Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents an interesting benchmark scenario for the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily capable at lower resolutions but begins to show the GPU's limitations as pixel count increases. This analysis dissects the measured frame rates across resolutions and settings, examining the roles of the CPU and GPU in shaping the final experience for this specific hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 demonstrates a classic GPU-bound scaling curve, but one with distinct characteristics at different settings presets. At the "Low" preset, the average frame rate drops from 307 FPS at 1080p to 206 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 101 FPS. Pushing further to 4K yields 117 FPS, which is a 62% decrease from the 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates that even at the lowest settings, the rendering load at higher resolutions significantly outpaces what the GPU can sustain, moving the bottleneck firmly onto the graphics card.

The scaling pattern is similar for the "High" preset, where average FPS falls from 187 at 1080p to 125 at 1440p (a 62 FPS drop), and then to 71 at 4K. The difference between the 1080p and 4K results at "High" represents a 62% performance hit. This consistent percentage drop across "Low" and "High" presets reinforces that resolution is the primary scaling factor, with the absolute FPS values shifting based on the rendering complexity of the settings.

At the "Ultra" preset, the performance hit is even more pronounced in relative terms. The 1080p result of 129 FPS falls to 87 FPS at 1440p and then to 49 FPS at 4K. The 4K "Ultra" score is just 38% of the 1080p "Ultra" score. This shows that the combination of the highest resolution and the most demanding settings creates a workload that the RTX 4070 Ti cannot handle smoothly, with the average frame rate dropping below the 60 FPS threshold typically considered necessary for a fluid experience.

The data suggests that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU at 4K. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, provides ample headroom at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 307 FPS average at 1080p "Low." However, the GPU's rendering throughput, constrained by its 12 GB of VRAM and 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, becomes the decisive factor as the pixel count increases. The benchmark results indicate that the system is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but 4K gaming requires a compromise in settings to achieve playable frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance is achieved at the "Medium" preset for 4K resolution. The data shows an average of 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a significant step up from the "High" preset's 71 FPS average and is nearly double the 49 FPS average of the "Ultra" preset. The "Medium" preset provides a smooth and responsive experience that remains well above the 60 FPS target, making it the definitive choice for 4K gaming with this hardware.

For 1440p, the "High" preset is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 125 FPS, which is a substantial improvement over the "Ultra" preset's 87 FPS. The "High" preset offers a superior visual experience compared to "Medium" (160 FPS) while still maintaining a high refresh rate that will satisfy most gamers. The performance headroom at 1440p "High" is sufficient for a highly responsive experience, and the drop to "Ultra" for a modest visual gain is not justified by the 38 FPS performance cost.

At 1080p, the "Ultra" preset is the most appropriate choice. The measured 129 FPS average is still exceptionally high and provides a fluid experience on any high refresh rate monitor. While the "High" preset (187 FPS) and "Medium" preset (238 FPS) offer higher frame rates, the "Ultra" preset leverages the full capability of the hardware to maximize visual fidelity without sacrificing the playability. The 307 FPS at "Low" is excessive for practical use, and the "Ultra" preset represents the best use of the system's performance at this resolution.

In summary, the recommendations are as follows: 4K "Medium" for a smooth experience, 1440p "High" for the best balance of speed and quality, and 1080p "Ultra" to fully utilize the available performance. These choices ensure the frame rate remains comfortably high, avoiding the sub-60 FPS territory that the "Ultra" preset at 4K enters.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. In the context of Evolve, the benchmark results indicate that this processor is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at all tested settings and resolutions. The evidence is most compelling at 1080p "Low," where the system achieves 307 FPS. At such a high frame rate, the CPU's ability to process game logic and issue draw calls is critical, and the i7-14700F does not appear to be a bottleneck.

The processor's synthetic benchmark scores further underscore its capability. A Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958 demonstrate high multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. While Evolve's engine may not utilize all 28 threads, the strong single-core performance is crucial for maintaining high frame rates. The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache also helps reduce memory latency, which can be beneficial in complex game scenes.

The fact that frame rates scale so dramatically with resolution and settings—from 307 FPS at 1080p "Low" down to 49 FPS at 4K "Ultra"—points to the GPU as the primary performance limiter. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates, where increasing resolution or settings would have a minimal impact on performance. Instead, the steady decline in FPS with increased graphical load is a clear indicator that the i7-14700F has ample headroom in this title.

The data shows that the CPU's role is to provide a stable foundation, ensuring that the GPU is never starved of data. The 65 W TDP of the i7-14700F is low for a 20-core processor, but this does not detract from its performance in this benchmark. The processor's high boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures that it can respond quickly to single-threaded demands, making it a well-suited partner for the RTX 4070 Ti in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti achieves a rank of 469 out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the top 12.7% of all configurations, indicating a strong overall performance. This ranking is a holistic measure that considers the balance of CPU and GPU capabilities, and a top-tier rank reflects a well-matched pairing.

The rank is particularly impressive considering the GPU's age and status. The RTX 4070 Ti, which is now end-of-life, still manages to place this combo in the top tier. Its performance percentile of 84 vs. all GPUs reflects its raw power. The CPU, with a percentile of 91 vs. all CPUs, is an even stronger performer in its own right. The combination of a top-decile CPU with a high-percentile GPU results in a synergistic pairing that ranks highly.

In comparison to other combos, this system is positioned to excel in games that are not excessively demanding on VRAM or raw compute. The rank of 469 suggests that while many configurations are faster, a significant majority are slower. This is a strong result for a mainstream desktop setup. The data implies that users of this combo can expect high performance in most titles, and the ranking provides a quantitative measure of its standing within the database's extensive collection of tested hardware.

The ranking also highlights the balance of the components. A significantly weaker CPU would likely bottleneck the GPU, while a weaker GPU would not be able to take advantage of the CPU's capabilities. This combo, however, is well-matched, with the CPU's high single-thread performance complementing the GPU's rendering power to achieve a top-500 finish.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the definitive factor in this combo's performance at higher resolutions. With 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU's 7680 shading units and 240 texture mapping units provide substantial compute power. The measured frame rates show that this GPU is capable of high performance, but its 12 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth become limiting factors at 4K with high settings.

The GPU's performance is best illustrated by the "Medium" preset at 4K, where it achieves an average of 91 FPS. This is a strong result, showing that the GPU can handle modern resolutions with a moderate settings profile. However, the jump to "High" settings at 4K results in a 20 FPS drop to 71 FPS, and the "Ultra" preset causes a catastrophic drop to 49 FPS. This pattern indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are strained by the combination of high resolution and complex effects.

The GPU's boost clock of 2610 MHz is high, and its FP32 performance of 40.09 TFLOPS is substantial. However, the data suggests that for this 2015 title, the rendering pipeline is more sensitive to memory bandwidth and fill rate. The pixel rate of 208.8 GPixel/s and texture rate of 626.4 GTexel/s are high, but the 192-bit memory bus is a potential bottleneck at 4K. The difference between the 1440p "High" (125 FPS) and 4K "High" (71 FPS) results is a 43% performance drop, which is more substantial than the resolution difference alone would suggest, pointing to memory bandwidth constraints.

The GPU's 84th percentile vs. all GPUs confirms its position as a high-end part. In this benchmark, it demonstrates that it is a capable 4K GPU, but only when settings are dialed back to "Medium." For those seeking to run "Ultra" settings at 4K, the RTX 4070 Ti falls short of providing a 60 FPS experience. The GPU is the clear performance limiter at 4K, and its role is to provide a strong 1440p experience and a playable, if not maxed-out, 4K experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data details the exact average frame rates measured for this combo in Evolve, organized by resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080:

• Low: 307 FPS average.
• Medium: 238 FPS average, with a minimum of 202 FPS and a maximum of 274 FPS.
• High: 187 FPS average.
• Ultra: 129 FPS average.

2560x1440:

• Low: 206 FPS average.
• Medium: 160 FPS average, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 184 FPS.
• High: 125 FPS average.
• Ultra: 87 FPS average.

3840x2160:

• Low: 117 FPS average.
• Medium: 91 FPS average, with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS.
• High: 71 FPS average.
• Ultra: 49 FPS average.

The "Medium" preset was the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, providing a more detailed picture of frame time consistency. At 1080p "Medium," the frame rate ranges from 202 to 274 FPS, indicating a variance of 72 FPS. At 1440p "Medium," the range is 136 to 184 FPS, a variance of 48 FPS. At 4K "Medium," the range tightens to 77 to 105 FPS, a variance of just 28 FPS. This data suggests that as resolution increases, the frame rate becomes more consistent, likely due to the GPU becoming the sole bottleneck and reducing the impact of CPU-related frame spikes.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 4K with the "High" preset?

A: The measured average frame rate for the 3840x2160 resolution with the "High" preset is 71 FPS.

Q: Is the "Ultra" preset playable at 1440p with this combo?

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 87 FPS at 2560x1440 with the "Ultra" preset, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: At what settings and resolution does the combo achieve its highest frame rate?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 307 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the "Low" preset.

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

A: This specific combo ranks 469th out of 3700 tested combos, placing it in the top 12.7% of all configurations.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the "Medium" preset at 4K?

A: The minimum frame rate recorded for the 3840x2160 "Medium" preset is 77 FPS.

Q: Which preset provides the best experience for 4K gaming?

A: Based on the measured data, the "Medium" preset is recommended for 4K, as it delivers an average of 91 FPS, which is significantly higher than the "High" preset's 71 FPS and much smoother than the "Ultra" preset's 49 FPS.