Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, and it features 36 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 3 MB of L2 cache per core. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and a single-core score of 2439, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs tested. Its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark scores include the Intel Xeon 6520P, which matches its average score with a 0% delta, and the AMD EPYC 4564P, which is 1.5% ahead. This high core count and substantial cache hierarchy suggest the processor is well-equipped to handle the simulation and AI workloads that can accompany a game like Evolve, where multiple entities and physics calculations may be processed concurrently.

The CPU’s PassMark multi-thread score of 68574 and integer math score of 175986 further indicate strong parallel processing capabilities. For a game released in early 2015, the title’s threading model is likely not designed to fully utilize 24 cores, meaning the processor’s high single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread score of 5068) may be more relevant for maintaining consistent frame pacing. The boost clock of 5.50 GHz is notably high, which should allow the processor to quickly handle the game’s primary game logic thread, potentially preventing CPU-bound bottlenecks at lower resolutions. The data suggests that while the CPU is vastly more powerful than what was available at the game’s launch, it provides a stable foundation that should not limit performance when paired with a more modest GPU.

However, the measured FPS results in this combination tell a different story. The bottleneck is clearly not the processor, as even at 1080p with Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 86 FPS, which is likely far below what this CPU could push if paired with a more capable graphics card. The CPU’s role here is to ensure that the GPU is never waiting on the processor for data, and given the massive headroom, it is safe to conclude that the CPU is performing its role without introducing frame drops or stutter. The 24 threads may also aid in background tasks, such as streaming or recording, without impacting the game’s performance, a benefit that would be less pronounced on lower-core-count processors.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is a much older graphics card, based on the Polaris 20 chip and the GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1257 MHz, with a boost clock of 1340 MHz, and its memory runs at 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective). With 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operations pipelines, the RX 580 delivers a pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s. Its FP32 compute performance is 6.175 TFLOPS. In synthetic benchmarks, the GPU scores 8813 in PassMark G3D, placing it in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, which is 0.1% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, which is 0.4% faster.

For a game like Evolve, which launched in 2015, the RX 580’s 8 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for the texture and geometry data required at the tested settings, even at 4K resolution. The memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s is also adequate, though it may become a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU’s GCN architecture, while older, supports DirectX 12 (12_0), which is relevant as Evolve was one of the early titles to utilize DX12 features. However, the measured FPS data indicates that the RX 580 is the primary bottleneck in this system. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 86, but this drops significantly as settings and resolution increase.

The GPU’s performance in Evolve is characterized by a steep drop when moving from Low to Ultra settings. At 1080p, the average FPS falls from 86 at Low to 52 at High and further to 36 at Ultra. This pattern suggests that the GPU’s compute and fillrate capabilities are being taxed heavily by the game’s effects, lighting, and shadows. The boost clock of 1340 MHz is modest by modern standards, and the 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is not enough to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is only 14, which is unplayable, and even at 4K Low, the average is 33 FPS, which is borderline. The GPU’s 53rd percentile ranking reflects its mid-range status, and in Evolve, it proves to be the limiting component that determines the overall frame rate.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear trend in how performance scales with resolution. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 57 at 1440p and then to 33 at 4K. This represents a 33.7% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 61.6% drop from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 52 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p and 20 at 4K, corresponding to a 32.7% drop to 1440p and a 61.5% drop to 4K. These scaling patterns are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the frame rate is primarily determined by the number of pixels being rendered.

The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly proportional to the increase in pixel count (from 2.07 million to 3.69 million pixels, a 78% increase), but the frame rate drops by only about 33%, indicating that other factors, such as memory bandwidth and fillrate, are also at play. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more severe, with frame rates roughly halving, which aligns with the 4K resolution having 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is not only fillrate-limited but also possibly memory-bandwidth-limited, as the 256.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes a bottleneck for the increased pixel throughput.

The data implies that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across resolutions, but instead, the FPS drops consistently as resolution increases. This is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has ample headroom to feed the RX 580 at all tested settings, meaning that the frame rate differences across resolutions are almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s rendering capabilities. The fact that the FPS drops are consistent across all settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) further reinforces that the GPU is the constraining component, as the CPU’s workload does not change significantly with resolution, while the GPU’s does.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system’s performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 86 at Low settings, 66 at Medium settings (with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 76), 52 at High settings, and 36 at Ultra settings. The Medium setting shows a variance of 20 FPS between its minimum and maximum, indicating some frame pacing inconsistencies, but the overall averages are usable for a game like Evolve. At 1080p Low, the system achieves a smooth 86 FPS, which is well above the typical 60 FPS target, suggesting that the RX 580 can handle the game comfortably at lower settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 57 at Low settings, 44 at Medium settings (with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 51), 35 at High settings, and 24 at Ultra settings. The Medium setting at 1440p shows a narrower variance of 13 FPS compared to 1080p, which may indicate that the GPU is becoming more consistently loaded. At 1440p Low, the 57 FPS average is still playable, but it is below the 60 FPS threshold, and at High settings, the 35 FPS average is getting into choppy territory. At Ultra settings, the 24 FPS average is marginal for a fast-paced FPS.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 33 at Low settings, 25 at Medium settings (with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 29), 20 at High settings, and 14 at Ultra settings. The 4K Medium setting shows a tight variance of 7 FPS, indicating that the GPU is consistently hitting its performance ceiling. At 4K, even Low settings only yield 33 FPS, which is below playable thresholds for most gamers. The 4K Ultra setting at 14 FPS is essentially a slideshow and not viable for gameplay. The data clearly shows that this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a stretch at lower settings, and 4K being impractical for anything beyond Low settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus or the AMD Radeon RX 580 the bottleneck in this system?

A: The measured FPS data indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the average is 86 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 33 FPS, showing that frame rates are highly dependent on resolution, which is a sign of GPU limitation. The CPU, with its high single-thread and multi-thread scores, is not the constraining factor.

Q: Can this system run Evolve at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS is 86. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 66 FPS, which is still above 60, but at High settings, it falls to 52 FPS. At 1440p, the maximum average FPS is 57 at Low settings, which is below 60.

Q: What is the playable resolution for this combination?

A: The data suggests that 1080p is the only practical resolution for smooth gameplay, with Low and Medium settings providing average FPS of 86 and 66, respectively. At 1440p, Low settings provide 57 FPS, which is borderline playable, but High and Ultra settings are not recommended due to average FPS below 40.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 580 has a PassMark G3D score of 8813, which is 0.1% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and 0.4% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER. It is 0.5% faster than the AMD Radeon 740M. These close scores indicate that the RX 580 is competitive with these mid-range cards.

Q: Is the 8 GB of VRAM on the RX 580 sufficient for Evolve?

A: The data suggests that VRAM is not a limiting factor in this game. The frame rates drop consistently with resolution and settings, which is more indicative of compute and fillrate limits rather than memory capacity. The 8 GB capacity is ample for the game’s textures, given its 2015 release.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking compared to all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs tested, based on its average benchmark score. This places it among the top 4% of processors, indicating that it is a high-end part that far exceeds the requirements of Evolve.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the user’s target refresh rate and resolution. For a 60 FPS experience at 1080p, the Low preset is the only option that guarantees an average above 60, with 86 FPS. The Medium preset also provides an average of 66 FPS, which is above 60, but its minimum of 56 FPS suggests that there may be brief dips below the target. For users with a 144Hz monitor, the Low preset at 1080p is the only setting that comes close, with 86 FPS, but it still falls short of 144.

At 1440p, the Low preset provides an average of 57 FPS, which is playable but not at a stable 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p has an average of 44 FPS, which is acceptable for less demanding players, but the High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to averages of 35 and 24 FPS, respectively. For 4K gaming, no preset provides a playable experience, with the Low preset averaging only 33 FPS. Given these numbers, the best experience for most users would be the Medium preset at 1080p, as it balances visual quality with a 66 FPS average and a minimum of 56 FPS, which is close to a locked 60.

Alternatively, the High preset at 1080p, with an average of 52 FPS, may be preferable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, but the data shows that the drop from Medium to High is 14 FPS, which is significant. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as it yields the lowest frame rates, with 36 FPS at 1080p and 14 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset at 1080p offers the best balance of performance and visual quality, as it is the highest setting that maintains an average FPS above 60.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus + AMD Radeon RX 580 combination ranks 2614 out of 2872 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the bottom 9% of all systems tested. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU’s age and performance, as the RX 580 is a mid-range card from 2017 that struggles with modern game engines, despite the CPU being a top-tier part from 2026. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking does little to compensate for the GPU’s 53rd percentile ranking, as the game’s performance is heavily GPU-bound.

The rank suggests that this system is not well-suited for Evolve at higher resolutions or settings, but the data shows that it can still provide a playable experience at 1080p Low or Medium. Compared to other combos, this one is likely near the bottom of the list due to the mismatched performance levels of its components. The CPU is overkill for the GPU, meaning that a less powerful processor could achieve similar frame rates in this game, but the GPU is the limiting factor that holds the system back.

This ranking also implies that users with this combo may need to lower their expectations for game performance, particularly at 1440p and 4K. The data indicates that the system is best utilized for 1080p gaming, where it can hit 60 FPS at Medium settings. For Evolve specifically, the combo is not competitive with systems that pair high-end CPUs with modern GPUs, but for a game from 2015, it provides a baseline experience that is playable at lower settings. The rank of 2614 out of 2872 reflects that while the CPU is exceptional, the GPU’s limitations dominate the overall performance, making this a below-average combo for this title.