Palworld

Palworld, a survival game released on January 18, 2024, shows distinct performance patterns when paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. The data reveals a system capable of high frame rates, but the balance between CPU and GPU shifts dramatically across resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS to explain how each component contributes to the game's performance and what users can expect from this combination.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and built on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB L3 cache. This CPU supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and is unlocked for overclocking. In synthetic tests, it scores 15476 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1574.5 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 11036 and a Passmark multithread score of 27732.

In Palworld, the CPU's role is most evident at 1080p where the frame rates are exceptionally high. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 316, and at Medium settings, it averages 256 FPS. These numbers are far above what most monitors can display, indicating that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain such high frame rates. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration is well-suited for a game like Palworld, which likely uses multiple threads for its survival mechanics, world simulation, and the AI of Pals. The Ryzen 7 5800X's strong multi-threaded performance, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15476, ensures that the game's simulation and logic do not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Comparing to the nearest rivals in the database, the Ryzen 7 5800X's average benchmark score is 29123. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, which scores 29093. It is also 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT, which has an average score of 28940. This places the 5800X slightly above these chips in overall benchmark performance, but the differences are minimal. The CPU sits at the 81st percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a strong performer for its generation. At 1080p, the CPU's strength is clear, but as resolution increases, the load shifts to the GPU, and the CPU's role diminishes.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD103 chip. It has 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. The GPU features 80 RT cores and 320 Tensor cores, supporting DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6. It operates at a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz, with memory running at 1438 MHz for an effective 23 Gbps. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory is connected via a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 34245 in Passmark G3D and 219065 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

In Palworld, the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions. At 4K UHD (3840x2160), the GPU's capabilities are fully taxed, with average FPS ranging from 55 at Ultra settings to 115 at Low settings. The 16 GB VRAM is ample for Palworld, which likely requires a substantial amount of memory for textures and the game's large open world. The GPU's high pixel rate of 285.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 816.0 GTexel/s allow it to handle the 4K resolution with relative ease. The RTX 4080 SUPER is 0.1% behind the standard RTX 4080 in average benchmark score, with scores of 54209 and 54247 respectively, showing these two GPUs are nearly identical in performance. It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X and 2.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB.

The GPU's dominance is most apparent at 4K, where the CPU is less likely to be a limiting factor. At 1440p, the RTX 4080 SUPER still delivers high frame rates, from 98 FPS at Ultra to 208 FPS at Low, but the gap between the GPU and CPU performance narrows. The GPU's 86th percentile ranking indicates it is a top-tier performer, but the CPU's 81st percentile shows that it is not the strongest CPU, so the system's performance is not always GPU-bound at lower resolutions.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions shows a clear pattern. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 197. Moving to 1440p High, it drops to 130, and at 4K High, it falls to 72. This represents a percentage drop of 34% from 1080p to 1440p, and a further drop of 45% from 1440p to 4K. The decreases are substantial, but the system still maintains playable frame rates at 4K, which is a strong performance.

At lower settings, the influence of the CPU becomes more apparent. At Low settings, the frame rate at 1080p is 316 FPS, at 1440p it is 208 FPS, and at 4K it is 115 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 34%, and from 1440p to 4K is 45%. These drops are consistent with the High setting, suggesting that the GPU is being increasingly taxed as the resolution rises. However, at 1080p and Low, the CPU is the primary driver of frame rates, as the GPU is not fully utilized. The fact that the CPU can push such high frame rates at 1080p indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as the resolution increases.

At Medium settings, the frame rates are 256 FPS at 1080p, 169 FPS at 1440p, and 94 FPS at 4K, with the drop from 1080p to 1440p being 34% and from 1440p to 4K being 38%. The scaling is smooth, with no sudden drops, indicating that the GPU is handling the load incrementally. At Ultra, the frame rates are 149 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 55 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 34%, and from 1440p to 4K is 44%, showing a slightly larger drop as the GPU is stressed more at 4K with Ultra settings.

The data shows that the CPU is a strong performer at 1080p, but the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, especially with higher settings. The RTX 4080 SUPER is a capable GPU, but the demands of 4K with Ultra settings are high, resulting in an average FPS of 55. This is still playable, but it shows the system is leaning more on the GPU at these settings.

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

1920x1080

At 1080p, the RTX 4080 SUPER pushes very high frame rates across all settings. The lowest average is 149 FPS at Ultra, while the highest is 316 FPS at Low. Medium settings average 256 FPS, with a minimum of 218 FPS and a maximum of 294 FPS. High settings average 197 FPS. These numbers are well above the 60 FPS standard, making the game very smooth at this resolution. The CPU's strong single and multi-thread performance allows the GPU to be fully utilized, resulting in these high frame rates.

2560x1440

At 1440p, the frame rates are still high but show a noticeable decline from 1080p. The average FPS at Ultra is 98, and at High, it is 130. Medium settings average 169 FPS, with a minimum of 143 FPS and a maximum of 194 FPS. Low settings average 208 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 34% across all settings, indicating consistent scaling. The system remains highly playable at this resolution, with even Ultra settings averaging 98 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

3840x2160

At 4K, the frame rates are lower but still playable. The average FPS at Ultra is 55, and at High it is 72. Medium settings average 94 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS. Low settings average 115 FPS. The performance at 4K is about 50% of the 1080p performance, indicating the GPU is heavily utilized. The RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth are used, but the demands of 4K are substantial. The game remains playable, but Ultra settings at 4K might not provide the smoothest experience, with a 55 FPS average.

FAQ

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

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 130.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to the RTX 4080 in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080's score of 54247.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 218.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is more likely to be the limiting factor, as the frame rates are very high, but the GPU is not as taxed. For example, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 316, which suggests the CPU is capable of pushing very high frame rates.

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

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 130.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 5800X compare to the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X has an average benchmark score of 29123, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H's 29093.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience depends on the user's monitor and preference for frame rate. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but Ultra provides an average of 149 FPS, which is still very high. For users with a 1440p monitor, High settings (130 FPS) offer a great balance between visual quality and smoothness, while Ultra at 98 FPS is also a strong choice. At 4K, the data suggests that Medium settings (94 FPS) are the best option for a smooth experience, as High (72 FPS) is still playable but might be less fluid, and Ultra (55 FPS) may not be ideal for those who prefer a higher frame rate. The Low settings provide the highest FPS at all resolutions but at the cost of visual fidelity. Therefore, for the best overall experience, a user on a 1080p or 1440p monitor can choose Ultra, while a 4K user might want to consider Medium or High to ensure a smooth frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In Palworld, this combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 308th out of 3711 tested combos. This places it in the top 8.3% of all combinations, indicating a strong level of performance. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, with the system capable of high frame rates at all resolutions, though the GPU is the primary driver at higher resolutions. The high rank is due to the GPU's powerful performance, but the CPU also contributes by not being a limiting factor at lower resolutions. This combo is well-suited for Palworld, providing a smooth experience at both 1440p and 4K settings, with the only caveat being Ultra settings at 4K may not reach the 60 FPS threshold for some users.