Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS built on the CryEngine, presents a demanding workload that scales predictably with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combo. The data shows a system that is clearly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across three resolutions and four quality presets, examining the role of each component and how this pairing ranks against other tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep and consistent performance drop as resolution increases, a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers 89 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 60 FPS, a 32.6% reduction. Pushing further to 4K (3840x2160) at High settings yields just 34 FPS, which is a 61.8% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This dramatic scaling curve strongly suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary limiting factor once the pixel count rises, as the workload becomes increasingly heavy on the graphics processor.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate goes from 146 FPS at 1080p, to 98 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 56 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 61.6% drop from 1080p to 4K. The consistency of these percentage drops across different presets is telling. Even when the graphics load is lightened, the RTX 2060's capabilities are still being saturated by the resolution increase. The data implies that the GPU's shading units, texture rate, and memory bandwidth are being fully utilized, and the CPU is not a bottleneck in this scenario.

The question the data raises is whether the CPU is ever the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the 146 FPS figure is high, but it does not necessarily indicate a CPU ceiling. To test this, one would compare this result against a more powerful GPU at the same settings. However, within this dataset, the scaling pattern shows no sign of a "plateau" where FPS stops increasing as resolution decreases. The frame rate continues to climb all the way down to 1080p, suggesting that the CPU has more to give, but the GPU runs out of steam first. The 4K Ultra result of 23 FPS underscores the GPU's struggle, as the most demanding preset at the highest resolution results in a nearly unplayable experience, dropping by 62.9% from the 4K High result.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The data shows that 1440p High settings achieves exactly 60 FPS average, while 1440p Medium provides a more comfortable 76 FPS. For the smoothest experience, 1080p High delivers 89 FPS, and 1080p Medium reaches 113 FPS.

Q: Is the game more demanding on the CPU or the GPU in this configuration?

A: Benchmark results indicate the game is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. The FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K (e.g., from 89 to 34 FPS at High settings), while the 10-core CPU appears to have headroom, as frame rates continue to scale up as resolution decreases.

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

A: The data suggests it is not a viable 4K setup for smooth play. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 43, and at High it falls to 34 FPS. The only 4K preset that approaches playability is Low, which yields 56 FPS, but with the lowest visual quality.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 36938 places it nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which has an average score of 36945 (a 0% delta). It is also within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Core i9-12900T, indicating performance parity with these processors in general compute tasks.

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

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 146 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 62 FPS. This is a 57.5% reduction in frame rate, showing that the Ultra preset nearly halves performance compared to Low.

Q: What is the GPU's relative standing compared to other graphics cards in its class?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290 and sits at the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, has a nearly identical score of 15283, while the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is only 0.8% faster in these aggregate benchmarks.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, and it features 20 MB of shared L3 cache. These specifications point to a modern desktop CPU with substantial compute power. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 25891 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3655 in single-core, placing it at the 85th percentile of all CPUs. This high percentile suggests it is a very capable processor for general and multi-threaded workloads.

In the context of Evolve, the CPU's role appears to be one of a capable support player that never becomes the limiting factor. The FPS scaling data is the primary evidence for this. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU can render frames faster than the CPU can process game logic and draw calls. However, the data shows a continuous increase in FPS from 4K to 1440p to 1080p across all settings. For instance, at Medium settings, FPS goes from 43 at 4K to 76 at 1440p to 113 at 1080p. This linear improvement indicates that the CPU is consistently able to feed the GPU with data, and the GPU's rendering speed is what defines the final frame rate.

The 10-core configuration is likely more than sufficient for a game from 2015, which was designed for the quad-core and hexa-core era. The high single-core performance, as evidenced by the 3655 Cinebench R23 score, is particularly relevant for gaming, as many game engines still rely heavily on single-threaded performance for main game logic. The data suggests that even at 1080p Low with 146 FPS, the Ultra 5 225 is not breaking a sweat, and the headroom is likely significant for future titles or more demanding scenarios. This CPU's performance is essentially on par with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Ryzen 5 5500X3D, both of which are well-regarded gaming CPUs, reinforcing its suitability for this role.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Evolve, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 holds the rank of 2247 out of 2872 total combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, meaning that the majority of other CPU-GPU pairings tested in this game deliver higher average frame rates. The rank is a holistic measure that likely incorporates performance across all tested resolutions and settings, giving a single figure for overall capability.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's position in the market. The RTX 2060, while a competent card, only scores at the 58th percentile of all GPUs in the database. It is not a high-end card, and its performance in Evolve is capped by its 6 GB of VRAM and 192-bit memory interface. The CPU, by contrast, is a top-tier performer, sitting at the 85th percentile. The combination of a high-tier CPU with a mid-tier GPU means the system's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's limitations.

The data implies that the combo is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, where it performs admirably. However, its rank of 2247/2872 reflects the fact that many other combinations, likely those with more powerful GPUs, can handle higher resolutions and settings with better fluidity. This ranking serves as a quantitative summary of the system's overall performance potential in Evolve, confirming that it is a capable 1080p machine but not a high-resolution powerhouse. The near-zero deltaPct between the RTX 2060 and its rivals like the GTX 580 and RX 7600 in raw benchmarks suggests that the combo's rank is representative of a specific performance tier rather than an outlier.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend entirely on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a locked 60 FPS experience, the data points to 1440p High as the sweet spot, achieving exactly 60 FPS. However, to provide a buffer for demanding scenes, 1440p Medium is a more robust choice, delivering 76 FPS and avoiding the risk of dropping below 60 FPS. At 1080p, High settings at 89 FPS is excellent, but Medium at 113 FPS offers a significantly smoother experience for fast-paced action, with only a minor visual sacrifice.

For players who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate, the Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, where it still manages 62 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 41 FPS, which may be acceptable for some but is below the 60 FPS target for most. The 4K Ultra preset at 23 FPS is not recommended for gameplay. The Low preset is best reserved for competitive play or for systems aiming for the highest possible refresh rates, offering 146 FPS at 1080p and 98 FPS at 1440p.

The data suggests a clear strategy for the best experience: at 1080p, High or Medium are the best presets, offering a strong balance of visuals and performance. At 1440p, Medium is the recommended preset for a consistently smooth experience, with High being a viable option if you can tolerate an average of exactly 60 FPS. The 4K resolution is not recommended for a quality experience, as even Low settings only achieve 56 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold. The measured minimum FPS values for Medium settings (96 at 1080p, 65 at 1440p, 37 at 4K) indicate that the frame pacing is generally stable, but the average FPS is the primary metric for choosing a preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full dataset provides a comprehensive view of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and RTX 2060's performance in Evolve. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset leads with an average of 146 FPS. Medium follows with 113 FPS, with a minimum of 96 and a maximum of 130 FPS, showing good consistency. High achieves 89 FPS, and the most demanding Ultra preset still manages a respectable 62 FPS. This makes 1080p the clear resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors and for using the more demanding visual presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly, but the system remains capable. The Low preset averages 98 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium provides 76 FPS, with a minimum of 65 and a maximum of 87 FPS, indicating some fluctuation but generally solid performance. High settings hit the 60 FPS target exactly. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 41 FPS, making it a less desirable choice at this resolution. The RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and bandwidth limitations become more apparent here, as the higher pixel count demands more from the memory subsystem.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overburdened. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 56 FPS. Medium drops to 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50 FPS. High falls to 34 FPS, and Ultra is effectively unplayable at 23 FPS. This resolution is not recommended for this hardware, as the frame rates are too low for a smooth experience. The data shows that the RTX 2060 is a 1080p-class card that can handle 1440p with some adjustments, but it is not designed for 4K gaming.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the 12 nm Turing architecture and features 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It has a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz. Its memory subsystem consists of 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. These specifications define its performance ceiling. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 14111 in Passmark G3D and 5488 in Passmark GPU Compute, placing it at the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 15290, which is nearly identical to the GTX 580 and RX 7600.

In Evolve, the GPU's role is the primary determinant of frame rate in most scenarios. The resolution scaling data makes this clear; the FPS drops are directly attributable to the GPU's rendering workload. The 6 GB VRAM is a critical factor. At 1080p and 1440p, it is likely sufficient, but at 4K with High or Ultra textures, it could become a limiting factor, potentially causing stuttering or texture pop-in, although the average FPS data already shows severe performance degradation. The memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s is also a constraint at higher resolutions, as the GPU must move more pixel data to the framebuffer.

The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support and 30 RT cores are future-proofing features, but they are not heavily utilized in a 2015 title like Evolve. The game's engine is likely using DirectX 11, which the RTX 2060 handles well, as evidenced by its Passmark DirectX 11 score of 110. The GPU's performance in this game is a reflection of its raw compute power and memory bandwidth. The data suggests that the GPU is the bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, and even at 1080p, its performance, while good, is what limits the frame rate from going even higher. The near-identical performance of the RTX 2060 to the much older GTX 580 in aggregate benchmarks is curious, but in Evolve, the RTX 2060's modern features and driver optimizations likely give it an edge in real-world gaming, as seen in the 1080p results.