Palworld

Palworld presents a demanding workload that scales heavily with resolution and settings, and the measured results for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveal a system constrained by its graphics solution at higher presets. The data indicates a playable experience at 1080p on lower settings, but performance degrades quickly as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU in this specific configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and steep decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 84 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded across all tests. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average FPS drops to 56, representing a significant 33% decrease. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls further to 31 FPS, which is a 45% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 63% reduction from the 1080p baseline.

This pattern strongly indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting component in this system. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows a nearly linear relationship with the increase in pixel count, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less variation in FPS across resolutions, as the workload on the processor would remain relatively constant while the GPU struggles with more pixels. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is better able to feed the GPU, but at higher resolutions, the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors.

The impact is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 53, which drops to 35 at 1440p and then to 19 at 4K. The difference between Low and High settings at 4K is a stark 12 FPS (31 vs. 19), highlighting that the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and complex shading. The performance scaling confirms that for this game, the resolution has a dominant effect on frame rate, and the Arc B390's capabilities are quickly exhausted beyond 1080p, especially when visual details are increased.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 11th Gen series, based on the Rocket Lake architecture. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz and it can boost up to 4.40 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 14,340 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,024 in single-core. These scores place it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it has solid processing power for a mid-range desktop part.

Given the synthetic performance of the i5-11400F, it is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck in Palworld at higher resolutions. The game's performance scaling with resolution points to the GPU being the limiting factor. However, the CPU's role becomes more relevant at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, where the GPU has less work to do, the CPU must work harder to maintain high frame rates. The 84 FPS average achieved here shows that the i5-11400F is capable of feeding the Arc B390 with enough data to hit a respectable frame rate, even if it is not pushing extremely high refresh rates.

The CPU's 12 threads and boost clock of 4.40 GHz are sufficient for modern game engines, and its benchmark scores, such as 5,652 in 3DMark max threads and 16,908 in PassMark multithread, demonstrate strong multi-threaded capabilities. The data suggests that the CPU is not holding back the system in this configuration. If a more powerful GPU were installed, the i5-11400F would likely still be able to provide a performance uplift, but with the Arc B390, the CPU has headroom to spare. The 6 cores and 12 threads are more than adequate for Palworld's demands, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS drops are so consistently tied to resolution changes rather than scene complexity spikes that would tax the CPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is a graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features 1,536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its performance in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test is 1,482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile is a strong indicator that the Arc B390 is a low-performance part, and the measured FPS in Palworld confirms this.

The GPU's role as the primary bottleneck is clear from the resolution scaling data. The system shared memory configuration means the GPU relies on system RAM, and its bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which can be a limiting factor in a game like Palworld that requires significant data throughput. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is modest, and the 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate and 120.0 GTexel/s texture rate are not sufficient for high-resolution gaming with demanding settings.

The data shows that the Arc B390 can handle 1080p Low with an average of 84 FPS, but it struggles as the load increases. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 15, which is unplayable. The GPU's 24 ROPs are a particular concern for higher resolutions, as they handle the final pixel output. The performance gap between Low and Medium at 1440p (56 vs. 45 FPS) and at 4K (31 vs. 25 FPS) shows that even modest increases in graphical fidelity have a significant impact on this GPU. The benchmark results indicate that the Arc B390 is best suited for 1080p gaming with lower settings, and any attempt to push higher resolutions or presets will result in a poor experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination are at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This configuration yields an average FPS of 84, which is smooth and responsive for most gameplay scenarios. While the Medium preset at 1080p offers a respectable 68 FPS average, the drop from Low is notable, and the Low preset provides a better margin for maintaining frame rates during intense moments with many creatures or building structures on screen.

The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 53 FPS, is at the edge of playability. It is playable but may feel less smooth in demanding areas. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 40 FPS, is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 56 FPS, but it is still a significant step down from the 1080p experience. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 45 FPS, could be playable for some, but the 38 FPS minimum suggests it will have noticeable stutters.

For a balanced experience, the data suggests that 1080p with Low settings is the sweet spot. Trying to achieve higher visual fidelity by using the Medium preset at 1080p is possible, but the 10 FPS drop from Low to Medium indicates that the GPU is working much harder. The 4K resolution is not recommended for this combo, as even the Low preset only manages 31 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable play. The measured data clearly shows that the best experience is found by prioritizing frame rate over visual quality, focusing on 1080p and lower settings to keep the GPU from becoming overwhelmed.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings provides the highest average FPS at 84, making it the best choice for a smooth and responsive experience.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K resolution?

A: Performance at 3840x2160 is poor. Even with Low settings, the average FPS is only 31, and it drops to 15 FPS on the Ultra preset, which is not playable.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU has headroom to spare.

Q: Is the Medium preset playable at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 yields an average FPS of 45, with a minimum of 38 FPS. This is on the edge of playability and may cause noticeable stuttering in demanding scenes.

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 84, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score relate to its in-game performance?

A: The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1,482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This low score is consistent with the measured in-game FPS, which shows it struggles beyond 1080p Low settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS, and where available, the minimum and maximum FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :------ | :------ | :------ |

| 3840x2160 | High | 19 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 31 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 25 | 21 | 29 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 15 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 35 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 56 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 45 | 38 | 52 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 26 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 53 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 84 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 68 | 58 | 79 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 40 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, the Low preset is the only one that breaks the 80 FPS barrier. The Medium preset maintains a playable 68 FPS, but the High and Ultra presets see significant drops to 53 and 40 FPS, respectively. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only one to stay above 50 FPS, with a 56 FPS average. The Medium preset is borderline at 45 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets fall to 35 and 26 FPS, respectively. At 4K, all presets result in sub-60 FPS performance, with the Low preset being the only one to reach 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset bottoming out at 15 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested combinations for Palworld, this specific configuration of the Intel Core i5-11400F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2607 out of 2944 total combos. This places it in the lower 11.5% of all tested systems, which is consistent with the low GPU percentile and the measured FPS results. The ranking reflects that while the CPU is a capable mid-range part, the GPU is a significant limiting factor, holding the overall system back to a level that is below the median experience for this game.

The combo's rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance. The Arc B390's 9th percentile standing among all GPUs overshadows the CPU's 71st percentile standing among all CPUs. This imbalance means that the system's overall in-game performance is dictated almost entirely by the weaker component. The benchmark results show that this is a system for 1080p gaming at lower settings, and its ranking in the lower quartile of all combos reflects that limited scope. Compared to other potential pairings, this setup offers a specific performance profile, but the data clearly indicates that it is not positioned for high-fidelity or high-resolution gaming in Palworld.