Palworld

Palworld on the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F with the Intel Arc B370 produces a highly constrained experience, with the data indicating the GPU is the overwhelming bottleneck across all tested configurations. The measured frames per second (FPS) demonstrate a steep decline as resolution increases, and the absolute performance ceiling remains low even at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes the combo's rank, and details the specific roles of the CPU and GPU based on the provided benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is severe, clearly indicating that the limiting component is the graphics processor. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 47 FPS at 1080p to 31 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 16 FPS. Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings, the average drops further to 17 FPS, which is a 14 FPS decline. This pattern shows a near-linear relationship with pixel count, a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The rendering workload is scaling directly with the number of pixels, and the Intel Arc B370 simply does not have the throughput to maintain playable rates at higher resolutions.

The scaling is even more pronounced when looking at the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 76 FPS, but this falls to 50 FPS at 1440p and then to 28 FPS at 4K. The performance loss from 1080p to 4K is 48 FPS, or roughly 63% of the starting performance. This indicates that even when the graphical settings are reduced to their minimum, the GPU's fill rate and shading capabilities are insufficient to handle the increased pixel count of 4K. The data suggests that the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU's limitations become the dominant factor as the resolution climbs.

The difference between settings at each resolution also highlights this GPU constraint. At 1080p, the spread between Low (76 FPS) and Ultra (36 FPS) is 40 FPS. At 4K, the spread between Low (28 FPS) and Ultra (13 FPS) is only 15 FPS. This compression of the performance gap at higher resolutions is a strong indicator that the GPU is hitting its absolute limits; the extra work required for higher settings cannot be compensated for because the hardware is already saturated. The benchmark results point to a component that is more suited for 1080p gaming, where it can provide a reasonable experience on lower presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2706 out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested system configurations, a poor showing that reflects the GPU's position in the performance hierarchy. The data indicates that this is not a competitive pairing for this game, as the vast majority of other tested hardware combinations deliver higher frame rates. The percentile ranking for the GPU alone is just 5, which means it performs better than only 5% of all other graphics cards in the database. This low GPU percentile is the primary driver of the combo's poor overall rank.

The CPU, in contrast, is a high-performing part. Its benchmark scores place it in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier processor. However, this strong CPU performance is wasted in this configuration, as the GPU cannot translate the CPU's capability into higher frame rates in Palworld. The combo rank is a direct reflection of the weakest link in the chain, and in this case, that is unequivocally the graphics solution. The data shows a massive imbalance, with a high-end CPU paired with a low-end GPU, resulting in a system that is severely limited in gaming scenarios.

This pairing's rank suggests that users would see far better results by pairing this CPU with a more capable GPU. The data on the CPU's nearest rivals shows it trading blows with other high-end processors, like the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, with deltaPct values of -0.2 and 0.7, respectively. This confirms the CPU is not the source of the low frame rates. The bottleneck is so significant that the combo's rank is almost entirely determined by the GPU's low average benchmark score of 1184, which is comparable to legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a Zen 5 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. In this game's results, the CPU's role appears to be one of providing ample headroom, as the frame rates are not limited by its processing power. The high boost clock of 5.50 GHz is beneficial for gaming, and the 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for a title like Palworld. The CPU's benchmark scores reflect its capability, with a strong single-thread score of 4691 and a multithread score of 36470.

The data shows that the CPU has enough performance to push frame rates higher than what the GPU can deliver. For example, the CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700KF, has a similar average score with a deltaPct of -0.2. If this CPU were paired with a stronger GPU, the benchmark results would likely show significantly higher FPS. The fact that the 1080p Low preset only achieves 76 FPS, while the CPU is capable of much more, suggests the GPU is the sole limiting factor. The CPU is not being fully utilized, as its performance is far above the demands of the game at these settings.

The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support contribute to its strong overall performance. However, in the context of this specific combo, these features do not translate into higher frame rates because the GPU cannot process frames fast enough. The measured FPS data shows a typical GPU-bound scenario where the CPU is waiting on the GPU to complete its work. The CPU's role is to prepare frames and issue draw calls, but if the GPU is the bottleneck, the CPU's speed becomes irrelevant to the final FPS. The results indicate a well-balanced CPU that is wasted in this particular configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average of 76 FPS on Low, which is the only playable result. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. High settings drop to 47 FPS, and Ultra falls to 36 FPS. While the 1080p Low and Medium presets are technically playable, the High and Ultra presets show a significant performance cost. The data indicates that the GPU is struggling to maintain high frame rates even at the lowest resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops considerably. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is the only preset above 40 FPS. Medium averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. High settings average 31 FPS, and Ultra drops to 24 FPS. None of these results offer a consistently smooth experience for fast-paced gameplay, as the minimum FPS values are likely to cause noticeable stuttering. The 1440p results confirm that this resolution is too demanding for the Intel Arc B370 in Palworld.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. The Low preset averages 28 FPS, Medium averages 23 FPS, High averages 17 FPS, and Ultra averages 13 FPS. The only preset with a recorded minimum FPS is Medium at 19 FPS. These frame rates are far below the threshold for a playable experience. The data shows that the GPU is completely overwhelmed at 4K resolution, with all settings resulting in single-digit to low-twenties FPS. The benchmark results make it clear that this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a boost clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 300 MHz. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. Its theoretical performance is 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. Critically, the GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 RAM for its frame buffer, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent". This is a major disadvantage for gaming, as dedicated VRAM is typically faster and more efficient.

The GPU's benchmark results are very poor, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This score places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is one of the weakest graphics solutions in the database. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which are legacy parts from over a decade ago. This context highlights the Arc B370's lack of gaming performance. The low pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply insufficient for modern game rendering at high resolutions.

The GPU's role in Palworld is to be the definitive bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows that its performance is the primary constraint at all settings and resolutions. Even at 1080p Low, the GPU cannot exceed 76 FPS, which is a modest result for such a low-demand preset. The fact that it relies on system memory for its frame buffer likely contributes to its poor performance, as memory bandwidth is shared with the CPU. The data suggests that this GPU is designed for basic display output, not for gaming, and its performance in Palworld is consistent with that assessment.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only playable configuration for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 76 FPS. This is the only setting that provides a frame rate high enough for a responsive experience. The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 62 FPS and a minimum of 52 FPS, is also a viable option for users who want slightly better visuals and can tolerate occasional dips. However, the data shows that any preset above Medium at 1080p will result in a significant drop in performance, with High averaging 47 FPS and Ultra averaging 36 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the data does not support any preset for a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, but the Medium preset's minimum of 35 FPS suggests instability. For the best experience per the measured rows, users should stick to 1080p. If a higher resolution is desired, the Low preset at 1440p is the only option that comes close to 60 FPS, but it will likely be an inconsistent experience. The 4K resolution results are all below 30 FPS and are not recommended for any settings preset.

The data indicates that the "High" and "Ultra" presets should be avoided entirely on this hardware. At 1080p, the performance difference between Low and Ultra is a 40 FPS drop, which is substantial. Given the GPU's low performance ceiling, sacrificing visual quality for frame rate is the only way to achieve a playable result. The most balanced choice, according to the measured data, is the 1080p Medium preset, which offers a 62 FPS average and a minimum of 52 FPS, providing a good compromise between visual fidelity and performance.

FAQ

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

A: According to the measured data, the best experience is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which averages 62 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS. The Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration to exceed 70 FPS, averaging 76 FPS.

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

A: No. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 28 FPS on Low to 13 FPS on Ultra. All 4K presets produce average frame rates well below the playable threshold of 30 FPS.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F or the Intel Arc B370 the bottleneck in this system?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is the clear bottleneck. The GPU ranks in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 94th percentile. The FPS data shows a classic GPU-bound scenario where performance drops dramatically with increased resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested combinations in Palworld?

A: This combo ranks 2706 out of 2944 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested system configurations for this game.

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Palworld?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 76, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B370 have dedicated VRAM?

A: No, the GPU's memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's main memory. Its memory bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which is a significant disadvantage for gaming performance.