Palworld

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark imbalance in Palworld. The data is unambiguous: this combination is only viable at 1080p, and even then, only with reduced graphical settings. The CPU is a high-end performer, but the GPU, which ranks in the 9th percentile of all tested graphics cards, becomes the overwhelming bottleneck at higher resolutions. Benchmark results show that 1440p and 4K are effectively unplayable, while 1080p Medium is the only setting that offers a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

FAQ

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

A: No. The recorded data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The best average FPS at 4K is 31 on Low settings, which falls far below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High, Medium, and Ultra presets yield averages of 19, 25, and 15 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1080p?

A: Medium is the best playable setting at 1920x1080. It achieves an average of 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. Low settings run faster at 84 FPS average, but Medium provides the highest visual quality that still clears the 60 FPS bar.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, scores 35403, which is a negligible 0.1% difference. The i7-12700K is also nearly identical, with a score of 35287 and a 0.2% delta.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile?

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 1482, which is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, its closest rival.

Q: Is there a difference between Low and Medium settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, but neither is playable. At 2560x1440, Low settings produce an average of 56 FPS, while Medium produces 45 FPS. Both fall short of the 60 FPS threshold, meaning no settings at this resolution are considered playable.

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 84, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that exceeds 80 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Core i7-12700KF and the Arc B390 is heavily skewed. The CPU is a 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake processor with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and its synthetic scores are strong. It achieves 28838 points in Cinebench R23 multicore and 4071 in single-core. This level of processing power is more than sufficient for a survival title like Palworld.

The GPU, however, is the limiting factor. The Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture with 1536 shading units. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, which places it alongside much older discrete GPUs like the GeForce GT 710 and GT 625 OEM. The data shows that this GPU cannot maintain the frame rates necessary for smooth gameplay at medium or high resolutions.

The scaling between resolutions confirms the GPU bottleneck. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo averages 84 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops the average to 56 FPS, a reduction of 28 FPS. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls to 31 FPS. The pattern is consistent across all presets: increasing resolution results in a severe, predictable drop in performance. For example, Medium settings yield 68 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K.

The CPU's role is more apparent in the frame time consistency. The only recorded minimum FPS values come from the Medium preset runs. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 58 FPS, which is close to the average. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 38 FPS against a 45 FPS average. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 21 FPS against a 25 FPS average. These minimums suggest that the frame pacing is stable, but the overall performance ceiling is set by the GPU.

The verdict is clear: this system is CPU-rich and GPU-poor. The processor has ample headroom, but the graphics solution cannot translate that into playable frame rates beyond 1080p. At 1080p, the CPU is still not the limiting factor, as the GPU is the one that determines whether the 60 FPS threshold is met.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, all four presets were measured. Low settings produced an average of 31 FPS. Medium settings averaged 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 29. High settings averaged 19 FPS. Ultra settings averaged 15 FPS. No preset at this resolution comes close to the 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440, Low settings averaged 56 FPS. Medium settings averaged 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. High settings averaged 35 FPS. Ultra settings averaged 26 FPS. The Low preset is the only one that approaches the playable threshold, but it still falls short by 4 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the results are more varied. Low settings averaged 84 FPS, the highest score recorded for this combo. Medium settings averaged 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 79. High settings averaged 53 FPS. Ultra settings averaged 40 FPS. Low and Medium are the only presets that clear the 60 FPS threshold.

The data indicates a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the fastest, followed by 1080p Medium, then 1080p High, and so on. The gap between Low and Ultra at any given resolution is substantial. At 1080p, the difference is 44 FPS. At 1440p, it is 30 FPS. At 4K, it is 16 FPS. The diminishing absolute differences at higher resolutions are due to the GPU being fully saturated in all cases.

The Verdict

This PC can run Palworld, but only in a limited capacity. According to the verdict data, the only playable settings are at 1920x1080, with Low and Medium both clearing the 60 FPS threshold. The best playable setting is Medium, which achieves an average of 68 FPS.

At 2560x1440, there are no playable settings. The closest is Low with an average of 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS mark. At 3840x2160, the situation is worse, with no preset exceeding 31 FPS. Users with a 1440p or 4K monitor would need to lower the resolution to 1080p to achieve a playable experience.

The performance at 1080p Medium is usable, but the margin is thin. The minimum FPS of 58 is only 2 frames below the target, meaning there may be brief dips during intense moments. For a survival game where player base building and creature capture occur in dynamic environments, this could result in occasional stutter. Low settings provide a safer margin with an 84 FPS average, but the visual quality is significantly reduced.

The overall ranking reflects this limited capability. This combo ranks 3297 out of 3711 tested combinations in Palworld, placing it in the lower 11% of all systems. It is a playable setup for 1080p gaming, but it is not a versatile one.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals are all within a fraction of a percent in average benchmark score. The Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, which is 0.1% lower than the i7-12700KF. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, a 0.2% difference. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, also a 0.2% difference. The Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35287, with a 0.2% delta. Any of these processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Palworld.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are much older and weaker parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower than the Arc B390. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, a 1.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, a 2.7% difference. These comparisons highlight how modest the Arc B390's graphics output is relative to the rest of the market. A system with any of these GPUs would behave in a similar manner, meaning 1080p Low or Medium would be the ceiling for playable performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3297 out of 3711 tested combos in Palworld. This places the system in the bottom 11% of all configurations in the database. The ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU's low performance, as the CPU's 85th percentile standing is negated by the graphics bottleneck.

The high CPU rank does not translate into a high combo rank for this game. Palworld is a title where the GPU dictates the achievable frame rate at the resolutions tested. The data shows that even a top-tier processor from the Alder Lake generation cannot compensate for a GPU that ranks in the 9th percentile. This system is best suited for 1080p gaming with medium or low presets, and users seeking higher resolutions or higher visual fidelity would need to consider a different graphics solution.