Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a formidable mobile combination, placing in the 69th percentile of all tested system configurations for Evolve. With a combo rank of 885 out of 2872 tested combos, this pairing sits comfortably in the upper third of the database, indicating a system capable of delivering high refresh rates at most settings. The data shows a configuration that is well-balanced for this 2015 FPS title, though the performance ceiling varies significantly with graphical presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s overall rank of 885 out of 2872 places it in the top 31% of all tested configurations in this game. This is a strong result, reflecting that the combination of the 20-core processor and the high-end GPU is well-suited to Evolve’s engine. The ranking suggests that the system will rarely be the bottleneck in competitive scenarios, and it provides a substantial performance buffer for higher resolutions. The percentile position indicates that while there are faster combos above it, this pairing is far more capable than the majority of systems in the database.

The ranking is particularly impressive when considering the individual components’ standings. The CPU holds a 93rd percentile rank against all CPUs, while the GPU holds an 86th percentile rank against all GPUs. The combo’s in-game rank of 885 is lower than either component’s individual percentile, which is typical for a demanding title like Evolve, where the combination of CPU and GPU load can create a more level playing field. The data implies that the system’s performance in this specific game is not entirely dictated by the raw potential of its parts but by how effectively they work together.

When comparing to direct rivals, the CPU’s average benchmark score of 63173 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-13790F, which scores 63080, a negligible delta of 0.1%. It also slightly edges out the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX by a 0.7% margin. This suggests that within its own family and against close competitors, the 265HX offers no significant computational advantage that would translate to a measurable FPS difference in Evolve. The GPU’s performance is similarly tight against its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, with a delta of just 0.1%, confirming that this configuration is operating at the expected performance tier for its hardware class.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this configuration. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s, which is ample for Evolve’s textures and effects at any resolution tested. The GPU’s boost clock of 2505 MHz, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, delivers the raw compute power necessary to push high frame rates. The data indicates that the GPU’s role becomes increasingly critical as resolution and settings increase, with its performance ceiling being the defining factor at 4K.

The benchmark results show the GPU’s influence clearly. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 241 FPS, a figure that is likely more dependent on the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU. However, at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 39 FPS, a figure that is heavily constrained by the GPU’s rendering workload. The RTX 4080’s 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 761.5 GTexel/s texture rate are being fully taxed at this highest preset, demonstrating that the GPU is the performance limiter in the most demanding scenarios.

The GPU’s specifications also explain the scaling between Medium and High settings. At 1440p, the jump from Medium (125 FPS) to High (98 FPS) is a 21.6% performance cost, which is a direct consequence of the increased shading and texture work. The GPU’s 112 ROPs and 304 TMUs handle the pixel and texture throughput, but the data shows that the High preset, with its additional effects, creates a more substantial load than the step from Low to Medium. The 16 GB frame buffer is not a limiting factor in any of the tested configurations, as even at 4K Ultra, the memory capacity is sufficient for the game’s assets.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Evolve with this combo for a high refresh rate experience?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the system averages 186 FPS, and at Low settings it reaches 241 FPS. For a 144Hz or higher display, 1080p is the only resolution that consistently delivers frame rates above 144 FPS across multiple presets.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Evolve?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the system averages 56 FPS on High settings and 71 FPS on Medium settings. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 39 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: How significant is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 161 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS. This represents a 57.8% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the system’s high frame rates, such as 241 FPS on Low, suggest that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU efficiently. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra still shows a significant drop to 101 FPS, indicating the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as rendering complexity increases.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates recorded for this combo?

A: The measured data only includes minimum frame rate values for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 158 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 106 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 60 FPS. These figures show that the Medium preset maintains a playable floor even at higher resolutions.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest competitor in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, which is nearly identical to the RTX 4080 SUPER’s score of 54209, a difference of only 0.1%. This indicates the two GPUs perform at essentially the same level in synthetic tests.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast, with an average of 241 FPS on Low, 186 FPS on Medium, 146 FPS on High, and 101 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution also shows a minimum FPS of 158 and a maximum of 214, indicating a very stable experience with no significant frame drops. This resolution is clearly where the combo excels, offering performance that exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected impact of increased pixel count. The Low preset averages 161 FPS, dropping to 125 FPS on Medium, 98 FPS on High, and 68 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset’s minimum of 106 FPS and maximum of 144 FPS demonstrate that even at 1440p, the system can maintain a smooth experience, though the Ultra preset falls below the 72 FPS threshold that many consider ideal for competitive play. The data shows a clear linear progression of performance cost as settings increase.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset averages 92 FPS, which is playable but not at high refresh rates. Medium averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS, showing a consistent experience that hovers around the 60-75 FPS sweet spot. High averages 56 FPS, and Ultra drops to 39 FPS. The 4K results indicate that this configuration is best suited for Medium settings at this resolution to maintain a stable frame rate, as the High and Ultra presets do not provide consistently smooth gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is a critical indicator of system balance. On the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 241 at 1080p to 161 at 1440p (a 33.2% decrease) and then to 92 at 4K (a 42.9% decrease from 1440p). This pattern shows that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as resolution increases, but the CPU remains capable of keeping up even at 4K Low, where the frame rate is still well above 60 FPS.

On the Medium preset, the scaling is similar but slightly more pronounced. The average drops from 186 FPS at 1080p to 125 FPS at 1440p (a 32.8% decrease) and then to 71 FPS at 4K (a 43.2% decrease). The consistency of these percentage drops across Low and Medium settings suggests that the rendering workload is scaling predictably with pixel count, and the GPU is handling the increased load efficiently without hitting a hard bottleneck.

The High and Ultra presets show more significant scaling, particularly at 4K. High drops from 146 FPS at 1080p to 98 FPS at 1440p (32.9% decrease) and then to 56 FPS at 4K (42.9% decrease). Ultra drops from 101 FPS at 1080p to 68 FPS at 1440p (32.7% decrease) and then to 39 FPS at 4K (42.6% decrease). The fact that the percentage drops are nearly identical across all presets indicates that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are being scaled uniformly, and the system is not experiencing a sudden bottleneck at any specific resolution. The limiting component is clearly the GPU’s raw rendering throughput.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset, averaging 146 FPS, offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, providing a significant improvement over Medium’s 186 FPS in fidelity while still remaining well above 144 FPS. The Ultra preset at 101 FPS is also viable for players prioritizing image quality over maximum frame rate.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, averaging 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS. This preset provides a smooth and stable experience that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset, at 98 FPS, is also playable but may not be ideal for competitive play where consistent frame times are crucial. The Ultra preset at 68 FPS is best avoided for fast-paced action, as it may introduce noticeable stutter.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the only sensible option, averaging 71 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. This provides a consistent 60+ FPS experience that is smooth and responsive. The High preset at 56 FPS is playable but may feel less fluid, and the Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for an FPS title. The data clearly shows that the Medium preset at 4K is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a playable frame rate without sacrificing too much visual detail.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX plays a crucial role in ensuring the GPU is fed with enough data to achieve the high frame rates seen in the benchmark data. With 20 cores and 20 threads, this processor has substantial multi-threading capability, scoring 40642 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. This is critical for Evolve, which can utilize multiple threads for game logic, physics, and AI. The CPU’s high boost clock of 5.30 GHz also contributes to strong single-thread performance, scoring 5737 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is essential for maintaining high frame rates in scenarios that are not heavily GPU-bound.

The CPU’s performance relative to its rivals is remarkably consistent. Its average benchmark score of 63173 is only 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-13790F and 0.7% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX. This indicates that in Evolve, the 265HX does not offer a meaningful performance advantage over these near-identical processors. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache and support for dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s provide ample headroom for the game’s data streaming requirements.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at any tested resolution. At 1080p Low, where the GPU workload is minimal, the system achieves 241 FPS, which is a strong indicator of the CPU’s ability to process game logic and issue draw calls efficiently. Even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, the CPU is still able to maintain the 39 FPS average without dropping to unplayable levels. This shows that the 265HX is a capable partner for the RTX 4080, providing more than enough processing power to avoid holding back the GPU in this title.