Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is clearly capable of delivering smooth gameplay, but with distinct bottlenecks that shift depending on the graphical load. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the CPU and GPU roles, provide specific settings recommendations, and answer common questions about this combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination achieves 160 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 107 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 61 FPS, which is a 62% reduction from the 1080p figure. This steep decline as pixel count increases points directly to the GPU as the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The scaling at High settings tells a similar story. 1080p High yields 97 FPS, 1440p High drops to 65 FPS (a 33% decrease), and 4K High bottoms out at 37 FPS (a 62% decrease from 1080p). This consistent percentage drop across Low and High presets reinforces that the RTX 2060 SUPER's rendering throughput is what governs performance as resolution climbs.

However, the gap between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings (160 FPS vs 107 FPS) is larger than the gap at High settings (97 FPS vs 65 FPS) in absolute terms. This suggests that at lower settings, the CPU has more headroom to feed frames, but the GPU still struggles to keep up with the increased pixel workload. The fact that the 1080p Low result is more than double the 4K Low result (160 vs 61 FPS) is a strong indicator that for a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, users will need to rely on lower graphical presets.

The data indicates that 1440p is the "sweet spot" for this combo. At 1440p Medium, the system produces 83 FPS, which is a substantial jump from the 47 FPS at 4K Medium. This shows that a 2560x1440 monitor is well-matched to the hardware's capabilities, providing a significant performance boost over 4K without the visual compromise of dropping to lower settings. The 4K resolution is playable only at Low settings (61 FPS), while the Ultra preset at 4K falls to just 26 FPS, making it effectively unplayable for smooth action.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores are substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The PassMark single-thread score of 4516 and a high percentile ranking of 89th for all CPUs suggest that this processor has excellent per-core performance, which is crucial for a game like Evolve that relies on strong single-threaded performance for game logic and physics.

The CPU's role in this pairing is primarily to ensure that frames are delivered to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The 1080p Low result of 160 FPS indicates that the CPU is more than capable of handling high frame rates. The processor's boost clock of 5.00 GHz, combined with its 24 MB of shared L3 cache, provides the low-latency, high-frequency execution that Evolve's engine can leverage. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration, as the FPS drops are almost entirely attributable to resolution scaling, which is a GPU workload.

Comparing the Core Ultra 5 235 to its nearest rivals further illustrates its strength. It performs within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303, and is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX. This places it in a performance tier that is more than sufficient for a game from 2015, ensuring that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the component that will dictate the frame rate ceiling in most scenarios. The CPU's 65W TDP and 14 threads mean it has ample compute resources for background tasks without compromising gaming performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the clear performance driver in this setup. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, it has a solid foundation for handling textures and data at various resolutions. The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a PassMark G3D score of 16462, place it at the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, which is a mid-to-high range position. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and AMD Radeon Pro 5700, with performance deltas of less than 0.5%, indicating that the 2060 SUPER remains competitive in its class.

The GPU's role is to render the scene at the target resolution and settings. The measured FPS data shows a clear hierarchy: at 1080p, the GPU can handle even the Ultra preset at 68 FPS, but at 4K, the Ultra preset drops to 26 FPS. This demonstrates that the 2060 SUPER's 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 64 ROPs are insufficient for the massive pixel count of 4K with high visual fidelity.

The 8 GB VRAM is also a factor at higher resolutions and settings. While no specific VRAM-related stutters were measured, the significant drop from 4K Medium (47 FPS) to 4K Ultra (26 FPS) suggests that the GPU is being overwhelmed by both compute and memory demands. The GPU's boost clock of 1650 MHz is standard for the architecture, and the data implies that its performance is limited by raw throughput rather than clock speed. For a game like Evolve, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the RTX 2060 SUPER is a capable card that shines at 1080p and 1440p but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with higher presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all major resolutions and presets.

At 1920x1080, the system is at its strongest. The Low preset delivers an average of 160 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth for fast-paced FPS gameplay. Medium drops to 124 FPS (with a min of 106 and max of 143), still well above the threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors. High settings yield 97 FPS, which is ideal for a 100Hz or 120Hz display. Even the Ultra preset maintains 68 FPS, making 1080p Ultra a completely viable option for a 60Hz experience.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but requires more careful preset selection. The Low preset produces 107 FPS, which is excellent for 1440p gaming. Medium settings deliver 83 FPS, which is very playable on a standard 144Hz monitor, though it won't max out the refresh rate. High settings drop to 65 FPS, which is still smooth for most players. The Ultra preset falls to 45 FPS, which is playable but may feel less fluid in intense combat sequences.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 SUPER is clearly over-matched for high-fidelity gaming. The Low preset achieves 61 FPS, which is just at the cusp of playability for a 60Hz 4K display. Medium settings drop to 47 FPS (with a min of 40 and max of 55), which introduces noticeable stutter and is not ideal for a competitive FPS. High settings fall to 37 FPS, and Ultra is nearly unplayable at 26 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K is only usable with the Low preset, and even then, it's a marginal experience.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 bottlenecking the RTX 2060 SUPER in Evolve?

A: No, the data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The benchmark results show a strong processor with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The 1080p Low result of 160 FPS demonstrates that the CPU can push frames well beyond what the GPU can render at higher resolutions, confirming the GPU is the primary limiter.

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produces an average of 61 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 47 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target. Higher presets at 4K are not recommended, as the Ultra preset only achieves 26 FPS.

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

A: The data suggests 1440p is the best balance. At 1440p Medium, the system averages 83 FPS, and even High settings maintain 65 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining smooth frame rates.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its direct rivals in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has a PassMark G3D score of 16462. It is within 0.4% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, within 0.5% of the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, and within 1.6% of the Intel Arc A770M. This indicates it is a solid mid-range performer.

Q: Is the CPU's performance comparable to other high-end processors?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. It is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, -0.1% delta), showing it competes with top-tier mobile and desktop chips.

Q: What kind of frame times can I expect at 1080p Medium?

A: The measured data shows an average of 124 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS. This tight range indicates a stable experience with minimal frame pacing issues.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's display and performance priorities.

For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual fidelity, as it maintains a playable 68 FPS average. However, for players with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or higher), the High preset at 97 FPS is a better option, as it nearly doubles the frame rate over Ultra while still looking great. The Medium preset at 124 FPS is also an excellent choice for competitive play, offering a very high frame rate with only a slight visual compromise.

For 1440p displays, the Medium preset is the recommended sweet spot, delivering 83 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience while allowing for good graphical detail. Players who prefer higher visual quality can use the High preset at 65 FPS, but should be prepared for a less fluid experience in chaotic scenes. The Low preset at 107 FPS is ideal for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, such as players using 144Hz monitors.

For 4K displays, the options are limited. The Low preset is the only playable configuration, averaging 61 FPS. This should be used by anyone wanting to play at this resolution. The Medium preset at 47 FPS is borderline, but the risk of stuttering below 40 FPS makes it a less desirable choice. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for serious gameplay, as they fall to 37 FPS and 26 FPS respectively.

Ultimately, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and RTX 2060 SUPER combination is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data confirms that 1440p Medium offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, while 1080p High or Medium provides the smoothest experience for high-refresh-rate gaming. For 4K, users should stick to Low settings if they absolutely need that resolution, but the system's strengths are clearly in lower resolutions.