Evolve

# Evolve with Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

This combination pairs a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, a 6 GB GDDR6 card from the GeForce 16 series. Benchmark results for Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, show a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics card at higher resolutions, while the processor's substantial multi-threaded capabilities remain largely underutilized. The data reveals a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but 4K performance falls below acceptable thresholds across all tested presets.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 123 FPS at 1080p to 83 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 40 FPS, and then further to 47 FPS at 4K. This scaling pattern indicates that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the primary limiting factor, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K while the frame rate does not drop proportionally — the 4K Low result of 47 FPS is 38.2% of the 1080p Low result, suggesting some headroom in the CPU-GPU pipeline but diminishing returns as resolution climbs.

At Medium settings, the frame rate progression is 96 FPS at 1080p, 64 FPS at 1440p, and 37 FPS at 4K. The 4K Medium result includes a minimum FPS of 31 and a maximum of 42, showing noticeable variance at this demanding resolution. The gap between 1080p and 1440p Medium is 32 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K Medium is 27 FPS — the scaling is relatively consistent, indicating that the GPU is being pushed harder at each step without a sudden bottleneck shift.

High settings follow a similar trajectory: 75 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25 FPS, and from 1440p to 4K is 21 FPS. Ultra settings show the steepest absolute decline: 52 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 20 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset at 4K produces an average of just 20 FPS, which is below playable thresholds for a fast-paced FPS title.

The resolution scaling data suggests that the GTX 1660 SUPER's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width are the limiting factors at higher resolutions. The 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at lower presets, but the 4K results — particularly the 20 FPS Ultra and 29 FPS High — indicate that the GPU's compute resources and memory subsystem are overwhelmed. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 36 MB of shared L3 cache, is not the constraint here; the frame rate drops are consistent with GPU-bound rendering loads.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. It features 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. The processor's cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, and it is rated at a 125 W TDP.

In Evolve, the CPU's role appears minimal based on the measured FPS data. The 24-core configuration provides substantial multi-threaded capability, as evidenced by benchmark scores such as 51,731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 21,727 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. However, Evolve, being a 2015 title, likely does not scale across all 24 threads. The game's engine was designed for the hardware of its era, which typically utilized fewer cores, so the processor's single-thread performance — a 7,303 score in Cinebench R23 single-core and a 4,823 score in Passmark single-thread — is more relevant.

The boost clock of 5.80 GHz provides strong single-threaded performance, which helps maintain frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU is less burdened. At 1080p Low, the 123 FPS average suggests the CPU can feed frames quickly enough to keep the GTX 1660 SUPER busy. The Passmark physics score of 3,315 and integer math score of 166,194 indicate robust computational throughput, but these capabilities are not fully exercised by Evolve's workload.

The processor's percentile rank of 96 among all CPUs places it in the top tier of available processors, with an average benchmark score of 84,003. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83,807, a delta of 0.2%, meaning the 290K Plus is essentially on par. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 are 1.1% and 1.2% behind respectively, while the AMD EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% ahead. These are all server-class processors, highlighting that the 290K Plus competes at the highest echelons of multi-threaded performance, though such capabilities are largely irrelevant for Evolve's frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 2,450 out of 2,872 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the lower 15% of all tested configurations. This low ranking is driven entirely by the GPU, which sits at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 12,986. The CPU, by contrast, is at the 96th percentile, creating a significant imbalance in this pairing.

The GTX 1660 SUPER's nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark data include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile at 12,940 (0.4% ahead), the AMD Radeon RX 580 at 12,928 (0.4% ahead), and the AMD Radeon 740M at 12,870 (0.9% behind). The NVIDIA Tesla M2090 is 0.7% ahead at 13,075. These scores place the GTX 1660 SUPER in the mid-range of GPU performance, which is consistent with its measured FPS results in Evolve — it can handle 1080p and 1440p at moderate settings but struggles at 4K.

The combo rank of 2,450 out of 2,872 reflects that most tested configurations outperform this one in Evolve. The data shows that the CPU's high-end capabilities do not compensate for the GPU's mid-range positioning in this game. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 123 FPS, which is competitive, but at higher settings and resolutions, the frame rates fall behind what faster GPUs would deliver. The rank is a holistic measure across all tested resolutions and settings, and the 4K results — 20 FPS at Ultra and 29 FPS at High — drag the overall ranking down significantly.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo produces its best results. Low settings yield an average of 123 FPS, with no minimum or maximum recorded. Medium settings produce 96 FPS average, with a minimum of 81 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS. High settings drop to 75 FPS average, and Ultra settings produce 52 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 71 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom at 1080p and that the CPU can maintain high frame rates when the GPU is not fully loaded.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases across all settings. Low settings average 83 FPS, Medium averages 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 and maximum of 74, High averages 50 FPS, and Ultra averages 35 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is most pronounced at Low settings (40 FPS decrease) and least at Ultra (17 FPS decrease). This suggests that at Ultra settings, the GPU is already near its limit at 1080p, so the additional pixel load at 1440p has a relatively smaller impact.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely below playable thresholds. Low settings average 47 FPS, Medium averages 37 FPS with a minimum of 31 and maximum of 42, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 20 FPS. The minimum FPS of 31 at Medium 4K indicates that even the most favorable conditions produce inconsistent frame pacing. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with no setting achieving a 60 FPS average, and only Low settings breaking the 40 FPS barrier.

The measured data includes 12 total data points — three resolutions (1080p, 1440p, 4K) across four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). Medium settings are the only preset with complete min/max data across all resolutions, showing the range of frame times. At 1080p Medium, the range from min to max is 29 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 19 FPS; at 4K Medium, it is 11 FPS. This narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes more consistently saturated, reducing frame time variance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the TU116 chip using a 12 nm process from TSMC, with 6,600 million transistors on a 284 mm² die. It has a base clock of 1530 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The card features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its compute resources include 1,408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, delivering 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate.

In Evolve, the GPU is the dominant factor in determining frame rates. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for 1080p and 1440p at all settings, but the 4K results suggest that the memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s is insufficient for the higher resolution's demands. The card's 48 ROPs and 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate limit how quickly it can fill the screen at 4K, which is reflected in the 20 FPS Ultra result.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide context: a Passmark G3D score of 12,699 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 57,102. Its DirectX 12 score in Passmark is 50, while DirectX 11 is 104 — these scores indicate moderate DirectX 12 performance, which is relevant for Evolve's rendering pipeline. The GPU's percentile rank of 53 places it in the middle of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all within 1% of its average benchmark score of 12,986.

The GTX 1660 SUPER's boost clock of 1785 MHz and 5.027 TFLOPS FP32 throughput are sufficient for 1080p gaming at high frame rates, as evidenced by the 123 FPS Low and 96 FPS Medium results. However, the card's 125 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU indicate it is a mid-range solution, and the 4K data confirms it is not designed for that resolution. The 1x 8-pin power connector and dual-slot form factor are typical for this class, and the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface does not bottleneck the card in this title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 96 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS and maximum of 110 FPS. This provides a smooth, consistent frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold for a competitive FPS title. The 81 FPS minimum ensures that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate does not drop below playable levels.

For players prioritizing higher visual fidelity, 1080p High at 75 FPS average is a viable alternative, though the lack of min/max data means the consistency is unknown. The 1080p Ultra setting at 52 FPS average is borderline for a fast-paced FPS, as it dips below 60 FPS, which could introduce perceptible stutter. At 2560x1440, Low settings at 83 FPS average is the only preset that exceeds 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 1440p gaming. The 1440p Medium at 64 FPS average is also playable, but the 55 FPS minimum suggests occasional drops below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, no setting is recommended for competitive play. The best result is Low at 47 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 37 FPS average with a 31 FPS minimum is not suitable for an FPS title, and High and Ultra at 29 and 20 FPS respectively are effectively unplayable. The data indicates that 4K gaming is not feasible with this GPU in Evolve, regardless of settings.

The measured rows show that the GTX 1660 SUPER has a clear performance ceiling in Evolve. The 1080p Medium preset offers the best balance of frame rate and visual quality, with the 96 FPS average and 81 FPS minimum providing a comfortable margin above playability thresholds. For users with 1440p displays, the Low preset is the only option that maintains consistently high frame rates, though the visual compromise may be significant.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in Evolve?

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 at Medium settings provides the best experience, with an average of 96 FPS, a minimum of 81 FPS, and a maximum of 110 FPS. This is the only combination that offers both high average frame rates and a minimum above 60 FPS.

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

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best result is Low settings at 47 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings at 4K produce only 20 FPS average, making all 4K presets unsuitable for playable frame rates.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 12,986, placing it at the 53rd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile at 12,940 (0.4% ahead), AMD Radeon RX 580 at 12,928 (0.4% ahead), and AMD Radeon 740M at 12,870 (0.9% behind).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combo for Evolve?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The CPU ranks at the 96th percentile with an average benchmark score of 84,003, while the GPU ranks at the 53rd percentile. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K follow a GPU-bound pattern, with the 4K Ultra result of 20 FPS indicating the GTX 1660 SUPER is overwhelmed at that resolution.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested configurations in Evolve?

A: This combo ranks 2,450 out of 2,872 tested combinations, placing it in the lower 15% of all configurations. The low rank is attributable to the GPU's mid-range performance relative to the CPU's top-tier capabilities.

Q: Does the CPU's multi-threaded performance benefit Evolve?

A: The measured FPS data suggests minimal benefit. The CPU has 24 cores and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731, but Evolve, as a 2015 title, likely does not scale across all threads. The single-core score of 7,303 in Cinebench R23 is more relevant, and the frame rates at 1080p Low (123 FPS) indicate the CPU can keep up with the GPU without becoming a bottleneck.