Palworld

Palworld pairs the Intel Core i5-12400F with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, a combination that delivers a wide range of frame rates depending on resolution and settings. The measured data shows a system capable of high-refresh 1080p play and playable 4K performance, though the gap between Low and Ultra presets reveals a significant performance spread. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU roles, answers common questions, and provides a detailed look at the measured FPS across the tested configurations.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen family, built on the Alder Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its benchmark data indicates a strong mid-range performer, scoring 12,380 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,680 in single-core, with a PassMark multithread score of 19,433. In the broader CPU landscape, it sits at the 73rd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 19,039, placing it near rivals like the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19,047, 0% delta) and the Intel Core 3 201E (19,056, -0.1% delta).

In Palworld, the CPU's role is primarily to sustain frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less burdened. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 209 FPS, indicating that the i5-12400F can feed the GPU efficiently in lighter scenes. However, the data suggests that at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate drops to 99 FPS, a 53% reduction from Low. This drop is not purely a GPU limitation, as the GPU is still capable of higher output; rather, it points to the CPU handling increased game logic, physics, and entity counts at higher settings. The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 12 threads provide adequate headroom, but the 6-core design may become a limiting factor in the most demanding moments, particularly with many Pals active on screen.

The CPU's single-thread performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 1,964 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 909, is solid but not exceptional. At 1440p and 4K, the CPU load relative to the GPU decreases, and the frame rates scale accordingly, with 1440p High hitting 86 FPS and 4K High hitting 48 FPS. This pattern confirms that while the i5-12400F is a capable partner, it does not hold back the RX 7700 XT in most scenarios, but it also does not provide the overhead seen with higher-core-count processors in CPU-intensive titles. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is best utilized at 1440p and above, where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is a RDNA 3.0 architecture GPU based on the Navi 32 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's clocks are specified at a base of 1435 MHz, a game clock of 2171 MHz, and a boost clock of 2544 MHz, with memory running at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). With 3,456 shading units, 216 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, it offers 35.17 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. Its benchmark scores include a PassMark G3D score of 22,547 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,316. It ranks at the 67th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22,549, placing it close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (22,435, 0.5% delta) and the RTX 4060 Mobile (22,729, -0.8% delta).

In Palworld, the GPU's 12 GB VRAM is a key asset, allowing it to handle High and Ultra textures at 4K without exceeding memory limits, as evidenced by playable frame rates at those settings. The 432.0 GB/s bandwidth supports the high polygon counts and detailed environments typical of survival games. At 1080p, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, with Low settings hitting 209 FPS and Medium at 169 FPS; however, at Ultra, the frame rate drops to 99 FPS, showing that the GPU's compute units are heavily taxed by the increased shading, shadows, and effects. The 4K results reinforce this, with Low at 76 FPS, Medium at 62 FPS, and High at 48 FPS, while Ultra drops to 36 FPS, a clear sign that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution.

The RX 7700 XT's performance relative to its rivals is consistent, with a 1.7% lead over the AMD Radeon RX 5700 (22,170) and a 1.5% deficit to the RTX 2080 (22,895). In Palworld, this translates to a GPU that can deliver smooth 60+ FPS at 1440p High, but requires settings adjustments for 4K. The GPU's 96 ROPs and 216 TMUs handle the game's draw calls well, but the Ultra preset's 36 FPS at 4K highlights the need for lower settings or upscaling to achieve a consistent experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 209 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At Medium settings, it drops to 169 FPS, and at High, it is 130 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K across different settings?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 76 on Low to 36 on Ultra. Medium settings yield 62 FPS, and High settings yield 48 FPS, showing that only Low and Medium are viable for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F a bottleneck for the RX 7700 XT in Palworld?

A: The data indicates the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, where the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p, the CPU provides enough headroom for 130+ FPS on High, but the Ultra preset's 99 FPS suggests some CPU limitation in CPU-heavy scenes.

Q: What is the best setting for a balance of visual quality and performance at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings deliver 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS, making it the best balance. High settings yield 86 FPS, while Ultra drops to 65 FPS, so Medium offers a significant performance buffer over High.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Palworld?

A: It ranks 1,405 out of 3,711 tested combos, placing it in the top 38% of systems tested for this game.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for 4K Ultra settings?

A: The RX 7700 XT has 12 GB of VRAM, which is sufficient to run 4K Ultra, but the measured average FPS of 36 indicates that while memory is not a constraint, the GPU's compute performance is inadequate for smooth play at that preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strongest results: Low settings produce an average of 209 FPS, Medium yields 169 FPS (with a minimum of 144 and a maximum of 195), High delivers 130 FPS, and Ultra drops to 99 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 53% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the Ultra preset is particularly demanding.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain respectable but show a clear step down. Low settings achieve 138 FPS, Medium averages 112 FPS (minimum 95, maximum 128), High hits 86 FPS, and Ultra falls to 65 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings is consistent, with High seeing a 34% reduction from 130 to 86 FPS, and Low seeing a 34% reduction from 209 to 138 FPS, suggesting a linear scaling that points to the GPU as the primary driver.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. Low settings yield 76 FPS, Medium averages 62 FPS (minimum 53, maximum 71), High drops to 48 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 36 FPS. The 4K results show that only Low and Medium settings provide a playable experience above 60 FPS, while High and Ultra require a tolerance for sub-50 FPS gameplay. The minimum FPS data at Medium settings (53 at 4K, 95 at 1440p, 144 at 1080p) highlights the frame time consistency, with the 4K Medium result being the only configuration that dips below 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals how the system's bottleneck shifts. From 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops by approximately 34% across all settings: Low goes from 209 to 138, Medium from 169 to 112, High from 130 to 86, and Ultra from 99 to 65. This consistent 34% reduction indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the pixel count increases by 78% (from 2.07 million to 3.69 million), but the frame rate drops less than proportionally, suggesting some CPU headroom is still available.

From 2560x1440 to 3840x2160, the scaling changes. The pixel count increases by 125% (from 3.69 million to 8.29 million), but the frame rate drops by a smaller margin: Low goes from 138 to 76 (a 45% reduction), Medium from 112 to 62 (a 45% reduction), High from 86 to 48 (a 44% reduction), and Ultra from 65 to 36 (a 45% reduction). This steeper drop indicates that the GPU is now fully saturated, and the system is entirely GPU-bound. The fact that the percentage drop is nearly identical across all settings suggests that the CPU is not a factor at 4K, and the RX 7700 XT's compute and memory bandwidth are the sole determinants of performance.

The data shows that the system transitions from a balanced CPU-GPU load at 1080p to a GPU-bound configuration at 1440p and 4K. At 1080p Low, the 209 FPS result is likely near the CPU's maximum frame generation capability, as the GPU could theoretically output more. However, at 4K, even the Low preset's 76 FPS demonstrates that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the CPU is far from its limits. This analysis confirms that the i5-12400F is sufficient for this GPU, with no evidence of CPU limiting at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 130 FPS is the best choice for most users, as it offers a substantial visual upgrade over Medium (169 FPS) while still maintaining a high refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 99 FPS is playable, but the 31 FPS drop from High is significant for marginal visual gains, making High the sweet spot for competitive or high-refresh gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the strongest recommendation, delivering 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS. This provides a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, with only a 26 FPS drop from Low (138 FPS). The High preset at 86 FPS is also viable for those prioritizing visuals, but the Medium preset's higher minimum frame rate (95 vs. no data for High) suggests better frame time consistency. The Ultra preset at 65 FPS is borderline, but the 47 FPS drop from Medium makes it a poor trade-off.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, hitting 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS. The Low preset at 76 FPS is smoother but sacrifices significant visual quality. The High preset at 48 FPS and Ultra at 36 FPS are not recommended for consistent gameplay, as they fall below the 60 FPS target. For 4K, Medium is the clear choice, as it balances the GPU's capabilities with playable performance, while Low is for users who prioritize frame rate over fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination ranks 1,405 out of 3,711 tested combos in Palworld, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all systems tested. This ranking reflects a mid-to-high-tier position, indicating that the combo performs well but is outclassed by higher-end CPUs and GPUs. In the context of the GPU's nearest rivals, the RX 7700 XT's performance is closely matched by the RTX 5060 Mobile (0.5% delta) and the RTX 4060 Mobile (-0.8% delta), suggesting that the combo's ranking is competitive with other 12 GB-class GPUs.

The combo's rank is influenced by the CPU's 73rd percentile standing, which is solid but not top-tier, and the GPU's 67th percentile, which is slightly lower. The measured FPS data shows that the combo excels at 1080p and 1440p, where it can achieve high frame rates, but struggles at 4K Ultra, which likely drags its overall ranking down relative to systems with more powerful GPUs. The 1,405th rank out of 3,711 means that roughly 2,300 tested combos perform better, but it also means that this combo outperforms a significant majority of systems in the database. For a mid-range pairing, this ranking is respectable, and the data confirms that it is a well-balanced setup for Palworld, with no single component severely limiting the other in most scenarios.