Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti combination delivers a performance profile in Evolve that is heavily dictated by resolution and preset selection. The measured data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary scaling factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s 14 cores and 14 threads provide ample headroom to prevent bottlenecking at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the FPS measurements, component roles, and ranking context for this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern of FPS degradation as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, indicating that the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 120 FPS at 1080p to 80 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 40 FPS, and then further down to 46 FPS at 4K. This represents a 61.7% performance loss from the lowest to the highest resolution at the same preset, which is a substantial hit that points directly to the RTX 3060 Ti's pixel throughput limits.

The scaling behavior becomes even more pronounced when examining the Low preset. At 1920x1080 Low, the system achieves 197 FPS, which drops to 132 FPS at 2560x1440 and then to 75 FPS at 3840x2160. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 61.9%, nearly identical to the High preset’s scaling. This similarity suggests that the GPU’s rendering pipeline, rather than memory bandwidth or CPU limitations, is the dominant factor across all settings, as the relative performance loss remains consistent regardless of the graphics load.

Medium settings show a more moderate scaling pattern, with 153 FPS at 1080p, 103 FPS at 1440p, and 58 FPS at 4K. The jump from 1080p to 1440p is a 32.7% reduction, while the jump from 1440p to 4K is a 43.7% reduction. This non-linear scaling indicates that the 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 256-bit bus of the RTX 3060 Ti begin to struggle more severely as the pixel count approaches 4K, where the demand for texture fetch and fill rate increases exponentially.

Ultra settings exhibit the steepest curve, with 83 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and a playable minimum of 32 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is a 61.4% drop from 1080p Ultra, reinforcing that the GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 16.20 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are insufficient to maintain high frame rates when both resolution and visual complexity are maximized. The data strongly suggests that for 4K gaming, users must sacrifice preset quality to stay above 60 FPS, as even Medium settings only produce 58 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This processor, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC, provides the computational backbone for this combo. In the context of Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, the CPU’s role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic updates, and the measured FPS data indicates it does so without becoming a bottleneck.

At 1080p Low, the system produces 197 FPS, which is a frame rate high enough to stress CPU single-thread performance. The Core Ultra 5 235’s boost clock of 5.00 GHz, combined with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085, suggests it has the raw speed to handle this load. The fact that the FPS drops to 132 at 1440p and 75 at 4K confirms that the GPU, not the CPU, is the limiting factor, as the CPU workload does not scale with resolution.

Benchmark results for the CPU show a Passmark single-thread score of 4516 and a Passmark multithread score of 37816. The multithread score is notably high, placing the chip in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, but in gaming, the single-thread performance is more critical. The 14 threads are more than sufficient for Evolve, which is not known for heavy multi-threading, and the data shows no evidence of CPU-related frame drops or stutters, as the minimum FPS values at Medium settings (130 FPS at 1080p, 87 FPS at 1440p, 50 FPS at 4K) are all proportionally close to their averages.

The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate memory throughput for game assets. While the processor’s TDP is 65 W, its performance in this title is clearly sufficient, as the FPS scaling is purely a function of GPU load. The nearest rivals to this CPU, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with delta percentages of 0.1% and -0.1% respectively, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 235 is competitively positioned for such workloads.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Evolve to maintain a stable 60+ FPS?*

A: The measured data shows that 2560x1440 at High settings yields 80 FPS, and 1920x1080 at Ultra yields 83 FPS. At 4K, only the Low preset achieves 75 FPS, which is above 60 FPS, but Medium and High settings drop to 58 FPS and 46 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the RTX 3060 Ti’s 8 GB VRAM affect 4K performance in this game?

A: At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 32, which is the lowest measured result. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth appears insufficient for the demands of 4K Ultra, as even Medium settings only reach 58 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The system achieves 197 FPS at 1080p Low, which is the highest frame rate in the dataset. Since the FPS drops as resolution increases, the GPU is the limiting component, not the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 235’s 5.00 GHz boost clock provides adequate single-thread performance.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings produce 103 FPS, while High settings produce 80 FPS. This represents a 23 FPS difference (22.3% reduction) from Medium to High, showing that the High preset adds significant GPU load without a proportional visual benefit.

*Q: How does this combo’s ranking compare to other tested systems in Evolve?*

A: The combo ranks 1398 out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the middle of the pack. This ranking is consistent with the RTX 3060 Ti’s 59th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 89th percentile, indicating the GPU is the weaker link.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming at all?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produce 75 FPS. At Medium settings, the average is 58 FPS, which is playable but below 60 FPS, and at High and Ultra settings, the frame rates of 46 FPS and 32 FPS respectively are not smooth for a fast-paced FPS title.

How This Combo Ranks

In Evolve, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1398 out of 2872 tested combos. This places it in the 51.3rd percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of the configurations tested. The ranking is a composite of the CPU and GPU strengths, and the data shows a clear imbalance between the two components.

The CPU is a top-tier performer, with an average benchmark score of 46062 and a percentile of 89 among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 with a delta of 0.1% and the Intel Core i9-13900HX with a delta of -0.1%, showing that the Core Ultra 5 235 is within a rounding error of the best mobile and desktop chips. In contrast, the RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129 and a percentile of 59 among all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the AMD Radeon RX 9060 at a 0.7% delta. This disparity suggests that the combo’s ranking is dragged down by the GPU.

The rank of 1398 indicates that many combos with weaker CPUs but stronger GPUs outperform this pairing in Evolve. Since the game is GPU-bound at higher resolutions, the GPU’s mid-range status limits the overall result. For example, the RTX 3060 Ti’s Passmark G3D score of 20349 is respectable, but it is not in the same league as top-tier cards. The combo’s position in the middle of the rankings is a direct reflection of this GPU limitation, and users seeking higher rankings would need to pair this CPU with a more powerful graphics card.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, based on the GA104 chip and Ampere architecture, is the primary driver of Evolve’s frame rates in this configuration. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is a critical factor for texture-heavy scenes. The GPU’s boost clock of 1665 MHz and 4864 shading units deliver a FP32 performance of 16.20 TFLOPS, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs.

The measured FPS data clearly illustrates the GPU’s role. At 1080p, the GPU is able to maintain high frame rates across all settings, from 197 FPS at Low to 83 FPS at Ultra. However, as resolution increases, the GPU’s rendering load grows, and the frame rates drop accordingly. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 32, which is a 61.4% reduction from 1080p Ultra. This indicates that the GPU’s pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for 4K at maximum settings.

The GPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060 with a 0.7% performance delta and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M with a -1.4% delta. This places the RTX 3060 Ti in a competitive mid-range segment, but it is clearly not designed for 4K Ultra gaming in modern titles. The 8 GB VRAM is a potential limitation, as Evolve at 4K High may require more than 8 GB, leading to the observed frame rate drops. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support ensures compatibility with modern APIs, but the raw compute power is the deciding factor in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The dataset provides exact average FPS values for three resolutions and four settings, with additional minimum and maximum values for Medium settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 197 FPS on Low, 153 FPS on Medium, 120 FPS on High, and 83 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 130 FPS and a maximum of 176 FPS, indicating a stable frame time distribution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 132 FPS on Low, 103 FPS on Medium, 80 FPS on High, and 56 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution has a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 118 FPS, which suggests occasional dips that could be noticeable on a high-refresh-rate monitor. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 76 FPS, demonstrating the significant impact of preset selection.

At 3840x2160, the averages drop to 75 FPS on Low, 58 FPS on Medium, 46 FPS on High, and 32 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS, showing that even the minimum is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The data reveals that 4K is only viable at Low settings for a consistent 60+ FPS experience, and even then, the 75 FPS average is just above the threshold.

Across all resolutions, the Medium settings provide the most balanced performance, with 153 FPS at 1080p, 103 FPS at 1440p, and 58 FPS at 4K. These values are all within a reasonable range for their respective resolutions, making Medium the default choice for users who want a mix of visual quality and performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance between visual fidelity and frame rate for this combo. At 1080p, Medium produces 153 FPS, which is 33 FPS higher than High and only 44 FPS lower than Low, making it the sweet spot for competitive play. The minimum of 130 FPS at 1080p Medium ensures that frame drops are unlikely to affect gameplay.

At 1440p, Medium is again the recommended setting, with 103 FPS and a minimum of 87 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on 144Hz monitors, while High settings at 80 FPS may cause noticeable stutter on such displays. The 23 FPS difference between Medium and High is not worth the visual upgrade, as the data shows diminishing returns.

For 4K gaming, the recommendation is more nuanced. Low settings at 75 FPS are the only way to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate, but the visual compromise is significant. Medium settings at 58 FPS are playable but may feel less responsive in a fast-paced FPS like Evolve. High and Ultra settings at 46 FPS and 32 FPS respectively are not recommended for serious gameplay, as the frame rates fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

The Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, where it produces 83 FPS, but even this is 70 FPS lower than Low. For users prioritizing visual quality over performance, 1080p Ultra is the maximum setting that still yields a playable frame rate. At 1440p and 4K, the Ultra preset should be avoided, as the 56 FPS and 32 FPS results are too low for a competitive shooter. The data strongly suggests that Medium is the optimal preset across all resolutions, offering the best performance-per-quality trade-off.