Evolve

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a formidable combination for Evolve, delivering playable frame rates across all tested settings, with the data indicating a clear evolution in performance scaling from 1080p to 4K. The combination ranks in the top 1% of all tested configurations, demonstrating that this pairing is exceptionally well-suited for this title.

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, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This hybrid design, which combines performance and efficiency cores, provides substantial headroom for gaming workloads. In Evolve, a fast-paced FPS, the CPU's single-thread performance is critical for maintaining high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the bottleneck. The processor's 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and Geekbench single-core score of 2255 indicate strong per-core performance, which is essential for the game's physics and AI calculations.

The CPU's multi-threading capabilities also play a role, as Evolve can utilize multiple cores for background tasks and game logic. The 3DMark max-threads score of 9983 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838 suggest that the i7-12700KF can handle the game's demands without becoming a limiting factor. The processor's 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce latency when accessing frequently used data, contributing to smoother frame pacing.

Benchmark results indicate that the i7-12700KF is not a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D in this game. With a PassMark single-thread score of 3984, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. The processor's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its position as a high-end gaming chip, though its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-13700T, show a negligible performance delta of -0.1%, indicating that the i7-12700KF is right at the edge of its performance class. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU's single-thread performance will be more heavily taxed, but it remains sufficient to avoid holding back the RTX 5090 D.

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

Q: What is the average frame rate at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings, the combination produces an average of 65 FPS. This is the lowest average frame rate recorded across all tested configurations, indicating that the game is heavily GPU-bound at this extreme resolution and quality preset.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The i7-12700KF's average benchmark score is 35365, while its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, has an average score of 35403. This represents a delta of -0.1%, meaning the two processors perform essentially identically in synthetic benchmarks, with the i7-13700T holding a marginal 0.1% advantage.

Q: What is the jump in performance from 1080p to 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average frame rate is 246 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 with High settings, the average frame rate drops to 165 FPS. This represents a 33% decrease in performance, which is a significant reduction but still leaves the frame rate well above the 144Hz refresh rate common on many gaming monitors.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D a good match for the i7-12700KF in this game?

A: The data shows a strong pairing. The combo ranks 25th out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the top 0.9% of all systems tested. The measured FPS numbers are consistently high, with even the most demanding 4K Ultra preset maintaining an average of 65 FPS, which is playable for most users.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 271 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 114 FPS. This is a difference of 157 FPS, or roughly 58% lower performance on Ultra. This shows that Evolve's ultra settings impose a substantial rendering load on the GPU.

Q: What is the GPU's single highest benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5090 D's highest recorded benchmark score is in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where it achieved a score of 376915. This is significantly higher than its OpenCL score of 310674, indicating strong Vulkan API performance which is relevant for modern game engines.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combination achieves 246 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 165 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K High, the frame rate falls further to 94 FPS, which is a 62% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This scaling behavior strongly indicates that the RTX 5090 D is the primary limiting component as resolution increases, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom.

This interpretation is reinforced by the Low settings results. At 1080p Low, the system produces 348 FPS, while at 1440p Low it drops to 271 FPS, and at 4K Low it reaches 154 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 56%, which is proportionally similar to the High settings drop. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates at lower resolutions to plateau or show diminishing returns. Instead, the consistent scaling across all settings suggests that the GPU is being progressively more stressed as pixel count increases.

The 4K Ultra result of 65 FPS is the most telling data point. This is a demanding scenario that pushes the RTX 5090 D to its limits, and the fact that the frame rate remains above 60 FPS shows the GPU's raw power. The medium settings at 4K provide an average of 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, which is a more comfortable margin for high-refresh-rate 4K displays. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU may be nearing its limits, as evidenced by the relatively smaller frame rate gains when moving from Medium to Low settings. At 4K, however, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor, as the frame rates scale directly with the rendering resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 25th out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the top 0.9% of all configurations tested, a remarkable position that underscores the high-end nature of this pairing. While the RTX 5090 D itself ranks in the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, its performance in this specific combo is elevated by the capable i7-12700KF.

The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, show a delta of -1.6%, meaning the RTX 5090 D outperforms it by that margin in synthetic benchmarks. However, the combo ranking suggests that the CPU choice matters. The i7-12700KF's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a strong partner, but not the absolute fastest. The 25th place ranking out of 2872 combos suggests that there are 24 combinations that perform better, likely featuring newer or higher-clocked CPUs paired with the same or similar GPUs.

The data shows that this combo is not just about the GPU; the CPU's single-thread performance helps ensure that the RTX 5090 D is not starved of data. The i7-12700KF's 3DMark 2-thread score of 2065 and 4-thread score of 4011 indicate robust performance for the lightly-threaded workloads that games often present. The combo rank of 25 out of 2872 confirms the balanced nature of this pairing, where neither component is severely holding back the other. For context, the CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700K, has a delta of 0.2%, meaning the i7-12700KF is marginally faster, which could contribute to its strong combo ranking.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional frame rates across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 348 FPS, the Medium preset averages 314 FPS with a minimum of 267 FPS and a maximum of 361 FPS, the High preset averages 246 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 170 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors well beyond 240Hz on lower settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains impressive. The Low preset averages 271 FPS, the Medium preset averages 210 FPS with a minimum of 179 FPS and a maximum of 242 FPS, the High preset averages 165 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 114 FPS. The 1440p results show a clear step down from 1080p, but the system still maintains over 100 FPS on the Ultra preset, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show the strain of 4K rendering. The Low preset averages 154 FPS, the Medium preset averages 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS, the High preset averages 94 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 65 FPS. The 4K results demonstrate that while the RTX 5090 D is powerful, the Ultra preset at 4K is a demanding scenario that reduces frame rates to console-like levels. The Medium preset at 4K offers a good balance, maintaining an average of 120 FPS with a minimum above 100 FPS.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset provides the most consistent frame pacing, as evidenced by the recorded minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the range is 267-361 FPS, while at 1440p Medium, it is 179-242 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it is 102-138 FPS. The data shows that the system is capable of providing a smooth experience at all tested resolutions, with the 4K Ultra preset being the only configuration that dips below 70 FPS on average.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 314 FPS, which is 68 FPS lower than Low but provides significantly better visual quality. The High preset at 1080p averages 246 FPS, which is still excellent, but the drop from Medium to High is 68 FPS, a 22% reduction. For users with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors, the High preset at 1080p is more than sufficient, but the Medium preset provides a larger safety margin for frame rate fluctuations.

At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 210 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz displays. The High preset averages 165 FPS, which still exceeds 144Hz but is closer to the limit. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 114 FPS, which is playable but may not fully saturate a 144Hz monitor. For the best experience at 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a comfortable buffer above 144 FPS while maintaining a high level of visual detail.

At 4K, the Medium preset is the clear winner, averaging 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS. This is the only 4K preset that maintains an average above 100 FPS, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors. The High preset at 4K averages 94 FPS, which is still smooth but may dip below 90 FPS in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 65 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive gaming where higher frame rates are preferred. Given the data, the Medium preset at 4K provides the best combination of smoothness and visual quality, ensuring that the minimum FPS stays well above 100.

For users prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, the High preset is a viable option at 1080p and 1440p, where frame rates remain above 165 FPS. However, the performance data suggests that the Medium preset is the most balanced choice for all resolutions, as it consistently delivers the highest frame rates with a stable minimum FPS. The Ultra preset should be reserved for users with 60Hz displays or those who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, as it produces playable but not exceptional performance at 4K.