Palworld

Palworld presents an unusual hardware challenge: it is an early-access survival game with a broad world, and the measured results for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B370 combination reveal a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution. The data shows a configuration that can produce playable frame rates at 1080p with adjustments, but which falls apart quickly as resolution increases, pointing to the integrated-class GPU as the definitive bottleneck in this pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent performance cliff as resolution scales from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with Medium settings, the system produces an average of 62 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average to 41 FPS, a reduction of roughly one-third. At 4K, the same Medium preset yields only 23 FPS, which is a 63% drop from the 1080p figure. This pattern strongly indicates that the limiting component is the GPU, as the frame rate is nearly halved each time the pixel count roughly doubles.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a system where the graphics processor is saturated. The CPU, a six-core, twelve-thread AMD Ryzen 5 5500, is unlikely to be the primary constraint at these settings, given its Zen 3 architecture and 4.20 GHz boost clock. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller differences between 1440p and 4K, as the GPU would have more headroom. Instead, the consistent, dramatic drops across all settings—from Low to Ultra—suggest that the Intel Arc B370, with its 25 W TDP and integrated design, simply runs out of pixel-pushing capability.

The data implies that the Arc B370 is not a part designed for high-resolution gaming. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 76 FPS, which is a comfortable playable level. However, at 1440p Low, that number falls to 50 FPS, and at 4K Low, it drops to 28 FPS. The trend is linear and unforgiving. Notably, the gap between Low and Ultra at any given resolution is also informative. At 1080p, Low yields 76 FPS while Ultra yields 36 FPS, a 40 FPS spread. At 4K, that spread narrows to 28 FPS (Low) versus 13 FPS (Ultra), but the absolute numbers are so low that the game is practically unplayable at the higher resolution regardless of preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Palworld with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the average frame rate exceeds 60 FPS, and only at Low settings (76 FPS). At 1440p, the highest average is 50 FPS (Low), and at 4K, the highest average is 28 FPS (Low). Therefore, 1080p is the only viable resolution for a smooth experience.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The measured results show a 40 FPS difference. Low settings produce an average of 76 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 36 FPS. This indicates that the visual quality presets have a massive impact on performance, more so than resolution changes at this level.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drops by 63% from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings (from 62 FPS to 23 FPS). This severe scaling with resolution is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, especially when paired with a CPU that has a 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: Can this system handle 1440p gaming in Palworld?

A: The data suggests it is borderline. At 1440p, the highest average frame rate is 50 FPS on Low settings. Medium settings drop to 41 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth play. 1440p is playable only if the user is willing to accept lower frame rates and reduced visual quality.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: In the provided 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B370 scored 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scored 1186, which is a 0.2% difference. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scored 1190, a 0.5% lead. This places the Arc B370 in a very low performance tier, consistent with its 5th percentile ranking.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 13 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is not a playable frame rate for an action-oriented survival game. It is the lowest recorded average across all combinations of resolution and settings in the fact pack.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the dominant factor in this system's Palworld performance, and the data makes its limitations clear. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is an exceptionally low score, and its nearest rivals—the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770—are over a decade old, underscoring its position at the bottom of the performance hierarchy.

The GPU's specifications align with its measured performance. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, but its memory configuration is "System Shared" with "System Dependent" bandwidth. This means it relies on the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM, which is a significant handicap for a game like Palworld that likely requires substantial texture memory. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores, but the raw throughput is limited to 6.144 TFLOPS FP32. The 25 W TDP and "IGP" slot width confirm this is an integrated solution, not a discrete card.

The benchmark results reflect this. At 1080p, the GPU can manage 76 FPS on Low, but this falls to 36 FPS on Ultra. This suggests that the GPU is not only limited by its pixel fill rate but also by memory bandwidth when higher-quality textures are loaded. The 4K results are even more telling: 28 FPS on Low and 13 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate that the GPU is completely overwhelmed by the pixel count and cannot maintain a playable frame rate. The data implies that any attempt to play Palworld at high resolutions or settings will be met with severe performance degradation, making the Arc B370 the clear performance ceiling for this combo.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B370 in Palworld is ranked 2706 out of 2944 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, which is a poor result. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's low performance, as the CPU is a relatively capable part.

The CPU alone is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19593. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (19617, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-12500 (19668, -0.4% delta), showing that it sits in a competitive mid-range tier for processing power. However, the GPU's 5th percentile ranking (with an average score of 1184) drags the entire combo down. The pairing of a mid-range CPU with an entry-level GPU creates a massive imbalance.

The data suggests that this combo is severely GPU-limited. In games like Palworld, which appears to scale heavily with resolution and settings, the CPU's headroom is wasted because the GPU cannot feed it with frames fast enough. The combo rank of 2706 indicates that most other systems tested—even those with weaker CPUs—likely outperform this configuration simply by having a more capable graphics solution. The rank serves as a warning that the Arc B370 is a severe bottleneck, and the system's overall gaming potential is capped at 1080p Low to Medium settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that achieves an average frame rate above 70 FPS (76 FPS). This setting provides the smoothest gameplay, which is critical for a survival game where reaction time can matter.

If a user prioritizes visual quality over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p is a viable alternative, producing an average of 62 FPS. This is still above the 60 FPS threshold for a decent experience and represents a significant visual upgrade over Low. However, the High preset at 1080p drops to 47 FPS, and Ultra drops to 36 FPS, both of which may feel less responsive.

At 1440p, the data does not support a strong recommendation. Low settings yield 50 FPS, which is playable but not ideal, while Medium drops to 41 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they produce 31 FPS and 24 FPS, respectively. At 4K, all settings are below 30 FPS, with Low at 28 FPS and Ultra at 13 FPS, making the resolution unsuitable for this hardware.

The data clearly indicates that the best experience is at 1080p Low or Medium. There is no scenario where higher resolutions or settings provide a good frame rate. Users should accept the visual limitations of the GPU to maintain playability. The trade-off is stark: sacrificing visual fidelity at 1080p yields a playable game, while pushing for higher quality results in a slideshow.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance across all tested configurations.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: Average 76 FPS
• Medium: Average 62 FPS (minimum 52, maximum 71)
• High: Average 47 FPS
• Ultra: Average 36 FPS

At 2560x1440:

• Low: Average 50 FPS
• Medium: Average 41 FPS (minimum 35, maximum 47)
• High: Average 31 FPS
• Ultra: Average 24 FPS

At 3840x2160:

• Low: Average 28 FPS
• Medium: Average 23 FPS (minimum 19, maximum 26)
• High: Average 17 FPS
• Ultra: Average 13 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy. Lowering settings at any resolution provides a significant boost. For example, at 1080p, switching from Ultra to Low nearly doubles the frame rate, from 36 FPS to 76 FPS. At 1440p, the same switch from Ultra to Low more than doubles the frame rate, from 24 FPS to 50 FPS. At 4K, the relative increase is also substantial, from 13 FPS to 28 FPS, but the absolute numbers remain too low for comfortable play.

The minimum and maximum FPS values for Medium settings are also useful. At 1080p, the frame rate ranges from 52 to 71 FPS, indicating some variability but generally stable performance. At 1440p, the range is 35 to 47 FPS, showing more volatility. At 4K, the range is 19 to 26 FPS, which is both low and unstable. This suggests that even the Medium preset can cause frame pacing issues at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a solid mid-range processor that is not the primary cause of the low frame rates in Palworld. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its 16 MB of L3 cache and support for DDR4 memory are standard for its class.

The CPU's benchmark scores are respectable. It scores 16429 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2319 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 7976 multicore and 1730 single-core. Its Passmark multithread score is 19330, and it is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. These numbers indicate that the CPU has enough processing power to handle modern games, including the physics and AI calculations required by a survival title like Palworld.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck because the frame rates scale so heavily with resolution. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would see similar frame rates at 1080p and 4K, as the CPU would be doing the same amount of work regardless of pixel count. Instead, the frame rates drop dramatically with resolution, which indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The Ryzen 5 5500 is likely sitting idle, waiting for the Arc B370 to render frames. This is a classic case of a CPU being underutilized due to a weak GPU. The CPU's 12 threads and 4.20 GHz boost clock are more than adequate for this game, and the system would benefit significantly from a more powerful graphics card.