Palworld

Palworld, a survival title from January 2024, places heavy demands on both processor and graphics hardware. The recorded data for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the Intel Arc B390 shows a system that is strictly limited by its graphics component. The Arc B390, an integrated solution, ranks in the 9th percentile of all tested GPUs, while the Ryzen 7 9700F sits in the 94th percentile of CPUs. This combination results in a specific performance envelope where the CPU has significant headroom, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck across all tested resolutions and settings. The measured results provide a clear picture of what this combo can deliver, and more importantly, what it cannot.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results for Palworld are organized by resolution and preset, with average, minimum, and maximum frame rates recorded where available. The data reveals a substantial performance drop as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of GPU-bound scenarios.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 84 FPS, which is the highest recorded average across all tests. Medium settings yield an average of 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 53 FPS, and Ultra settings drop the average further to 40 FPS. The frame rate deltas between presets are significant, with a 16 FPS gap between Low and Medium averages, a 15 FPS gap between Medium and High, and a 13 FPS gap between High and Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance falls off sharply. The Low preset averages 56 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings average 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings average 26 FPS. The difference between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings is substantial; for example, the High preset average drops from 53 FPS to 35 FPS, a reduction of 18 FPS. This scaling suggests the GPU is working near its limit even at the lower resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance is marginal for most presets. Low settings produce an average of 31 FPS, Medium settings average 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS, High settings average 19 FPS, and Ultra settings average 15 FPS. The minimum frame rates recorded at 4K Medium (21 FPS) are notably low, indicating potential for stutter. The progression from 1440p to 2160p shows another steep decline, with the Low preset average falling from 56 FPS to 31 FPS. The data indicates that resolution scaling is the dominant factor in performance, as the GPU is unable to maintain consistent frame delivery as pixel count increases.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS. The verdict by resolution is clear: only at 1920x1080 does this system achieve playable frame rates, and only on specific presets.

For 1920x1080, the best settings that remain at or above 60 FPS are Medium. The recorded average FPS at this setting is 68, which provides a 8 FPS margin above the threshold. The Low preset also clears the threshold with an 84 FPS average, but Medium is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. High and Ultra presets fall below the threshold, with averages of 53 FPS and 40 FPS respectively.

At 2560x1440, no preset clears the 60 FPS threshold. The closest is Low with a 56 FPS average, which falls short by 4 FPS. The verdict lists no playable settings for this resolution, meaning the best settings are technically none that meet the playable criteria. Medium, High, and Ultra all produce averages well below 60 FPS, at 45, 35, and 26 FPS respectively.

At 3840x2160, the situation is similar. The highest average FPS is 31 on Low settings, which is far below the 60 FPS threshold. No preset is considered playable. The performance range from 15 FPS on Ultra to 31 FPS on Low indicates that even the lowest settings cannot provide a smooth experience at this resolution. The data shows that this system is effectively limited to 1080p gaming for Palworld, with Medium settings being the recommended maximum for a stable experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor in this system for Palworld. The CPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 9700F with 8 cores and 16 threads, shows high benchmark scores, including a Passmark single-thread score of 4691 and a multithread score of 36470, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, with a delta of 0.2%, and the Intel Core i7-14700KF, with a delta of -0.2%, indicating performance parity at the top end of consumer processors.

In contrast, the Intel Arc B390 GPU has a much lower benchmark presence. Its only recorded benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, yields a score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are older, low-end discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (delta 1.3%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (delta 2.7%). This massive disparity in relative performance between the CPU and GPU is reflected in the frame rate scaling.

The scaling between resolutions and presets shows GPU-bound behavior. As resolution increases from 1080p to 1440p to 2160p, the frame rates drop proportionally, which is a typical sign of the GPU being saturated. For instance, the Low preset average drops from 84 FPS at 1080p to 56 FPS at 1440p, a 33% reduction, and further to 31 FPS at 2160p, another 45% reduction. This steep decline is consistent with a GPU that lacks the pixel throughput for higher resolutions.

The CPU role is more evident in the preset scaling at a fixed resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 44 FPS (from 84 to 40). This spread is largely due to increased draw distances and object counts in Palworld, which can stress the CPU. However, the absolute frame rates are still capped by the GPU. The CPU has the headroom to handle the game's logic at 1080p, as evidenced by the 84 FPS Low result, but the GPU cannot push beyond that in more demanding settings. At higher resolutions, the CPU influence diminishes further, as the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield significant frame rate improvements, while the CPU would not need replacement for this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this system can achieve in Palworld?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 84 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is 2560x1440 playable with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: No, the recorded data shows no playable settings at 2560x1440. The best average is 56 FPS on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which settings are recommended for 1920x1080 to stay above 60 FPS?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 68 FPS. The Low preset also exceeds the threshold with an average of 84 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of benchmark score?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, which is 2.7% lower.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 3840x2160 with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 21 FPS, with a maximum of 29 FPS and an average of 25 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU have a high benchmark ranking compared to other processors?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69996. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700KF, scores 70163, which is 0.2% higher.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide context for what other hardware might behave similarly in this system. For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has an average score of 69875, a 0.2% difference from the Ryzen 7 9700F's 69996. The Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70163, a 0.2% difference. These processors are statistically equivalent in synthetic benchmarks, meaning users with those CPUs would likely see similar frame rates in Palworld when paired with the same GPU, as the CPU is not the bottleneck.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are significantly weaker in absolute terms. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX has an average score of 1463, a 1.3% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, a 1.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% difference. These GPUs are all in the same performance bracket as the Arc B390, and would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Palworld. The data suggests that any of these GPU alternatives would deliver similar results, meaning the 1080p Medium setting at 68 FPS would be the ceiling for this class of graphics hardware. None of these alternatives would change the overall verdict for higher resolutions.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, this system can run Palworld, but only under specific conditions. At 1920x1080, the system achieves playable frame rates on Low and Medium settings. The Medium preset is the most demanding playable option, with an average of 68 FPS. This provides a smooth experience for most gameplay scenarios, though the minimum recorded FPS of 58 on Medium suggests slight dips may occur in heavy scenes.

At 2560x1440, the system cannot maintain a playable frame rate. The best average is 56 FPS on Low settings, which falls short of the 60 FPS threshold. Users would experience noticeable stutter and reduced smoothness at this resolution. At 3840x2160, the performance is far below playable levels, with the highest average being 31 FPS on Low settings. The system is not suitable for 1440p or 4K gaming in Palworld.

The verdict is direct: this combination is a 1080p gaming setup for Palworld. It clears the 60 FPS threshold only at 1080p with Medium settings or lower. For users targeting higher resolutions, this hardware will not deliver the necessary frame rates. The CPU has ample power for the game, but the integrated GPU is the definitive limiting factor.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3297 out of 3711 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the lower 11% of all systems tested. The ranking reflects the significant imbalance between the high-performing CPU and the low-performing GPU. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking does little to boost the combo's standing because the GPU's 9th percentile ranking drags the overall performance down.

The rank indicates that most other tested hardware combinations provide better frame rates in this game. The data shows that the combo is functional at 1080p for less demanding presets, but it is far from competitive. For context, the GPU's nearest rivals, all scoring within 2.7% of the Arc B390, would likely produce similar ranks. The high CPU rank does not compensate for the GPU's limitations in a game like Palworld, which is heavily dependent on graphics processing for its open-world rendering. Users considering this combo should expect a below-average experience relative to the broader database of tested systems.