Evolve

Evolve with the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience, but the data shows that this pairing is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The combination ranks in the 58th percentile (991 out of 1695 tested combos), indicating a mid-pack performer overall. The measured results reveal a clear pattern: the CPU has ample headroom, while the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface become the primary constraints as resolution and settings increase.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 47282. This places it nearly identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700KF, which scores 47334 (a delta of -0.1%). It also edges out the AMD EPYC 4364P (47131, +0.3%) and the Intel Core i9-12900F (47081, +0.4%), while trailing the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527, -0.5%) by a negligible margin.

In Evolve, the CPU's role becomes apparent when examining the FPS scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 187.9 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. This suggests the CPU is capable of driving frame rates well beyond what most displays can show. The processor's single-thread performance, measured at 1136 in 3dmark_single_thread and 4333 in passmark_single_thread, ensures that game logic and physics calculations are not bottlenecks. The multi-threaded capability, with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 12412 and a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 39000, also provides security for background tasks and game streaming.

The data shows that as resolution increases, the CPU's influence diminishes. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 30.2, which is a 16% decrease from 4K High (46.7 FPS). This is not a CPU limitation but rather a symptom of the GPU becoming the sole bottleneck. The 13700K's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache, combined with DDR5 memory support, ensures low-latency access to game data. However, the measured results indicate that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this pairing, as the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across all settings, matching what would be expected from GPU-bound workloads.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. Its boost clock of 2460 MHz and 3072 shading units deliver a peak FP32 throughput of 15.11 TFLOPS. The GPU sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23181. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23321, -0.6%), followed by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (23338, -0.7%), Intel Arc B580 (23021, +0.7%), and AMD Radeon 760M (22999, +0.8%). These deltas are all within 1%, indicating that the RTX 4060 is firmly in a competitive performance tier.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM capacity is the most significant constraint in Evolve. The measured FPS data shows a dramatic drop when moving from Medium to Ultra settings at any resolution. At 1080p, Ultra settings yield 82.5 FPS, which is 43% lower than Medium's 144.8 FPS. This pattern repeats at 1440p (54.2 FPS vs 97.9 FPS) and 4K (30.2 FPS vs 54.8 FPS). The 128-bit memory interface, while sufficient for lower presets, struggles with the higher texture and shadow workloads in Ultra. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s becomes a limiting factor, as the data suggests that Ultra presets require more VRAM than the 8 GB available, causing the performance cliff.

The RTX 4060's architecture, with 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores, provides capabilities that are not fully utilized in this 2015 title. The measured results show that the GPU is the dominant performance limiter across all resolutions above 1080p, with the 4K Ultra result of 30.2 FPS being the only sub-60 FPS measurement in the dataset. The GPU's 115 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest thermal headroom, but the benchmark data makes it clear that the VRAM capacity and bus width are the primary constraints in Evolve.

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

The data indicates that the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for this combination. At 1080p, Medium delivers 144.8 FPS, which is 23.5% higher than High (117.2 FPS) and 75.5% higher than Ultra (82.5 FPS). The jump from Medium to High costs 27.6 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 34.7 FPS, showing diminishing returns as settings increase. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 187.9 FPS, but this sacrifices too much visual fidelity for the marginal benefit over Medium.

At 1440p, Medium produces 97.9 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. High drops to 75.3 FPS, and Ultra falls to 54.2 FPS. The 1440p Medium result is 30% higher than 4K Medium (54.8 FPS), demonstrating that this resolution is the sweet spot for this GPU. For users with 1440p displays, Medium provides a clear advantage over High, which costs 22.6 FPS for incremental visual improvements.

At 4K, no preset achieves 60 FPS. Medium is the highest playable option at 54.8 FPS, but even this is borderline. High (46.7 FPS) and Ultra (30.2 FPS) are not recommended for competitive play. The data strongly suggests that 1080p Medium or 1440p Medium are the optimal choices, with the latter offering the best resolution-to-performance ratio. The measured FPS spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 44.4 FPS (74.6 to 30.2), indicating that the GPU is stretched to its limits at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i7-13700K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 991 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the 58.5th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly 58% of all tested configurations. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual component scores: the CPU is in the 93rd percentile, while the GPU is in the 66th percentile. The discrepancy suggests that the GPU is holding back the overall result, as the CPU's high percentile ranking cannot compensate for the GPU's mid-range position.

The ranking of 991 out of 1695 indicates that this combo is neither a standout performer nor a weak one. It falls behind many combinations that pair higher-end GPUs with similarly capable CPUs, but it also outperforms systems with older or more budget-oriented components. The deltaPct values for the CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.5%, showing that the 13700K is not a differentiator in this pairing. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rivals are within 0.8% of its average score, confirming that the RTX 4060 is in a densely packed performance tier.

The data suggests that the combo's rank is primarily determined by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the system performs admirably, with all settings except Ultra exceeding 100 FPS. However, the 4K results drag down the overall ranking, as only 30.2 FPS is achieved at Ultra. This indicates that users prioritizing high-resolution gaming would be better served by a different GPU, while those targeting 1080p or 1440p will find this combo well-suited to their needs.

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

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1440p Medium provides the best balance, delivering 97.9 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 144.8 FPS, but 1440p offers a significant resolution upgrade with only a 46.9 FPS penalty. The 4K Medium result of 54.8 FPS is playable but below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-13700KF (47334, -0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527, -0.5%). It slightly outperforms the AMD EPYC 4364P (47131, +0.3%) and Intel Core i9-12900F (47081, +0.4%).

Q: Is the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Evolve?

A: The measured FPS data indicates that 8 GB is sufficient for Low, Medium, and High settings across all resolutions. However, the Ultra preset causes a significant performance drop at every resolution, suggesting that the VRAM capacity or bandwidth becomes a limiting factor at this settings level.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1080p High is 117.2. This is a solid result, though it is 27.6 FPS lower than Medium (144.8) and 34.7 FPS higher than Ultra (82.5).

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 991 out of 1695 tested combinations in Evolve, placing it in the 58.5th percentile. This means it outperforms approximately 58% of all tested systems, indicating a mid-pack position.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the system achieves 82.5 FPS, while at 4K Ultra it drops to 30.2 FPS. This represents a 52.3 FPS decrease, or a 63.4% reduction in performance, highlighting the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest performance. The Low preset achieves 187.9 FPS, followed by Medium at 144.8 FPS, High at 117.2 FPS, and Ultra at 82.5 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 105.4 FPS, with each settings tier costing a predictable amount of performance. The step from Medium to High costs 27.6 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra costs 34.7 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are more pronounced. Low yields 125.1 FPS, Medium produces 97.9 FPS, High reaches 75.3 FPS, and Ultra falls to 54.2 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 70.9 FPS, with the Medium-to-High transition costing 22.6 FPS and the High-to-Ultra transition costing 21.1 FPS. Notably, 1440p Ultra is the only setting at this resolution that dips below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly stretched. Low achieves 74.6 FPS, Medium drops to 54.8 FPS, High falls to 46.7 FPS, and Ultra reaches only 30.2 FPS. The Low-to-Medium transition costs 19.8 FPS, Medium-to-High costs 8.1 FPS, and High-to-Ultra costs 16.5 FPS. All settings except Low at 4K fail to reach 60 FPS, making this resolution unsuitable for smooth gameplay with this combo.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear GPU-bound scenario. From 1080p to 1440p at Low settings, the FPS drops from 187.9 to 125.1, a 33.4% decrease. From 1440p to 4K at Low, the FPS drops from 125.1 to 74.6, a 40.4% decrease. This progressive degradation indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU has sufficient headroom to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions.

The Ultra settings show an even more dramatic scaling pattern. From 1080p Ultra (82.5 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (54.2 FPS), there is a 34.3% drop. From 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (30.2 FPS), the drop is 44.3%. The steeper decline at higher settings and resolutions confirms that the RTX 4060's memory subsystem, specifically the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus, is the bottleneck. The CPU's performance, which remains constant regardless of resolution, is not the constraining factor.

The data shows that the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is not linear but rather accelerates at higher settings. At Low, the total drop is 113.3 FPS (187.9 to 74.6), while at Ultra, the drop is 52.3 FPS (82.5 to 30.2). This suggests that the GPU's compute and memory resources are more heavily taxed at higher settings, causing the performance to degrade faster as resolution increases. The conclusion is unequivocal: the RTX 4060 is the limiting component in this pairing, and users seeking higher resolutions or Ultra settings would need to consider a more powerful GPU.