Evolve

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Evolve, with 4K requiring a settings compromise. The data shows a clear pattern: this combo is built for high-refresh-rate gaming at standard resolutions, while 4K remains playable but demands a drop from the maximum preset. The benchmark results indicate the RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the 24-core CPU provides ample headroom to keep framerates high when the GPU is not saturated.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable decline as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that decline tells the story of where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 292 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates the CPU is feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 196 FPS, a 33% reduction that still leaves plenty of performance for a high-refresh-rate monitor. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls to 111 FPS, which is a 43% drop from the 1440p result and a 62% drop from 1080p.

The scaling pattern changes significantly when moving to higher quality presets. At Medium settings, the FPS goes from 226 at 1080p, to 152 at 1440p, and finally to 86 at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p, followed by a 43% drop from 1440p to 4K. The steeper decline at higher resolutions and settings confirms that the RTX 4070 SUPER's rendering capabilities are being pushed harder, while the CPU's role diminishes. At Ultra settings, the pattern is similar: 123 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only one that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it the least playable configuration in the dataset.

The data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is not the limiting factor in this game. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU has the most influence, the 292 FPS result shows the processor has significant headroom. The transition from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings (292 to 196 FPS) indicates the GPU is starting to become the primary constraint, and this trend accelerates at 4K. The 47 FPS at 4K Ultra, compared to 123 FPS at 1080p Ultra, represents a 62% performance loss, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound rendering where the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB of VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are fully utilized.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and smooth gameplay, the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combination. The measured data shows that Medium provides playable framerates at all three tested resolutions: 226 FPS at 1080p, 152 FPS at 1440p, and 86 FPS at 4K. The 4K Medium result of 86 FPS is significantly better than the Ultra preset's 47 FPS, offering a 83% improvement while still maintaining a decent level of visual fidelity. For players with a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, 1440p Medium at 152 FPS is the recommended configuration, as it comfortably exceeds the refresh rate of most gaming displays.

At 1080p, the High preset at 177 FPS is a solid choice for those who want better visuals without sacrificing competitive performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p delivers 123 FPS, which is still smooth, but the jump from High to Ultra costs a 30% performance hit (177 to 123 FPS) for what may be marginal visual gains in a fast-paced FPS. For 4K gaming, the Low preset at 111 FPS is the only configuration that provides a high-refresh experience, but the Medium preset at 86 FPS is arguably the best compromise, offering improved textures and effects while staying well above the 60 FPS playability floor.

The data indicates that the Ultra preset is best avoided at 4K, as the 47 FPS average falls below what most players consider acceptable for a shooter. Even at 1440p, the Ultra preset's 82 FPS is noticeably lower than the Medium preset's 152 FPS, making Medium the smarter choice for maintaining high framerates. The High preset at 1440p (119 FPS) is a viable alternative for those who prefer better shadows and lighting, but it still trails Medium by 22% in average FPS. In summary, the Medium preset offers the best performance-per-visual-quality trade-off across all resolutions, with High being a strong option at 1080p and Low being the fallback for 4K high-refresh gaming.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER plays a central role in determining Evolve's performance, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game's needs at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra result of 47 FPS suggests the GPU is hitting its limits when rendering at maximum quality with a high pixel count. The boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1980 MHz allow the card to sustain high throughput, as evidenced by the strong results at lower resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide context for its performance in this title. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627 indicates solid DirectX 12 performance, while the Geekbench Vulkan score of 205624 shows strong API efficiency. The Passmark G3D score of 29995 places the RTX 4070 SUPER in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, confirming its position as a high-end part. The compute performance, measured at 17108 in Passmark GPU Compute, is sufficient for the game's physics and particle effects, though the CPU's 24 threads also handle a portion of this workload.

The RTX 4070 SUPER's 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is the key metric for rasterization in Evolve. The pixel rate of 198.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s help explain why the card excels at 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, the pixel throughput requirement scales dramatically, and the data shows the card's fill rate becomes a limiting factor. The 80 ROPs and 224 TMUs work together to handle the game's rendering pipeline, but the 12 GB VRAM capacity is not a concern here, as the game's release date of 2015-02-09 predates the high-VRAM demands of modern titles. The GPU's 220 W TDP and suggested 550 W PSU requirement are reasonable for a dual-slot card, and the 1x 16-pin power connector is standard for this class.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Evolve, this Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4070 SUPER pairing ranks 440th out of 2872 combos, placing it in the top 15% of all tested configurations. This rank reflects the combo's strong performance across all resolutions and settings, with particularly impressive results at 1080p and 1440p. The rank is influenced by the CPU's 96th percentile standing among all processors, which ensures no CPU-related bottleneck in this game. The GPU's 83rd percentile ranking is slightly lower, but it is sufficient to achieve high framerates in most scenarios.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its contribution to this rank. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores an average of 83807, which is just 0.2% lower than the 290K Plus's 84003 average. This tiny delta suggests that the 290K Plus offers no meaningful advantage over its predecessor in CPU-bound scenarios, which are rare in Evolve given the game's age. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 are also close, with deltas of 1.1% and 1.2% respectively, but these are server-class chips that would not be used for gaming. The AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 85072, which is 1.3% higher, but again, this is not a realistic gaming alternative.

The GPU's nearest rivals show a similar pattern. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43262, just 0.1% lower than the RTX 4070 SUPER's 43223, but this is a workstation card with different driver optimizations. The RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268, 0.1% higher, but it is a mobile part that would not be used in a desktop build. The RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667, which is 1% higher, but it is also a mobile component. The close deltas here indicate that the RTX 4070 SUPER is well-positioned among desktop GPUs, and its performance in Evolve is consistent with its overall benchmark standing. The 440th rank out of 2872 combos is a strong result, confirming that this pairing is well-suited for this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Evolve?

A: The data shows 1440p is the sweet spot. At Medium settings, it delivers 152 FPS, which is smooth for high-refresh monitors. 1080p is even faster (226 FPS at Medium), but 4K requires dropping to Medium or Low to stay above 60 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The 4K Medium preset averages 86 FPS, while 4K High drops to 68 FPS and 4K Ultra falls to 47 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, 4K Medium is the recommended setting.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance in this game?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is not a bottleneck. The 292 FPS result at 1080p Low shows the CPU can feed frames far faster than the GPU can render them. The 24-core processor's 96th percentile ranking ensures it is not limiting in any tested configuration.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Evolve?

A: Yes. Since Evolve was released in 2015, its VRAM requirements are modest. The 12 GB GDDR6X memory is more than adequate, and the 504.2 GB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures without issue.

Q: What settings preset gives the best experience?

A: Medium is the best overall choice. It provides 226 FPS at 1080p, 152 FPS at 1440p, and 86 FPS at 4K. The jump from Medium to High costs about 21-27% performance at each resolution, while the Ultra preset is only recommended for 1080p.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: It ranks 440th out of 2872 combos, placing it in the top 15%. The CPU's 96th percentile and GPU's 83rd percentile scores confirm this is a high-end pairing, with the rank reflecting strong performance across all settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest framerates. The Low preset averages 292 FPS, which is the fastest result in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce 226 FPS, with a minimum of 192 FPS and a maximum of 260 FPS, indicating a smooth frame time curve. High settings drop to 177 FPS, while Ultra averages 123 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 58% performance reduction, but even the Ultra result is well above the 60 FPS threshold for a 1080p display.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but scales down noticeably. Low settings average 196 FPS, a 33% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings produce 152 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 174 FPS, which keeps 144Hz monitors satisfied. High settings average 119 FPS, while Ultra drops to 82 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is still playable, but the 46% drop from Medium to Ultra (152 to 82 FPS) highlights the cost of maximum quality at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings average 111 FPS, which is a 43% drop from 1440p Low. Medium settings produce 86 FPS, with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS, making it the only 4K preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS. High settings average 68 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience, while Ultra drops to 47 FPS, falling below the playability threshold. The 4K results show a 58% reduction from Low to Ultra (111 to 47 FPS), emphasizing the need for settings management at this resolution.