Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, places specific demands on a system that are clearly reflected in the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile. The data shows a combination capable of high frame rates, but the scaling across resolutions and settings reveals a nuanced balance between the CPU and GPU that dictates the optimal experience for this older, fast-paced shooter.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, released for the mobile market in December 2023. It operates at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and can boost up to 4.50 GHz. This configuration, with its high thread count and boost capability, is well-suited for a game like Evolve, which can utilize multiple cores for game logic, AI, and physics simulation. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12804.5 and a single-core score of 1647.5, indicating robust multi-threaded performance that is also backed by a strong single-thread showing.

The 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support provide the data throughput necessary for the CPU to feed the GPU efficiently. The processor's PassMark single-thread score of 3399 and multithread score of 21100 further contextualize its capability. For a game from 2015, the CPU's processing power is likely more than sufficient to avoid becoming the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions. This is supported by the FPS data, where at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 241 FPS. At such a high frame rate, the CPU's ability to handle the game's draw calls and simulation updates is critical, and the data suggests the Core Ultra 5 125H is up to the task, as the frame rate scales significantly with resolution changes, pointing to a GPU limit at higher settings.

The CPU's performance relative to other processors is strong, sitting at the 79th percentile across all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 27507 places it in a tight cluster with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and Intel Core i5-12600K, with the data showing the Core Ultra 5 125H trailing these two by just 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. This indicates that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 125H is competitive with these desktop-class parts from previous generations.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile combination is ranked 1212th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places the pairing in the top third of all systems tested for this game, a strong result that underscores the hardware's capability. While the rank of 1212 might not seem exceptional at first glance, it is important to consider that this leaderboard includes a wide variety of both modern and older components, including overclocked desktop parts and dual-GPU configurations. Being in the 67th percentile of all tested systems for a game like Evolve indicates that this combo will deliver a very high-performance experience.

The ranking is a holistic measure of the combo's ability to run the game. The data shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of well over 100 FPS on all settings except Ultra, and even at 4K, it manages a playable 56 FPS on High settings. The high ranking confirms the RTX 4080 Mobile's raw power and the CPU's ability to support it. The gap between this combo and the top-ranked systems is likely due to the mobile nature of these components, which have power and thermal constraints compared to their desktop counterparts, but this is a premium mobile solution that performs remarkably well in this title.

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

The measured frame rates across resolutions provide a clear picture of system scaling. At High settings, the combo delivers an average of 146 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 98 FPS at 1440p, and further down to 56 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 62% drop from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline is characteristic of a system that becomes increasingly GPU-bound as resolution increases. The GPU is tasked with rendering more pixels, and its workload grows much faster than the CPU's.

The scaling pattern is similar at other settings. At Low settings, the frame rate goes from 241 FPS at 1080p to 161 FPS at 1440p, and then to 92 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is about 62% again. This consistency suggests that the performance is primarily limited by the GPU across all settings. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates at 1080p would be lower and the relative drop to 4K would be less severe, as the CPU would still be the bottleneck at the higher resolution. The data shows the opposite, confirming that the RTX 4080 Mobile is the component determining the frame rate ceiling in Evolve.

The fact that the differences between resolutions are so pronounced indicates that the CPU is efficiently feeding the GPU with data, and the GPU is the one doing the heavy lifting. For a game from 2015, the Core Ultra 5 125H is more than capable of keeping up, and the performance is dictated almost entirely by the graphics card's rendering capabilities.

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

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across all combinations of resolution and settings.

1920x1080: At this resolution, the system performs exceptionally well. On Low settings, it achieves an average of 241 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average is 186 FPS, with a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 214 FPS. On High settings, the average is 146 FPS. With Ultra settings, the average drops to 101 FPS. All of these results are highly playable and demonstrate the system's ability to drive high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p.

2560x1440: At 1440p, the frame rates remain very strong. With Low settings, the average is 161 FPS. On Medium, it achieves an average of 125 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS. High settings yield an average of 98 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset results in an average of 68 FPS, which is still a solid frame rate for a 1440p experience.

3840x2160: At 4K, the system's performance is still respectable, though it shows the limits of the GPU. Low settings deliver an average of 92 FPS. The Medium preset averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. High settings produce an average of 56 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 39 FPS.

The data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy: performance scales down as resolution and settings increase. The system is most comfortable at 1080p and 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates on all but the most extreme settings.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is the primary driver of performance in this combo. It is based on the AD104 chip with the Ada Lovelace architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 432.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This generous VRAM allocation is more than sufficient for a 2015 title like Evolve, ensuring that the game's textures and assets fit comfortably into memory even at 4K resolution. The GPU's base clock is 1290 MHz and it boosts to 1665 MHz.

The RTX 4080 Mobile's raw compute power is substantial. It has 7424 shading units, 80 ROPs, and 58 RT cores. Its FP32 performance is rated at 24.72 TFLOPS, and it can achieve a pixel rate of 133.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 386.3 GTexel/s. These specifications translate directly to the high frame rates observed in the benchmark data. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 24926 is a strong indicator of its performance, and it ranks at the 81st percentile of all GPUs. In its own benchmark, it is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, which has a score of 37648 and a deltaPct of 1.3%, meaning the 4080 Mobile is about 1.3% faster on average.

The GPU is the clear performance ceiling for this system in Evolve. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a pattern that is typical of a high-end GPU being pushed harder as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system is able to reach frame rates as high as 241 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 39 FPS, highlighting the immense computational demand of rendering at that resolution. The 12 GB of VRAM ensures there are no memory-related stutters or texture pop-ins, allowing the GPU to consistently deliver the measured frame rates.

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 users with a high-refresh-rate monitor (144Hz or higher), the Medium preset offers the best experience. It provides an average of 186 FPS, with a minimum of 158 FPS that comfortably stays above the 144Hz threshold. The High preset, at 146 FPS average, is also a good choice, but the Medium preset provides a larger buffer against frame drops for a smoother experience. The Ultra preset, at 101 FPS, is still very playable but may not fully utilize a 144Hz+ display.

For 1440p users, the Medium preset is again an excellent choice, delivering an average of 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS. This provides a fluid experience on 120Hz or 144Hz monitors. The High preset, at 98 FPS, is also very good for a 100Hz or 120Hz display. The Ultra preset, at 68 FPS, is a viable option for those who prioritize visual quality over maximum frame rate, providing a solid 60+ FPS experience.

For 4K users, the Medium preset is the best balance of performance and visuals. It delivers an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience on a 60Hz display. The High preset, at 56 FPS, is acceptable but may experience occasional stutters on a 60Hz screen. The Ultra preset, at 39 FPS, is not recommended for a comfortable gameplay experience. The Low preset, at 92 FPS, offers the highest frame rate but at a significant visual cost.

In summary, the Medium preset is the most versatile and is recommended for the best overall experience across all resolutions, as it provides a high frame rate that is always above 60 FPS and remains responsive.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming with this combo?

A: The Medium preset provides the best experience at 1440p, with an average of 125 FPS and a minimum of 106 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 4K with a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: Yes, using the Medium preset at 4K, the system achieves an average of 71 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS, which is sufficient for a consistent 60 FPS experience on a standard 4K display.

Q: How much faster is this combo at 1080p compared to 4K on High settings?

A: At 1080p on High settings, the system achieves 146 FPS, while at 4K on High settings, it achieves 56 FPS. This represents a 62% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system for Evolve?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. This is evident from the significant drop in frame rates as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance, while the CPU's capabilities are sufficient to keep up.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combination can achieve in Evolve?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 241, achieved at 1080p resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 Mobile compare to the RTX 4070 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 38135, while the RTX 4070 has a score of 37648. The data shows the RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% faster on average.