Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a fascinating performance profile in Evolve, a 2015 FPS that is surprisingly demanding at higher settings. The measured data reveals a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with maximum quality. This analysis will explore the CPU and GPU roles, scaling behavior, and optimal settings based strictly on the benchmark results.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor from the Arrow Lake-S architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, and it accesses 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655. In PassMark's multi-thread test, it scores 30459, while its single-thread score reaches 4412. These numbers place the CPU at the 85th percentile among all tested processors.

In the context of Evolve, the CPU's performance appears more than sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 190 FPS, which is a massive 65 FPS jump over the High preset's 115 FPS. This significant headroom suggests that at lower settings, the CPU is capable of pushing frame rates well beyond what the GPU can render at higher quality levels. The 10-core configuration is likely well-suited to the game's threading model, as the 10 threads can handle background simulation tasks without bottlenecking the main render thread.

Comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945, a 0% delta, making them effectively identical in synthetic performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is 0.2% slower, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 0.4% slower, and the Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.5% slower. These minuscule deltas indicate that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combination for Evolve. Even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 31, the bottleneck is clearly the GPU, as the CPU's synthetic scores suggest it could handle more work if the graphics card could deliver it.

The PassMark physics score of 2342 is worth noting, as physics calculations are often a CPU-heavy component in FPS games. While Evolve is not a physics-intensive title by modern standards, this score suggests the processor can handle the game's environmental interactions and monster abilities without issue. The data compression and encryption scores (302811 and 22285 respectively) further indicate a well-rounded CPU that won't create stutters during level streaming or asset loading.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock is 2460 MHz, and its base clock is 1830 MHz. With 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, the card is positioned as an entry-level 40-series offering. Its PassMark G3D score of 19545 places it at the 61st percentile among all GPUs.

The RTX 4060's performance in Evolve reveals a clear pattern: the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 190 FPS, but this drops to 80 FPS at 1080p Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 110 FPS difference, which is a 57.9% reduction in performance. This is a substantial hit, indicating that the GPU is struggling with the higher graphical fidelity options.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes a concern at 4K. At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 56, with a minimum of 48 and maximum of 65. At 4K High, the average drops to 44 FPS. The 8 GB frame buffer is likely being taxed by the game's high-resolution textures, which could cause texture swapping and lower frame rates. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s is modest for 4K gaming, and the 128-bit bus width limits the data throughput available to the renderer.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 is closely matched. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, a -0.2% delta, while the AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% faster, the AMD Radeon Pro 560 is 0.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 is 0.7% faster. These tiny differences in synthetic scores do not reflect the real-world gaming performance gap, as the RTX 4060's architecture and driver support are far more modern. In Evolve, the GPU's DirectX 11 score of 175 and DirectX 12 score of 76 from PassMark indicate reasonable API performance, though these are not directly comparable to in-game results.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear resolution scaling pattern. At 1080p High, the combo averages 115 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 77 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 44 FPS, a 61.7% reduction from 1440p and a 61.7% reduction from 1080p. This consistent ~62% drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more dramatic. 1080p Low yields 190 FPS, 1440p Low yields 127 FPS (a 33.2% drop), and 4K Low yields 72 FPS (a 62.1% drop from 1080p). The fact that even at Low settings the 4K performance is only 72 FPS suggests that the GPU's raw compute power is insufficient for 4K rendering in this title, regardless of settings. The CPU's performance at 1080p Low (190 FPS) demonstrates that it can handle high frame rates, but the GPU cannot maintain that pace at higher resolutions.

Medium settings show a similar trend. At 1080p Medium, the average is 147 FPS with min/max of 125/169. At 1440p Medium, it drops to 99 FPS (min 84, max 114), a 32.7% reduction. At 4K Medium, the average is 56 FPS (min 48, max 65), a 61.9% reduction from 1080p. The consistency of these percentage drops across all settings strongly suggests that the GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution above 1080p. The CPU's compute capability is not being fully utilized at 1440p and 4K, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate drops are purely resolution-driven.

Ultra settings present the most challenging scenario. 1080p Ultra averages 80 FPS, 1440p Ultra averages 54 FPS (a 32.5% drop), and 4K Ultra averages 31 FPS (a 61.3% drop from 1080p). The 31 FPS at 4K Ultra is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the data suggests that this combination is not viable for 4K Ultra in Evolve. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are simply not enough to handle the game's Ultra settings at that resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1533 out of 2872 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the 46.6th percentile of all combos, meaning it outperforms slightly less than half of all tested systems. Given that the CPU is at the 85th percentile and the GPU is at the 61st percentile, the combo's rank is dragged down by the GPU's mid-tier position.

The rank of 1533 out of 2872 suggests that this is a middle-of-the-pack configuration for Evolve. The CPU's high percentile ranking indicates that it is not holding the system back, but the GPU's lower percentile relative to other graphics cards means that many combinations with more powerful GPUs will outperform this setup. The 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus of the RTX 4060 are likely the limiting factors that prevent this combo from ranking higher.

In practical terms, this rank means that gamers with this combo will have a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p with medium-to-high settings, but they should not expect to compete with systems featuring higher-end GPUs. The combo's 4K performance is comparatively weak, with only the Medium preset achieving a playable 56 FPS average. The data indicates that the GPU is the component that should be upgraded first if higher resolutions or settings are desired.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 115 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 80 FPS, still playable but with diminishing returns. For a balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 1080p is the best choice, as it provides a comfortable frame rate headroom while maintaining good graphical fidelity.

At 1440p, the High preset achieves 77 FPS, which is acceptable for most gamers. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 99 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS, making it the safest choice for competitive play or for gamers sensitive to frame rate drops. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 54 FPS, which is borderline playable but may feel sluggish in fast-paced encounters. The data suggests that Medium at 1440p is the sweet spot, as it provides a significant frame rate buffer above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 4K, only the Medium preset is viable, with an average of 56 FPS and a minimum of 48 FPS. The Low preset at 4K achieves 72 FPS, which is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS at this resolution. However, the visual quality reduction from Low settings may be too drastic for some players. The High preset at 4K (44 FPS) and Ultra preset at 4K (31 FPS) are not recommended for smooth gameplay. For 4K, the Medium preset is the best compromise, as it maintains playable frame rates while preserving some graphical detail. Gamers who prioritize frame rate over visuals could opt for Low at 4K for a more responsive experience.

FAQ

*Q: Is this combo capable of running Evolve at 4K?*

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, which yield an average of 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS. The Low preset at 4K achieves 72 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 44 FPS and 31 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: 1080p is the best resolution, as it delivers 115 FPS at High settings and 80 FPS at Ultra. 1440p is also viable, with 77 FPS at High and 99 FPS at Medium.

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

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, which is 0% different from the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945), 0.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018), 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093), and 0.5% faster than the Intel Core i9-12900T (37112).

Q: What is the GPU's relative performance ranking?

A: The RTX 4060 has a PassMark G3D score of 19545, placing it at the 61st percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 17639, which is 0.3% slower than the AMD Radeon 780M but 0.2% faster than the AMD Radeon HD 7790.

Q: Why does the FPS drop so much from 1080p to 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The FPS drops by approximately 62% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, indicating that the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K rendering in this game.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck at 1440p and 4K. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 190 FPS, demonstrating the CPU's capability. The consistent ~62% FPS drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings confirms the GPU is the limiting component.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080:

• Low: Average 190 FPS
• Medium: Average 147 FPS, Minimum 125 FPS, Maximum 169 FPS
• High: Average 115 FPS
• Ultra: Average 80 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: Average 127 FPS
• Medium: Average 99 FPS, Minimum 84 FPS, Maximum 114 FPS
• High: Average 77 FPS
• Ultra: Average 54 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: Average 72 FPS
• Medium: Average 56 FPS, Minimum 48 FPS, Maximum 65 FPS
• High: Average 44 FPS
• Ultra: Average 31 FPS

The data reveals a consistent pattern across all resolutions: Medium settings provide the most stable frame time experience, as evidenced by the only recorded minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the 125-169 FPS range indicates smooth performance with occasional dips. At 1440p Medium, the 84-114 FPS range is still solid. At 4K Medium, the 48-65 FPS range shows that the system can dip below 60 FPS during demanding scenes.

The scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution is substantial. At 1080p, the difference between Low (190 FPS) and Ultra (80 FPS) is 110 FPS. At 1440p, the difference is 73 FPS (127 to 54). At 4K, the difference is 41 FPS (72 to 31). This diminishing absolute difference at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU is the primary constraint, as the relative percentage drop from Low to Ultra is similar (~58-57%) across all resolutions.

The combo's rank of 1533 out of 2872 indicates that while this system is not top-tier, it is far from the bottom. The measured data shows a versatile configuration that can handle Evolve at 1080p with high refresh rates and at 1440p with good frame rates. The 4K experience is limited to Medium settings for acceptable performance, but the game remains playable. The RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM is the weakest link for high-resolution gaming, while the Core Ultra 5 225's strong synthetic scores suggest it has headroom for future upgrades.