Palworld

Palworld pairs a six-core, twelve-thread AMD Ryzen 5 5600X with the integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, and the measured results are unequivocal: this is a severely GPU-limited configuration. Across every resolution and settings preset, the frame rates fall below playable thresholds, with the best-case scenario being a 1080p Low average of 84 FPS that collapses quickly as graphical demands rise. The data indicates that while the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU, the Arc B390’s integrated design cannot translate that into a smooth experience at higher settings, making this combo suitable only for the lightest of workloads in Palworld.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 5000-series desktop processor built on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) using TSMC’s 7 nm process node. It provides 6 physical cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The chip has a 65 W TDP and supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, alongside a shared 32 MB L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU reaches an average benchmark score of 21771, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H with an average score of 21749 (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U at 21874 (0.5% higher), and the Intel Core i7-11700 at 21891 (0.5% higher), showing that the 5600X is competitive with these parts in raw compute.

In Palworld, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, world simulation, and the physics of captured Pals. The benchmark results show that the processor is not the bottleneck in this pairing. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 84 FPS, and at 1080p Medium it drops to 68 FPS, which is a 19% reduction. This moderate drop suggests that the CPU can keep up with the increased draw calls and entity updates at these settings. The 3dmark multi-threaded scores of 5582 (16 threads) and 5588 (max threads) indicate strong parallel performance, which is beneficial for Palworld’s open-world survival mechanics. The single-thread score of 917 in 3dmark is also solid, ensuring that the main game thread has enough headroom. However, the data shows that even with this CPU performance, the integrated GPU fails to capitalize on it, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra result of only 15 FPS, which points directly at the graphics solution as the limiting factor.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on Intel’s 3 nm process node. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with shading units numbering 1536, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. It also includes 12 ray tracing cores. The memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning there is no dedicated VRAM; the size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as system-shared or system-dependent. The GPU’s theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS for FP16 (2:1 ratio), with a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The TDP is 80 W, and it is an IGP with no power connectors. Its only benchmark result is a 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, 1.3% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460, 1.5% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, 2.5% lower), all of which are ancient low-end discrete parts.

In Palworld, the GPU’s role is to render the vibrant world, character models, and combat effects. The benchmark data shows that the Arc B390 is fundamentally underpowered for this game. At 1080p High, the combo produces 53 FPS, which is borderline playable but not smooth. The 4K Low result of 31 FPS is a clear indication that the GPU struggles with resolution scaling. The shared memory architecture is a particular disadvantage here, as Palworld likely requires significant memory bandwidth for texture streaming, and the system-dependent bandwidth cannot compete with dedicated VRAM. The fact that the GPU’s percentile rank is only 9th overall, alongside rivals like the GT 710, underscores its limitations. The results suggest that the Arc B390 is only viable for the lowest settings at 1080p, and even then, the minimum frame rates are unrecorded for most presets, hinting at instability.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a stark resolution scaling pattern that confirms the GPU as the primary bottleneck. Starting at 1080p Low with 84 FPS, moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 56 FPS, a 33% reduction, and then to 4K Low at 31 FPS, a further 45% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated even at lower resolutions. For High settings, the drop from 1080p (53 FPS) to 1440p (35 FPS) is a 34% decrease, and then to 4K (19 FPS) is another 46% decrease. These consistent percentage drops across settings indicate that the rendering workload is scaling linearly with pixel count, which is a classic sign of a fill-rate or shader-bound GPU.

The limiting component is clearly the Intel Arc B390. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences between resolutions, as the CPU workload is largely independent of resolution. Instead, the data shows that at 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 15 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra it reaches 40 FPS. The relative performance gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution is also telling: at 1080p, Low (84 FPS) is 2.1 times faster than Ultra (40 FPS), while at 4K, Low (31 FPS) is roughly 2.1 times faster than Ultra (15 FPS). This proportional scaling suggests that the GPU’s compute resources are being taxed uniformly across settings, with no sign of CPU interference. The 1440p Medium result of 45 FPS, with a min of 38 and max of 52, further illustrates the GPU’s inability to maintain high frame rates as pixel count increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data is sparse on minimum and maximum values, but the averages provide a clear picture. At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are as follows: High averages 19 FPS, Low averages 31 FPS, Medium averages 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 29, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. These numbers are all below the threshold for smooth gameplay, with even the best 4K result (Low at 31 FPS) being stuttery. The Medium preset at 4K shows a tight range of 21 to 29 FPS, indicating that the GPU is consistently maxed out.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the results improve but remain marginal. High averages 35 FPS, Low averages 56 FPS, Medium averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The 1440p Low result of 56 FPS is the only preset at this resolution that approaches playability, but it still lacks the headroom for demanding scenes. The Medium preset’s range of 38 to 52 FPS shows significant fluctuation, which could be distracting in fast-paced combat.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo performs at its best. High averages 53 FPS, Low averages 84 FPS, Medium averages 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 79, and Ultra averages 40 FPS. The 1080p Low result of 84 FPS is the highest average recorded, and the Medium preset’s 58 FPS minimum is the only recorded minimum above 50 FPS in the entire dataset. However, the Ultra preset at 40 FPS is still below the 60 FPS target that many players expect. Overall, the data suggests that only 1080p Low and Medium are viable for a playable experience, and even then, the lack of recorded minimums for Low and High presets leaves uncertainty about frame pacing.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Palworld, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3297 out of 3711 combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations, which is a poor result that aligns with the low FPS numbers. The rank is driven almost entirely by the GPU’s weak performance, as the CPU’s 75th percentile standing suggests it is above average. The combo’s rank of 3297 means that there are 3296 other hardware pairings that deliver better performance in Palworld, and only 414 that are worse.

This low ranking is consistent with the GPU’s 9th percentile score in the general GPU database. The nearest GPU rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the GeForce 800M, are products that are over a decade old and designed for basic office tasks, not gaming. The fact that the Arc B390 is competitive with these parts in synthetic benchmarks and yet is paired with a modern CPU like the 5600X creates a massive imbalance. The data shows that the CPU is being held back significantly; if the same CPU were paired with a mid-range discrete GPU, the combo rank would likely be in the top 50% or better. As it stands, the 3297 rank is a verdict on the GPU’s inadequacy for Palworld, not on the CPU’s capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo in Palworld?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 Low is the best-performing preset, with an average of 84 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset also provides a reasonable experience with an average of 68 FPS and a minimum of 58 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Palworld?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 31 (Low settings), and the lowest is 15 FPS (Ultra settings). All 4K results are below 32 FPS, making the game unplayable at that resolution.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in this test?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), and 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM (1446). These are marginal differences, indicating similar performance levels.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 21771 places it in the 75th percentile, and its nearest rivals are within 0.6% of its score. The FPS drops across resolutions point to the GPU as the limiting factor, not the CPU.

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

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 3297 out of 3711 tested combinations for Palworld, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This low rank is primarily due to the GPU’s weak performance.