Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents a demanding workload for modern mobile hardware. The measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions but is clearly constrained at 4K. The data shows a combination that is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the CPU and GPU work in concert to deliver playable frame rates across a range of settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K for this combo demonstrates a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 164 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average drops to 110 FPS, a 33% reduction in performance. Pushing further to 4K, the average falls to 63 FPS, which is a 62% drop from the 1080p result. This steep decline indicates that the rendering resolution is placing an increasing burden on the GPU, with the RTX 5060 Mobile's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus becoming a limiting factor at higher pixel counts.

The scaling pattern is more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At Ultra settings, the average FPS falls from 69 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p, a 33% reduction. At 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 26 FPS, which is a 62% reduction from the 1080p Ultra result. This consistent ~62% drop between 1080p and 4K across both Low and Ultra settings suggests that the GPU's compute throughput and memory bandwidth are the primary bottlenecks as resolution increases. The CPU, with its 14 cores and 18 threads, appears to have sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but cannot compensate for the GPU's inability to handle the increased pixel workload at 4K.

The data indicates that 1080p is where this combo shines, with even Ultra settings maintaining an average above 60 FPS. At 1440p, the system remains highly capable, with High settings delivering 67 FPS and Medium hitting 85 FPS. The 4K results, however, are marginal at best. The High preset at 4K averages 38 FPS, which is playable but not smooth, while the Ultra preset at 26 FPS is untenable for a fast-paced FPS. The scaling behavior confirms that this is a GPU-limited scenario at 4K, where the RTX 5060 Mobile's performance ceiling is reached regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H is a Meteor Lake architecture processor with 14 cores and 18 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support provide a solid foundation for gaming workloads. In Evolve, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, and the benchmark results suggest it does so effectively at 1080p and 1440p. The high average frame rates at these resolutions, particularly 164 FPS at 1080p Low, indicate that the CPU is not a limiting factor in these scenarios.

The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 11875.5 points in multi-core and 1700 points in single-core tests. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 22422, and its single-thread score is 3521. These figures place the processor at the 81st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29093. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, has an average score of 29123, representing a negligible 0.1% difference. This indicates that the Core Ultra 5 135H's processing power is competitive with desktop-class chips from a previous generation.

The CPU's performance is more relevant when examining the frame rate drops at lower resolutions. The fact that the average FPS at 1080p Low is 164, which is nearly three times the 4K Ultra result, suggests that the CPU can push frames efficiently when the GPU is not overwhelmed. However, the data also shows that the CPU does not fully compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. The 62% drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across settings, implying that the bottleneck shifts entirely to the GPU as resolution increases. The CPU's 28 W TDP and 7 nm process node contribute to its efficiency, but its performance is ultimately secondary to the GPU's rendering capabilities in this title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 100 FPS, which is excellent for a smooth experience. However, the Low preset pushes this to 164 FPS, which is beneficial for competitive play on high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset offers a balanced 127 FPS, while Ultra drops to 69 FPS. For a 60 FPS target, even Ultra settings at 1080p are viable, but for maximum responsiveness, the Low or Medium presets are preferable.

At 1440p, the data suggests that the High preset is the sweet spot, averaging 67 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. The Medium preset offers a higher 85 FPS, which is better for fast-paced action, while Low achieves 110 FPS for those prioritizing frame rate above all else. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making it less desirable. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, Medium or High settings at 1440p are recommended.

The 4K resolution is where the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is playable, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and maximum of 56, indicating inconsistent performance. The High preset drops to 38 FPS, and Ultra to 26 FPS. The data indicates that 4K gaming is possible only on Low settings, and even then, it is borderline. For the best experience, users should target 1440p with High or Medium settings, or 1080p with Ultra for maximum visual quality without sacrificing playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile combination ranks 2460 out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places the system in the lower-middle tier of all possible configurations, which is surprising given the individual component performance. The CPU's 81st percentile ranking and the GPU's 67th percentile ranking suggest that both components are above average, but the combination's overall rank is dragged down by the game's specific demands and the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

The GPU's nearest rivals provide context for its performance. The RTX 5060 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 22435, which is 0.5% below the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (22549) and 1.3% below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (22729). It is 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5700 (22170) and 1.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6700S (22154). This indicates that the RTX 5060 Mobile is a mid-range performer, with its closest competitor being the previous-generation RTX 4060 Mobile, which is slightly faster on average.

The combo's rank of 2460 out of 3700 suggests that many other combinations, particularly those with higher-end GPUs, achieve better performance in Evolve. The data indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck, as its performance is comparable to much stronger desktop parts. Instead, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus likely limit the system's ability to handle the game's textures and effects at higher settings and resolutions. This ranking reflects that while the combo is competent for 1080p and 1440p gaming, it is not optimized for 4K or ultra-high settings, which many other tested combos can handle more effectively.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 3328 shading units, 104 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 952 MHz and a boost clock of 1455 MHz, with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's FP32 performance is 9.684 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, making it a modern part capable of handling contemporary game features. However, its 45 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate it is designed for thinner laptops, which may constrain its sustained performance.

In Evolve, the GPU's role is critical, as the game's rendering demands scale significantly with resolution and settings. The benchmark data shows that the RTX 5060 Mobile is the limiting factor at 4K, where even Low settings only achieve 63 FPS. The GPU's performance at 1080p is strong, with 164 FPS on Low settings, but this drops rapidly as resolution increases. The 62% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K across settings suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are insufficient for 4K workloads.

The GPU's benchmark scores highlight its mid-range positioning. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 3013.5 points, and in Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 96969. Its Passmark G3D score is 18852, and its Passmark GPU Compute score is 7607. These figures place the GPU at the 67th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22435. The GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, has an average score of 22549, which is 0.5% higher, indicating comparable performance. The data suggests that the RTX 5060 Mobile is a capable 1080p and 1440p GPU, but its 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are not suited for 4K gaming in Evolve.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 164 FPS, while Medium averages 127 FPS with a minimum of 108 and maximum of 146. The High preset averages 100 FPS, and Ultra drops to 69 FPS. These results show that the system is well-suited for 1080p gaming, with all presets achieving at least 69 FPS. The data indicates that players can choose between maximum visual quality at 69 FPS or competitive frame rates at 164 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU's growing burden. The Low preset averages 110 FPS, Medium averages 85 FPS (minimum 73, maximum 98), and High averages 67 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This resolution is a good balance for the combo, with High settings providing a playable experience and Low or Medium offering higher refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is the only viable option for 4K gaming. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and maximum of 56, indicating inconsistent performance. The High preset averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a recommended resolution for this combo, as even Low settings are borderline, and higher presets result in sub-30 FPS experiences.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution, with all presets achieving at least 69 FPS. At 2560x1440, High settings average 67 FPS, which is also playable. 4K is only viable on Low settings, averaging 63 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 Mobile compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 5060 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 22435, which is 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (22549) and 1.3% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (22729). It is 1.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 (22170).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K. The average FPS drops from 164 at 1080p Low to 63 at 4K Low, a 62% reduction, which is consistent across settings. The CPU's performance is sufficient, as it ranks at the 81st percentile.

Q: What settings should I use for 1440p gaming?

A: For 1440p, the Medium preset offers an average of 85 FPS, while High averages 67 FPS. Both are playable, but Medium provides a higher frame rate. The Ultra preset at 46 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

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

A: This combo ranks 2460 out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve. This places it in the lower-middle tier, indicating that while it is capable for 1080p and 1440p, it does not perform as well as many higher-end configurations.

Q: What is the CPU's multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H scores 11875.5 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7834 points in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 22422, and its average benchmark score is 29093, placing it at the 81st percentile.