Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the AMD Radeon 880M produces a very specific performance envelope in Evolve, one that is heavily constrained by the integrated graphics solution. The data for this combo places it near the bottom of the database, with a rank of 2805 out of 2872 tested combinations. This position is a direct reflection of the hardware's capabilities, where the CPU is a high-end mobile part but the GPU is an integrated processor that struggles with this 2015 FPS title at higher settings. The measured frames per second across resolutions and settings paint a clear picture of a system best suited for lower graphical presets and lower resolutions to achieve playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2805 out of 2872 tested combinations places it in the 2.3rd percentile of all tested hardware pairings for Evolve. This is an exceptionally low ranking, indicating that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU combinations deliver significantly higher performance in this game. The data suggests that while the central processing unit is capable, the integrated GPU is the primary bottleneck, limiting the system to frame rates that are often below the threshold for a smooth gaming experience.

Examining the individual components provides context for this low overall ranking. The AMD Radeon 880M integrated GPU holds a percentile rank of 43 against all tested GPUs, meaning it outperforms 43% of them. However, its average benchmark score of 8436 places it in direct competition with older discrete mobile graphics solutions. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX, which is just 0.1% ahead, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330, which is 0.3% behind. This indicates the 880M is a mid-to-low-tier performer, and its integrated nature means it shares memory bandwidth with the CPU, which can further impact performance in demanding scenarios.

In contrast, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a much stronger component. It holds a percentile rank of 84 against all CPUs, placing it in the top 16% of all processors. Its average benchmark score of 34083 is closely matched with rivals like the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and the AMD EPYC 4244P, with deltas of -0.4% and -0.4% respectively. This data confirms that the CPU is not the primary source of the low ranking. The disparity between the strong CPU percentile and the weak overall combo rank highlights the GPU's dominant role in limiting Evolve's performance. The system's potential is effectively capped by the integrated graphics, making it a CPU-heavy configuration that cannot translate its processing power into high frame rates in this title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 880M is an integrated graphics processor based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It features 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The GPU also includes 12 ray tracing cores, though this feature is unlikely to be leveraged in a 2015 title like Evolve. The boost clock is listed at 2900 MHz, with a base clock of 400 MHz. These specifications, while modern, are limited by the inherent constraints of an integrated solution, particularly its shared memory architecture.

The most significant limitation is the memory configuration, which is listed as "System Shared." This means the GPU does not have its own dedicated video memory but instead uses a portion of the system's main memory. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also listed as "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This dependency on system memory for both the CPU and GPU can create a bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the demand for memory bandwidth increases. The GPU's TDP is rated at 15 W, which is typical for an integrated part, and its performance in synthetic benchmarks puts it in a class with older mid-range discrete GPUs like the GTX 675MX.

In Evolve, this GPU configuration leads to significant performance challenges. The integrated nature and shared memory mean that the GPU is the critical limiting factor. The data shows that even at the lowest settings and resolution, the system can only achieve a 75 FPS average. As resolution and settings increase, the GPU quickly becomes overwhelmed. The PassMark G3D score of 7615 and a DirectX 11 score of 73 suggest that while the GPU is capable of running the game, it is not powerful enough to handle the graphical load at higher presets. The GPU's performance is the sole reason for the combo's low rank, as its capabilities are far below what is needed for a consistently fluid experience in Evolve.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a high-performance mobile processor from the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It features a total of 16 cores and 22 threads, which allows for substantial parallel processing capability. The base clock is rated at 3.80 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.00 GHz. This high boost clock is beneficial for single-threaded tasks, while the 16-core configuration provides strong multi-threaded performance. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a large 24 MB shared L3 cache, which helps reduce memory latency.

The CPU's performance is well-documented through various benchmarks. In Cinebench R23, it scores 14551 points in the multi-core test and 1759 points in the single-core test. PassMark results show a strong multi-thread score of 25933 and a single-thread score of 3509. These numbers confirm that the 165H is a very capable processor, ranking in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, is just 0.3% ahead in average score, indicating that the 165H is a top-tier mobile processor in its own right.

However, in the context of Evolve, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU. The game is a 2015 FPS title that is more graphically intensive than CPU-intensive. The data shows that the CPU has more than enough processing power to handle the game's logic and physics. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU, which cannot keep up with the CPU's output. This is evident in the resolution scaling, where frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, a classic sign of GPU limitation. The CPU is effectively idle, waiting for the GPU to render frames, which means its powerful 16-core/22-thread configuration is underutilized in this specific game scenario. The processor's capabilities are not the limiting factor; instead, they serve to highlight the GPU's inability to deliver a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the performance is the best of all tested resolutions, but it still varies significantly with settings. On the Low preset, the combo achieves an average of 75 FPS, which is a playable frame rate. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 and a maximum of 67 FPS, still within a playable range. The High preset brings the average down to 45 FPS, and the Ultra preset pushes it to just 32 FPS. This progression shows a clear and steady decline in performance as the graphical demands increase.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is a 25 FPS drop from 1080p. The Medium preset averages 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 45 FPS. The High preset falls to 30 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to a barely playable 21 FPS. The pattern demonstrates that the GPU is struggling to fill the additional pixels required for 1440p, with each settings tier costing a significant number of frames.

At 4K (3840x2160), the performance is largely unplayable. The Low preset averages only 29 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 25 FPS. The High preset drops to 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset is virtually unplayable at an average of 12 FPS. The data shows that the combination of high resolution and high settings is far beyond the capabilities of the Radeon 880M. The frame rates at 4K are consistently below the threshold for a smooth experience, making this resolution impractical for anything other than a static screenshot.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 75 FPS, which drops to 50 FPS at 1440p and 29 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 42% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, but the trend is clear: the higher the resolution, the more the GPU is strained. This is a textbook example of pixel fill-rate limitations, where the integrated GPU's 16 ROPs and shared memory bandwidth are insufficient for higher resolutions.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. At Medium, the 58 FPS at 1080p drops to 39 FPS at 1440p and 22 FPS at 4K. At High, the 45 FPS at 1080p drops to 30 FPS at 1440p and 17 FPS at 4K. The uniformity of these drops indicates that the limiting component is always the GPU, regardless of the settings preset. The CPU's strong performance does not change this dynamic; it simply waits for the GPU to complete each frame.

This data strongly suggests that the AMD Radeon 880M is the definitive bottleneck. The CPU is capable of handling the game's processing demands, but the GPU cannot render frames fast enough to utilize the CPU's power. The performance loss from 1080p to 4K is substantial, with an average frame rate drop of over 60% across all settings. The system is clearly designed for 1080p gaming at best, and even then, only on lower presets. Higher resolutions require a significant compromise in visual quality to achieve a playable frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the best choice for a smooth experience, as it is the only setting that achieves an average FPS above 60. The Medium preset, at 58 FPS, is also viable, especially for users who prefer slightly better visuals and can tolerate a frame rate that is close to but not quite at the 60 FPS mark. The High preset at 45 FPS is playable but not ideal, while the Ultra preset at 32 FPS should be avoided due to a noticeable lack of smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the options are more limited. The Low preset, at 50 FPS, is the only setting that provides a reasonably smooth experience. The Medium preset, at 39 FPS, is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets at 30 and 21 FPS respectively are not recommended for active gameplay. Users at this resolution will need to accept the Low preset to maintain a comfortable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the data indicates that no preset provides a playable experience. The highest average FPS is 29 on the Low preset, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The system is not suitable for 4K gaming in Evolve under any settings. The best experience for this combo is at 1080p with the Low or Medium preset, where the frame rates are high enough to provide a fluid and responsive experience. The data shows a clear trade-off, but the Low preset at 1080p offers the best balance of performance and playability.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU-GPU combo in Evolve?

A: The combo ranks 2805 out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 2.3% of all tested systems for this game.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has an average benchmark score of 34083, which is just 0.3% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and 0.4% ahead of both the AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350.

Q: What is the highest average FPS this system can achieve at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the system achieves an average of 75 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate across all tested resolutions and settings.

Q: At what resolution and settings does the system first drop below 30 FPS?

A: The system drops below 30 FPS at 2560x1440 on the Ultra preset, with an average of 21 FPS. At 3840x2160, all presets produce averages below 30 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M has an average benchmark score of 8436, which is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX. This indicates very similar performance levels between the two.

Q: What is a viable configuration for a stable gaming experience based on the data?

A: The data shows that the only configuration with an average FPS above 60 is 1920x1080 with the Low preset. The Medium preset at 1080p is also playable, averaging 58 FPS.