Evolve

# Evolve: Intel Core i7-13700K + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

This combination pairs a 16-core, 24-thread Raptor Lake flagship-class CPU with a Turing-based GPU that launched in 2019, creating a stark contrast between overwhelming processor headroom and modest graphics throughput. In Evolve, a 2015 FPS built around large, detailed monster arenas, the benchmark results show that the GTX 1660 SUPER becomes the decisive bottleneck at every resolution, while the i7-13700K's compute muscle goes largely underutilized. The measured data reveals a system that delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but struggles to maintain fluid motion at 4K under any preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER combination ranks 3151 out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the 15th percentile of all system pairings. This low rank does not stem from a weak processor; the i7-13700K alone sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 46881, edging out the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 by 0.2% and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 by 0.5%. The GPU, however, sits at just the 53rd percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 12986, which drags the entire combo down to near-bottom-tier status for this specific title.

The data suggests that pairing a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU from a previous generation creates a severely imbalanced system for Evolve. The combo's rank reflects the GPU's inability to keep pace with the CPU's output, and the measured FPS confirms this: even at 1080p Low, the system produces 123 FPS, far below what the i7-13700K could theoretically feed if paired with a stronger graphics card. When compared to other tested combos in the database, this pairing sits in the bottom 15%, a placement driven almost entirely by the graphics subsystem's performance ceiling rather than any CPU limitation.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K brings 16 cores and 24 threads to this pairing, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This Raptor Lake-S chip, built on Intel's 10 nm process, features 30 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates exceptional multi-threaded capability, scoring 30745 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 45887 in Passmark multi-thread tests, while single-thread performance reaches 2116 in Cinebench R23 and 4333 in Passmark single-thread.

For Evolve, these specifications are far beyond what the game requires. The title launched in 2015, when mainstream CPUs offered 4-8 threads, and its engine was designed around that era's hardware. The i7-13700K's 3DMark scores illustrate the point: 12412 in max-thread testing and 8193 in 8-thread testing show that even under partial load, the CPU has massive headroom. The measured FPS data reveals that this headroom goes unused — at 1080p Low, the system hits 123 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 20 FPS, a pattern that points to GPU saturation rather than CPU limitation.

The GPU, a GTX 1660 SUPER with 1408 shading units, 88 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, runs at a base clock of 1530 MHz and boosts to 1785 MHz. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and its 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 compute places it firmly in the mid-range tier. In Evolve, the CPU's role is to feed this GPU with draw calls and physics data, but the game's relatively simple AI and monster behavior means the i7-13700K's 24 threads rarely get taxed. The bottleneck is unambiguous: every FPS drop from 1080p to 4K correlates with GPU load, not CPU capacity.

FAQ

Q: Why does this combo rank so low despite having a top-tier CPU?

A: The combo ranks 3151 out of 3700 in Evolve because the GTX 1660 SUPER sits at the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, while the i7-13700K sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The GPU's performance ceiling limits frame rates, and the CPU's massive headroom (24 threads, 5.40 GHz boost) cannot compensate for graphics throughput.

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

A: The data shows no. At 4K High, the average FPS is 29; at 4K Medium it improves to 37 with a minimum of 31 FPS, but at 4K Ultra it drops to 20 FPS. Only 4K Low, at 47 FPS average, approaches playability, but the lack of min/max data for that preset suggests inconsistent performance.

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

A: 1080p offers the most comfortable experience. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 96 with a minimum of 81 and maximum of 110, while 1080p High delivers 75 FPS average. 1440p is also viable at Medium (64 FPS average) but requires dropping to Low for smoother motion (83 FPS).

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 12986 places it 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 580, while trailing the NVIDIA Tesla M2090 by 0.7%. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in any scenario?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the system produces 123 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 20 FPS. If the CPU were the bottleneck, frame rates would stay relatively flat across resolutions. The 84% drop from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra indicates the GPU is the limiting component throughout.

Q: What settings should I use for a 60 FPS target?

A: At 1080p, Medium settings deliver 96 FPS average, comfortably above 60. At 1440p, Medium hits 64 FPS average, which barely clears 60 but with a 55 FPS minimum that may cause dips. For a locked 60 FPS at 1440p, Low settings (83 FPS average) are safer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a complete picture of this combo's performance in Evolve. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest results: Low settings produce 123 FPS average, Medium produces 96 FPS with a narrow range of 81 to 110 FPS, High produces 75 FPS, and Ultra produces 52 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 58% performance drop, with each preset increment costing roughly 20-25% of frame rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GTX 1660 SUPER's limitations become more apparent. Low settings still deliver 83 FPS, a solid number, but Medium falls to 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS, High drops to 50 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 35 FPS. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is consistent: approximately 33% lower FPS at each preset, which aligns with the pixel count increase of 78%, indicating the GPU is scaling as expected with resolution.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles across the board. Low settings produce 47 FPS, Medium produces 37 FPS with a range of 31 to 42 FPS, High produces 29 FPS, and Ultra produces 20 FPS. The 4K data shows that even the lowest preset fails to reach 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset's min/max data (31-42 FPS) suggests frame pacing issues that could cause noticeable stutter in fast-paced monster fights.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the classic signature of a GPU-bound system. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reduces average FPS from 123 to 47, a 62% decrease. At Medium settings, the drop is from 96 to 37 FPS, a 61% decrease. At High settings, 75 FPS becomes 29 FPS, a 61% decrease. At Ultra settings, 52 FPS becomes 20 FPS, a 62% decrease.

This uniformity across all presets — roughly 61-62% FPS loss when quadrupling pixel count — indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors. The GTX 1660 SUPER's 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply insufficient for 4K rendering in Evolve, regardless of quality settings. The i7-13700K's role in this equation is minimal; even at 1080p Low where the CPU could theoretically push more frames, the GPU's 123 FPS ceiling holds firm.

The scaling pattern also shows that Evolve is not particularly demanding on the CPU at lower resolutions. If the i7-13700K were the bottleneck at 1080p, we would expect the FPS gap between 1080p and 1440p to be smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K, since the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU load increases. Instead, the FPS drops are nearly linear with pixel count, confirming that the limiting component is the GPU at every resolution tested.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo in Evolve depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, Medium settings provide the best balance: 96 FPS average with a 81 FPS minimum ensures smooth gameplay even during intense monster encounters, and the jump from Medium to High costs 21 FPS (from 96 to 75) for marginal visual gains. Low settings at 123 FPS are unnecessary for most monitors, and Ultra at 52 FPS sacrifices smoothness for visual fidelity that the GTX 1660 SUPER struggles to deliver.

At 2560x1440, the recommendation shifts to Low settings for consistent performance. Medium delivers 64 FPS average but dips to 55 FPS, which may cause perceptible stutter in a fast-paced FPS. Low at 83 FPS provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and allows the game to run without worrying about frame time spikes. High at 50 FPS and Ultra at 35 FPS are not recommended for competitive play, though they could serve for cinematic exploration if frame rate consistency is not a priority.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves 60 FPS. The best option is Low at 47 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium at 37 FPS with a 31 FPS minimum will feel sluggish, and Ultra at 20 FPS is essentially a slideshow. For 4K users, the data suggests this combo should be paired with a lower resolution or the user should accept significant compromises in visual quality. The Medium preset at 4K, with its 31 FPS minimum, offers the most stable experience if 4K is mandatory, but the frame rate will be below the threshold for smooth gameplay in Evolve's action-heavy sequences.