Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetric FPS, presents an interesting profile for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination. The measured frame rates show a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher settings, but which reveals significant CPU headroom at lower resolutions and settings. The data indicates this pairing is exceptionally capable, ranking in the 190th spot out of 2872 tested combos, placing it in the top 7% of all configurations. The benchmark results show that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary driver of performance in most scenarios, while the Core Ultra 5 235 provides ample processing power to avoid becoming a bottleneck, even at high frame rates.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and its 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps feed the 14 cores. In the context of Evolve, a game from 2015, the CPU's role is less about raw multi-threaded throughput and more about sustaining high single-thread performance to feed the GPU. The data strongly suggests the Core Ultra 5 235 excels at this task. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4516 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085 are robust figures that translate to strong per-core performance, which is critical for the game's main simulation thread.

Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not a limiting factor at 1080p, where the system achieves an average of 333 FPS on Low settings. This high frame rate reflects the CPU's ability to process game logic and issue draw calls quickly. The processor's overall average benchmark score of 46062 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (0.1% slower), showing it is in elite company. While the CPU has 14 threads, the game's engine likely doesn't scale perfectly across all of them, but the high boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that the single-threaded performance is there when needed.

The architecture's efficiency is also notable, with a 65 W TDP, but the performance data shows that power draw is not a concern for achieving high frame rates. The fact that the system can push from 140 FPS at 1080p Ultra to 333 FPS at 1080p Low shows that when the GPU load is reduced, the CPU can handle a massive increase in frame generation. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 indicates that the CPU has substantial headroom for multi-threaded tasks, but in Evolve, it is the single-core might that allows the RTX 4080 SUPER to stretch its legs. The data shows that the Core Ultra 5 235 is a balanced partner, providing the necessary foundation for the GPU to perform at its peak without holding it back.

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

For the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and RTX 4080 SUPER combination in Evolve, the measured data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings. At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 203 FPS, which is already exceptionally smooth for a fast-paced FPS. However, the jump to Medium yields 258 FPS, a 27% increase, and Low produces 333 FPS, a 64% increase over High. While these higher frame rates are impressive, the visual fidelity trade-off may not be worth it for most users. The Ultra preset at 1080p still achieves a very playable 140 FPS, suggesting that for competitive play, High is the sweet spot, offering a significant visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining frame rates well above the refresh rate of most monitors.

At 1440p, the story is similar. The High preset delivers 136 FPS, which is excellent for a high-resolution experience. Medium is again a strong option at 173 FPS, while Ultra drops to 94 FPS. For a game like Evolve, where tracking fast-moving monsters is key, the 136 FPS at High is the recommended balance, providing both clarity and smoothness. The data for 4K shows that High settings are the most viable option for a premium experience, as it maintains an average of 77 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K falls to 54 FPS, which is still playable but approaches the lower limit for a competitive shooter. The Medium preset at 4K offers 99 FPS, but the visual step down from High is often more noticeable at higher resolutions.

The best experience per the measured rows is the High preset at 1440p, which balances the visual quality of the game with a high frame rate of 136 FPS. It provides a 45% improvement in frame rate over the Ultra preset at the same resolution, while offering a substantial visual upgrade over Medium. At 1080p, High is also the recommended setting, as the 203 FPS average is more than sufficient for any display, and it avoids the diminishing returns of the Ultra preset. The data shows that the High preset consistently offers the best frame rate-to-visual quality ratio across all resolutions, making it the default recommendation for this hardware combination. The Ultra preset is only advisable for users with high refresh rate displays at 1080p who prioritize maximum visual fidelity over raw frame rate.

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

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K in Evolve reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario, with the RTX 4080 SUPER being the primary determinant of frame rates. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 203 FPS at 1080p to 136 FPS at 1440p, a 33% reduction, and then to 77 FPS at 4K, a 62% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is being increasingly loaded as resolution increases, with the CPU having ample headroom to continue feeding it data. The fact that the 4K High score of 77 FPS is still very smooth shows the sheer power of the RTX 4080 SUPER.

The scaling pattern is even more telling at the Low and Ultra presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 333 FPS at 1080p to 224 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop) and then to 127 FPS at 4K (a 62% drop from 1080p). This consistent percentage drop across settings points to a purely GPU-bound workload. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller percentage drop when moving from 1440p to 4K, as the CPU load would plateau. Instead, the data shows a linear relationship with pixel count, confirming that the GPU's fill rate and shading power are the bottlenecks.

The Ultra preset shows the largest absolute drop, from 140 FPS at 1080p to 94 FPS at 1440p (a 33% drop) and then to 54 FPS at 4K (a 61% drop from 1080p). This demonstrates that even the most demanding settings are not CPU-limited at any resolution. The RTX 4080 SUPER, with its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth, is the component that dictates performance. The data conclusively shows that the Core Ultra 5 235 is not a limiting factor at any resolution or settings combination tested. The CPU's high single-thread score ensures that it can keep up with the GPU's demands, and the bottleneck is always the graphics card's rendering capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p with High settings provides the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, achieving an average of 136 FPS. This frame rate is high enough for smooth gameplay while taking full advantage of the GPU's capabilities.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: The data indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 333 FPS, showing the CPU can handle a very high frame rate. The consistent FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 4K across all settings confirm that the GPU is the limiting component.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its direct predecessor, the RTX 4080?

A: The benchmark data shows the RTX 4080 SUPER has an average score of 54209, while its nearest rival, the RTX 4080, has an average score of 54247. This means the RTX 4080 SUPER is essentially on par with the RTX 4080, with a negligible 0.1% performance difference.

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 4K with high settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 77 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings. This is a very playable frame rate for a fast-paced FPS, making 4K High a viable and recommended option for this combination.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Medium and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 1440p achieves an average of 173 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 94 FPS. This represents a 45.7% performance increase for Medium over Ultra, a significant jump that may be worthwhile for competitive play.

Q: Does the CPU's multi-threading capability matter for Evolve?

A: While the Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, the performance data suggests that single-thread performance is more critical. The high frame rates at low resolutions indicate strong single-core speed, and the game's engine likely does not fully utilize all 14 threads, but the CPU's overall headroom ensures smooth performance.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the undisputed performance driver in this Evolve configuration. It is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a substantial memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This memory configuration is more than sufficient for Evolve, even at 4K Ultra settings, ensuring that texture streaming and asset loading are not bottlenecks. The GPU's high boost clock of 2550 MHz, combined with its 10240 shading units, allows it to process the game's graphics workload with ease.

The benchmark results show the RTX 4080 SUPER's dominance. Its PassMark G3D score of 34245 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6600 place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows that it is nearly identical in performance to the standard RTX 4080, with a delta of just -0.1%, but it is significantly ahead of other rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which is 2.7% slower. The GPU's raw compute power is evident in its FP32 performance of 52.22 TFLOPS, which translates directly into high fill rates for the game's environments and character models.

In Evolve, the GPU's role is crucial for rendering the detailed monster and hunter models, as well as the dense vegetation and particle effects. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is taxed to its limit, producing 54 FPS, but at 4K High, it easily manages 77 FPS, showing that the settings have a significant impact on its workload. The 16 GB VRAM is a future-proofing asset, ensuring that even with high-resolution textures, the GPU will not run out of memory. The data shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end card that provides a premium experience in this game, with the Core Ultra 5 235 serving as a capable partner that allows it to perform to its full potential.

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

The following is a detailed look at the exact measured frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination in Evolve.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Ultra: The average frame rate is 140 FPS. This is the most demanding preset at this resolution and still provides a very smooth experience.
• High: The average frame rate is 203 FPS. This is a 45% improvement over Ultra, making it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate displays.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 258 FPS, with a minimum of 220 FPS and a maximum of 297 FPS. This shows very consistent performance.
• Low: The average frame rate is 333 FPS. This is the highest measured score in the entire dataset, indicating the CPU and GPU have massive headroom at this resolution.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Ultra: The average frame rate is 94 FPS. This remains highly playable and is a strong option for a high-resolution, high-fidelity experience.
• High: The average frame rate is 136 FPS. This is the recommended setting for 1440p, offering a balanced experience.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 173 FPS, with a minimum of 147 FPS and a maximum of 199 FPS. The frame times are stable, making for a smooth experience.
• Low: The average frame rate is 224 FPS. The system still delivers a very high frame rate, showing the GPU is not struggling.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Ultra: The average frame rate is 54 FPS. This is the most demanding scenario and approaches the lower limit for a competitive shooter.
• High: The average frame rate is 77 FPS. This is the best settings option for 4K, providing a smooth and visually impressive experience.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS. This is a viable alternative to High if a higher frame rate is desired.
• Low: The average frame rate is 127 FPS. Even at 4K, the Low preset produces a frame rate that is well above the standard 60 FPS threshold.