Palworld

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination that struggles significantly in Palworld. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound, where the Arc B390’s performance is a major limiting factor. While the CPU is a capable mid-range part, the GPU’s low benchmark scores and the measured FPS figures reveal a clear picture: this is not a combination for high-refresh or high-resolution gaming in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides a detailed look at how this system performs across three resolutions and four quality presets. The figures are presented as average FPS, with minimum and maximum values recorded only for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are firmly in the unplayable range. The best average FPS comes from the Low preset at 31 FPS. The Medium preset averages 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS. The High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to a 15 FPS average. No preset at this resolution reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Moving down to 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves but remains below the playable threshold. The Low preset averages 56 FPS, which is close but still short of 60. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. As with 4K, the verdict for 1440p is that no settings are playable.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system finally achieves playable frame rates, but only on the two lower presets. The Low preset averages 84 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. The High preset falls short at 53 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS. The database records that the Low and Medium presets are playable at 1080p, with Medium being the best setting at 68 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck in this configuration. The Intel Arc B390, as an integrated graphics processor, has a percentile ranking of 9 among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 1482, which places it in the same performance tier as very old discrete graphics cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce GT 710, according to the nearest rivals data.

This GPU-centric limitation is evident in the scaling between resolutions. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS on Medium settings drops from 68 to 45, a reduction of roughly 34%. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the Medium average drops from 45 to 25, another 44% reduction. This steep decline with increasing pixel count is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The rendering workload is directly tied to resolution, and the Arc B390’s limited compute resources (7.680 TFLOPS FP32) cannot keep up with the demands of higher resolutions.

The CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400F, is a much stronger component. It holds a 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and the Intel Core i5-1335U, which perform within a fraction of a percent of the i5-12400F. In a scenario where the CPU was the limiting factor, we would expect to see less variation in FPS between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU workload would remain more consistent. Instead, the large FPS drops at higher resolutions point directly to the GPU as the bottleneck.

The difference between presets also highlights the GPU’s role. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium only drops the average from 84 to 68 FPS. This suggests the CPU has enough headroom to handle the increased draw calls and game logic that come with slightly higher settings. However, the jump from Medium to High drops the average from 68 to 53 FPS, a much larger relative decline. This indicates that the GPU is starting to hit a wall with the increased shading and texture work required by the High preset. The GPU is the primary constraint in every scenario measured.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database’s verdict provides a clear guide for playable settings, defined as an average FPS of 60 or above.

For 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. The highest average FPS recorded is 31 on Low, which is far below the 60 FPS threshold. The best settings entry for this resolution is null, meaning the system cannot deliver a playable experience at 4K.

Similarly, for 2560x1440, there are no playable settings. The Low preset comes closest with an average of 56 FPS, but it still misses the 60 FPS mark. The best settings entry is also null for this resolution.

The only resolution where the system achieves playability is 1920x1080. The playable settings are Low and Medium. The best settings are Medium, which provides an average FPS of 68. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. While the Low preset provides a higher average (84 FPS), the Medium preset offers a better visual experience while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. The minimum FPS of 58 on Medium is close to the threshold, but the average is solidly above it.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Palworld at 4K resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 31 on Low settings. Medium averages 25 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. None of these are close to the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best visual quality I can get while maintaining 60 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 has a low performance ranking (9th percentile) and its benchmark score of 1482 is comparable to very old discrete GPUs. The large FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 1440p and 4K confirm that the GPU’s rendering capability is the limiting factor.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12400F compare to other CPUs?

A: The i5-12400F is a solid mid-range CPU, ranking in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 19039 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047) and the Intel Core i5-1335U (18982), with a performance delta of less than one percent.

Q: What is the average FPS on Low settings at 1440p?

A: The Low preset at 2560x1440 averages 56 FPS. This is just below the 60 FPS playable threshold, making it technically unplayable according to the database’s criteria.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 comparable to any dedicated graphics cards?

A: According to the benchmark data, the Arc B390’s score of 1482 is very close to that of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). These are entry-level cards from many years ago, which helps contextualize the Arc B390’s performance level.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for both components helps to understand the performance envelope of this system. The data shows that this build is essentially a modern CPU paired with a very weak GPU.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400F’s performance is nearly identical to several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS has an average score of 19047, which is a 0% delta from the i5-12400F. The Intel Core 3 201E scores 19056, with a -0.1% delta. The Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18982, with a 0.3% delta, and the AMD EPYC 7773X scores 18979, also with a 0.3% delta. Any of these CPUs would deliver virtually the same gaming performance in Palworld when paired with the same GPU, as they are not the limiting factor.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B390’s nearest rivals are all very old, low-end NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, which is 1.5% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, which is 2.5% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, which is 2.7% slower. This means that if you were to swap the Arc B390 for any of these cards, you would see almost identical frame rates in Palworld, all of which would be well below what is needed for a smooth experience at higher resolutions.

The practical takeaway is that the GPU choice is the sole determinant of performance here. Any of the CPUs listed above would behave the same, but the GPU’s low score will cap the system’s capabilities regardless of the processor.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Palworld? The answer is conditional and depends entirely on the resolution and settings.

At 3840x2160, the answer is a definitive no. The system cannot maintain a playable frame rate on any preset. The best case scenario is 31 FPS on Low, which is far too low for a playable experience.

At 2560x1440, the answer is also no. The Low preset comes close with an average of 56 FPS, but it still does not clear the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets are significantly lower.

The only scenario where this PC can run the game is at 1920x1080. The database confirms that both Low and Medium presets are playable. The best settings for a balance of visual quality and performance are Medium, which delivers an average of 68 FPS. This is a playable experience, though the minimum FPS of 58 is close to the edge.

In summary, this system is a poor match for Palworld at high resolutions. The Intel Arc B390 is simply not powerful enough to handle the game’s demands above 1080p. Even at 1080p, users are limited to Medium settings if they want to stay above 60 FPS. This is a configuration for 1080p gaming with modest expectations, not for high-fidelity or high-resolution play. The CPU is more than capable, but the GPU holds the entire system back.