Palworld

Palworld on the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark picture of component imbalance. The benchmark data shows a system where the CPU is more than capable of handling the game’s logic, while the GPU acts as a severe bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The result is a performance profile that is playable only at 1080p with reduced settings, and the data clearly indicates that the graphics card is the limiting factor in nearly every scenario.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a high-end desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This configuration is well-suited for modern gaming, providing substantial multi-threaded headroom and strong single-thread performance. Its benchmark scores reflect this capability, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Palworld, a survival game that simulates a living world with many concurrent entities, the CPU’s role is to manage game logic, AI, and physics. The data shows that this processor is not the constraint. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 84 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 4K with Low settings, the average FPS drops to 31. This significant drop, despite the CPU’s power, indicates that the processor is waiting on the GPU to render frames rather than being maxed out itself.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which is 0.6% behind, and the Intel Core i7-14700F, which is 2.1% behind. This shows the 9900X3D is at the top of its class for general compute. However, in this specific game test, that compute power is largely underutilized because the Intel Arc B390 cannot feed frames fast enough. The CPU’s high thread count and fast clocks ensure that frame pacing is consistent when the GPU can keep up, but the GPU’s limits cap the overall experience. The data suggests that the 9900X3D would be able to push significantly higher frame rates in Palworld if paired with a more powerful graphics solution.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake) and fabricated on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Crucially, it uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system’s DDR5 RAM instead of dedicated VRAM. Its performance is limited, as evidenced by its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of just 1482.

This GPU is the primary bottleneck in all Palworld benchmark results. Its nearest rivals in benchmark scores are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (2.7% slower), which are entry-level discrete GPUs from a decade ago. This context is critical: the Arc B390 is not a gaming-focused part. In Palworld, its limitations are exposed immediately.

At 1080p Low, the system hits 84 FPS, which is the highest average in the dataset. This suggests the GPU can handle the game’s basic rendering at a low resolution. However, as the resolution increases to 1440p, the average FPS at Low settings drops to 56, a 33% decrease. Moving to 4K at Low settings yields only 31 FPS. This scaling behavior is a classic sign of a GPU that is running out of fill rate and memory bandwidth. The shared memory architecture means the GPU is competing with the CPU for system memory bandwidth, which can cause stutters and lower minimum FPS, though the data only shows min FPS for Medium settings.

The GPU’s 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are simply too few to handle the pixel and texture processing demands of higher resolutions. The data indicates that the Arc B390 is only suitable for 1080p gaming in Palworld at Low or Medium settings, and even then, the experience is not smooth by modern standards. The high CPU performance is wasted because the GPU cannot translate it into higher frame rates.

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

The resolution scaling data provides a clear diagnosis of the system’s bottleneck. From 1080p to 4K, the performance drops are dramatic and consistent across all settings, which points directly at the GPU as the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat when increasing resolution, as the CPU’s workload (game logic, AI) does not change with resolution.

Looking at the Low preset, the average FPS goes from 84 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p, a 33% drop. Then from 1440p to 4K (2160p), it drops from 56 to 31, another 45% decrease. This compounding drop is a clear indicator of a GPU that is overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count. The rendering workload scales with the number of pixels, and the Arc B390’s limited shader cores (1536) and pixel rate (60.00 GPixel/s) are insufficient for 4K.

The High preset shows a similar trend: 53 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 34%, and from 1440p to 4K is 46%. These numbers are almost identical to the Low preset drops, suggesting that the GPU is not just limited by texture fill rate but by the raw pixel throughput. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 40 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 15 FPS at 4K. The drops are still significant, but the starting point is so low that it’s unplayable at any resolution above 1080p.

The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is more than capable of delivering high frame rates, but the GPU is unable to keep up. The system is heavily GPU-bound, and the performance scaling is entirely dictated by the Arc B390’s rendering capabilities. To achieve higher frame rates, the resolution must be lowered, and even then, the gains are limited by the GPU’s overall performance ceiling.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system’s performance across different configurations. The numbers are as follows:

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: Average 84 FPS. This is the best-case scenario for this system, delivering the highest frame rate in the entire dataset. It’s the only configuration that approaches a smooth experience.
• Medium: Average 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. This shows a playable frame rate, but the minimum FPS indicates some potential stuttering during intense scenes.
• High: Average 53 FPS. This is a playable frame rate, but it is starting to dip below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider ideal.
• Ultra: Average 40 FPS. This is a noticeable drop and is not smooth for a game like Palworld, which benefits from responsive controls.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: Average 56 FPS. This is a significant drop from 1080p, showing the GPU’s limitations at a higher resolution. It is playable but not optimal.
• Medium: Average 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The minimum FPS here is concerning, indicating that the game can become choppy.
• High: Average 35 FPS. This is approaching the lower limit of playability and is not a pleasant experience.
• Ultra: Average 26 FPS. This is not playable, as the frame rate is too low for a smooth experience.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: Average 31 FPS. This is a slideshow by modern standards and is not playable.
• Medium: Average 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS. The minimum FPS of 21 confirms that the game is struggling to maintain any level of smoothness.
• High: Average 19 FPS. This is unplayable.
• Ultra: Average 15 FPS. This is effectively a static image.

The data shows a clear hierarchy. The system is only viable for 1080p gaming. At 1440p, only the Low and Medium presets are marginally playable. At 4K, no preset is playable. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets at any resolution is substantial, with the Ultra preset being roughly half the FPS of the Low preset at the same resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Palworld at 4K?

A: No. The benchmark data shows that at 4K resolution, the highest average FPS achieved is 31 on the Low preset. The High and Ultra presets yield only 19 FPS and 15 FPS, respectively, which are not playable.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a smooth experience?

A: The data indicates that 1080p with the Low preset is the only configuration that achieves a high average FPS (84). The Medium preset at 1080p also delivers a playable 68 FPS average.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The evidence is the large FPS drop when resolution increases, while the CPU remains a high-performance part. For example, at 1080p Low the system gets 84 FPS, but at 4K Low it gets only 31 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals in performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is slightly ahead of its nearest rivals. It is 1.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and 2.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700F, but 0.6% slower than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct rivals in performance?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is at the bottom of the performance stack. It is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, showing it is roughly on par with decade-old entry-level parts.

Q: What does the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p tell us?

A: The FPS drop is substantial, indicating the GPU is struggling with the increased pixel count. For example, on the High preset, the FPS drops from 53 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p, a 34% reduction, which confirms the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination is found at 1080p. The data shows that the 1080p Low preset delivers the highest average frame rate at 84 FPS, which provides the most responsive and fluid gameplay for a title like Palworld. This should be the default choice for any user prioritizing smoothness.

The 1080p Medium preset is a viable alternative for those seeking better visual fidelity, as it still achieves an average of 68 FPS. The minimum FPS of 58 suggests that there may be occasional dips, but it remains largely playable. This is the best compromise between visual quality and performance.

The 1080p High preset is acceptable if you can tolerate a lower frame rate, averaging 53 FPS. However, this is below the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience and may feel less responsive. The 1080p Ultra preset is not recommended, as the 40 FPS average is too low for a game with fast-paced action and exploration.

At 1440p, the Low preset (56 FPS) is the only one that offers a playable frame rate, but it is a significant step down from 1080p. The Medium preset at 45 FPS is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets should be avoided. At 4K, all presets are unplayable, with the highest average FPS being just 31. Users with this system should stick to 1080p for the best experience, leveraging the CPU’s power to maintain high frame rates while accepting the GPU’s limitations in visual settings.