Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS, places specific demands on a system that combine the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB. The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions and settings, indicating where the performance bottleneck lies and how to best configure the game for a playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a predictable decline in average FPS as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, but the magnitude of that decline varies significantly by settings preset. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 219 FPS at 1080p to 147 FPS at 1440p, a 33% reduction, and then to 84 FPS at 4K, a further 43% reduction. This steep decline suggests that at lower settings, the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the workload scales directly with pixel count.

Moving to High settings, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute numbers: 133 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 33%, and from 1440p to 4K it is about 43%, mirroring the Low settings pattern. This consistent proportional drop across settings indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the dominant constraints for this game at all tested configurations.

At Ultra settings, the performance floor is reached. The combo delivers 92 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 62 FPS at 1440p and then to 35 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only measurement below 60 FPS in the entire dataset, and it sits at just 35 FPS, which is a 62% reduction from the 1080p Ultra score. This sharp falloff at 4K Ultra highlights that the combination of high pixel count and maximum graphical fidelity overwhelms the GPU.

The scaling pattern reveals that the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is the component dictating performance. The CPU's role becomes less relevant as resolution increases, because the GPU takes longer to render each frame, giving the processor ample time to prepare the next one. The fact that even at 1080p Low the combo reaches 219 FPS suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions, but the GPU's limits are quickly reached when pixel count rises.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. Its core configuration includes 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2407 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz, translating to 28 Gbps effective for the 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus. This setup yields a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

The measured results in Evolve show that this memory configuration is sufficient for most settings, but the 8 GB capacity appears to be a limiting factor at Ultra settings, particularly at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 35, which indicates the GPU is struggling with both the computational load and potentially memory capacity or bandwidth constraints. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is the second highest among the tested configurations in this dataset, but it still cannot sustain high frame rates at maximum settings.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are reflected in its synthetic benchmark scores. It achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4019 and a Passmark G3D score of 21981. These numbers place it in the 29th percentile of all GPUs, which is a modest ranking. The nearest rivals in the database, based on average benchmark score, are the AMD FirePro W5130M with a deltaPct of -0.1 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 with a deltaPct of 0.2. These comparisons show the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB sits in a performance tier that is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but not for pushing 4K at maximum fidelity.

In Evolve specifically, the GPU's role is unmistakable. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 219 FPS, but at 4K Ultra it drops to 35 FPS. This 84% reduction in performance is driven almost entirely by the GPU's inability to handle the increased pixel load and the more complex shader work at Ultra settings. The measured FPS at Medium settings shows a more balanced performance: 170 FPS at 1080p, 114 FPS at 1440p, and 65 FPS at 4K. These figures suggest that the GPU can deliver a smooth experience at Medium settings even at 4K, which is a key finding for players with high-resolution displays.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 25 MB shared L3 cache. The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Synthetic benchmarks show the i7-12700KF performs well in multi-threaded workloads. It scores 28838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 12111 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4071 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2255. The Passmark multithread score is 34092, and the 3DMark max threads score is 9983. These numbers place the CPU in the 85th percentile of all processors, indicating it is a high-tier part.

The nearest CPU rivals, based on average benchmark score, are the Intel Core i7-13700T with a deltaPct of -0.1, the Intel Core i5-13600T with a deltaPct of 0.2, and the Intel Core 5 213PE with a deltaPct of -0.2. The i7-12700KF's average benchmark score is 35365, which is nearly identical to these rivals, showing that it performs at the expected level for its class.

In Evolve, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU, but it still matters for achieving high frame rates. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 219 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate that the CPU must be able to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The i7-12700KF's 12 cores and 20 threads, along with its 5.00 GHz boost clock, provide ample processing power for this task. The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rate at Low settings (219 FPS) is more than double the frame rate at 4K Ultra (35 FPS), which confirms the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution.

The processor's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 4071 Cinebench R23 single-core score, is particularly relevant for a game like Evolve, which often relies on a few main threads for simulation and rendering setup. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2065 and 4-thread score of 4011 also indicate solid performance in lightly threaded scenarios. However, because the GPU is the bottleneck in this game, the CPU's capabilities are not fully utilized at higher resolutions, where frame rates are lower and the CPU has more time to prepare frames.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best experience for this combo. Across all three resolutions, the Medium preset delivers a balanced combination of visual quality and performance. At 4K, Medium yields an average of 65 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS. This is the only preset at 4K that maintains an average above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K displays.

At 1440p, the Medium preset achieves 114 FPS average, with minimum and maximum of 97 and 131 FPS respectively. This is a very smooth experience, and the step up to High settings at 89 FPS is also playable, but Medium offers a higher margin of safety for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 62 FPS, which is borderline for competitive play, so it is not recommended unless the player prioritizes visual fidelity over frame rate consistency.

For 1080p, the Medium preset delivers 170 FPS average, with a minimum of 144 FPS and a maximum of 195 FPS. This is an excellent result for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset at 133 FPS is also very good, and even Ultra at 92 FPS is playable. However, the Medium preset provides the best balance, as it keeps the minimum FPS above 144, which is a common refresh rate target for competitive FPS players.

The Low preset, while offering the highest frame rates (219 FPS at 1080p, 147 FPS at 1440p, 84 FPS at 4K), sacrifices too much visual quality for most players. The Ultra preset, on the other hand, is only recommended for 1080p displays where the 92 FPS average is acceptable, but it should be avoided at 1440p and 4K due to the sub-60 FPS averages at those resolutions. The data strongly suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for this combo, providing a playable experience at all three tested resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Evolve?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 at Medium settings offers the best experience with an average of 170 FPS and a minimum of 144 FPS. This combination provides high frame rates that are suitable for competitive play.

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 4K?

A: Yes, it can run at 4K, but only at Medium settings with an average of 65 FPS. At High settings the average drops to 51 FPS, and at Ultra it falls to 35 FPS, which are not ideal for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Ultra preset perform at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 62 FPS. This is playable but close to the threshold where frame rate dips might be noticeable, and it is a significant drop from the 114 FPS at Medium settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. The evidence is that frame rates scale strongly with resolution and settings, dropping from 219 FPS at 1080p Low to 35 FPS at 4K Ultra, while the CPU's high benchmark scores indicate it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1080p Medium?

A: The minimum FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 144 FPS, with an average of 170 FPS and a maximum of 195 FPS. This ensures a consistently smooth experience.

Q: How does this combo compare to other GPUs in the database?

A: The RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB has an average benchmark score of 4901, placing it in the 29th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD FirePro W5130M, has a score of 4904 with a deltaPct of -0.1, showing they are nearly identical in synthetic performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB combination in Evolve is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 219 FPS. The Medium preset achieves an average of 170 FPS, with a minimum of 144 FPS and a maximum of 195 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 133 FPS, and the Ultra preset yields an average of 92 FPS. This shows a clear progression where each step up in settings reduces performance by roughly 20-30%.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 147 FPS. The Medium preset averages 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. The High preset averages 89 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 62 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p is a 58% reduction in average FPS, from 147 to 62.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 84 FPS. The Medium preset averages 65 FPS, with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS. The High preset averages 51 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 35 FPS. The 4K results show the most dramatic drop, with Ultra delivering less than half the frame rate of Low.

The data also reveals that the Medium preset is the only one with measured minimum and maximum FPS values, which were 144 and 195 at 1080p, 97 and 131 at 1440p, and 55 and 74 at 4K. This consistency in the Medium preset's frame time distribution makes it the most predictable and reliable choice for this hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Evolve, this setup with the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB holds a rank of 1096 out of 2872 total combos. This places it in the top 38% of all tested configurations, which is a solid mid-tier result.

The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU. The i7-12700KF is a high-end processor with an 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, but the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB sits in the 29th percentile among all GPUs. This combination skews the overall performance toward the GPU's capabilities, which are the limiting factor in this game.

Compared to other combos in the database, this setup is positioned higher than the median, meaning it outperforms more than half of the tested configurations for Evolve. However, it is not in the top tier, as the GPU's modest percentile ranking prevents it from competing with systems using higher-end graphics cards. The rank of 1096 out of 2872 indicates that while this combo delivers playable performance at 1080p and 1440p, it is not optimized for maximum settings at 4K, where its frame rates fall below 60 FPS. The data confirms that this is a capable mid-range gaming system for Evolve, best suited for Medium settings at high resolutions or High settings at 1080p.