Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetric FPS, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT combination. The benchmark data indicates this pairing ranks 1269th out of 2872 tested combos, placing it in the upper-middle tier of systems evaluated for this title. This position suggests a capable setup that can handle the game's demands, though it is not at the absolute top of the performance hierarchy. The data shows a system that is balanced enough to deliver playable frame rates across most settings, with the CPU and GPU each playing distinct roles depending on the resolution and graphical load.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1269 out of 2872 tested configurations places it in the 44th percentile of all tested systems for Evolve. This indicates that while the pairing is far from the slowest, it sits firmly in the middle of the pack, meaning a significant portion of tested systems deliver higher frame rates. The data suggests this is a well-matched pairing for 1440p gaming, where it achieves strong performance, but it is not optimized for the absolute highest frame rates at 1080p or for maxing out 4K Ultra settings.

Looking at the individual components, the CPU's overall average benchmark score of 64640 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a high-end processor. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the AMD EPYC 4464P, which scores 0.3% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which is 0.3% lower. This shows the CPU is a top-tier performer that is unlikely to be a bottleneck in most scenarios. Conversely, the GPU's average benchmark score of 26011 places it in the 71st percentile of all GPUs, which is a solid mid-to-high-range position. Its closest rivals are the AMD Radeon R9 M395X, which is 0.5% faster, and the AMD FirePro W7100, which is 0.6% faster. This indicates the GPU is a strong performer, but it is the less dominant component in this pairing compared to the CPU.

The combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-to-high-range GPU suggests that the system's overall rank is primarily constrained by the GPU. The measured FPS data supports this, showing that performance scales predictably with resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. The 1269th rank reflects a system that can comfortably handle high refresh rates at 1080p and solid frame rates at 1440p, but will struggle to maintain playable performance at 4K with maximum settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. This processor features a substantial 30 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus. For a game like Evolve, which is a last-generation title, this CPU provides an immense amount of headroom. The high boost clock of 5.30 GHz is particularly relevant for single-threaded performance, which is often critical in game logic and physics calculations.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates its strength. For instance, it scores 42216 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 5960 in single-core, showing its capability in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The PassMark single-thread score of 4689 further confirms its strong per-core performance. The data shows this CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in Evolve. At 1080p, where the GPU is often the bottleneck, the CPU still has ample resources to feed the GPU with data. The benchmark results show that the CPU's role is to provide a stable foundation that allows the GPU's performance to be the primary driver of frame rates.

The processor's 93rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs and its performance relative to rivals like the AMD EPYC 4464P, which is within 0.3% in average score, confirm its high-end status. In the context of this game, a 20-core processor is overkill, but it ensures that no CPU-bound stutters or frame drops will occur. The data implies the CPU's high memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and large cache help maintain smooth data flow, but the actual FPS numbers are dictated by the GPU's capabilities. The CPU is a silent partner, ensuring the GPU can operate at its full potential.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the primary driver of Evolve's visuals in this configuration. This GPU is based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 22 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2150 MHz and a boost clock of 2600 MHz, with a game clock of 2495 MHz. It includes 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate.

The GPU's performance is clearly the limiting factor in this system. Its 71st percentile ranking and the measured FPS data show that it determines the frame rates across all resolutions and settings. The 12 GB of VRAM is a significant asset, ensuring that Evolve's textures and assets fit comfortably into memory even at 4K resolution, preventing potential stuttering from memory swapping. The 432.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the game's needs, allowing for smooth texture streaming.

In synthetic tests, the GPU scores 20700 in PassMark G3D and 137249 in Geekbench Metal, showing solid DirectX and general compute performance. However, its relative position against rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile, which is 1.1% faster, shows it is a competent but not top-of-the-line GPU. The data from the measured FPS shows that the GPU's load scales heavily with resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, it can push out 202 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 32 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's compute and fillrate capabilities are the main constraints at higher resolutions. The GPU's 13.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is the key metric that dictates how quickly it can render the complex scenes in Evolve.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across different settings and resolutions. At 1080p, the system shows excellent performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 202, which is exceptionally high. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS drops to 156, with a minimum of 133 and a maximum of 180. At High settings, the average FPS is 123. The most demanding setting, Ultra, still produces an average of 85 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system is more than capable of delivering high refresh rate experiences, even at Ultra settings.

At 1440p, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. With Low settings, the average FPS is 135, which is still very smooth. Medium settings yield an average of 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 120. High settings produce an average of 82 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 57, which is still playable but starts to approach the threshold where some users might prefer lower settings for higher frame rates. The data shows a consistent scaling pattern, with a roughly 30-35% decrease in FPS when moving from Low to Ultra at this resolution.

At 4K, the system begins to struggle with the higher settings. At Low settings, the average FPS is 77, which is playable. Medium settings produce an average of 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 and a maximum of 69, which is on the edge of smoothness. High settings drop the average to 47 FPS. Ultra settings result in an average of 32 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced FPS. The data shows that the system is only suitable for 4K gaming when using Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are not as high as what would be considered optimal for competitive play.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the GPU-bound nature of this system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 202 at 1080p to 135 at 1440p and 77 at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 43% drop from 1440p to 4K. This scaling is indicative of a GPU that is being pushed harder as the pixel count increases. At High settings, the pattern is similar: 123 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are slightly larger, showing that the higher settings increase the GPU's workload disproportionately.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU has more than enough power to handle the game's logic, but the GPU must render more pixels, which directly impacts the frame rate. For example, at Medium settings, the FPS drops from 156 at 1080p to 105 at 1440p and 60 at 4K. The consistent ~40% drop from 1440p to 4K across all settings confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively stable as the resolution increases, since the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution. The data shows instead a significant drop, confirming the GPU's role as the primary performance constraint. The 12 GB VRAM is sufficient, so the drops are not due to memory limitations but rather the raw rendering power of the RX 6750 XT.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this system depends on the user's resolution and refresh rate priorities. For 1080p, the "Ultra" preset is the clear recommendation, as it provides an average FPS of 85, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This allows users to experience the game with all its visual features enabled without sacrificing playability. For users with 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitors, the "High" preset at 123 FPS is a better choice, as it offers a significant boost in frame rate while maintaining high visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the "High" preset, with an average of 82 FPS, is the sweet spot. It provides a great balance between visual quality and smoothness, and it is suitable for 1440p 60Hz monitors. The "Medium" preset at 105 FPS is a better choice for users with high refresh rate 1440p displays, as it offers a significant FPS increase while still looking good. The "Ultra" preset at 57 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth, and the "Low" preset at 135 FPS is best for competitive play where frame rate is paramount.

For 4K, the system is not capable of delivering a consistently smooth experience at high settings. The "Low" preset at 77 FPS is the only setting that provides a comfortable frame rate for general play. The "Medium" preset at 60 FPS is borderline, but the minimum FPS of 51 indicates occasional dips that could be noticeable. The "High" and "Ultra" presets at 47 and 32 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for a good experience. Therefore, for 4K, users should stick to "Low" or "Medium" settings to maintain playable performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo for Evolve?

A: This combination ranks 1269th out of 2872 tested combos, placing it in the upper-middle tier of systems tested for the game.

Q: Which component is the main bottleneck for this system in Evolve?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the primary bottleneck. The data shows FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. The CPU is a top-tier performer, but the GPU's rendering power limits the frame rates.

Q: Can this system run Evolve smoothly at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes, at 1080p with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 85, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor with this system?

A: The "High" preset at 1440p offers an average FPS of 82, which is ideal for a 60Hz monitor. For higher refresh rate monitors, the "Medium" preset at 105 FPS is a better option.

Q: Is this system suitable for 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: The system is only suitable for 4K at Low or Medium settings, achieving average FPS of 77 and 60, respectively. High and Ultra settings at 4K yield average FPS of 47 and 32, which are not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640. It is 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 4464P and 0.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, showing it is a top-tier processor.