Evolve

Evolve, the 2015 asymmetric FPS, places very different demands on a system depending on resolution and preset. The data for this pairing of an Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 shows a configuration that is heavily constrained by the graphics card at higher resolutions, while the CPU's substantial core count ensures it is never the bottleneck at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the role of each component, and the optimal settings for playable framerates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a stark and predictable decline in performance as resolution increases, a classic sign of GPU-bound operation. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves a 132 FPS average. Moving to 1440p drops that to 88 FPS, a reduction of 33%. Jumping to 4K (3840x2160) at Low settings yields a 50 FPS average, which is a 62% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern confirms that the GTX 1070 is the limiting factor as pixel count grows.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. With Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 102 at 1080p, to 68 at 1440p, and finally to 39 at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 43% drop from 1440p to 4K. Similarly, High settings see averages of 80 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p, and 31 FPS at 4K. The proportionate losses are nearly identical, which indicates that the rendering load scales almost entirely with the number of pixels, not with the complexity of the scene or the specific preset.

The implication is clear: the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is not the limiting factor in this game at these resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat when resolution increases, since the CPU's workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) stays roughly the same. Instead, the near-linear FPS drop with pixel count points directly at the GTX 1070's pixel fillrate and memory bandwidth being saturated. The difference between 1080p and 4K at Low settings is a 82 FPS gap, which is substantial and leaves no doubt that the GPU is shouldering the load.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. While Evolve is not a title known for requiring massive core counts, this processor's raw throughput is immense. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and single-core score of 7303 place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 96% of processors on the market.

Benchmark results indicate that this CPU is far more capable than what Evolve requires. The PassMark multi-thread score of 60860 and the single-thread score of 4823 are exceptionally high. In the context of this game, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and handle the game's simulation. The data shows that at 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work to do, the system reaches 132 FPS. This is the highest measured score in the dataset, and it suggests that even at this low resolution, the CPU is providing enough headroom for the GPU to run at its maximum potential.

Comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, it scores 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX in average benchmark score. It is also 1.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9135. While these are synthetic benchmarks, they confirm that the 290K Plus is at the top of the performance hierarchy. For Evolve, the 24 cores and 24 threads are likely overkill, but the high boost clock of 5.80 GHz ensures that single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic, is exceptional. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache also helps by keeping frequently accessed data close to the cores. In short, the CPU is a non-issue for this game; it provides all the horsepower needed to avoid bottlenecking the GTX 1070 at any resolution or setting.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a Pascal-architecture card built on a 16 nm process. It features 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. Its base clock is 1506 MHz with a boost clock of 1683 MHz. The card has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. These specifications define its performance envelope, and the measured FPS shows it is the primary determinant of Evolve's playability in this configuration.

The GTX 1070 sits in the 47th percentile of all GPUs, which means it is roughly average compared to the entire range of graphics cards in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro W5000 (0.2% lower score) and the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (0.5% lower score). This is an older card, released in 2016, and its end-of-life production status reflects its age. In Evolve, its 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game's textures, but the card's raw compute power is what limits performance at higher resolutions.

The GPU's performance is most clearly illustrated by the 4K Ultra result, which yields a 21 FPS average. This is unplayable, and it shows that the GTX 1070 cannot handle the combined load of 4K resolution and the most demanding preset. Even at 1440p Ultra, the average FPS is 37, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The card's FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS, while respectable for its time, is insufficient for the pixel-pushing demands of 4K in a modern title like Evolve. The texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s are the metrics that directly translate to fillrate, and they are the reason why the FPS drops so dramatically when resolution increases. The GTX 1070 is the clear bottleneck in this pairing, and its age is showing when confronted with 4K rendering.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system to play Evolve?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides consistently high framerates. At 1080p, all presets except Ultra are above 80 FPS, while at 1440p the High preset drops to 54 FPS, and at 4K even Low settings only reach 50 FPS.

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

A: At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 21 FPS on Ultra to 50 FPS on Low. The Ultra and High presets are not playable, and even Low settings at 50 FPS may feel less smooth than desired for a fast-paced FPS. The data suggests 4K is not a viable option for a good experience.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus or the GTX 1070 the bottleneck?

A: The data strongly indicates the GTX 1070 is the bottleneck. Evidence for this is the consistent FPS drop as resolution increases, which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. The CPU, with its high multi-core and single-core scores, is not the limiting factor.

Q: How much faster is the CPU than its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX. It is also 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9135.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 132 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 55 FPS. This is a difference of 77 FPS, showing the significant performance cost of the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the 8 GB of VRAM on the GTX 1070 sufficient for Evolve?

A: The measured data shows that the 8 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor at the tested settings, as the card is able to complete all benchmarks. The performance drops are more attributable to the GPU's compute and fillrate capabilities than to memory capacity.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience on this hardware, the data points to 1920x1080 as the target resolution. At this resolution, the High preset provides an 80 FPS average, which is a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Medium preset offers even more headroom at 102 FPS, with a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 117 FPS, making it the safest choice for maintaining a high framerate during intense action sequences.

The Ultra preset at 1080p is the most demanding, yielding a 55 FPS average. This is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play where higher framerates are preferred. For players who prioritize visual fidelity, this is the only option that uses the game's highest settings. However, the 47 FPS drop from Low to Ultra is significant.

At 1440p, the High preset is the most viable option, with a 54 FPS average. The Medium preset at 68 FPS is also acceptable, but the Low preset at 88 FPS is the only way to achieve a framerate that is clearly above 60 FPS. For 4K, the data shows that no preset delivers a truly smooth experience, with the Low preset at 50 FPS being the highest achievable average. Therefore, the recommendation is to play at 1080p with either Medium or High settings, depending on whether framerate or visual quality is more important. The Medium preset's recorded minimum of 87 FPS provides a more consistent experience than the High preset, which has no recorded minimum but a lower average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measured for each resolution and settings preset combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 21 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | High | 31 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 39 | 33 | 45 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 50 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 37 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 54 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 68 | 58 | 79 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 88 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 55 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 80 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 102 | 87 | 117 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 132 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the fastest configuration, and 4K Ultra is the slowest. The Medium preset provides the only recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, which are 33 and 45 FPS at 4K, 58 and 79 FPS at 1440p, and 87 and 117 FPS at 1080p. This gives a more complete picture of performance variability for that specific setting. The combination of this CPU and GPU results in a system that is excellent for 1080p gaming in Evolve, acceptable for 1440p with reduced settings, and not suitable for 4K gaming. The overall rank of this combo is 2369 out of 2872 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database, a reflection of the GPU's age relative to more modern hardware.