Palworld

Palworld pairs the Intel Core i3-12100F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, a combination that produces a wide spread of frame rates depending on how the user balances resolution and graphical presets. The benchmark data indicates that this CPU and GPU pairing is ranked 1276 out of 1718 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the overall distribution. The measured results show that while the hardware can push very high frame rates at 1080p, the experience degrades significantly at 4K, particularly when the preset is set to Ultra. This analysis walks through the specific numbers, the role each component plays, and the optimal settings for this configuration.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At Low settings, it reaches 153.5 FPS, and even at Ultra, it maintains 71.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the combo perform at 2560x1440?

A: At 1440p, the performance is solid but requires preset adjustment. The High preset delivers 61.5 FPS, which is playable, while the Ultra preset drops to 49.5 FPS. The Low preset provides a comfortable 99 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming feasible with this hardware?

A: 4K gaming is not recommended. At 3840x2160, the High preset yields only 34.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 27.3 FPS. Even the Low preset only reaches 52.8 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 153.5, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset. This shows the combo has significant headroom for high refresh-rate monitors when visual fidelity is lowered.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516. It is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13534, and is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U, which scores 13462.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 25120. It is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700M (25180) and 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600 (25235), indicating the GPU is closely matched with these competitors.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the primary driver of frame rates in Palworld, especially as resolution increases. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game's assets at 1080p and 1440p, but the data suggests it becomes a bottleneck at 4K. The core clocks are listed at a base of 1410 MHz and a boost of 1665 MHz, which allows the card to maintain decent throughput in less demanding scenes.

The benchmark results show a clear pattern: the GPU's performance scales directly with the resolution. At 1920x1080, the card delivers between 71.9 and 153.5 FPS across presets, showing it has ample compute power. Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to between 49.5 and 99, which is a significant reduction but still playable on High settings. At 3840x2160, the performance collapses, with the High preset only managing 34.3 FPS. This suggests that the 8 GB VRAM capacity or the memory bandwidth is insufficient for the higher pixel count and texture demands of 4K in this game.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark scores support its mid-range positioning. It scores 20349 in Passmark G3D, which puts it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6600, have nearly identical average scores (25235), with a delta of just -0.5%. This indicates that the RTX 3060 Ti is a capable performer for its class, but it is not designed for extreme resolutions. In Palworld, the data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as even the Low preset cannot reach 60 FPS, highlighting the need to stay at lower resolutions for a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F plays a supporting role in this combo, providing the processing power needed to feed the GPU. It is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The CPU has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps with game logic and asset streaming. Its synthetic benchmarks show a single-thread score of 893 in 3DMark and a multi-thread score of 4023 in 3DMark max threads, indicating it has solid single-core performance, which is often critical for game physics and AI.

In the context of Palworld, the CPU's role appears to be less stressful than the GPU's. The measured FPS data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 153.5 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests that the CPU is capable of handling the game's simulation and rendering calls without becoming a bottleneck at this resolution. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11912 and single-core score of 1681 further confirm its adequate performance for gaming workloads.

However, the CPU's relatively low core count (4 cores) might become a limitation in more demanding scenarios, such as when there are many Pals on screen or during complex base-building sequences. The data shows that at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the FPS drops to 49.5, but this is more likely due to the GPU's struggle with the higher resolution than the CPU. The CPU's percentile rank of 72 against all CPUs indicates it is a decent performer, but it is not a high-end part. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-7700K, scores 13280, which is 1.8% lower, showing that the i3-12100F holds its own against older, higher-tier chips.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset to use for the best experience. The primary goal is to maintain a frame rate above 60 FPS for smooth gameplay, and the data shows that this is achievable at 1080p and 1440p with the right preset. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 93.4 FPS, which is an excellent balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset also works, providing 71.9 FPS, but the drop in FPS may not justify the marginal visual gains in a survival game where reaction time matters.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the High preset is the best choice, as it delivers 61.5 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset offers a more comfortable 78.5 FPS, providing extra headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as it drops below 60 FPS at 49.5 FPS, which can lead to a noticeable stutter. For 4K displays, the data shows that no preset provides a playable experience, as even the Low preset only reaches 52.8 FPS. Therefore, this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming in Palworld.

The optimal preset depends on the user's preference for visual fidelity versus frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset is the sweet spot, offering a high frame rate without sacrificing too much detail. At 1440p, the Medium or High preset is recommended, with Medium being the safer choice for maintaining a stable frame rate. The data consistently shows that the Low preset is only necessary for the highest possible frame rates, such as the 153.5 FPS at 1080p, which might be preferred by competitive players.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is ranked 1276 out of 1718 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the lower 26% of all combinations, which might seem low, but it is important to consider the context. The ranking is based on the average FPS across all tested settings and resolutions, and this combo's performance at 4K likely drags down its overall rank. At lower resolutions, the combo performs much better, as indicated by the high frame rates at 1080p.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 13516 places it in the 72nd percentile, while the GPU's score of 25120 places it in the 69th percentile. This suggests that both components are above average in their respective categories, but the combo's ranking in Palworld is lower than what the individual percentiles might suggest. This is because the game is particularly demanding on the GPU, and the RTX 3060 Ti's 8 GB of VRAM is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The nearest rival CPUs, such as the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, have a delta of -0.1%, which shows the i3-12100F is performing as expected for its class.

The ranking data indicates that this combo is not a top-tier performer in Palworld, but it is not a poor one either. For a user with a 1080p or 1440p monitor, this combo can deliver a very good experience, as the FPS numbers show. The low rank is a reflection of the hardware's limitations at 4K, which is not a typical use case for this mid-range setup. Overall, the combo ranks in the lower-middle tier, and its performance is heavily dependent on the resolution and settings chosen.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across different resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the performance is consistently below 60 FPS. The Low preset averages 52.8 FPS, the Medium preset averages 45.2 FPS, the High preset averages 34.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 27.3 FPS. This shows a clear downward trend as settings increase, with the Ultra preset being nearly unplayable.

At 2560x1440, the performance is much better. The Low preset averages 99 FPS, the Medium preset averages 78.5 FPS, the High preset averages 61.5 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 49.5 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance, with the High preset barely hitting the 60 FPS target. At 1920x1080, the combo excels. The Low preset averages 153.5 FPS, the Medium preset averages 122 FPS, the High preset averages 93.4 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 71.9 FPS. This is the only resolution where all presets are above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for a consistently smooth experience.

The data shows a clear pattern: the frame rate drops by roughly 40-50% when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and another 40-50% when moving from 1440p to 4K. For example, at High settings, the FPS goes from 93.4 at 1080p to 61.5 at 1440p to 34.3 at 4K. This indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The difference between Low and Ultra presets is also significant, with the Ultra preset typically being 50-60% slower than the Low preset at the same resolution. This analysis confirms that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a viable option at lower presets.