Palworld

Palworld’s measured performance with the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of extreme frame rates at 1080p. The data indicates a strong pairing for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, with 4K Ultra representing the only setting where the frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, scaling behavior, and the respective roles of the CPU and GPU in this specific title.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this CPU and GPU combo in Palworld?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 351 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9850X3D compare to its nearest rival in average benchmark score?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 58386 is nearly identical to its closest rival, the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, which scores 58323, representing a negligible 0.1% difference.

Q: What is the only combination of resolution and settings where the average FPS falls below 60?

A: The only result below 60 FPS is at 3840x2160 (4K) resolution with Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 61.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 231 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 109 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the highest visual fidelity.

Q: Does the RTX 4090 have a significant amount of VRAM for a game like Palworld?

A: Yes, the RTX 4090 is equipped with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, which is substantial for handling high-resolution textures and assets.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the CPU in this configuration?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which contributes to its strong single-threaded performance in the benchmark data.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the dominant component in this pairing, especially in a game like Palworld. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the average FPS drops significantly, which is the classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p, the GPU is often idling or not fully utilized, as evidenced by the massive 351 FPS at Low settings. The RTX 4090's architecture, based on Ada Lovelace and built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, provides the raw compute power needed to drive these frame rates. With 16,384 shading units and 512 texture mapping units, the card is well-equipped to handle the game's geometry and effects.

The memory subsystem is equally critical. The 24 GB of GDDR6X VRAM, connected via a 384-bit bus, offers 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. In Palworld, which involves exploring a large open world with many objects and creatures, this high bandwidth and capacity help prevent texture pop-in and stuttering when moving quickly. The GPU's 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores also provide headroom for any ray-traced effects or DLSS features, though the measured data does not specify whether these were enabled. The boost clock of 2520 MHz, up from a base of 2235 MHz, allows the card to dynamically increase its performance under load.

The GPU's benchmark scores further illustrate its capability. A Passmark G3D score of 38194 places it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. While its nearest rivals in the database, such as the Intel Arc Pro A60 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48, have similar average scores, the RTX 4090's 24 GB of memory and 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are in a different class for gaming workloads. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, as the frame rate falls to 61 FPS, indicating that the game's visual complexity at that preset is pushing the limits of even this flagship card.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how performance scales with resolution in Palworld. The most telling comparison is between 1080p and 4K at the High settings preset. At 1920x1080, the system averages 219 FPS, but at 3840x2160, this drops to 80 FPS. This represents a performance reduction to roughly 36.5% of the 1080p figure, which is a massive hit and strongly suggests the rendering workload is scaling with the number of pixels, a hallmark of GPU limitation.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is also steep. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average is 144 FPS, which drops to 80 FPS at 4K. This 44% reduction in frame rate for a 2.25x increase in pixel count is expected when the GPU is fully saturated. The pattern holds across all settings. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 285 at 1080p to 187 at 1440p, and then down to 104 at 4K. The 1440p result is 65.6% of the 1080p result, and the 4K result is 36.5% of the 1080p result.

This data indicates that the limiting component is the GPU. The CPU, with its high boost clock and 96 MB of L3 cache, is clearly capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions. The fact that the frame rate drops so consistently with resolution means that the rendering pipeline is being saturated by the GPU's work. The 4K Ultra setting, which yields 61 FPS, shows the extreme end of this scaling, where the GPU is working at its maximum capacity. The system is not CPU-limited at any tested resolution, as the 1080p results are extraordinarily high, suggesting the CPU can handle far more frames than the GPU can render at those settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data for Palworld on this system is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the results are exceptionally high across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 351 FPS, the Medium preset achieves 285 FPS with a minimum of 242 FPS and a maximum of 327 FPS, the High preset achieves 219 FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 166 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system has massive performance headroom, and the limiting factor is likely the game's engine or the CPU's single-thread performance, though the CPU scores suggest it is highly capable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The Low preset averages 231 FPS, Medium averages 187 FPS with a minimum of 159 FPS and a maximum of 215 FPS, High averages 144 FPS, and Ultra averages 109 FPS. The drop from 1080p is significant but expected, and the system still provides a very smooth experience on high refresh rate monitors. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 159 is notable, as it shows the system can maintain a high frame rate even in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more demanding. The Low preset averages 128 FPS, Medium averages 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS, High averages 80 FPS, and Ultra averages 61 FPS. This is where the system's limits are tested. The Medium preset's 88 FPS minimum is still playable, but the High and Ultra presets are more taxing. The 4K Medium result of 104 FPS is a solid target for a high-refresh-rate 4K monitor, while the 61 FPS at Ultra is right at the edge of what is considered smooth for many players. The lack of min/max FPS data for the Low, High, and Ultra presets at 4K, as well as most other resolutions, limits a full analysis of frame time consistency, but the average FPS figures are sufficient to characterize the performance tiers.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 2560x1440, which appears to be the sweet spot for this configuration, the High preset at 144 FPS is an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate displays. It offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium while still delivering a frame rate that matches the refresh rate of most 1440p gaming monitors. If a player has a 240 Hz monitor, the Low preset at 231 FPS or the Medium preset at 187 FPS could be more appropriate, though the visual fidelity loss at Low is considerable. The Ultra preset at 109 FPS is still very playable and offers the best image quality, but it does not quite hit the 144 FPS mark.

At 1920x1080, the system is so powerful that any preset is viable. The Ultra preset at 166 FPS is the best choice for the highest visual quality, as it still exceeds the refresh rate of most 1080p monitors. The High preset at 219 FPS is a good middle ground, and the Low preset at 351 FPS is only necessary for competitive play at the absolute highest possible frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the choices are more constrained. The Medium preset at 104 FPS is the recommended choice for a smooth 4K experience, as it provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 80 FPS is still playable and offers better graphics, but it may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 61 FPS is visually stunning but is right at the edge of the 60 FPS threshold, and the data does not include a minimum FPS figure for this setting, so it is unclear if there are significant dips. The Low preset at 128 FPS is an option for maximum performance, but it negates the benefits of a 4K display by reducing detail. Overall, the data suggests that 1440p High is the best experience for most users, offering a high frame rate and good visual fidelity.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D plays a crucial, supporting role in this configuration. While the GPU is clearly the bottleneck at higher resolutions, the CPU's performance is what enables the extraordinarily high frame rates seen at 1080p. The CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This high clock speed is essential for maintaining high frame rates in games that are not heavily multi-threaded. The 96 MB of shared L3 cache is also a key feature, as it can significantly reduce memory latency and improve game performance in titles that benefit from large caches.

Benchmark results for the CPU show strong all-around performance. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22807 and single-core score of 2228 indicate a very fast processor. The Passmark single-thread score of 4704 and multithread score of 41318 further confirm its capability. The CPU's average benchmark score of 58386 places it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900, which is only 0.5% faster, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, which is 0.7% slower. This shows that the 9850X3D is competitive with the best consumer and workstation CPUs.

In the context of Palworld, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI for the many creatures and base structures. The data suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any resolution tested. The 351 FPS result at 1080p Low is a strong indicator that the CPU can process game states at a very high rate. The GPU is the component that determines the final frame rate, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions. The CPU's high single-thread performance and large cache are likely the reasons why the system can achieve such high frame rates without stuttering or bottlenecking, ensuring that the RTX 4090 is fed with data as fast as it can render frames. This pairing demonstrates a balanced system where the GPU is the primary performance driver, but the CPU provides enough headroom to prevent it from being a weak link.