Evolve

Evolve is a 2015 FPS that places heavy demands on both processor and graphics hardware, and the pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K with the Intel Arc B390 produces a specific, measurable performance profile. The data indicates this combination is severely bottlenecked by the GPU, which ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, resulting in frame rates that are often below playable thresholds, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The CPU, by contrast, is a top-tier part ranking in the 95th percentile, but its capabilities are largely untapped in this configuration. This analysis breaks down the measured results to explain what this combo can and cannot do in Evolve.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: According to the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves consistently playable frame rates. At Low settings it averages 89 FPS, at Medium it averages 69 FPS, and at High it averages 54 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops the average below 60 FPS on all settings, and 3840x2160 results in averages as low as 14 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K bottlenecking the Intel Arc B390 in this game?

A: No, the data strongly suggests the opposite. The CPU is a high-performance part with a 95th percentile ranking, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo hits 89 FPS, but at 3840x2160 Low, it only reaches 34 FPS. This massive frame rate drop as resolution increases indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, not the CPU.

Q: Can this combo handle Evolve at 4K (3840x2160)?

A: Not effectively. The measured data shows that at 4K, the average frame rates are 34 FPS on Low, 26 FPS on Medium, 21 FPS on High, and 14 FPS on Ultra. These are all below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay, making the experience feel sluggish and unresponsive.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The benchmark data shows the Arc B390 is only slightly faster than its closest competitors. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, and 2.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM. These are very small margins, indicating it is in the same low-performance tier as these older parts.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 89 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages only 37 FPS. This represents a significant drop of 52 FPS, or roughly 58% lower performance, when moving from the lowest to the highest graphical fidelity settings.

Q: What is the highest settings preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset is the highest setting that achieves this goal, with an average of 69 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Low preset is the only other option that exceeds 60 FPS, averaging 89 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is an exceptionally powerful processor, and its specifications reflect that. It features 24 cores and 32 threads, a configuration that provides immense multi-threaded processing capability. Its base clock is 3.20 GHz, and it can boost up to 6.00 GHz, which is a very high maximum frequency for demanding single-threaded workloads. The processor is built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture and uses a 10 nm process node.

In the context of Evolve, this CPU is overqualified. The game's performance, as measured with this combo, is clearly not limited by the CPU. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 89 FPS, but when the resolution is increased to 4K with the same Low settings, the frame rate falls to 34 FPS. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively consistent across resolutions, as the CPU workload would be similar. The fact that performance drops so dramatically with resolution indicates that the GPU is unable to keep up with the CPU's output.

The CPU's benchmark scores further illustrate its power. It scores 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 20,793 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 6,103 in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Its single-core performance is also strong, with scores of 2,935 in Cinebench R20 and 2,265.5 in Cinebench R23. These figures place it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF, is only 0.3% faster. This processing headroom means that in this specific pairing, the CPU will be waiting on the GPU for most frames, a situation where the CPU's advanced capabilities are not the primary factor in determining the final frame rate.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is a completely different story. This is an integrated GPU (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and is part of the Panther Lake generation. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory instead of dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent."

This GPU's performance is its primary weakness. It scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows it performs similarly to very old discrete graphics cards, with its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, being only 1.3% slower. The Arc B390's low compute power is the definitive bottleneck for this combo in Evolve.

The measured FPS data confirms this. At 1080p, the GPU is able to produce an average of 89 FPS at Low settings, but this is its peak performance. At 1440p, the average at Low settings drops to 60 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 34 FPS. The GPU's limited processing power and reliance on system memory for VRAM mean that it struggles as the pixel count increases. The minimum and maximum FPS data points for Medium settings show the inconsistency; at 1080p it ranges from 59 to 79 FPS, but at 4K it ranges from 22 to 30 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is working at its absolute limit, and any increase in graphical load causes a significant drop in performance.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the settings recommendations are straightforward and heavily favor performance over visual fidelity. The primary goal with this combo is to achieve a playable frame rate, which the data shows is only reliably possible at the 1920x1080 resolution.

At 1080p, the Medium preset offers the best balance. It achieves an average of 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. This is the highest settings level that stays above the 60 FPS average mark, providing a smooth experience. The Low preset is the only option that provides more headroom, averaging 89 FPS, which could be useful for competitive play where maximum frame rates are prioritized over visual quality. The High preset, with an average of 54 FPS, is borderline and may feel less smooth, while the Ultra preset, at 37 FPS, is not recommended for a good gameplay experience.

At 2560x1440, the situation changes. The Low preset is the only one that achieves an average of 60 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The High and Ultra presets, at 36 FPS and 25 FPS respectively, are too demanding for this GPU to provide a fluid experience. At 3840x2160, none of the presets are recommended. Even the Low preset only averages 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to a 14 FPS average, making the game nearly unplayable. For the best experience, users should play at 1080p with Medium settings, or 1440p with Low settings if they prefer a higher resolution over graphical details.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core i9-14900K and the Intel Arc B390 in Evolve is very poor relative to other tested systems. The combo ranks 2530 out of 2872 combinations, placing it in the bottom 12% of all tested hardware pairings. This low ranking is almost entirely due to the GPU's performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part.

The data shows a clear mismatch between the two components. The CPU is in the 95th percentile, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. This creates a situation where a very powerful, expensive processor is paired with a very weak integrated graphics solution, resulting in a system that performs far below what the CPU alone would suggest. The combo's rank is a direct reflection of this bottleneck; the GPU cannot translate the CPU's immense processing power into high frame rates in a graphics-intensive game like Evolve. The performance is more comparable to what you would expect from a low-end system from several years ago, rather than a modern system with a flagship CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across different resolutions and settings.

At 3840x2160, the performance is consistently low. The Low settings preset yields an average of 34 FPS. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS. The High preset averages just 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to a 14 FPS average. None of these results are suitable for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates improve but remain limited. The Low preset is the only one to break the 60 FPS barrier, averaging exactly 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. The High preset averages 36 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 25 FPS. This resolution offers a marginal improvement over 4K but still requires low settings for a playable experience.

At 1920x1080, the combo finally becomes viable. The Low preset delivers the best performance, with an average of 89 FPS. The Medium preset is also very playable, with an average of 69 FPS, a minimum of 59 FPS, and a maximum of 79 FPS. The High preset averages 54 FPS, which is a playable but less smooth experience. The Ultra preset averages 37 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience. This resolution is the only one where the combo can be considered functional for general play, with Medium settings being the recommended choice for a balance of quality and performance.