Evolve

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Evolve shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop tells an interesting story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 produces 260 FPS. Moving to 1440p at Low settings, the average FPS drops to 176.3, which represents a 32% reduction. Pushing further to 4K at Low settings yields 101 FPS, another 43% drop from the 1440p figure.

The pattern becomes more telling when examining the High settings preset. At 1080p High, the system delivers 157.4 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 110.1 FPS, a 30% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 58.8 FPS, a 47% drop from 1440p. This steeper decline at higher resolutions and settings suggests the GPU becomes the limiting component as pixel count rises, which is expected given the RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 192-bit bus width.

The Ultra settings data confirms this trend with even more dramatic scaling. The 1080p Ultra result of 110.5 FPS drops to 76.6 FPS at 1440p (31% decrease), and then to 40.4 FPS at 4K (47% decrease). Interestingly, the percentage drops between resolution steps are remarkably consistent across all settings presets, hovering around 30-32% for the 1080p-to-1440p transition and 43-47% for the 1440p-to-4K transition. This consistency implies the scaling behavior is primarily resolution-driven rather than settings-driven.

What does this imply about the limiting component? At 1080p, the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz are likely keeping the GPU well-fed, allowing the RTX 4070 to stretch its legs. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 149.5 FPS, whereas at 4K that same gap narrows to 60.6 FPS. The shrinking delta between settings as resolution increases is a classic sign of GPU-bound operation at higher pixel counts. The data suggests that for competitive play at 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread score of 1136) is enabling the GPU to reach its full potential, while at 4K Ultra, the GPU's raw throughput becomes the sole determining factor.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in Evolve ranks at position 439 out of 1695 tested combos. That places it in the top 26% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing for a system that pairs a high-end desktop CPU with a mid-to-high-range GPU. The percentile ranking of the CPU alone is 93, meaning it outperforms 93% of all CPUs in the database, while the GPU sits at the 81st percentile.

The combo rank of 439 suggests that while both components are individually strong, there are many configurations that edge out this pairing in Evolve specifically. This could be because Evolve, released in 2015, may not be particularly demanding on modern hardware, allowing other combinations with different characteristics to perform similarly or better. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700KF, has an average benchmark score of 47334, which is essentially identical to the 13700K's 47282 — a delta of just -0.1%. This means the overclockable KF variant offers no meaningful performance advantage in synthetic tests, so the combo ranking is unlikely to improve by swapping to that chip.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, with a delta of -0.6% in favor of the older AMD card. However, that delta is based on average benchmark scores across all tests, not Evolve-specific performance. The RTX 4070's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 168006 indicate strong compute capabilities that likely translate well to gaming workloads. The fact that this combo ranks 439th out of 1695 means there are roughly 1256 tested configurations that perform worse in Evolve, placing this system comfortably above the median.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its nearest rival in the database?

A: The 13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282, placing it 93rd percentile among all CPUs. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-13700KF, scores 47334, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the two are effectively tied. The AMD EPYC 4364P trails by 0.3%, and the Intel Core i9-12900F is 0.4% behind.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate gaming with this combo?

A: At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 260 FPS, and even at High settings it maintains 157.4 FPS. At 1440p, High settings deliver 110.1 FPS, while Ultra drops to 76.6 FPS. For 144Hz displays, 1080p High or 1440p Medium (135.7 FPS) are viable options.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 the bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data strongly suggests yes. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 40.4, and even at 4K Low it only reaches 101 FPS. The consistent 43-47% drops from 1440p to 4K across all settings indicate GPU-bound operation at 4K, with the CPU's 16 cores and 5.40 GHz boost clock not being the limiting factor.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations in Evolve?

A: This pairing ranks 439th out of 1695 tested combos, placing it in the top 26% of all configurations. The CPU's 93rd percentile and GPU's 81st percentile individual rankings suggest the combo ranking is dragged down slightly by other pairings that may leverage different hardware characteristics.

Q: What settings preset provides the largest performance headroom at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings yield 176.3 FPS, Medium delivers 135.7 FPS, High achieves 110.1 FPS, and Ultra drops to 76.6 FPS. The jump from Ultra to High is 33.5 FPS, while going from High to Medium adds 25.6 FPS, and Medium to Low adds 40.6 FPS. The largest single gain comes from dropping from Medium to Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a comprehensive view of performance across the spectrum. Starting at 1920x1080, the system delivers 260 FPS at Low settings, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. Medium settings at 1080p produce 205.9 FPS, High settings yield 157.4 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 110.5 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a 57.5% reduction in average FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the results show a proportional decrease across all settings. Low settings maintain 176.3 FPS, which is still comfortably above 144Hz refresh rates. Medium settings deliver 135.7 FPS, High settings achieve 110.1 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 76.6 FPS. At this resolution, the system can handle High settings for smooth gameplay, but Ultra settings push the frame rate below the 80 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the performance envelope tightens considerably. Low settings produce 101 FPS, which is playable but no longer at high refresh rates. Medium settings achieve 76.4 FPS, High settings deliver 58.8 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 40.4 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that falls below 40 FPS, indicating that this is the most demanding scenario in the dataset. The progression from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra represents a staggering 84.5% reduction in average FPS, from 260 down to 40.4.

The data also reveals interesting relationships between settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Medium is 54.1 FPS, Medium to High is 48.5 FPS, and High to Ultra is 46.9 FPS. These gaps are relatively consistent, suggesting each settings tier adds a similar computational load. At 4K, the gaps shrink to 24.6 FPS between Low and Medium, 17.6 FPS between Medium and High, and 18.4 FPS between High and Ultra. The compression of these gaps at 4K further reinforces the GPU-bound nature of higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K brings substantial processing power to this Evolve configuration. With 16 cores and 24 threads, it offers significant parallel processing capability, which is reflected in its multi-threaded benchmark scores: Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 39000, and 3DMark max threads scores 12412. These numbers indicate the CPU can handle heavily threaded workloads with ease, though Evolve's age suggests it may not fully utilize all available cores.

The CPU's clock speeds are particularly relevant for gaming performance. With a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, the 13700K can ramp up quickly for single-threaded tasks. Its 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5505 demonstrate strong single-core performance, which is crucial for games that rely on one or two primary threads. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample storage for frequently accessed data.

The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database puts it ahead of 93% of tested processors. Its nearest rivals are all within 0.5% of its average benchmark score, indicating that the 13700K is well-positioned among high-end desktop processors. The 125 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility make it a mainstream high-performance option, though the power draw is not the focus here. In Evolve specifically, the CPU's role appears to be enabling high frame rates at lower resolutions, where the 1080p Low result of 260 FPS suggests the CPU can feed the GPU sufficiently to reach very high frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, all four presets deliver playable performance, but the choice between them affects the experience significantly. Low settings at 260 FPS are ideal for competitive play where maximum frame rates matter, while High settings at 157.4 FPS strike a balance between visual quality and smoothness. Ultra at 110.5 FPS is still smooth but may not justify the visual improvements over High for most players.

At 1440p, the recommendation becomes more nuanced. Medium settings at 135.7 FPS offer a good balance for gamers with 144Hz monitors, while High settings at 110.1 FPS remain viable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rates. Ultra at 76.6 FPS is still playable but may feel less responsive in fast-paced FPS action. The data suggests that Medium or High at 1440p provides the best compromise between image quality and performance, with Low at 176.3 FPS reserved for players who demand the highest possible frame rates.

For 4K gaming, the options are more constrained. Low settings at 101 FPS are playable and smooth, Medium at 76.4 FPS is acceptable for most players, but High at 58.8 FPS and Ultra at 40.4 FPS may introduce noticeable stuttering in action sequences. The recommendation for 4K is to use Medium settings as the default, with Low for competitive play and High only for slower-paced content where visual quality takes precedence. The 40.4 FPS Ultra result at 4K is the only measured configuration that drops below 60 FPS, making it the least recommended preset overall.

Across all resolutions, the data indicates that the jump from Medium to High provides the smallest performance penalty while offering meaningful visual improvements, making High a solid default choice. The jump from High to Ultra consistently costs over 30% performance at every resolution, suggesting that Ultra is only worth it for players with lower refresh rate displays or those who prioritize graphics above all else.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 serves as the primary graphics processor in this Evolve configuration, and its characteristics directly influence the measured performance. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for Evolve at all tested settings, as evidenced by the consistent frame rates without apparent texture streaming issues.

The GPU's clock speeds are notable: a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. These high clocks contribute to the GPU's strong compute performance, with FP32 throughput rated at 29.15 TFLOPS. The Ada Lovelace architecture with 5888 shading units and 184 texture mapping units provides substantial raw processing power, which is reflected in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 and the PassMark G3D score of 26927.

The RTX 4070's 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs places it ahead of 81% of tested graphics cards. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, is just 0.6% ahead in average benchmark score, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 2.2% behind. This positioning suggests the RTX 4070 is a solid mid-range performer that can handle Evolve comfortably at most settings. The GPU's 5 nm process node from TSMC, with 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, enables high efficiency and clock speeds.

In Evolve, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as evidenced by the large frame rate gaps between settings. At 4K, the GPU's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth become more critical, with the 40.4 FPS Ultra result showing the GPU's limits when pushed to maximum settings at high pixel counts. The 200 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU indicate the GPU is power-hungry but manageable for most systems, though power consumption is not the focus of this analysis.