Evolve

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti presents a stark contrast in capabilities within the context of Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The processor is a modern 20-core, 28-thread part with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz and a 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the GPU is an end-of-life Pascal architecture card with an 11 GB frame buffer and a 61st percentile ranking among all GPUs. This pairing creates a dynamic where the GPU is clearly the primary constraint at higher resolutions, but the CPU’s headroom allows for exceptional frame rates at 1080p, particularly on lower settings. The benchmark data confirms that this is a combination whose performance is dictated almost entirely by the graphics card’s workload.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 112.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 73 FPS, a reduction of roughly 35%. At 4K, the same settings yield only 39.5 FPS, which is a further 46% decline from the 1440p figure. This steep, consistent drop-off indicates that the rendering load is scaling directly with pixel count, which is the hallmark of a system limited by the graphics processor rather than the central processor.

The scaling pattern across different quality presets reinforces this conclusion. At 4K, the difference between Low (70.4 FPS) and Ultra (27.9 FPS) is a massive 42.5 FPS. This is a 152% performance spread driven purely by settings, showing that the GPU’s compute and memory subsystems are being saturated by the increased visual fidelity. In contrast, at 1080p, the spread between Low (178.6 FPS) and Ultra (75.2 FPS) is 103.4 FPS, but the absolute numbers are so high that the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at the Low setting, where the frame rate likely approaches a CPU-imposed ceiling.

The most telling indicator is the 1080p Low result of 178.6 FPS. This high frame rate, combined with the 1440p Low result of 120 FPS, suggests that while the GPU is still the main bottleneck, the CPU is capable of feeding it enough data to reach these elevated performance levels. The 4K Ultra result of 27.9 FPS is the clearest evidence of a GPU bottleneck, as the processor’s massive multi-threading capabilities are irrelevant when the graphics card is struggling to fill every pixel with high-detail geometry and effects. The data shows that users targeting 4K will need to significantly reduce settings to achieve playable frame rates, while those at 1080p have substantial headroom.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, based on the GP102 chip, is the defining component in this configuration. Its 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s, which is substantial for its generation. The card’s base clock is 1481 MHz with a boost of 1582 MHz, and its 3584 shading units are tasked with rendering Evolve’s environments. The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2231 and a Passmark G3D score of 18600, place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer by modern standards.

In Evolve, the GPU’s role is to manage the complex lighting, particle effects, and large creature models that are central to the game’s visual identity. The 11 GB VRAM capacity is ample for this title, even at 4K, which means the bottleneck is not memory capacity but rather the raw processing power of the GPU. The benchmark results show that the card’s limits are reached quickly when settings are increased. For instance, at 4K, the jump from Medium (51.9 FPS) to High (39.5 FPS) is a 12.4 FPS penalty, and the jump to Ultra (27.9 FPS) is another 11.6 FPS loss. This demonstrates that each incremental increase in graphical fidelity has a direct and significant impact on the GPU’s ability to maintain fluid frame rates.

The GPU’s age is also a factor. Its DirectX 12 Passmark score of 66 is notably lower than its DirectX 11 score of 151, suggesting that while it supports the newer API, its performance is optimized for the older one, which aligns with Evolve’s 2015 release. The card’s power delivery, requiring a 250 W TDP and a 600 W suggested PSU, is a secondary consideration, but its performance ceiling is clearly defined by its 16 nm process and Pascal architecture. The data indicates that the GTX 1080 Ti is the limiting factor in this pairing, especially when the resolution and settings are pushed beyond 1080p Medium.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF serves as a high-end controller for this GPU, providing an enormous amount of processing headroom. With 20 cores and 28 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, and a boost of 5.60 GHz, its multi-threaded capabilities are exceptional, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 52425. Its single-thread performance is equally strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6290, which is critical for game logic and physics calculations. The processor’s benchmark results place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-14700K, show a negligible 0% performance delta.

In Evolve, the CPU’s role is to handle the game’s simulation, AI for the monsters, and the overall frame pacing. The data suggests that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 178.6 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that many CPUs would struggle to maintain. The fact that the 14700KF can drive this frame rate without issue indicates that its single-thread performance is more than sufficient for the game’s engine. The CPU’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache also helps in reducing memory latency, which can be beneficial in scenarios with many entities on screen.

However, the CPU’s immense power is largely underutilized in this specific game at higher resolutions. When the GPU is saturated at 4K Ultra (27.9 FPS), the CPU is essentially idle, waiting for the graphics card to finish its work. The benchmark results show that the CPU’s average benchmark score of 70104 is vastly higher than the GPU’s 19402, underscoring the imbalance. The processor’s high core count and clock speeds do not contribute to higher frame rates once the GPU becomes the bottleneck. This pairing exemplifies a situation where the CPU is over-provisioned for the GPU’s capabilities, making the graphics card the sole arbiter of performance in most scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system’s behavior across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of impressive performance. Low settings produce an average of 178.6 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth for a fast-paced FPS. Medium settings yield 143.1 FPS, and High settings deliver 112.2 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, still achieves a respectable 75.2 FPS, which is above the threshold for a playable experience. This resolution is clearly where this combo shines, offering a wide range of settings that can all maintain high frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the performance begins to show the GPU’s strain. Low settings still provide a very playable 120 FPS, and Medium drops to 93.7 FPS. High settings fall to 73 FPS, which is still acceptable for most gamers, but Ultra dips to 49.9 FPS, which may feel less smooth. The data shows a clear progression where each setting increase has a more pronounced effect on the average FPS, indicating that the GPU is nearing its limits. The 1440p results are a good balance for users who want higher visual fidelity without sacrificing too much frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limitations are starkly exposed. Low settings yield 70.4 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 51.9 FPS. High settings fall to 39.5 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 27.9 FPS, which is likely not a smooth experience for a competitive FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is only viable with Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are marginal. The difference between the 1080p Low (178.6 FPS) and 4K Ultra (27.9 FPS) is a 150.7 FPS drop, which illustrates the massive performance range of this hardware combination. The results clearly indicate that the GTX 1080 Ti is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Evolve.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti holds a rank of 1033 out of 1695 possible combinations. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is a direct reflection of the GPU’s age and performance class. While the CPU is a top-tier processor, its contribution to this ranking is minimal, as the GPU’s lower benchmark scores dominate the overall performance picture in a graphically intensive game like Evolve.

The rank of 1033 indicates that there are 662 other combinations that perform better in this specific title. This is not surprising, given that the GTX 1080 Ti’s Passmark G3D score of 18600 is significantly lower than what modern GPUs achieve. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 with a 0% delta, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560X with a -0.1% delta, show that the 1080 Ti is clustered with older, less capable hardware. The CPU’s rivals, like the Intel Core i7-14700K, are all top-tier processors, but they do not help the combo rank higher because the GPU is the bottleneck.

The data suggests that this combo’s ranking is almost entirely determined by the GPU’s performance ceiling. Even with a processor that ranks in the 96th percentile, the system cannot overcome the limitations of a graphics card that ranks in the 61st percentile. The rank of 1033 is a quantitative measure of this imbalance, showing that the combination is adequate for 1080p gaming but falls behind the pack when more demanding resolutions and settings are considered. The benchmark results confirm that users with this pairing should prioritize GPU upgrades over CPU upgrades to improve their standing in Evolve.