Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 pairing in Evolve presents a fascinating case study in system bottlenecking. The data reveals a configuration where the CPU’s mobile-oriented design and the GPU’s raw power clash, producing a performance curve that heavily favors lower resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured frames to show exactly where the limits lie.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz are respectable for a mobile chip, but its 28 W TDP and BGA 2049 socket classify it firmly as a laptop component. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps feed the 22 threads in threaded workloads.

In Evolve, a 2015 FPS, the CPU’s impact is most visible at lower resolutions and settings where the GPU is not the primary constraint. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 187 FPS, which is the highest recorded average across all tested configurations. This number suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the RTX 5070 with enough data to maintain high frame rates, but it also hints at a ceiling. Comparing the 1080p Low result to the 1440p Low result of 125 FPS shows a 62 FPS drop, which is a 33% reduction. This drop indicates that the GPU is starting to become a factor, but the CPU’s role as the initial bottleneck at 1080p is plausible given the processor’s mobile pedigree.

The CPU’s benchmark scores contextualize its capabilities. In Cinebench R23, it scores 15028 multi-core and 1743 single-core. These numbers place it at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32697. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T, which scores 32707 (0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which scores 32662 (0.1% delta). This parity suggests that the 155H is a solid mid-range performer, but not a top-tier desktop replacement. In the context of Evolve, the CPU’s 16 cores and 22 threads are likely overkill for a game from 2015, but the clock speeds and power limits may prevent it from sustaining the highest frame rates at 1080p without GPU assistance.

The PassMark multi-thread score of 24873 and single-thread score of 3468 further illustrate this balance. The single-thread performance is crucial for older games like Evolve, which often rely on fewer cores. The 155H’s single-thread score is competitive, but its 4.80 GHz boost clock is not exceptional by desktop standards. This means that at 1080p, where the GPU has headroom, the CPU might not be able to push beyond the 187 FPS mark. The data does not show a 1080p Ultra result above 79 FPS, which suggests that the GPU is still doing most of the heavy lifting, but the CPU’s limitations could be exposed if the settings were lowered further.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Evolve?

A: The highest average FPS is 187, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697, which is 0% different from the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707) and 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (32662).

Q: At which resolution and settings does the system drop below 60 FPS?

A: At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 43, and at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, it drops to 30. At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, it averages 53 FPS.

Q: What is the GPU’s VRAM capacity and memory type?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 1567 out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database.

Q: Is there a measurable frame time variance at any settings?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 145, with a minimum of 123 and a maximum of 167, showing a 44 FPS variance. At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average is 55, with a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 64.

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

The resolution scaling pattern in Evolve is stark and reveals a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. Starting at 1080p Low, the system produces 187 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low reduces this to 125 FPS, a 62 FPS drop (33%). At 4K Low, the frame rate falls further to 71 FPS, which is a 54 FPS drop from 1440p (43%) and a 116 FPS drop from 1080p (62%). This steep decline as resolution increases is a clear indicator that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher pixel counts.

The High settings tell a similar story. At 1080p High, the average is 114 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 76 FPS, a 38 FPS reduction (33%). At 4K High, the average falls to 43 FPS, which is a 33 FPS drop from 1440p (43%) and a 71 FPS drop from 1080p (62%). The consistent percentage drops across Low and High settings suggest that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints, not the CPU. The RTX 5070’s 672.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 192-bit bus are being saturated as resolution increases.

The Ultra settings exhibit the most extreme scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the system averages 79 FPS. This drops to 53 FPS at 1440p Ultra, a 26 FPS reduction (33%). At 4K Ultra, it plummets to 30 FPS, which is a 23 FPS drop from 1440p (43%) and a 49 FPS drop from 1080p (62%). The fact that the percentage drops are nearly identical across all settings (33% for 1080p to 1440p, 43% for 1440p to 4K) indicates that the GPU’s performance scaling is uniform, and the CPU is not introducing a bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data implies that Evolve is heavily GPU-limited at 4K, with the RTX 5070 unable to maintain playable frame rates above Low settings.

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

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for Evolve depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1080p, the High settings at 114 FPS provide a comfortable margin, and even Ultra at 79 FPS is playable. The Medium setting at 145 FPS offers the best balance for high-refresh-rate monitors, as it stays well above 120 FPS with a minimum of 123 FPS. At 1080p, the system is capable of handling all presets without dropping below 79 FPS, so the choice comes down to visual fidelity versus frame rate headroom.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more nuanced. The High preset at 76 FPS is the highest setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 97 FPS provides a better margin, while the Low preset at 125 FPS is ideal for competitive play. The Ultra preset at 53 FPS dips below the 60 FPS threshold, which could lead to noticeable stuttering on standard displays. For 1440p, the Medium or High presets are recommended, depending on whether the user prioritizes visual quality or frame rate stability.

At 4K, the options are limited. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 55 FPS is borderline, with a minimum of 47 FPS that could cause visible hitches. The High preset at 43 FPS and Ultra at 30 FPS are not recommended for a playable experience. Based on the data, 4K users should stick to Low settings to maintain a playable frame rate, or consider dropping to 1440p with High settings for a better visual experience. The measured results show that Medium at 4K offers a 55 FPS average, which is a compromise between visual quality and performance, but the 47 FPS minimum is a risk.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 ranks 1567 out of 2872 tested combinations in Evolve. This places it in the 45th percentile, meaning that 45% of tested combos perform worse, and 55% perform better. This mid-pack ranking is surprising given the RTX 5070’s high-end GPU status, which has an average benchmark score of 40377 and sits at the 82nd percentile of all GPUs. The GPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318, 0.1% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063, 0.8% delta), which are professional workstation cards, not gaming-focused.

The ranking suggests that the CPU is holding the combo back in Evolve. While the GPU is capable of high frame rates, the CPU’s mobile architecture and 28 W TDP might be limiting the system’s ability to reach the top tier of performance. The CPU’s own ranking is at the 83rd percentile, which is higher than the combo’s in-game rank. This discrepancy implies that the CPU is not the sole bottleneck, but its interaction with the GPU in this specific game results in a lower-than-expected overall ranking.

The combo’s rank of 1567 out of 2872 is below the median, indicating that many other CPU-GPU pairs achieve better results in Evolve. This is likely due to the game’s age and its reliance on single-threaded performance, where the 155H’s 4.80 GHz boost clock is adequate but not exceptional. In contrast, the GPU’s high benchmark scores do not translate directly to in-game performance, as Evolve’s engine may not utilize the RTX 5070’s full capabilities, such as its 30.87 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 80 ROPs. The data shows that a high-end GPU paired with a mid-range mobile CPU can produce a mediocre result in a game that is not heavily optimized for modern multi-core processors.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 187 FPS on Low, 145 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 123 and maximum of 167), 114 FPS on High, and 79 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show a clear scaling pattern, with a 108 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. The Medium setting’s frame time variance of 44 FPS (from 123 to 167) indicates some inconsistency, but the average remains high.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low setting produces 125 FPS, Medium averages 97 FPS (with a minimum of 83 and maximum of 112), High averages 76 FPS, and Ultra drops to 53 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 72 FPS. The Medium setting’s variance is 29 FPS (from 83 to 112), which is less pronounced than at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more consistent as it becomes the limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The Low setting averages 71 FPS, Medium averages 55 FPS (with a minimum of 47 and maximum of 64), High averages 43 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 41 FPS. The Medium setting’s variance is 17 FPS (from 47 to 64), which is tighter but still shows the GPU’s limitations. The data indicates that 4K gaming is only viable on Low settings, and even then, the 71 FPS average is not exceptionally high.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with a 5 nm process and 31,100 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. Its base clock is 2325 MHz with a boost clock of 2512 MHz, and it features 6144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. The GPU has 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. These specifications are high-end, placing the GPU at the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40377.

In Evolve, the GPU’s role is dominant, as evidenced by the resolution scaling data. The RTX 5070’s 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for a 2015 game, likely eliminating any memory capacity issues. The memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s is also ample, but the game’s engine may not be able to take full advantage of it. The GPU’s pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s are high, but the game’s rendering demands at 4K Ultra prove to be too much, resulting in a 30 FPS average.

The GPU’s performance in Evolve is inconsistent with its high benchmark scores. While it scores 29137 in Passmark G3D and 5077 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, these synthetic tests do not translate to a top-tier in-game ranking. The combo’s rank of 1567 out of 2872 suggests that the GPU is not being fully utilized, possibly due to the CPU’s limitations or the game’s age. The RTX 5070’s 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores are irrelevant for Evolve, which does not support ray tracing or DLSS, so these features do not contribute to performance. The GPU’s compute capabilities, such as 30.87 TFLOPS FP32, are also likely underutilized in this title, which favors raw rasterization power over compute-heavy workloads. The data implies that the RTX 5070 is overkill for Evolve at lower resolutions, but it still cannot overcome the CPU’s bottleneck at 1080p or the memory bandwidth constraints at 4K.