Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetrical FPS, presents a demanding workload for this particular pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B370. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, with performance metrics that place it near the bottom of the database at rank 2639 out of 2872 tested combinations. The benchmark results indicate that while the CPU provides a robust foundation, the integrated graphics solution of the Arc B370 limits the experience to lower resolutions and settings for playable frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

The data across all three tested resolutions consistently shows that the "Low" preset delivers the highest average frame rates, making it the only viable option for a smooth experience. At 1920x1080, the "Low" setting achieves an average of 80 FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset to cross the 60 FPS threshold. This suggests that for any semblance of fluid gameplay, users must prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity by selecting the "Low" preset.

The "Medium" preset, while offering a visual upgrade, comes with a significant performance cost. At 1080p, it drops to an average of 62 FPS, which is a 22.5% decrease from the "Low" setting. While this is still technically playable, the margin for error is thin, and any demanding scene could cause noticeable dips. The data for "Medium" at 1080p shows a minimum FPS of 53, indicating that frame pacing may be inconsistent.

For those who prefer higher visual quality, the "High" preset is a compromise that sacrifices playability. At 1080p, it averages 49 FPS, which falls below the ideal smoothness threshold. The "Ultra" preset is effectively unplayable at every resolution, with average FPS figures of 34 at 1080p, 23 at 1440p, and 13 at 4K. The performance drop from "Low" to "Ultra" at 1080p is a stark 57.5%, demonstrating that the graphics processor is overwhelmed by the highest settings.

Given the data, the recommended approach is to use the "Low" preset at 1920x1080. This is the only setting and resolution combination that provides a consistently smooth experience. If a user insists on "Medium," they must accept an average frame rate in the low 60s at 1080p, which is the absolute minimum for acceptable gameplay. The "High" and "Ultra" presets are not recommended for any resolution, as the measured frame rates indicate a severely compromised experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, a configuration that is far more powerful than what this game's performance suggests. Its benchmark scores are generally strong; for instance, it achieves a multi-core score of 35122 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 4958 in the same test. The processor's boost clock of 5.40 GHz and its large 33 MB of shared L3 cache should provide ample computational headroom for most gaming scenarios.

However, the measured FPS in Evolve does not reflect this CPU's capabilities. The data shows that the frame rates are consistently low, even at 1080p with "Low" settings, which is a typical scenario where a powerful CPU can push a weaker GPU to its limits. The fact that the i7-14700F is paired with an integrated graphics processor (IGP) is the primary bottleneck. The CPU's role here is largely relegated to preparing frames, but the Arc B370 cannot render them quickly enough to utilize the CPU's full potential.

The processor's 65-watt TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory are noteworthy, but they do not directly influence the in-game results. The data implies that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combination. Even with its high core count and clock speeds, the system's performance is capped by the graphics solution. This is a classic case of a powerful central processor being held back by a weak graphics processor, resulting in a system that is unbalanced for gaming purposes. The CPU's percentile ranking of 91 versus all other CPUs in the database further underscores that its performance class is not the issue.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear performance bottleneck in this configuration. As an integrated graphics processor with a 25-watt TDP, its capabilities are fundamentally limited. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which are significantly older and less capable parts. This low score is a strong indicator of its gaming performance ceiling.

The GPU's architecture, Xe3-LPG, and its 1280 shading units are not sufficient for the demands of Evolve at higher settings. The memory configuration is "System Shared," which means it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a significant disadvantage, as the bandwidth is "System Dependent" and likely contributes to the performance degradation at higher resolutions and settings. The boost clock of 2400 MHz cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated memory bandwidth.

The performance data for the GPU is consistent with its benchmark scores. The average FPS figures are low across the board, and the scaling from "Low" to "Ultra" is poor. For example, at 1440p, the average FPS drops from 54 on "Low" to 23 on "Ultra," a 57.4% reduction. This indicates that the GPU's compute and memory resources are quickly exhausted as the rendering load increases. The Arc B370 is simply not designed for the level of graphical processing that Evolve requires, making it the primary reason for the entire system's poor performance in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2639 out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 8.1% of all tested systems, indicating a very poor performance tier for this game. The data suggests that this pairing is severely mismatched, with the GPU's limitations dragging down the overall result.

This rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's low benchmark scores. The Arc B370's performance is comparable to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which has a deltaPct of -0.2% relative to it, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, with a deltaPct of -0.5%. These are legacy parts that are not competitive in modern gaming. In contrast, the CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and AMD EPYC 7313P, have average scores within 0.8% of the i7-14700F, confirming that the CPU is not the source of the low rank.

The system's overall rank of 2639 is a clear indication that it is not suitable for a game like Evolve, which demands a certain level of graphics processing power. The data implies that even a modest dedicated GPU would likely result in a significantly higher rank. The processor's high percentile and the GPU's low percentile create a system where the total is far less than the sum of its parts for this specific gaming workload.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a predictable decline as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, but the magnitude of the drop reveals the extent of the GPU's limitations. At "Low" settings, the average FPS decreases from 80 at 1080p to 54 at 1440p, a 32.5% drop. Moving from 1440p to 4K at "Low" settings, the average FPS falls from 54 to 31, a further 42.6% drop.

This scaling pattern indicates that the system is heavily GPU-bound. As the resolution increases, the rendering workload on the GPU grows, and its performance degrades significantly because it lacks the raw power and dedicated memory bandwidth to handle the increased pixel count. The CPU's performance is likely sufficient to handle the additional geometry and draw calls at higher resolutions, but the GPU cannot keep up with the pixel processing demands.

The data for "High" settings shows a similar trend. The average FPS drops from 49 at 1080p to 33 at 1440p, and then to 19 at 4K. The performance at 4K is extremely low, at just 19 FPS, which is unplayable. The resolution scaling confirms that the limiting component is the graphics processor. A more powerful GPU would show a smaller performance hit as resolution increases, but the Arc B370's performance collapses, leaving the system unable to maintain playable frame rates at any resolution above 1080p with "Low" settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates provides a detailed view of the system's performance envelope.

At 1920x1080, the "Low" preset yields an average frame rate of 80 FPS. The "Medium" preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS. The "High" preset drops to an average of 49 FPS. The "Ultra" preset is the worst performer, with an average of 34 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the "Low" preset averages 54 FPS. The "Medium" preset averages 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. The "High" preset averages 33 FPS. The "Ultra" preset averages 23 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the "Low" preset averages 31 FPS. The "Medium" preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS. The "High" preset averages 19 FPS. The "Ultra" preset averages 13 FPS.

These numbers illustrate a system that is only capable of providing a smooth experience at the lowest settings and resolution. The "Medium" preset at 1080p provides a playable average, but the minimum FPS of 53 suggests potential stuttering. All other configurations fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with many being far below. The data is clear: this combo is only suitable for low-detail gaming at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best setting to use for this CPU and GPU combo in Evolve?

A: The "Low" preset at 1920x1080 provides the highest average frame rate of 80 FPS, making it the only configuration that offers a consistently smooth experience. Other settings and resolutions result in significantly lower frame rates.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B370?

A: No, the data indicates the opposite. The CPU has strong benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122, while the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is in the 5th percentile. The GPU is the limiting component.

Q: How does this system's performance compare to other tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2639 out of 2872 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8.1% of all systems in the database for Evolve. This is a very low ranking, indicating poor overall performance.

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 4K resolution?

A: Technically, yes, but the performance is unplayable. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 31 FPS on "Low" settings, and it drops to 13 FPS on "Ultra" settings.

Q: What is the performance difference between the "Low" and "Ultra" presets at 1080p?

A: The "Low" preset averages 80 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset averages 34 FPS. This is a 57.5% reduction in average frame rate, demonstrating the GPU's inability to handle high graphical settings.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370's performance comparable to any other GPUs in the database?

A: Yes, its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is very close to that of the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which has a deltaPct of -0.5%, and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, with a deltaPct of -0.2%. These are much older parts.