Palworld

Palworld on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 8060S combo delivers a playable experience that scales predictably with resolution and settings, but the data reveals a distinct performance ceiling at higher graphical loads. The measured frame rates show this mobile platform is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but drops to sub-60 FPS territory at 4K with the Ultra preset, indicating the graphics solution is the primary constraint in demanding scenarios. This analysis interprets the measured results, contextualizes the hardware's role, and provides actionable settings guidance based solely on the provided data.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Palworld?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 167 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 61 FPS on Low settings down to 29 FPS on Ultra settings. The High preset at 4K yields an average of 38 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its average benchmark score of 76,212 is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, but it trails the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX by 0.4%.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile relative to all other graphics cards?

A: The AMD Radeon 8060S is in the 87th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 55,757. This places it in a competitive position, though its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, scores nearly identically with a delta of just 0.1%.

Q: Is there a significant FPS drop between 1440p and 4K on Medium settings?

A: Yes, the data shows a substantial drop. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average FPS is 89, while at 3840x2160 Medium, it falls to 49 FPS. This represents a 45% reduction in average frame rate when moving up to 4K.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded in the entire dataset?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 42 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings. This is the only instance where a minimum FPS is provided below 76 FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S, built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, is the decisive factor in Palworld's performance envelope. With a boost clock of 2900 MHz and 2560 shading units, it provides the raw throughput needed for the game's rendering tasks. The GPU's 14.85 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 464.0 GTexel/s texture rate are substantial, but the system-shared memory configuration means bandwidth is "System Dependent," which likely contributes to performance variations across resolutions.

Benchmark results show the GPU sits in the 87th percentile of all graphics cards, with an average score of 55,757. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, is essentially tied with a delta of just 0.1%, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is 0.6% ahead. This positioning suggests the 8060S is a capable mid-to-high-tier part, but the measured Palworld frame rates indicate it struggles with the most demanding settings. The data shows a clear pattern: at 4K, the average FPS drops from 61 on Low to 29 on Ultra, a 52% performance penalty. This scaling demonstrates that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions and quality presets, as the CPU's capabilities are less likely to be the limiting factor when pixel count increases.

The GPU's 40 ray tracing cores and DirectX 12 Ultimate support are present, but Palworld's measured results do not show ray tracing-specific metrics. The 64 ROPs and 160 TMUs contribute to the 185.6 GPixel/s pixel rate and 464.0 GTexel/s texture rate, which are adequate for the game's stylized visuals but not exceptional. The GPU's 55 W TDP, shared with the CPU in this mobile platform, suggests thermal and power constraints that may affect sustained performance, though the data does not provide direct evidence of throttling.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, with its 16 cores and 32 threads based on Zen 4 architecture, provides ample processing power for Palworld's simulation and AI workloads. Its boost clock of 5.40 GHz and base clock of 2.50 GHz allow for strong single-threaded performance when needed, while the 64 MB of L3 cache helps maintain data throughput. The CPU's Cinebench R23 scores of 42,713 multi-core and 6,030 single-core indicate it is a high-end mobile processor, ranking in the 95th percentile of all CPUs.

When comparing to rivals, the Ryzen 9 8945HX's average benchmark score of 76,212 is remarkably close to its nearest competitors. It outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX by 0.1% and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D by 0.6%, but lags the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX by 0.4%. This tight grouping suggests that CPU performance is not a differentiator in this segment, and Palworld's frame rates are unlikely to be constrained by the processor in most scenarios.

In Palworld, the CPU's role is evident in the 1080p results, where the GPU has more headroom. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo hits 167 FPS, and at Medium it reaches 135 FPS. These numbers indicate that the CPU can feed the GPU sufficiently at lower resolutions. However, the data does not show a scenario where the CPU becomes a bottleneck, as the FPS drops are consistent with GPU-bound behavior when settings increase. The 32 threads are more than adequate for Palworld's multi-threaded tasks, and the 5.40 GHz boost clock ensures responsive gameplay in CPU-intensive moments.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers excellent performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 167 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings yield 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 and a maximum of 156, showing good consistency. High settings drop to 104 FPS, still well above 60 FPS. Ultra is the most demanding, with an average of 79 FPS, which remains playable but shows the GPU's limits as settings increase.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings produce 110 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium averages 89 FPS with a range of 76 to 103, indicating minor frame pacing issues but overall solid performance. High settings drop to 69 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra falls to 52 FPS, dipping below the ideal playability line for many users.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly stressed. Low settings manage 61 FPS, which is acceptable but not high-refresh-rate material. Medium averages 49 FPS with a minimum of 42 and a maximum of 57, showing significant variability that could be noticeable in gameplay. High settings drop to 38 FPS, and Ultra falls to 29 FPS, both of which are below the 60 FPS target and may feel sluggish in fast-paced action.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in settings from Low to Ultra costs roughly 20-30% performance at a given resolution. The gap between Medium and High is particularly notable at 4K, where the average FPS drops from 49 to 38, a 22% reduction. This suggests that High settings at 4K are not a practical choice for this combo.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 8060S ranks 1683 out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the 57th percentile of all combinations, which is a middle-of-the-pack ranking. Given that the CPU is in the 95th percentile and the GPU is in the 87th percentile individually, the combo's rank is lower than each component's individual standing, indicating that the pairing may not be optimal for this specific game or that other combos with similar components perform better.

The ranking suggests that while the hardware is capable, there are 1261 other combinations that achieve higher frame rates in Palworld. This could be due to the mobile platform's thermal constraints or the system-shared memory architecture of the GPU, which may limit performance compared to discrete GPUs with dedicated VRAM. The rank of 1683 out of 2944 is not a poor result, but it highlights that this combo is not among the top performers for this title.

When interpreting the rank, it's important to note that the data is measured, not estimated, which adds credibility to the results. The combo's performance is within the expected range for its component specifications, and the rank reflects the balance between CPU and GPU capabilities. For a mobile platform, this is a respectable showing, but users seeking top-tier Palworld performance might need to look at combos with higher-ranked GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and performance priorities.

For 1920x1080, the High preset at 104 FPS offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, providing a smooth experience well above 60 FPS. If maximum frame rates are desired, Low at 167 FPS is the choice, but the visual compromise may not be worth it. Ultra at 79 FPS is also viable for those prioritizing visuals over frame rate, as it remains above 60 FPS.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 89 FPS is the sweet spot, offering good visuals with a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High at 69 FPS is acceptable for users who prefer better graphics, but it is closer to the 60 FPS threshold. Low at 110 FPS is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors, while Ultra at 52 FPS is not recommended due to the risk of noticeable stuttering.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 61 FPS is the only option that consistently stays above 60 FPS. Medium at 49 FPS is playable but may have occasional dips to 42 FPS, which could be noticeable. High and Ultra at 38 and 29 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for a satisfying experience, as they fall well below the 60 FPS target.

The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can maintain high frame rates. At 4K, users must accept significant compromises in visual quality to achieve playable performance.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU's limitations and the system's overall balance. At Low settings, the average FPS decreases from 167 at 1080p to 110 at 1440p and 61 at 4K. This represents a 34% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 45% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, indicating that the GPU's memory bandwidth or compute resources become increasingly strained at higher pixel counts.

At Medium settings, the drop is from 135 FPS at 1080p to 89 FPS at 1440p and 49 FPS at 4K. This is a 34% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 45% reduction from 1440p to 4K, mirroring the Low settings pattern. The consistency of these percentages suggests that the GPU is the sole limiting factor, as the CPU's performance is not affected by resolution.

At High settings, the average FPS falls from 104 at 1080p to 69 at 1440p and 38 at 4K, a 34% and 45% drop, respectively. At Ultra settings, the numbers are 79, 52, and 29 FPS, with drops of 34% and 44%. The uniform scaling across all settings presets strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon 8060S is the bottleneck, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution.

The 45% drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling. This is a larger proportional decrease than the 34% drop from 1080p to 1440p, suggesting that the GPU's memory system, which is system-shared and dependent on the host platform, cannot keep up with the increased data demands of 4K rendering. The system-shared memory configuration may be the root cause of this scaling behavior, as it lacks the dedicated high-bandwidth VRAM of discrete GPUs.