Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS, presents a demanding benchmark scenario for the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B390. The measured data reveals a system where the integrated GPU is the definitive bottleneck, with the powerful CPU largely underutilized at every tested setting. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics to understand the scaling, component roles, and practical settings for this combination.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, pointing directly at the GPU as the limiting factor. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 89 FPS at 1920x1080 to 60 FPS at 2560x1440, a 32.6% decrease, and then to 34 FPS at 3840x2160, a 61.8% drop from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior: as the pixel count increases, the rendering workload on the graphics processor grows exponentially, and the frame rate plummets.

The scaling is even more severe at higher presets. With High settings, the average FPS goes from 54 at 1080p to 36 at 1440p and then to 21 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is 61.1%. At Ultra settings, the progression is from 37 FPS at 1080p, down to 25 at 1440p, and all the way to 14 FPS at 4K, a 62.2% reduction. These consistent percentage drops across all quality presets indicate that the resolution increase is the primary driver of performance loss, with the CPU showing no signs of creating a bottleneck at any resolution.

The data suggests that the Intel Arc B390 is a limited resource. The difference between 1440p and 4K is particularly punishing, with a 43.3% drop in performance at High settings (from 36 to 21 FPS). This is a clear sign that the GPU is running out of pixel throughput capabilities. The fact that the frame rate at 4K Ultra dips to an unplayable 14 FPS average demonstrates that this combo is not designed for high-resolution gaming. The data clearly shows that to achieve a smoother experience, users must significantly reduce both resolution and graphical settings to lower the load on the integrated graphics processor.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. Its specifications are modest, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU operates with system shared memory, meaning its VRAM size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared" and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This architecture is a fundamental constraint, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which likely impacts performance in a demanding title like Evolve.

The GPU's performance metrics confirm its entry-level positioning. It has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 raster output units (ROPs). Its pixel rate is rated at 60.00 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. The raw compute power is listed at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The benchmark data shows a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, and its nearest rivals in the database are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, with the Arc B390 leading them by a deltaPct of 1.3%, 2.5%, and 2.7%, respectively. These rivals are all older, low-end discrete graphics cards, which illustrates the performance tier of this integrated solution.

The 3DMark score of 1482 directly correlates with the sub-30 FPS averages seen at 1440p and 4K in Evolve. The GPU is simply not equipped with enough processing power to handle the game’s engine at higher resolutions. The fact that the Arc B390 is an IGP with a TDP of 80 W and no power connectors reinforces that it is not designed for sustained, high-load gaming scenarios. Its performance is best suited for light workloads or very old or less demanding games at low resolutions and settings. The data shows that in Evolve, the GPU is the primary performance limiter across all tested configurations.

CPU Role

In contrast to the GPU, the Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end desktop processor. It features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This is a Raptor Lake architecture chip built on a 10 nm process. Its benchmark scores are robust; for instance, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. It also scores 19429 in Geekbench multicore and 2529 in single-core tests. The processor's percentile vs all CPUs is 89, indicating it is in the top 11% of all CPUs ever tested.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, and Intel Xeon w3-2535. The average benchmark score for the i7-13700K is 46881, which is nearly identical to the Ryzen 9 5900 (46971), with a deltaPct of -0.2%, and the Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (47022), with a deltaPct of -0.3%. This places the i7-13700K in a very competitive position, just slightly behind these rivals in aggregate synthetic benchmarks, while being 0.5% ahead of the Ryzen 9 7845HX and Xeon w3-2535.

However, in the context of Evolve, the CPU’s extensive capabilities are not the limiting factor. The measured frame rates show a clear GPU bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 89, but this is likely constrained by the GPU, not the CPU, which can handle far more. The CPU is capable of much higher frame rates in this game, but the integrated graphics cannot keep up. The data suggests that the i7-13700K is essentially idle in terms of gaming load, waiting for the Arc B390 to deliver frames. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, but the GPU's processing speed is the wall. This is a classic mismatch where a top-tier CPU is paired with an entry-level IGP, resulting in a system where the CPU's potential is largely untapped in 3D gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data for Evolve provides a clear picture of the system's performance across various settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 89. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 79. High settings yield an average of 54 FPS. At Ultra settings, the performance falls to an average of 37 FPS. This shows a clear and expected decline in performance as the quality preset increases, but even the best case of 89 FPS is not exceptionally high, hinting at the GPU's limits.

At 2560x1440, the demands on the GPU increase significantly. The Low preset average FPS is 60. Medium settings produce an average of 46 FPS, with a min-max range of 39 to 53. High settings average 36 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 25 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 23.3% drop, while the step from Medium to High is a 21.7% drop. This consistent degradation shows the GPU struggling with each increase in graphical fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution, the system is clearly overburdened. The Low settings average is 34 FPS. Medium settings average 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30. High settings fall to an average of 21 FPS. The Ultra preset yields an unplayable average of 14 FPS. The difference between 1080p Low (89 FPS) and 4K Low (34 FPS) is a 61.8% reduction in performance, illustrating the massive cost of rendering four times the pixels. The data indicates that this combo is only viable for smooth gameplay at 1080p with the lowest settings, and even then, it may not reach high refresh rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2530 out of 2872 tested combos for Evolve. This places it in the bottom 11.9% of all systems in the database for this game. This low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU is a top-tier component. The data clearly shows that the ranking is dragged down by the Arc B390, which is in the 9th percentile for GPUs, while the CPU is in the 89th percentile.

This ranking is a strong indicator that the combo is not suited for playing Evolve at high settings or resolutions. The system's overall performance is dictated by its weakest link, which is undeniably the integrated GPU. While the CPU is a high performer in synthetic benchmarks, its contribution to gaming is limited by the GPU’s inability to process frames quickly. The rank of 2530 out of 2872 suggests that the vast majority of other tested combinations would provide a better gaming experience in Evolve. The data implies that users with this combo should expect a subpar experience, consistent with the low frame rates measured at 1440p and 4K. The high rank of the CPU does not compensate for the low rank of the GPU in this specific gaming context.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth and playable experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 89 FPS. This is the only preset across all resolutions that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold that is often considered the baseline for a good gaming experience. This setting allows the game to run at a frame rate that is responsive and fluid.

The Medium preset at 1920x1080, with an average of 69 FPS, is also a viable option if users prefer a slight visual upgrade. It maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS, though it is lower than the Low preset. However, the minimum FPS of 59 at this setting suggests that there may be minor drops below 60 FPS in intense scenes. For a more stable experience, the Low preset is the safer choice.

All other settings and resolutions fail to provide an adequate experience. The 1440p Low preset averages 60 FPS, which is marginal, but it is likely to dip below 60 FPS in busy moments. The 1080p High preset (54 FPS) and the 1440p Medium preset (46 FPS) are playable but not ideal, as the frame rates are below the 60 FPS target. The 4K presets are all unplayable, with the highest average being 34 FPS at Low settings. Therefore, for this hardware combination, the recommendation is to prioritize resolution and settings to maintain a minimum of 60 FPS. The data strongly suggests that 1080p Low is the optimal choice for a responsive experience, with 1080p Medium as a secondary option if visual fidelity is more important than a few extra frames per second.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for playing Evolve with this combo?

A: Based on measured results, the best experience is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 89 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p is also viable with an average of 69 FPS, but the Low preset offers a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K or the Intel Arc B390 the limiting factor?

A: The data clearly indicates the Intel Arc B390 is the bottleneck. The frame rates are consistently low across all resolutions, and the GPU’s benchmark percentile (9th) is far lower than the CPU's (89th). For example, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 14, which is a GPU-limited result.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: No. At 3840x2160, all tested presets produce average frame rates below 35 FPS, with Ultra settings dropping to an unplayable 14 FPS. The 4K resolution is too demanding for the integrated GPU.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. It is 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M, and 2.5% ahead of the GeForce GT 625 OEM in the database. These are all older, low-end parts, confirming its entry-level performance.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Evolve?

A: The highest average FPS is 89, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. No other configuration comes close, with the next highest being 69 FPS at 1080p Medium.

Q: Is the i7-13700K a high-performing CPU relative to others?

A: Yes. The i7-13700K ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 46881 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (46971), with a deltaPct of -0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (47022), with a deltaPct of -0.3%.