Palworld

Palworld, a survival title released on 2024-01-18, presents a demanding workload that scales heavily with both resolution and graphical preset. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 paired with the Intel Arc B370, an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. The data shows a system that is unequivocally GPU-limited across all tested configurations, with the CPU's substantial multi-threading capabilities remaining largely underutilized as the graphics subsystem becomes the primary bottleneck. The following sections break down the measured FPS data to provide a clear picture of what this combination can deliver, and where its limitations lie.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a stark and predictable decline in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. This scaling pattern is the single most telling indicator of the system's bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 76 FPS. Stepping up to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 50 FPS, a reduction of 26 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160 at Low settings yields a further drop to 28 FPS. This progression shows that performance is being halved at each major resolution step, a classic sign that the rendering pipeline is saturated by the GPU's fill rate and shading capabilities.

The scaling behavior becomes even more pronounced at higher settings. With the High preset, the average FPS at 1920x1080 is 47, which falls to 31 at 2560x1440 and plummets to 17 at 3840x2160. The 4K figure represents a 64% reduction from the 1080p baseline for the same settings. This severe degradation indicates that the Intel Arc B370, with its 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, simply cannot sustain the pixel throughput required at 4K. The GPU's pixel rate is rated at 48.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate at 96.00 GTexel/s, but these theoretical peaks are far from achievable in a real-world title like Palworld, especially with the memory bandwidth being "System Dependent."

The implication of this scaling is clear: the limiting component is the graphics processor. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is not the constraint here. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see more consistent FPS across resolutions, as the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU workload increased. Instead, the linear and dramatic FPS drops with each resolution increase prove that the Intel Arc B370 is operating at its absolute limit even at 1080p. The data suggests that users should not expect playable frame rates at 3840x2160 with this combination, as even the lowest settings only produce a 28 FPS average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in most genres.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo can achieve in Palworld?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 76, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: How does the system perform at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 41, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 capable of running the game at 4K?

A: The data indicates it is not well-suited for 4K. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 28 on Low to 13 on Ultra, all of which are below playable thresholds.

Q: What is the performance delta between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 76 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 36 FPS. This represents a 40 FPS difference between the two extremes.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 7700's multi-threading capability translate to high FPS in this game?

A: No. Despite the CPU's strong multi-threaded benchmark scores, the measured FPS is consistently low, indicating the GPU is the primary limiter. The CPU's potential is not fully utilized in this configuration.

Q: What is the system's rank among all tested combos for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2706 out of 2944 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems for Palworld performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the defining component in this system's performance profile. Its specifications paint a picture of a low-power, integrated graphics processor. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a TDP of just 25 W. It features 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM for video memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical weakness for a demanding title like Palworld, as shared memory access is typically slower than dedicated VRAM.

The GPU's benchmark results are equally telling. In the 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 test, it scores 1184 points. This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it is far below average in raw graphical compute power. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190). The Intel Arc B370's score is 0.2% lower than the HD 5570 and 0.5% lower than the HD 5770, showing that it is in the same performance class as hardware from over a decade ago.

This lack of graphical horsepower directly explains the measured FPS data. The GPU is simply overwhelmed by the rendering demands of Palworld. The 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for modern gaming at higher settings. The data shows that even at 1080p, the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates, with the Ultra preset only achieving a 36 FPS average. The 20 ROPs are a major bottleneck for pixel fill rate, which is why resolution scaling has such a profound impact on performance. In essence, the Intel Arc B370 is a capable integrated solution for basic tasks, but it is not designed for the sustained load of a high-fidelity survival game like Palworld.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. The Low preset yields an average of 76 FPS, which is the highest figure recorded for this combo. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 71 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 47 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 36 FPS. This spread shows that while 1080p is the most viable resolution, high-refresh-rate gameplay is only possible on the Low preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are significant. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is a 34% decrease from the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47 FPS. The High preset averages 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 24 FPS. This resolution is borderline playable on Low and Medium, but it is not ideal for a smooth experience in a game that benefits from responsive controls.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly out of its depth. The Low preset averages 28 FPS, which is the only preset to break the 20 FPS barrier. The Medium preset averages 23 FPS, with a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 26 FPS. The High preset averages 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 13 FPS. All of these figures are well below the 30 FPS minimum typically considered acceptable for a playable experience. The data shows a consistent pattern: each increase in resolution or settings level results in a proportional decrease in frame rate, confirming that the GPU is the sole limiting factor.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is a high-performance desktop processor, and its benchmark scores reflect that. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It is built on the Zen 4 architecture using a 5 nm process from TSMC. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 18760 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1930 in single-core. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 34470, and its Geekbench multi-core score is 15371. The CPU's average benchmark score is 40081, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs.

The Ryzen 7 7700's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (score 40048, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core 5 221E (score 40144, deltaPct -0.2). The Ryzen 7 7700 is effectively tied with these parts in overall compute performance. This confirms its strength as a processor. However, in Palworld, this CPU power is largely wasted. The measured FPS data shows that the system never comes close to being CPU-bound.

The game's performance is entirely dictated by the GPU's limitations. For example, at 1080p Low, the CPU is likely waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame, resulting in a 76 FPS average. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would be the limiting factor. Instead, the FPS drops dramatically with resolution, proving that the GPU is the bottleneck. The Ryzen 7 7700's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are more than sufficient for the demands of Palworld, but the Intel Arc B370's inability to process frames quickly enough negates any CPU advantage. The CPU is a powerful component, but it is paired with a GPU that severely restricts its potential in this title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. For a target of 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only viable option for smooth gameplay, offering a 76 FPS average. The Medium preset at 62 FPS is also playable, but it may suffer in more intense scenes. The High preset at 47 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 36 FPS is not recommended. For a 60 FPS target, the Low preset is the clear choice, as it is the only one that meets the threshold.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset at 50 FPS is the best option for a responsive experience, though it may not consistently hit 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 41 FPS is acceptable for a more visually detailed experience, but the minimum FPS of 35 suggests potential stuttering during heavy action. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they fall below 31 FPS. For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1440p is the best compromise.

At 3840x2160, no preset is recommended for a playable experience. The Low preset at 28 FPS is the highest average, but it is still below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 23 FPS and the High preset at 17 FPS are not viable. The data clearly shows that this resolution is beyond the capabilities of the Intel Arc B370. Users should avoid 4K entirely with this combo unless they are willing to accept a slideshow-like experience. The best overall experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low or Medium preset, where the system can maintain frame rates that are responsive enough for the game's survival mechanics.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2706 out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this game. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's low performance. While the CPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, the GPU's 5th percentile ranking drags the entire system down. The combo's performance is dominated by the weakest link, which is the graphics solution.

This rank of 2706 out of 2944 is a clear indicator that this is not a gaming-oriented configuration. The Intel Arc B370's nearest GPU rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770, are historical parts that are not capable of running modern games at high settings. The measured FPS data confirms this, with 4K performance being particularly poor. The system is effectively limited to 1080p gaming on low settings, which is a far cry from what the Ryzen 7 7700 alone is capable of supporting.

In the context of the benchmark database, this combo serves as an example of how a powerful CPU cannot compensate for an underpowered GPU in a graphics-intensive title. The rank of 2706 is not a reflection of the CPU's capabilities, but rather proof of the GPU's limitations. For users considering this combination, the data is unequivocal: it is a low-performing combo for Palworld, suitable only for the most basic gaming scenarios. The system's overall rank is a useful data point for understanding its place in the market, but it does not tell the whole story of why the performance is so limited.