Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS built on the CryENGINE, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both CPU and GPU capabilities. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, based exclusively on the provided benchmark data. The results show a configuration that delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth performance at 4K, particularly at higher graphical presets. The data indicates a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides sufficient headroom to drive high frame rates at lower settings.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a mobile processor from the Core Ultra Series 1, built on the Meteor Lake architecture using Intel's 7 nm process. It features 14 cores and 18 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The processor has a TDP of 28 W and is installed in an Intel BGA 2049 socket. Its cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache. The CPU supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and connects via PCIe Gen 5.

In terms of raw computational power, the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 12804.5, while its single-core score is 1647.5. These scores place the processor in the 79th percentile of all CPUs tested, indicating it is a capable performer for its class. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a very tight grouping. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 scores 27535 average, which is only 0.1% higher than this CPU's average benchmark score of 27507. The Intel Core i5-12600K and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X both score 27578, representing a 0.3% lead over the Core Ultra 5 125H. Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G trails by 0.5% with a score of 27382. These deltaPct values are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the Core Ultra 5 125H is statistically indistinguishable from its closest competitors in general-purpose compute.

For a game like Evolve, which was released in 2015, the CPU's core count and clock speed are more than adequate. The 14-core, 18-thread configuration provides substantial multi-threading headroom, which is beneficial for background tasks and game logic. The boost clock of 4.50 GHz ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is often the most critical factor for game simulation and physics. At 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU load is lightest, the system achieves 164 FPS, suggesting that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. The fact that the CPU's average benchmark score is only 0.1% to 0.3% behind several desktop-class rivals like the Ryzen 7 5800 and Core i5-12600K further reinforces that this mobile chip has sufficient performance to feed the RTX 5060 in most gaming scenarios. The data suggests the Core Ultra 5 125H provides a robust foundation for this game's CPU demands, allowing the GPU to be the primary determinant of frame rate at higher settings.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the graphics card in this configuration, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 2280 MHz, with a boost clock of 2497 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The card has 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores. Its compute capabilities include a pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s, a texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s, and an FP32 throughput of 19.18 TFLOPS. The GPU has a TDP of 145 W and uses a single 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5060 achieves a Passmark G3D score of 20891 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 112787. It sits in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals show a mixed bag of comparisons. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26401, which is 0.3% higher than the RTX 5060's average benchmark score of 26331. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 also scores 26421, again 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26553, a 0.8% lead. However, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26011, which is 1.2% lower than the RTX 5060. This data implies that while the RTX 5060 is a solid performer, it is not a standout in its class, trading blows with both older and newer cards from AMD.

For Evolve, the GPU's role is critical at higher resolutions and settings. The 8 GB VRAM is a consideration, but for a 2015 title, it is likely sufficient for the textures and geometry used. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: performance drops dramatically as settings increase. At 1080p, the Low preset yields 164 FPS, but this falls to 127 FPS at Medium, 100 FPS at High, and just 69 FPS at Ultra. This steep decline indicates that the game's Ultra preset is particularly demanding on the GPU's shading and fill-rate capabilities. The RTX 5060's 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is the key driver here, and the data shows that while it can handle 1080p Ultra at 69 FPS, the margin for error is thin. The GPU's 48 ROPs and 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are also relevant, as they directly impact resolution scaling, which we will examine next.

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

The measured FPS data shows clear resolution scaling behavior. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 164 at 1080p to 110 at 1440p, and further to 63 at 4K. This represents a 33% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a 43% decrease from 1440p to 4K. At High settings, the pattern is more severe: 100 FPS at 1080p, 67 FPS at 1440p, and 38 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 33%, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is 43%, indicating a growing GPU bottleneck. At Medium settings, the scores are 127 FPS at 1080p, 85 FPS at 1440p, and 49 FPS at 4K, with a 33% and 42% drop respectively.

This scaling behavior is a textbook example of GPU-limited performance. The percentage drops between resolutions are roughly consistent across settings, suggesting that the CPU is not the bottleneck; if it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat as resolution increases. Instead, the frame rate scales inversely with pixel count, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth. The RTX 5060's 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 26 FPS, which is barely playable and indicates that the GPU is completely overwhelmed. The fact that the Low preset at 4K achieves 63 FPS shows that the game is playable at 4K, but only with significant graphical compromises. The data strongly suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the primary limiting component in this configuration, especially at 1440p and 4K, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H provides ample headroom to avoid CPU stalling.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60+ FPS experience?

A: The data shows that at 1080p, all presets except Ultra (69 FPS) achieve an average of 100 FPS or higher. At 1440p, the Low preset hits 110 FPS and Medium hits 85 FPS, both above 60. At 4K, only the Low preset exceeds 60 FPS with 63 FPS. Therefore, 1440p Medium is the highest resolution and preset combination that maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H has an average benchmark score of 27507. This is nearly identical to its rivals: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 is only 0.1% faster, the Intel Core i5-12600K and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X are both 0.3% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G is 0.5% slower. This indicates the CPU is a balanced performer in its class.

Q: Is 8 GB of VRAM sufficient for Evolve at 4K?

A: The measured data shows the RTX 5060 with 8 GB of VRAM achieves 63 FPS at 4K Low, 49 FPS at 4K Medium, and 38 FPS at 4K High. While 8 GB is not a limiting factor at Low settings, the performance drop at higher settings suggests the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth, rather than VRAM capacity, are the primary constraints for this 2015 title.

Q: What is the performance gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves an average of 164 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 69 FPS. This represents a 58% decrease in performance from Low to Ultra, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding on the GPU.

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

A: The combo ranks 1897th out of 2872 tested combinations. This places it in the 34th percentile of all combos tested, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer, it is still ahead of the majority of systems tested.

Q: Does the game run better at 1440p High or 1080p Ultra?

A: The 1440p High preset achieves an average of 67 FPS, while 1080p Ultra achieves an average of 69 FPS. These are nearly identical in performance, but the 1440p resolution provides a higher pixel density and sharper image quality, making it the preferable choice for a better visual experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination. Where available, minimum and maximum FPS values are provided for the Medium preset at each resolution.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 38 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 63 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 49 | 41 | 56 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 26 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 67 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 110 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 85 | 73 | 98 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 46 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 100 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 164 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 127 | 108 | 146 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 69 | N/A | N/A |

At 1080p, the frame rates range from a high of 164 FPS on Low to a low of 69 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset provides a solid 127 FPS average with a minimum of 108 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. At 1440p, the Low preset remains fluid at 110 FPS, while the Medium preset's minimum of 73 FPS is still above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 67 FPS is just above playable, but the Ultra preset dips to 46 FPS, which may feel stuttery. At 4K, only the Low preset (63 FPS) is playable, with Medium (49 FPS) and High (38 FPS) falling below the smooth threshold, and Ultra at 26 FPS being effectively unplayable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For a 1080p display, the Medium preset is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, delivering 127 FPS average with a minimum of 108 FPS. This provides a high frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while still offering improved textures and effects over Low. The High preset at 100 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset's higher minimum FPS (108 vs. N/A) suggests better frame time consistency. The Ultra preset at 69 FPS is playable, but the 58% drop from Low indicates it is too demanding for the benefit it provides.

For 1440p users, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, achieving an average of 85 FPS with a minimum of 73 FPS. This ensures a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset at 110 FPS is smoother, but sacrifices visual quality. The High preset at 67 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 46 FPS is not recommended for competitive play. At 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which achieves 63 FPS. The Medium preset at 49 FPS is playable but may exhibit noticeable stuttering, and the High and Ultra presets are too demanding for this GPU.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best experience across all resolutions, as it consistently provides frame rates that are either above or near the 60 FPS target without the significant performance penalty of the High or Ultra presets. For users prioritizing frame rate over visual quality, the Low preset is the fallback, especially at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Evolve, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 holds a rank of 1897 out of 2872 total combos. This places the system in the lower-middle tier of all tested configurations, specifically in the 34th percentile. This ranking reflects the performance data, which shows the combo is capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but falls behind at 4K and at Ultra settings.

The ranking is influenced by the GPU's performance relative to its peers. The RTX 5060's average benchmark score of 26331 is modest, and its nearest rivals include both the AMD Radeon 860M (0.3% faster) and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (1.2% slower). This indicates that the GPU is not a top-tier performer, which limits the combo's overall ranking. The CPU, while holding its own against desktop rivals like the Ryzen 7 5800, does not boost the combo significantly. The ranking suggests that while this system is more powerful than the average tested combo, it is not competitive with high-end configurations that feature faster CPUs and GPUs. For a game like Evolve, which is not particularly new, this rank is adequate, but users seeking maximum performance at 4K Ultra would need to look at higher-tier hardware. The system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where its rank is more indicative of a capable mid-range performer.