Evolve

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a top-tier combination for Evolve, a 2015 FPS title. The benchmark data shows that this pairing delivers exceptional frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, firmly placing it in the upper echelon of tested configurations. The following analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, the combo's overall ranking, and provides practical settings guidance based on the measured FPS data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The processor’s substantial core count and high boost clock are critical for maintaining high frame rates, especially in a fast-paced FPS like Evolve where physics, AI, and game logic must be processed alongside rendering. The CPU's large 33 MB shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency.

In terms of raw compute, the i7-14700KF scores 44,167 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,235 in single-core. These scores place the chip in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is among the top 6% of processors tested by this database. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it edges out the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X by 0.9% in average benchmark score, while being 1% behind the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K. The i7-14700KF also outperforms the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Ryzen 9 7940HX by 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively. These marginal deltas suggest that for a game like Evolve, the CPU is not a bottleneck at any of the tested settings, as its performance headroom is vast.

The measured FPS data reinforces this. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 391 FPS. Even at the most demanding setting (4K Ultra), the average FPS remains at 65. The CPU's ability to feed the GPU at such high frame rates is demonstrated by the fact that the 1080p Low result (391 FPS) is more than double the 4K Ultra result. This scaling shows that the CPU is capable of handling the game's simulation load without limiting the GPU's output, even when the graphical load is at its lowest. The processor's 125W TDP and unlocked multiplier make it a versatile choice for a high-refresh-rate gaming system, though the data does not include specific temperature or power draw metrics for this game.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship GPU built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. It features a massive 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. This memory configuration is more than sufficient for Evolve, even at 4K resolution with maximum texture quality. The GPU's core clocks are set at a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz. With 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs, the RTX 5090 D is built for brute-force rasterization performance, which is what a title like Evolve primarily relies on.

The GPU's benchmark scores are equally impressive. It achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14,326 and a Passmark G3D score of 44,065. The GPU sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are somewhat unexpected, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which it leads by 1.6%, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, which it leads by 2.4%. These comparisons are based on aggregate benchmark scores, but in real-world gaming, the RTX 5090 D's architecture and driver support provide a significant advantage, as shown by the measured FPS.

The GPU’s performance in Evolve is nothing short of dominant. At 4K Ultra, it produces an average of 65 FPS, which is a playable frame rate for a slow-paced game, though perhaps not ideal for competitive FPS play. However, at 4K High, the frame rate jumps to 94 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it reaches 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS. The GPU's 32 GB of VRAM ensures that there is no texture pop-in or stuttering due to memory limitations, even at 4K Ultra settings. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 D is so powerful that the primary limiter in this combo is the game's engine itself, which was designed in 2015 and cannot fully utilize the GPU's capabilities at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 14th out of 2,872 tested combos in Evolve. This places the pairing in the top 0.5% of all systems tested, indicating an elite level of performance. This high ranking is a direct result of both components being top-tier performers in their respective categories. The CPU's 94th percentile standing and the GPU's 92nd percentile standing combine to create a system that excels in this game.

Being ranked 14th out of 2,872 means there are 13 other combinations that produce higher average frame rates. Given the GPU's position in the 92nd percentile, it is likely that the 13 combos above this one utilize the same or a slightly faster GPU (e.g., the RTX 5090 non-D variant) or a CPU with higher single-thread performance. However, the delta between this combo and the top spot is likely to be small, given the high frame rates already achieved. For context, the i7-14700KF is only 1% slower than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K in aggregate benchmarks, so a combo using that newer CPU might edge out this one. Despite not being the absolute fastest, this combo is demonstrably at the very top of the performance pyramid for Evolve.

The data shows that this combo is not just a high-end pairing; it's an optimized one. The CPU provides enough processing power to avoid bottlenecking the GPU, and the GPU provides enough rendering power to saturate any modern display. The rank of 14th confirms the balance of this pairing. Users with this system can expect a consistent, high-performance experience without needing to worry about which component is holding the other back.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo performs across different resolutions and settings. Here is the exact breakdown:

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: 391 FPS average
• Medium: 314 FPS average (min 267, max 361)
• High: 246 FPS average
• Ultra: 170 FPS average

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: 271 FPS average
• Medium: 210 FPS average (min 179, max 242)
• High: 165 FPS average
• Ultra: 114 FPS average

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: 154 FPS average
• Medium: 120 FPS average (min 102, max 138)
• High: 94 FPS average
• Ultra: 65 FPS average

At 1080p, the system is clearly CPU-limited at Low settings, but even at Ultra, the 170 FPS average is well above the refresh rate of most 1080p monitors. The 1440p results are the sweet spot for this game, with High settings providing 165 FPS and Ultra still delivering a very playable 114 FPS. At 4K, the GPU begins to take center stage. The drop from Low to Ultra is significant, with the average FPS falling from 154 to 65. The 4K Medium settings show a minimum FPS of 102, which ensures a smooth experience even in chaotic scenes. The 4K High setting at 94 FPS is also excellent, but the 4K Ultra setting at 65 FPS may not be suitable for players who prefer frame rates above 70 FPS.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions is a textbook example of the transition from a CPU-bound to a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is a 221 FPS drop (from 391 to 170). This significant drop indicates that the CPU is the primary limiter at this resolution; the GPU is so fast that it can render frames as fast as the CPU can submit them, and increasing graphical settings only reduces the GPU's idle time.

When moving to 1440p, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 157 FPS (from 271 to 114). This shows the GPU starting to take on more work, but the CPU still has enough headroom to keep up. The real shift occurs at 4K. Here, the difference between Low and Ultra is 89 FPS (from 154 to 65), which is proportionally smaller than at 1080p. This indicates that the GPU is now the primary limiting factor. The GPU is working at its maximum capacity to render the increased pixel count, and the CPU has ample spare capacity.

Specifically, the FPS drop from 1080p Low (391 FPS) to 4K Low (154 FPS) is a 60.6% reduction. This dramatic drop is almost entirely due to the GPU's rendering load increasing by four times. Similarly, the drop from 1080p Ultra (170 FPS) to 4K Ultra (65 FPS) is a 61.8% reduction. The consistency of this percentage drop across settings confirms that resolution, not graphical complexity, is the main driver of performance loss. The data clearly shows that for this combo, 1080p and 1440p are CPU-bound scenarios, while 4K is a GPU-bound scenario. Users with 4K displays will benefit the most from this GPU's power, while users with 1080p or 1440p displays are leaving significant GPU performance on the table.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and refresh rate.

• For 1080p and 1440p displays (144Hz-240Hz+): The Ultra preset is the best choice. At 1080p, it delivers 170 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. At 1440p, it delivers 114 FPS, which is still very smooth and provides the best visual fidelity. The High preset at 1080p (246 FPS) and 1440p (165 FPS) is also viable, but the visual improvement from High to Ultra is often worth the FPS trade-off, especially since the system has enough power to maintain high frame rates at Ultra. The Medium preset is unnecessary at these resolutions unless the user is targeting a specific frame rate cap.

• For 4K displays (60Hz-144Hz): The High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 94 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the Ultra preset's 65 FPS, which may feel less responsive. The Medium preset at 120 FPS is also an excellent choice, especially for users with 120Hz or 144Hz displays, as it provides a smoother experience than High while maintaining high-quality visuals. The Low preset at 4K (154 FPS) is not recommended, as the visual downgrade is significant, and the frame rate is likely beyond the refresh rate of most 4K monitors.

• General Recommendation: For the best experience, prioritize the Ultra preset at 1080p and 1440p, and the High preset at 4K. The data shows that the 4K Medium preset is a strong alternative for users who prefer higher frame rates over maximum visual detail, as it maintains a minimum FPS of 102. There is no scenario where the Low preset is recommended, as the system is powerful enough to run the game at high settings with excellent performance. The measured data shows that this combo can handle Evolve with maxed-out settings at 1080p and 1440p, and with a single-tier reduction at 4K for the smoothest experience.