Palworld

Palworld pairs the Intel Core i3-12100F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, a combination that produces a distinctly GPU-bound experience across most tested settings. The data shows a 4-core, 8-thread processor from Intel’s Alder Lake architecture, running at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and 10 nm process node place it as a capable entry-level desktop part, but its benchmark scores reveal a clear ceiling. In Cinebench R23, the i3-12100F scores 11912 multi-core and 1681 single-core, while its 3DMark single-thread score is 893. These figures position the CPU at the 72nd percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 13516. The nearest rival data shows it trailing the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX by a negligible 0.1%, and leading the Intel Core i7-1250U by 0.4%, the Intel Core i3-10105 by 0.6%, and the Intel Core i7-7700K by 1.8%.

The nature of Palworld’s gameplay—survival mechanics with a large open world and numerous entities—means that the CPU must manage game logic, physics, and AI. The i3-12100F’s 4 cores are sufficient for basic task scheduling, but the benchmark results suggest that at lower resolutions and settings, the processor could become a limiting factor. The peak performance of the CPU is evident in its multi-threaded workloads: it scores 4051 in 3DMark’s 16-thread test and 4023 in the max-thread test, showing that scaling beyond 8 threads yields minimal gains, which is expected for a 4-core part. In contrast, its single-thread performance, with a PassMark single-thread score of 3444, is relatively strong, which helps in games that rely on a few heavily loaded threads. However, the data indicates that in Palworld, the GPU takes precedence, as seen in the measured FPS scaling which we will examine shortly.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing, and the benchmark data confirms it is the primary driver of frame rates. This Ampere-architecture GPU, built on Samsung’s 8 nm process, features 10,240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 render output units. Its memory subsystem is substantial: 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus with 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The core clock operates at a base of 1365 MHz and boosts to 1665 MHz, with memory clocked at 1188 MHz, effectively reaching 19 Gbps. The GPU’s raw compute capability is rated at 34.10 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, and it includes 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores for ray tracing and AI workloads.

In terms of benchmark standing, the RTX 3080 Ti sits at the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41224. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: it trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 by 0.5%, the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 by 0.9%, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 by 1.1%, and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 by 1.6%. These margins are small, indicating that the RTX 3080 Ti is performance-adjacent to these flagship and prosumer parts. The GPU’s role in Palworld is to render the game’s environments, creatures, and effects, and with 12 GB of VRAM, it has ample capacity for high-resolution textures and modern graphical features at 4K. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck in most scenarios, as reducing graphical settings yields large FPS gains, while changing resolution has a more moderate impact, which we will explore further.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the system responds to resolution changes, and the pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound configuration. At 1080p, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings: 249.2 FPS on Low, 201.3 FPS on Medium, 152.3 FPS on High, and 118.5 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these figures drop to 164.1 FPS, 130.4 FPS, 101.9 FPS, and 77.3 FPS respectively. At 4K (3840x2160), the frame rates fall further to 89.1 FPS on Low, 71.7 FPS on Medium, 55.6 FPS on High, and 41.5 FPS on Ultra.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a reduction of approximately 34% across the board, which is a typical response to the 2.25x increase in pixel count. However, the scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a more dramatic drop, with the Low setting falling from 164.1 FPS to 89.1 FPS—a 46% decrease. This steeper decline at 4K indicates that the GPU is being pushed to its limits, as the pixel throughput requirement outpaces the shader and memory bandwidth capabilities. Conversely, the fact that the 1080p Low setting achieves 249.2 FPS, which is near the range of high-refresh-rate monitors, suggests that the CPU is not severely limiting performance at this resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates regardless of resolution, but the data shows continuous scaling, confirming the GPU is the primary constraint. The Ultra setting at 1080p (118.5 FPS) is still higher than the Low setting at 4K (89.1 FPS), which indicates that the graphics pipeline, rather than the processor, is what governs the final output.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achieved at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate at 1920x1080 is 249.2 FPS, achieved with the Low preset. The Ultra preset at the same resolution yields 118.5 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and 0.6% higher than the Intel Core i3-10105. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 11912.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti more powerful than the RTX 3090?

A: No. The data shows the RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41224, which is 0.5% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090’s score of 41441.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 164.1 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 77.3 FPS, representing a difference of 86.8 FPS, or a 53% reduction in performance.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for high resolutions?

A: The GPU is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The measured data shows playable frame rates at 4K, so the VRAM capacity is sufficient for this game’s tested presets.

Q: What is the system’s overall rank in Palworld?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 484 out of 1718 tested combos in the game’s benchmark database, placing it in the upper percentile of tested configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset provides an excellent experience, delivering 152.3 FPS, which is well above the 144Hz refresh rate threshold for most monitors. The Ultra preset at 1080p still maintains 118.5 FPS, making it a viable choice for those prioritizing visual fidelity over raw frame rate. For 1440p, the High preset is the best balance, offering 101.9 FPS, which is smooth for most gaming scenarios. The Medium preset at 1440p also performs admirably at 130.4 FPS, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often worth the 28.5 FPS trade-off. At 4K, the situation is more constrained. The High preset delivers 55.6 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 71.7 FPS is the recommended choice for 4K, as it provides a smoother experience while still maintaining a decent level of graphical quality. The Low preset at 4K yields 89.1 FPS, which is more responsive but sacrifices visual detail. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 41.5 FPS, is below the standard 60 FPS target and should be avoided unless the user prioritizes maximum graphical fidelity over smoothness.

The data suggests that the GPU headroom at 1080p and 1440p allows for higher settings without major compromises. The sweet spot for this configuration appears to be 1440p High, which achieves over 100 FPS with substantial graphical features enabled. For users with 4K displays, Medium settings offer the best playable experience, as the jump from Medium to High at 4K results in a 22% FPS drop, which is significant but not as steep as the 42% drop from High to Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the average frame rates recorded for each resolution and settings preset combination.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers the highest performance. The Low preset achieves 249.2 FPS, which is the maximum recorded across all tests. The Medium preset yields 201.3 FPS, High produces 152.3 FPS, and Ultra produces 118.5 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a 52% reduction in frame rate, from 249.2 FPS down to 118.5 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are correspondingly lower. The Low preset achieves 164.1 FPS, Medium yields 130.4 FPS, High produces 101.9 FPS, and Ultra produces 77.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 86.8 FPS, a 53% reduction, which is proportionally similar to the 1080p scaling.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset achieves 89.1 FPS, which is the only preset at 4K that breaks the 60 FPS barrier. The Medium preset yields 71.7 FPS, High produces 55.6 FPS, and Ultra produces 41.5 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 4K is 47.6 FPS, representing a 53% reduction, mirroring the scaling pattern seen at lower resolutions. This consistent percentage drop across all resolutions indicates that the GPU’s performance scales linearly with pixel load, confirming that the RTX 3080 Ti is the definitive limiting component in this configuration, with the CPU providing sufficient throughput to avoid becoming a bottleneck.