Evolve

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination ranks 1430th out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the lower tier of systems. This pairing of a modern high-end CPU with an older mid-range GPU creates a significant bottleneck, where the graphics card limits performance far more than the processor. The data shows a system capable of smooth 1080p play at medium settings, but one that struggles at higher resolutions and demanding presets, making it a dated choice for this 2015 title.

How This Combo Ranks

This combo ranks 1430th out of 1695 tested combinations, which puts it in the bottom 16% of all tested systems. The ranking is heavily dragged down by the GTX 1070's age; the GPU sits at the 51st percentile among all GPUs, meaning it performs better than only about half of the tested cards. The CPU, by contrast, is exceptional — the i7-14700KF ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70104, placing it within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (70420) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9115 (69887). The disconnect between the two components is stark: the CPU is a top-tier performer, while the GPU is a mid-pack relic. The result is a system where the processor is effectively idle in many scenes, waiting on the graphics card to deliver frames. This mismatch is the primary reason the combo ranks so low despite having a powerful modern CPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a Raptor Lake Refresh part with 20 cores and 28 threads, running at a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 5.60 GHz boost clock. Its benchmark results are formidable: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557 and a single-core score of 6290, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 19287. The CPU's performance is so high that it is effectively never the limiting factor in Evolve. The processor's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700K at 70074 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X at 70420 (-0.4% delta), showing it trades blows with the fastest desktop chips available. In a game like Evolve, which was released in 2015, the workload is far below what this CPU can handle. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4/DDR5) provide ample bandwidth for any game logic. The data indicates that the CPU's role here is to ensure that frame pacing is never interrupted by processor limitations; the bottleneck lies entirely elsewhere. This CPU could easily drive a much more powerful GPU without breaking a sweat.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a Pascal-generation card with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1506 MHz with a boost of 1683 MHz, and it delivers 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU's benchmark scores are modest: a Passmark G3D score of 13498 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1082. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro K4200 (12241, 0.7% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER (12504, -1.4% delta), placing it in the same performance class as those cards. In Evolve, the GTX 1070 is the clear performance ceiling. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for most settings, but its raw compute power is not. The 64 ROPs and 120 TMUs are dated, and the card's DirectX 12 score of 48 (Passmark) indicates it was not designed for modern API overhead. The data shows that the GPU's age is the defining factor of this combo's performance; it cannot keep up with the CPU's potential, leading to the low overall rank.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a system that is usable at 1080p but quickly degrades at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 133.9 FPS on Low, 101.9 FPS on Medium, 83 FPS on High, and 52.5 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that 1080p is the sweet spot for this pairing, with even Ultra settings crossing the 50 FPS threshold. Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops significantly: 90.7 FPS on Low, 66.6 FPS on Medium, 55.1 FPS on High, and 36.9 FPS on Ultra. At this resolution, the system becomes marginal for competitive play on higher presets, with Ultra falling below 40 FPS. At 3840x2160, the results are poor: 49.5 FPS on Low, 39.8 FPS on Medium, 28.6 FPS on High, and 19.7 FPS on Ultra. The 4K numbers are consistently below playable thresholds, with even Low settings only reaching 49.5 FPS. The pattern is clear: the GTX 1070 cannot handle the pixel count at higher resolutions, and only 1080p offers a consistently smooth experience.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals the GPU as the primary limiting component. At High settings, performance falls from 83 FPS at 1080p to 55.1 FPS at 1440p (a 33.6% drop) and then to 28.6 FPS at 4K (a 65.5% drop from 1080p). At Low settings, the drop is from 133.9 FPS at 1080p to 90.7 FPS at 1440p (a 32.3% drop) and 49.5 FPS at 4K (a 63% drop). This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario: as resolution increases, the workload on the graphics card grows quadratically, and the GTX 1070's limited pixel throughput (107.7 GPixel/s) becomes the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, but the data shows a steep decline. The conclusion is unambiguous: the i7-14700KF is not being stressed, while the GTX 1070 is overwhelmed at higher resolutions. This also explains why the combo ranks so low — it is a modern CPU paired with a GPU that was mid-range in 2016, and the GPU's age holds the entire system back.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience on this combo, the data points to 1080p with Medium or High settings as the optimal balance. At 1080p Medium, the system delivers 101.9 FPS, which is smooth for any gameplay style, while High settings still offer 83 FPS — both are excellent for a 2015 FPS title. Ultra at 1080p yields 52.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, so it is a viable option for those prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate. At 1440p, the recommendation shifts to Low settings for competitive play (90.7 FPS) or Medium for a balance (66.6 FPS), but High (55.1 FPS) is borderline and Ultra (36.9 FPS) is not recommended. For 4K, the data shows that this combo is not suitable; even Low settings at 49.5 FPS are barely playable, and any higher preset results in sub-40 FPS performance. The best overall experience is 1080p High, as it provides a high frame rate while maintaining good visual quality, avoiding the steep performance penalties of Ultra and the visual downgrade of Low.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo better at 1080p or 1440p?

A: The data shows a clear preference for 1080p. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 101.9 FPS, while at 1440p Medium it drops to 66.6 FPS. The 1080p resolution offers over 50% higher frame rates across all settings, making it the recommended choice for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700K?

A: The i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70104, which is essentially identical to the i7-14700K's 70074, with a delta of 0%. The two processors perform nearly the same, with the KF variant being a negligible fraction behind.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile relative to all other graphics cards?

A: The GTX 1070 sits at the 51st percentile among all GPUs, meaning it outperforms just over half of the tested graphics cards. This places it solidly in the mid-range category, consistent with its modest Passmark G3D score of 13498.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: The measured data indicates no. At 4K Ultra, the system delivers only 19.7 FPS, and even at 4K Low, it reaches just 49.5 FPS. These frame rates are below the threshold for a comfortable gaming experience, so 4K is not viable with this combo.

Q: Which settings preset offers the highest frame rate at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset provides the highest average FPS at 90.7. This is significantly ahead of Medium (66.6 FPS) and High (55.1 FPS), making Low the best choice for frame rate priority at this resolution.

Q: How does the GPU's closest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro K4200, compare?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 12331, which is 0.7% higher than the Quadro K4200's score of 12241. The two GPUs perform at a very similar level, with the GTX 1070 holding a slight edge.