Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS title, presents an interesting stress profile for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090. The measured data indicates that this combination delivers a playable experience across most settings, but the scaling between resolutions reveals a system that is heavily influenced by both CPU and GPU limits depending on the configuration chosen.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, providing clear insight into the bottleneck characteristics of this combo. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 167 FPS at 1920x1080 to 112 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 55 FPS. Moving from 1440p to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 64 FPS, representing a 48 FPS loss. This trajectory shows that the game becomes progressively more GPU-bound as resolution increases, with the RTX 5090's rendering load becoming the primary limiting factor at 4K.

The scaling at Low settings is even more dramatic. The system posts 275 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 185 FPS at 1440p and then plummets to 105 FPS at 4K. The large gap between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings suggests that while the GPU is capable of high frame rates, the CPU's single-thread performance begins to constrain the output at lower resolutions. However, the massive 80 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the dominant factors at the highest pixel counts, even with reduced graphical fidelity.

Ultra settings show the most severe scaling, with 116 FPS at 1080p, 78 FPS at 1440p, and just 44 FPS at 4K. The 34 FPS drop between 1080p and 1440p, followed by another 34 FPS drop to 4K, suggests a linear relationship with pixel count, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario at maximum quality. The data indicates that for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, users must select the High preset, while those prioritizing maximum frame rates should consider 1440p or lower.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 achieves a rank of 567 out of 2872 combos for Evolve. This places it in the top 19.7% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing for a game released in 2015. The rank reflects the absolute performance of the combo, but it is important to contextualize it with the component-level benchmarks.

The CPU itself holds an 88th percentile ranking against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44466. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, scores 44573, placing this Intel chip just 0.2% behind. Similarly, the Intel Core i9-13950HX trails by a mere 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is 0.4% behind. This indicates that the Ultra X9 388H is performance-competitive with top-tier desktop and mobile processors from the same generation.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5090 sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79842. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, scores 79605, putting the RTX 5090 just 0.3% ahead. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.1% behind, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X is 1.4% ahead. These margins are small, suggesting that the RTX 5090's raw compute is well-matched by other high-end accelerators, though its gaming-specific features likely contribute to the strong in-game rank.

The combo's rank of 567 is likely bolstered by the fact that the RTX 5090's 32 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth prevent any memory-related stutters, even at 4K Ultra, where the game can demand substantial resources. The data shows that this combo outperforms the vast majority of tested systems, making it a high-tier configuration for Evolve.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. The GPU features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. This is more than sufficient for Evolve, even at 4K with high-resolution textures, ensuring that memory bandwidth is not a bottleneck in any of the tested scenarios.

Clock speeds are also a factor. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz and boosts to 2407 MHz, which allows for consistent performance across the measured settings. The chip, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, contains 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 122.9M per mm². This architectural density translates to 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units, which are the key components for traditional rasterization workloads like those in Evolve.

The RTX 5090's benchmark scores corroborate its in-game performance. It scores 39650 in Passmark G3D, which places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its DirectX 11 score of 341 is particularly relevant, as Evolve relies on DirectX 11 for rendering. The DirectX 12 score of 185 is lower, but the game does not utilize this API, so it has no bearing on the results. The GPU's FP32 performance is rated at 104.8 TFLOPS, and its texture rate is 1,636.8 GTexel/s, both of which are exceptional figures that explain the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

At 1080p Low, the GPU pushes 275 FPS, but as settings increase to Ultra, the frame rate drops to 116 FPS. This 159 FPS difference demonstrates that the GPU is fully utilized at higher settings, with the pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s becoming a limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the measured average is just 44 FPS. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 is capable of handling Evolve at 4K High comfortably, but Ultra settings push it beyond its effective limits for smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 275 FPS, Medium averages 213 FPS with a minimum of 181 FPS and a maximum of 245 FPS, High averages 167 FPS, and Ultra averages 116 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the combo is rarely constrained, and even the highest quality settings remain well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low settings average 185 FPS, Medium averages 143 FPS with a minimum of 122 FPS and a maximum of 165 FPS, High averages 112 FPS, and Ultra averages 78 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 122 FPS suggests that frame times are consistent, with no significant stutters, even during intense gameplay sequences. Ultra at 1440p is still playable, but the 78 FPS average indicates that the GPU is working harder.

At 3840x2160, the resolution takes a toll. Low settings average 105 FPS, Medium averages 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS, High averages 64 FPS, and Ultra averages 44 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 69 FPS is notable, as it shows that even at 4K, the system can maintain a frame rate above 60 FPS most of the time, though it may dip below in demanding scenes. High at 4K is borderline, with a 64 FPS average that could result in occasional drops below 60 FPS. Ultra at 4K is not recommended for competitive play, as the 44 FPS average falls well below the standard for smooth motion.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable at 4K with this combo?

A: The highest average at 3840x2160 is 105 FPS, achieved with Low settings. For a more visually detailed experience, Medium settings yield 81 FPS, while High and Ultra produce 64 FPS and 44 FPS, respectively.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 in Evolve?

A: At 1080p Low, the system reaches 275 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate. The CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 4280 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2200.5 indicate strong single-thread performance, but the data suggests the CPU can limit the GPU at the lowest settings and resolutions, as the frame rate drops significantly when moving to 1440p.

Q: How does the RTX 5090's memory configuration affect 4K performance?

A: The RTX 5090 has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory with a 512-bit bus and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth. This configuration is more than sufficient for Evolve, as the 4K Medium preset shows a 69 FPS minimum, indicating no memory-related stutters or texture loading issues.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 112 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 78 FPS. This represents a 34 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset's additional graphical effects come at a significant performance cost.

Q: Does the combo rank high compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 567th out of 2872 tested combinations for Evolve, placing it in the top 20% of all systems. This is a strong result, though it is not at the very top, suggesting some combinations may have higher scores.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded in the data?

A: The only recorded minimum FPS values are for the Medium preset: 181 FPS at 1920x1080, 122 FPS at 2560x1440, and 69 FPS at 3840x2160. These figures indicate that the Medium preset provides a consistent frame rate without severe drops.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium averages 213 FPS with a minimum of 181 FPS, providing a fluid experience with a comfortable margin above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on high-end monitors. At 1440p, Medium averages 143 FPS with a minimum of 122 FPS, which is ideal for 120 Hz displays and ensures no frame rate drops below that threshold. At 4K, Medium averages 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS, making it the only preset at this resolution that consistently stays above 60 FPS.

For users with 1080p displays, the High preset is also viable, averaging 167 FPS, but Medium offers a 46 FPS advantage for minimal visual compromise. At 1440p, High averages 112 FPS, which is suitable for 100 Hz monitors, but Medium's 143 FPS average provides more headroom. At 4K, High's 64 FPS average is borderline, and the 69 FPS minimum of Medium makes it the safer choice for maintaining smooth gameplay.

Ultra settings are only recommended for users with 1080p displays who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, as the 116 FPS average is still playable. At 1440p, Ultra's 78 FPS average may be acceptable for slower-paced games, but for a FPS like Evolve, the Medium or High presets are preferable. At 4K, Ultra's 44 FPS average is too low for a competitive shooter, and users should avoid this configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H plays a supporting role in this combo, but its specifications are crucial for achieving the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. The CPU features 16 cores and 16 threads, based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 2.10 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, providing strong single-thread performance that is essential for games like Evolve that rely on a primary game thread.

The CPU's benchmark scores support its in-game performance. Its Passmark single-thread score of 4280 is notably high, and its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2200.5 confirms this strength. In multi-threaded workloads, the CPU scores 18911 in Cinebench R23 and 13101 in Cinebench R20, indicating that it can handle background tasks without impacting game performance. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample memory for frequently accessed game data, reducing latency.

The CPU's 88th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 44466 place it in the upper echelon of processors. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, is just 0.2% ahead, while the Intel Core i9-13950HX is 0.3% behind. This indicates that the Ultra X9 388H is on par with the best CPUs available, and its 16 cores ensure that it is not a bottleneck in most gaming scenarios.

However, the data reveals that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 275 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's limit for this game. The Passmark physics score of 3226 and the multithread score of 36811 show strong computational power, but the single-thread nature of Evolve's engine means that the boost clock of 5.10 GHz is the most critical factor. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s via LPDDR5X is also sufficient to feed the GPU's data demands, ensuring no starvation occurs. Overall, the CPU provides a solid foundation for the RTX 5090, with the GPU becoming the primary limiter at higher resolutions and settings.