Evolve

The pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 presents a significant bottleneck scenario in Evolve. The data shows a processor that ranks in the 97th percentile among all CPUs, paired with a graphics card that sits at the 51st percentile among all GPUs. This disparity is the defining characteristic of the benchmark results, where the GTX 1070's performance ceiling dictates the frame rates, while the i9-14900K's headroom remains largely unused. The measured FPS across all settings and resolutions reflects this imbalance, with the GPU consistently acting as the limiting factor.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the primary driver of the frame rates observed in this benchmark. Its specifications, including 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, provide a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1506 MHz and a boost clock of 1683 MHz. In the context of Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, these specifications are sufficient to handle the game's geometry and textures at lower presets, but they struggle as the rendering load intensifies.

The GTX 1070's role is best understood by examining the performance scaling across settings. At 1920x1080, the card delivers an average of 129.9 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 57.0 FPS on Ultra. This indicates that the GPU's 1920 shading units and 64 ROPs are being saturated by the increased draw calls and shader complexity at higher presets. The 8 GB VRAM buffer, while generous for the era, does not appear to be the limiting factor in this title; instead, the raw compute performance of the Pascal architecture is the constraint. The data shows a clear linear progression where each step up in settings from Low to Ultra reduces the average FPS by roughly 25-30%, highlighting the GPU's sensitivity to graphical fidelity.

The i9-14900K's specifications, such as 24 cores, 32 threads, and a 6.00 GHz boost clock, are vastly overqualified for this workload. Its integrated UHD Graphics 770 is irrelevant when a discrete GPU is present. The processor's high memory bandwidth and L3 cache of 36 MB (shared) ensure that it will never starve the GPU of data, but the benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the bottleneck in every scenario. As a result, the frame rates are consistent with what one would expect from a GTX 1070, not the CPU. The GPU's TDP of 150 W and its 16 nm process node are historical details that contextualize its performance, but the measured FPS is the definitive metric.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 1445 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the bottom 15% of all pairings, reflecting the severe imbalance between the two components. The high rank of the CPU (97th percentile) is negated by the GPU's mid-pack standing (51st percentile), resulting in a system that underperforms relative to its processor's potential.

When compared to other tested combos, this pairing's rank suggests that many systems with less powerful CPUs but more balanced GPUs achieve better frame rates. The i9-14900K's nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks—such as the AMD EPYC 7413, which scores 80041 on average (0.3% higher), or the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79245 (0.7% lower)—do not meaningfully change the outcome. The deltaPct values between these CPUs are negligible, meaning the choice of processor has no impact on the gaming results when paired with a GTX 1070.

The GPU's nearest rivals further illustrate the point. The NVIDIA Quadro K4200 scores 12241 (0.7% higher), while the GeForce GTX 880M scores 12490 (1.3% lower). These deltas are small, indicating that the GTX 1070's performance is firmly in a specific band. However, the combo rank of 1445 out of 1695 is a stark reminder that in a game like Evolve, the GPU's 51st percentile standing is the primary determinant of the system's overall ranking. The data shows that this combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability, but rather a consequence of pairing a top-tier processor with an entry-level-to-midrange graphics card from a previous generation.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best average FPS achieved by this combo at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average FPS at 1920x1080 is 129.9, achieved on Low settings. This drops to 80.5 on High and 57.0 on Ultra.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo delivers an average FPS of 18.7. This is the lowest recorded frame rate in the dataset, indicating that Ultra settings at 4K are not playable.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Medium settings at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low settings is 89.0, while on Medium settings it is 69.5. This represents a 19.5 FPS drop when moving from Low to Medium.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the bottleneck. The GTX 1070 ranks in the 51st percentile among all GPUs, while the i9-14900K ranks in the 97th percentile among all CPUs. The frame rates are consistent with GPU-limited performance.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Evolve?

A: This combo ranks 1445 out of 1695 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the lower tier of systems, primarily due to the GPU's limited performance.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 80.5. This is a playable frame rate for most users.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the resolution most likely to be used with this GPU, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 129.9 FPS, Medium settings yield 100.5 FPS, High settings yield 80.5 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 57.0 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a smooth decline, with each preset tier representing a roughly 20-25% reduction in frame rate. This suggests that the GTX 1070 scales predictably with graphical demands at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly due to the increased pixel count. Low settings average 89.0 FPS, Medium settings average 69.5 FPS, High settings average 55.9 FPS, and Ultra settings average 36.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 52.2 FPS, which is a larger absolute difference than at 1080p. The 1440p results indicate that the GPU is being pushed harder, with Ultra settings dipping below the 40 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1070 struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 52.1 FPS, Medium settings average 37.2 FPS, High settings average 27.5 FPS, and Ultra settings average 18.7 FPS. The 4K results are notable for their steep drop-off; the difference between Low and Ultra is 33.4 FPS, but the absolute numbers are low across the board. Only the Low preset at 4K approaches a playable frame rate, while Ultra is essentially a slideshow. The data clearly shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for the lowest settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 80.5 FPS offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. It provides a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, while still delivering a significant visual upgrade over Medium (100.5 FPS) and Low (129.9 FPS). The Ultra preset at 57.0 FPS is playable but dips below 60 FPS, which may be noticeable to users with high-refresh-rate monitors.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 69.5 FPS is the recommended choice. It maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS while offering better visual quality than Low (89.0 FPS). The High preset at 55.9 FPS is still playable but may exhibit occasional stutters in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 36.8 FPS is not recommended for competitive play, as the frame rate is too low for a responsive experience. Users prioritizing frame rate over visuals should consider the Low preset, which offers the highest performance at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the only viable option is the Low preset at 52.1 FPS. The Medium preset at 37.2 FPS is borderline, and the High (27.5 FPS) and Ultra (18.7 FPS) presets are effectively unplayable. The data suggests that 4K gaming is not a realistic use case for this combo, even with the powerful i9-14900K handling the CPU-side workload. For the best overall experience, the data points to 1920x1080 with High settings as the sweet spot, balancing visual quality with a comfortable 80.5 FPS average. Alternatively, 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides a higher resolution experience at a slightly lower 69.5 FPS, which may be preferable for users who prioritize image clarity over maximum frame rates.