Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination delivers a playable experience in Evolve, but the data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by the GPU at higher resolutions. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern of scaling that shifts the bottleneck between the processor and the graphics card depending on the settings and resolution chosen. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data to determine where this combo stands and how to optimize it.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the growing load on the graphics card. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 176 FPS, a figure that indicates the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with plenty of work. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 118 FPS, a 33% reduction, and at 4K Low the average falls to 67 FPS, which is a 62% drop from the 1080p result. This steep decline as resolution increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling pattern becomes even more telling when examining the High settings tier. At 1080p High, the average is 107 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 72 FPS, a 33% decrease. At 4K High, the average plummets to 41 FPS, which is a 62% reduction from the 1080p High figure. The consistency of the percentage drops between the Low and High settings at each resolution step suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting factor throughout the entire test range.

The Ultra settings tier reinforces this conclusion. The 1080p Ultra average is 74 FPS, which drops to 50 FPS at 1440p (a 32% reduction) and then to 28 FPS at 4K (a 62% reduction from 1080p). The fact that the 4K Ultra score is nearly unplayable at 28 FPS shows that the Radeon RX 9060’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are saturated. The data indicates that the CPU has sufficient headroom to push high frame rates at 1080p, but the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck as pixel count increases, particularly when the graphics preset demands more from the rendering pipeline.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 92 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS.

Q: How does the 1080p Low result compare to the 4K Low result?

A: The 1080p Low average is 176 FPS, while the 4K Low average is 67 FPS. This represents a 62% reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest resolution to the highest.

Q: Is the combo ranked in the top half of tested configurations for this game?

A: No. The combo ranks 1664 out of 2872 total tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded across all tested settings?

A: The highest recorded average is 176 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Does the GPU outperform its nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores?

A: The Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014. It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which scores 16129, by 0.7%. It also lags behind the AMD Radeon R9 370X and RX 7700, which score 15862 and 15852 respectively, by 1%.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average is 28 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture using the Navi 44 chip, manufactured on a 4 nm process. The card features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2990 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. The GPU’s performance in Evolve is directly tied to these specifications, particularly the memory bandwidth and the 8 GB frame buffer.

The benchmark results show that the RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, has an average score of 16129, which is 0.7% higher. The deltaPct values against the Radeon R9 370X and RX 7700 are both 1%, meaning the RX 9060 is 1% slower than those cards in the average benchmark score.

In Evolve, the GPU’s role is decisive at 4K resolution. The 8 GB frame buffer appears to be sufficient for the game’s textures, but the 288.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is likely a limiting factor when rendering at high pixel counts. The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS suggests that the card’s shading units and ROPs are overwhelmed by the workload. The card’s pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits, and the measured results show that these limits are approached at lower resolutions but cannot sustain playable frame rates at 4K with maximum settings. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary performance ceiling for this combo, with the CPU providing ample support. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (176 FPS) is well above what the GPU can sustain at higher resolutions, confirming that the graphics card is the component that dictates the overall performance envelope.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average at 176 FPS. The Medium preset produces an average of 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. The High preset averages 107 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 74 FPS. This tier at 1080p shows a consistent decline from Low to Ultra, with the Medium preset providing a significant boost over High and Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 118 FPS. The Medium preset averages 92 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS. The High preset averages 72 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 50 FPS. The 1440p results show a similar pattern to 1080p, but the frame rates are lower across the board, reflecting the increased pixel count. The Medium preset remains a strong option here, offering a 28% improvement over High and an 84% improvement over Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 67 FPS. The Medium preset averages 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS. The High preset averages 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 28 FPS. The 4K results are the most demanding, with only the Low preset providing a frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset is playable at 52 FPS, but the High and Ultra presets fall below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring significant settings reductions to maintain acceptable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1664 out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve. This places the combo in the 58th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning that 58% of the combos in the database outperform it. This is a mid-pack ranking, indicating that while the combo is not a top-tier performer, it is also not among the weakest.

The CPU’s individual performance helps contextualize this ranking. The Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, has an average score of 36945, which is essentially identical with a deltaPct of 0%. The CPU also matches the Ryzen 5 5500X3D, which scores 37018 and is 0.2% faster, and the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, which scores 37093 and is 0.4% faster. The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112, which is 0.5% faster. These results show that the CPU is a strong performer, but the combo’s overall rank in Evolve is dragged down by the GPU.

The GPU’s individual rank is much lower. The Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. This is a significant gap compared to the CPU’s 85th percentile ranking. The deltaPct values against its rivals show that the GPU is only slightly slower than the RTX 3060 Ti, but the overall combo rank in Evolve suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor. The data indicates that the CPU is capable of supporting a more powerful GPU, but the current pairing results in a mid-pack ranking for this game.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best experience for this combo. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. The 137 FPS average is well above the 107 FPS of High and the 74 FPS of Ultra, while the minimum of 116 FPS ensures smooth gameplay without noticeable stutters. The Low preset offers a higher frame rate at 176 FPS, but the visual quality sacrifice may not be worth the performance gain on a 1080p display.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is again the best option. The 92 FPS average is a substantial improvement over the 72 FPS of High and the 50 FPS of Ultra. The minimum of 78 FPS is still playable, and the maximum of 105 FPS shows that the combo can handle bursts of activity. The Low preset offers 118 FPS, but the Medium preset provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 3840x2160, the settings recommendations change due to the GPU’s limitations. The Low preset is the only option that provides a frame rate above 60 FPS, averaging 67 FPS. The Medium preset averages 52 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced FPS action. The High and Ultra presets, which average 41 FPS and 28 FPS respectively, are not recommended for competitive play. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only viable choice if smooth frame rates are the priority. The Medium preset could be used for slower-paced gameplay, but the 44 FPS minimum may cause noticeable dips in performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The CPU has a 20 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The CPU’s benchmark results show that it is a capable processor for gaming, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655.

In Evolve, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with frame data and process game logic. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (176 FPS) indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The 10 cores and 10 threads are sufficient for the game’s multi-threaded workload, and the high boost clock of 4.90 GHz ensures strong single-thread performance. The CPU’s Passmark single-thread score of 4412 confirms its ability to handle the primary game thread.

The CPU’s performance relative to its rivals is strong. Its average benchmark score of 36938 places it in the 85th percentile, and it is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores 36945. The deltaPct values of 0% against the 5600F and -0.2% against the 5500X3D show that the Core Ultra 5 225 is competitive with these processors. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution changes, indicating that the GPU is the component that determines the final performance in Evolve. The CPU provides ample headroom for the GPU to operate, and the combo’s mid-pack ranking is primarily due to the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions.