Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 asymmetrical FPS, places the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile combo at an interesting crossroads. The data shows this pairing ranks 833rd out of 3700 tested combos, placing it in the top 22.5% of all systems tested for this title. This is a high-end mobile configuration, and the measured frame rates across resolutions and settings confirm it can handle Evolve with authority, though the scaling patterns reveal a nuanced relationship between the CPU and GPU. The benchmark results indicate that while the RTX 4090 Mobile is the dominant force, the Core Ultra X7 368H provides a solid foundation that never becomes a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in Evolve, and how significant is that position?

A: The combo ranks 833rd out of 3700 tested combinations, placing it in the 77.5th percentile. This means it outperforms the majority of systems in this game, indicating a very capable setup for Evolve.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H has an average benchmark score of 40518. It is essentially tied with its nearest rivals, showing a -0.1% delta against the Intel Core 7 253PE (40557) and a +0.2% delta against the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431). The performance difference is negligible.

Q: What is the GPU's position relative to its nearest competitors?

A: The RTX 4090 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 43667. It performs within a 1% margin of its rivals, with a +0.8% delta against the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 (43301) and a -0.9% delta against the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (44075). This shows the GPU is a top-tier performer.

Q: What are the key specifications of the RTX 4090 Mobile's memory subsystem?

A: The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 2250 MHz, translating to 18 Gbps effective.

Q: What is the CPU's core and thread configuration, and what does it suggest for gaming?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H has 16 cores and 16 threads. This configuration, combined with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, is designed to handle modern workloads, including gaming, without presenting a significant bottleneck.

Q: At which resolution does the combo achieve its highest average frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate is 263 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates the CPU and GPU combination is more than capable of pushing very high frame rates in lighter scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 833 out of 3700 tested systems places it firmly in the upper echelon of performance for Evolve. This is not a mid-range or budget-conscious pairing; it is a high-end mobile solution. The data suggests that in the vast majority of gaming scenarios, this system will deliver a smooth and responsive experience. The ranking reflects the combined strength of the Core Ultra X7 368H and the RTX 4090 Mobile. The CPU's strong single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3984, and its robust multi-core score of 28221, ensure it can feed the GPU adequately. The GPU, with its Passmark G3D score of 27212, is also a top performer.

However, the rank is not at the absolute top, which opens a question: what limits it? The data doesn't show a single weak point, but rather a balanced system that is outclassed by only a small fraction of other setups, likely those with desktop-class components or more aggressive power delivery. The percentile of 87 for the CPU and 84 for the GPU reinforce this, showing both components are in the top 16-13% of their respective categories. This suggests the 833rd rank is a reflection of the whole being slightly less than the sum of its parts in Evolve, possibly due to the game's optimization or the specific demands of its engine. The benchmark results indicate a system that is ready for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming and capable of 4K, but with some settings compromises.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the undisputed workhorse in this pairing. With its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a memory bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s, it has the resources to handle Evolve's textures and effects at any resolution. The GPU's compute capabilities are substantial, with 9728 shading units and a boost clock of 1695 MHz, which translates to a FP32 performance of 32.98 TFLOPS. This raw power is why the system can achieve 263 FPS at 1080p Low and 101 FPS at 4K Low. The GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases, as the data shows performance scaling directly with the workload.

The 16 GB VRAM capacity is particularly notable. Evolve is a game from 2015, and while it is not considered a VRAM hog by modern standards, the sheer headroom ensures no texture pop-in or stutter due to memory limitations. The benchmark results show that the GPU is not the limiting factor at 1080p, where the CPU's ability to issue draw calls is more critical. However, at 4K, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the primary determinants of performance, as evidenced by the frame rates dropping from 263 FPS at 1080p Low to 101 FPS at 4K Low. The RTX 4090 Mobile's performance is closely matched by its rivals, like the RTX A6000, but it holds its own, staying within a 1% delta in synthetic benchmarks. Its Passmark G3D score of 27212 places it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally fast. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 263 FPS. Moving to Medium yields 204 FPS, with a minimum of 174 FPS and a maximum of 235 FPS. High settings drop this to 160 FPS, and Ultra settings still maintain a very playable 111 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is capable of supporting high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or even 240Hz) in most settings, with only Ultra potentially limiting the maximum refresh rate.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings produce an average of 177 FPS. Medium settings reduce this to 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. High settings see an average of 107 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 74 FPS. These results show that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance between visual fidelity and high frame rates. A 144Hz monitor would be well-utilized at Medium settings, while High settings would still provide a smooth experience on a 120Hz panel.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to feel the pressure of the higher pixel count. Low settings still deliver a smooth 101 FPS average. Medium settings drop to 78 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. High settings are playable at 61 FPS, but Ultra settings fall to 42 FPS. This pattern shows that 4K gaming is possible, but users will need to compromise on settings to maintain a 60+ FPS experience. The step from Medium to High at 4K is a 17 FPS drop, which is significant, and the drop to Ultra is even steeper.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the classic signs of a GPU-bound workload at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 263 at 1080p to 177 at 1440p, a 32.7% decrease. The drop from 1440p to 4K is from 177 to 101 FPS, a 42.9% decrease. This accelerating performance loss is a clear indicator that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as the resolution increases. The CPU's role diminishes, as the number of draw calls remains constant, but the pixel shading workload skyrockets.

Looking at High settings, the scaling is steeper. The average FPS drops from 160 at 1080p to 107 at 1440p, a 33.1% decrease. The drop to 4K is from 107 to 61 FPS, a 43.0% decrease. This pattern is consistent, showing that the RTX 4090 Mobile's performance scales predictably with pixel count. The data implies that at 1080p, the system is not fully GPU-limited, as the frame rates are high enough that the CPU's frame time becomes more relevant. However, at 4K, the GPU's raw throughput is the deciding factor. The minimum frame rates provided for Medium settings at each resolution (174 at 1080p, 116 at 1440p, 66 at 4K) show a similar trend, confirming that the GPU is the bottleneck. This suggests that for users seeking the highest possible frame rates in competitive play, 1080p is the ideal resolution. For a more immersive experience with higher visual quality, 1440p offers a great balance, while 4K is viable for slower-paced or visual-focused play.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H plays a supporting role that becomes more critical at lower resolutions. With 16 cores and 16 threads, it has ample parallel processing power, but its single-thread performance is what matters most for Evolve's game logic. The CPU's boost clock of 5.00 GHz is high, and its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3984 is strong. This ensures that the game's main thread can be processed quickly, preventing a CPU bottleneck at high frame rates. The data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 263 FPS, which would be impossible if the CPU were holding the GPU back.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28221, also help with background tasks and any game-related physics or AI calculations. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache is another asset, reducing latency for frequently accessed data. The CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 4005 and multithread score of 32956 further confirm its balanced performance. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, has a virtually identical average score, showing that this CPU is competitive in its class. However, the CPU's role is not to deliver high frame rates on its own; it is to feed the GPU with data quickly enough to keep it saturated. The benchmark results indicate that the Core Ultra X7 368H does this effectively at 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, the CPU's performance becomes less relevant, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, but it still needs to maintain a minimum frame rate to prevent stutters.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data suggests a tiered approach based on what the user prioritizes. For competitive play where high frame rates are paramount, the 1920x1080 resolution with High settings is the recommended starting point. It delivers an average of 160 FPS, which is well above the 144Hz threshold for most gaming monitors. If a user has a 240Hz display, dropping to Medium settings at 1080p would yield 204 FPS, which is a better fit for that hardware. Low settings at 1080p, while offering 263 FPS, are likely to compromise visual clarity too much, with minimal competitive benefit in a game like Evolve.

For a balanced experience that prioritizes visual quality without sacrificing smoothness, 2560x1440 with High settings is the sweet spot. The 107 FPS average is highly playable and looks significantly better than 1080p. If a user prefers a higher frame rate over maximum fidelity, 1440p Medium at 137 FPS is an excellent choice, providing a smooth experience on a 144Hz monitor. The minimum frame rate of 116 FPS at these settings ensures there are no noticeable hitches.

For 4K gaming, the recommendation is to use Medium settings. The 78 FPS average is not as high as the other resolutions, but it is above the 60 FPS threshold for a good experience. The minimum of 66 FPS also ensures that there are no significant drops. High settings at 4K, with an average of 61 FPS, are borderline, and any demanding scene could push it below 60 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K should be avoided for a smooth experience, as the 42 FPS average is not suitable for a fast-paced FPS. The data clearly shows that Medium settings at 4K offer the best compromise between visual fidelity and playability for this combo.