massive performance ceiling for Evolve, ensuring that the GPU is the limiting factor in almost all scenarios.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is based on the Ampere architecture and the GA102 chip, manufactured on Samsung's 8nm process. It is a powerhouse with 10,240 shading units and 320 texture mapping units. The card has a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s, which is a substantial amount of memory throughput. This is evidenced by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,077 and a Passmark G3D score of 26,896, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs.

In the context of Evolve, the GPU is the primary driver of performance, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the average FPS drops, which is the classic sign of a GPU-bound system. At 1080p Ultra, the GPU delivers 110 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, this drops to 74 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 42 FPS. This scaling shows that the GPU is working progressively harder to render the additional pixels. The RTX 3080 Ti is a capable card, but Evolve's Ultra settings at 4K prove to be a significant challenge, pushing the card to its limits.

The GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Evolve, even at 4K, as the game is from 2015 and does not have the massive texture demands of modern titles. The card's performance is close to its rivals, with a 0.8% advantage over the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 and a 2% advantage over the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, while being 1.2% slower than the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB. This indicates that the RTX 3080 Ti is a high-end performer, but its age is showing slightly when compared to the newest generation. In this pairing, the GPU is the component that determines the playable settings, and the data shows that it is more than capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, while being just at the edge of playability at 4K with lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves a very high 261 FPS. This is a CPU-limited scenario, as the GPU has plenty of headroom but the CPU is still able to push out a massive number of frames. Moving to 1440p Low, the average FPS drops to 175, a decrease of 86 FPS. This is a significant drop, but the frame rate is still exceptionally high. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 99, which is still very playable. This scaling from 261 to 99 FPS (a 62% drop from 1080p to 4K) demonstrates that even at Low settings, the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor as the resolution increases.

The scaling is even more pronounced at Ultra settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 110. At 1440p Ultra, this drops to 74 FPS, a 33% decrease. At 4K Ultra, the FPS falls to 42, a 62% decrease from 1080p. This steep drop-off indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher settings. The jump from 1440p to 4K at Ultra is particularly harsh, with a 32 FPS loss. The data shows a clear trend: the system is balanced at 1080p, but the GPU becomes the sole determinant of performance as resolution increases. The high CPU performance ensures that there is no CPU-induced stutter, but it cannot help the GPU render more pixels. The result is that for 4K gaming, users must make significant compromises in settings to achieve smooth frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF a bottleneck for the RTX 3080 Ti in Evolve?

A: The data suggests it is not a bottleneck in most scenarios. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 261 FPS, indicating the CPU can handle a very high frame rate. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs and is at performance parity with its nearest rivals, showing it has ample power to feed the GPU in this game.

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but with settings adjustments. At 4K High, the average FPS is 60, which is generally considered the minimum for playable. At 4K Medium, it achieves 77 FPS, which is smoother. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 42 FPS, which may not be ideal for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors with this setup?

A: For 144Hz or higher monitors, 1080p is the best choice. The system achieves 158 FPS at 1080p High and 202 FPS at 1080p Medium. At 1440p, the frame rates are still high, with 106 FPS on High settings, which is suitable for a 144Hz monitor.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 Ti compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41,187. This is 0.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 5300's score of 40,870 and 2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070's score of 40,377. It is 1.2% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB's score of 41,707.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1440p Low, the system averages 175 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 74 FPS. This is a 101 FPS difference, showing that Ultra settings are much more demanding on the GPU.

Q: What is the ranking of this CPU+GPU combo among all tested combinations for Evolve?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is ranked 960th out of 3,700 tested combos for Evolve. This places it in the top 26% of all tested systems.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p gaming, the system is powerful enough to run at Ultra settings, achieving an average of 110 FPS. This is a good balance between visual quality and performance. For players with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors, dropping to High settings will yield 158 FPS, which is closer to the monitor's maximum refresh rate and offers a smoother experience. Medium settings at 1080p provide 202 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but the visual fidelity loss is significant.

At 1440p, the recommended preset is High, which delivers an average of 106 FPS. This is an excellent experience for most gamers, providing high visual quality with smooth frame rates. Medium settings at 1440p offer 135 FPS, which is better for high refresh rate monitors, but the visual difference between Medium and High is noticeable. Ultra settings at 1440p, with an average of 74 FPS, are playable but may not feel as fluid as the lower settings.

For 4K gaming, the situation is more constrained. The best experience is achieved with Medium settings, which provide an average of 77 FPS and a minimum of 66 FPS. This is a good balance, ensuring the frame rate stays above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings at 4K are just at the edge, with an average of 60 FPS, which means there could be dips below that mark. Low settings at 4K provide 99 FPS but significantly reduce visual quality. Ultra settings at 4K, with an average of 42 FPS, are not recommended for a smooth experience. The data shows that Medium is the "sweet spot" for 4K, offering the best playable experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured FPS data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination in Evolve.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS of 261. This is the highest frame rate recorded for the system, indicating a CPU-bound scenario.
• Medium: Average FPS of 202, with a minimum of 172 and a maximum of 232. This shows a stable, high-performance setting.
• High: Average FPS of 158. This is an excellent setting for high refresh rate 1080p monitors.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 110. This is a very playable frame rate for a smooth single-player or casual multiplayer experience.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS of 175. The system retains a very high frame rate, showing the GPU is still not fully stressed.
• Medium: Average FPS of 135, with a minimum of 115 and a maximum of 156. This is a great balance for 1440p.
• High: Average FPS of 106. This is the recommended setting for a high refresh rate 1440p experience.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 74. This is a playable frame rate, but it shows a clear performance hit from the higher resolution.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS of 99. This is still a very playable frame rate, making Low settings a viable option for 4K.
• Medium: Average FPS of 77, with a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 89. This is the recommended setting for 4K, as it remains above the 60 FPS threshold.
• High: Average FPS of 60. This is the minimum playable frame rate and could be subject to dips.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 42. This is not a recommended setting for a fast-paced game like Evolve, as the low frame rate will impact the experience.