Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetrical FPS, places unique demands on hardware, blending fast-paced monster hunting with chaotic firefights. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H paired with the AMD Radeon 8060S, a mobile combination that seeks to balance CPU and GPU capabilities. The data reveals a system capable of high frame rates at mainstream resolutions, but one that must be carefully configured to deliver a consistent experience at 4K. Benchmark results indicate a clear hierarchy in performance scaling, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides a robust foundation for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic shift in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 107 FPS at 1080p to 72 FPS at 1440p, a significant 33% reduction. The scaling continues to 4K, where the average falls to 41 FPS, representing a 43% drop from the 1440p figure and a 62% decline from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve indicates that the AMD Radeon 8060S is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the workload on the GPU increases exponentially with pixel count.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. With Low settings, the system achieves 176 FPS at 1080p, 118 FPS at 1440p, and 67 FPS at 4K. While the absolute numbers are higher, the relative drop from 1080p to 4K is still substantial at 62%. The Medium preset shows a similar trend: 137 FPS at 1080p, 92 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, yields 74 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and just 28 FPS at 4K.

These results suggest that the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H is not the primary constraint in this scenario. At 1080p, the system can push well beyond 100 FPS on High settings, indicating the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU. However, as resolution climbs, the GPU's raw throughput becomes the deciding factor. The Radeon 8060S, while positioned in the 87th percentile of all GPUs, cannot maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra, where the average dips to 28 FPS. The data indicates that 1440p is the practical ceiling for high-fidelity gaming with this combo, while 1080p is where the system truly excels, delivering high refresh rates even on the most demanding presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz can boost up to 4.60 GHz, which are healthy frequencies for a mobile part. The processor's benchmark scores reflect a solid mid-range performer. In Cinebench R23, it scores 11875.5 points in multi-core and 1700 points in single-core. Its Passmark multithread score is 22422, and its single-thread score is 3521.

The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 81, placing it above the vast majority of processors available. Its average benchmark score of 29093 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, with a deltaPct of -0.1%, indicating they are performance peers. It is also within 0.6% of the Intel Core i5-13500HX, confirming its competitive standing in the mobile processor market.

In the context of Evolve, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, AI for the monster and hunters, and physics calculations. The game is not typically considered CPU-bound, but the 135H's strong single-thread performance is crucial for maintaining high frame rates. The data supports this; at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 176 FPS, a rate that would be impossible if the CPU were a bottleneck. The processor's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth provide sufficient data throughput for the game's engine. The benchmark results show that this CPU has ample headroom to support the GPU at mainstream resolutions, ensuring that the graphics card is the sole determinant of performance scaling.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S is a powerful integrated graphics solution based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on TSMC's 4 nm process. It features 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units, along with 40 ray tracing cores. Its clock speeds are impressive for an integrated part, with a base of 1295 MHz and a boost of 2900 MHz. The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning its bandwidth and size are dependent on the system's main memory configuration, a factor that can influence performance.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Radeon 8060S demonstrates strong capabilities. It scores 2162 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and achieves 84626 in Geekbench OpenCL and 80483 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its average benchmark score of 55757 places it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals listed are the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which it matches with a deltaPct of 0.1%, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, which it trails by 0.6%. This indicates that the 8060S is a high-performance part, competing with dedicated desktop graphics cards from a previous generation.

For Evolve, the GPU's role is dominant. The game's rendering demands, particularly at higher resolutions, are the primary factor in the FPS drops observed. The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is a clear indication that the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings. The texture rate of 464.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 185.6 GPixel/s are respectable, but they are insufficient for 4K Ultra. The data shows that the GPU's performance ceiling is reached at 1440p with High settings, where it still delivers a smooth 72 FPS. At 1080p, the GPU is more than capable, allowing the CPU to push frame rates to 137 FPS on Medium and 74 FPS on Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 4K display, the High preset is the only viable option for playable performance, with an average of 41 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K offers 52 FPS, a more comfortable margin, but the Low preset at 67 FPS provides the smoothest experience. The Ultra preset is not recommended at 4K, as the 28 FPS average falls below the threshold for a fluid gaming experience.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 72 FPS, which is ideal for most gamers. The Medium preset offers a higher 92 FPS for those prioritizing smoothness, while the Ultra preset at 50 FPS is still playable but may feel less responsive. The Low preset at 118 FPS is excessive for a 1440p monitor unless it has a very high refresh rate.

For 1920x1080, the system is highly capable. The Ultra preset yields 74 FPS, which is excellent for maximum visual fidelity. The High preset at 107 FPS is a great balance, while the Medium preset pushes to 137 FPS for competitive play. The Low preset at 176 FPS is only necessary for the most extreme high-refresh-rate displays. The data suggests that for most users, the High preset at 1440p or the Ultra preset at 1080p offers the best combination of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset provides a significant FPS boost with a modest visual compromise, making it a strong choice for those who prefer higher frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Evolve?

A: Benchmark results indicate that 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At this resolution, the High preset delivers a smooth 72 FPS, while the Medium preset reaches 92 FPS. While 1080p offers higher frame rates, 1440p provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. The data shows that at 4K, only the Low preset (67 FPS) and Medium preset (52 FPS) provide consistently playable frame rates. The High preset dips to 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset is unplayable at 28 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more of a bottleneck in Evolve?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck at higher resolutions. The FPS drops by 62% from 1080p to 4K on High settings, indicating the graphics card's workload is the limiting factor. The CPU's strong single-thread performance allows it to keep up with the GPU at 1080p, where frame rates are high.

Q: How does the Radeon 8060S compare to dedicated graphics cards?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 55757 places it in the 87th percentile. It is statistically tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (0.1% delta) and performs within 0.6% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 in aggregate benchmarks, highlighting its high level of performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 118 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 50 FPS. This represents a performance drop of 58% when moving from the lowest to the highest settings preset, showing the significant graphical load of the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H a strong processor for gaming?

A: Yes. Its average benchmark score of 29093 puts it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. It performs on par with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (-0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-13500HX (-0.6% delta), demonstrating robust multi-core and single-core capability for gaming workloads.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data presents the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings preset combination.

1920x1080:

• Ultra: 74 FPS average
• High: 107 FPS average
• Medium: 137 FPS average, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS
• Low: 176 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Ultra: 50 FPS average
• High: 72 FPS average
• Medium: 92 FPS average, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS
• Low: 118 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Ultra: 28 FPS average
• High: 41 FPS average
• Medium: 52 FPS average, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS
• Low: 67 FPS average

These figures highlight the system's performance envelope. At 1080p, the combo is powerful enough for high-refresh-rate gaming across all presets. At 1440p, it offers a great balance for standard 60-100 Hz displays. At 4K, it is best suited for lower settings presets to maintain playability. The overall rank for this combo in Evolve is 1664 out of 2872 tested combinations, indicating a solidly above-average configuration.