Palworld

Palworld is a demanding survival title, and this particular combination of an Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B370 produces a very specific performance profile. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, particularly at higher resolutions, but which can be tuned to deliver playable frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured results, what they mean for your settings choices, and where the bottleneck lies.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this combo at rank 2706 out of 2944 tested combinations. That puts it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this game, indicating that while it can run Palworld, it will not be doing so at the highest visual fidelity or with high frame rates in demanding scenes. The ranking is a direct consequence of the graphics card's position in the overall GPU hierarchy, which is discussed below.

The Intel Arc B370's performance is the limiting factor. Its average benchmark score of 1184 puts it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is essentially at parity with very old hardware: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (delta 0.2% slower), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (delta 0.5% slower), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (delta 0.7% slower). It is only 1.4% faster than the AMD FirePro M2000. This context is crucial; the CPU is not the primary concern here. The GPU is competing with hardware from a bygone era, which explains why the overall combo rank is so low.

The processor, in contrast, is a solid mid-range part. The Intel Core i5-12400F sits in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 19039 is nearly identical to its closest rivals: the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (delta 0%), Intel Core 3 201E (delta 0.1% slower), Intel Core i5-1335U (delta 0.3% faster), and AMD EPYC 7773X (delta 0.3% faster). In CPU-bound scenarios, this processor is not going to be the bottleneck. The performance disparity between the CPU's strong ranking and the GPU's weak ranking is a clear indicator that the graphics card is the ceiling for this system's gaming performance in Palworld.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Palworld at a smooth 60 frames per second?

A: The measured data indicates no. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 76, which is above 60. However, at Medium settings, it drops to 62 FPS, and at High settings, it falls to 47 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, you would have to stick to Low settings at 1080p, which is the only resolution/settings combination that achieves it.

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

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can achieve consistently playable frame rates above 30 FPS on most settings. At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 24 (Ultra) to 50 (Low), with Medium and High at 41 and 31 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, all average FPS values are below 30, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to other processors in its class?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F is a capable processor. Its average benchmark score is 19039, placing it in the 73rd percentile. It performs almost identically to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and is only 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-1335U. This indicates it has plenty of processing power for the game's logic and physics, but it is not being fully utilized due to the GPU's limitations.

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

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The Intel Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile. Its nearest rivals are legacy cards like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. In contrast, the CPU is in the 73rd percentile. The massive gap between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's low percentile, combined with the FPS dropping significantly as resolution increases, points squarely at the graphics card as the limiting factor.

Q: What settings preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 offers a reasonable balance. It delivers an average of 62 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. This is a significant jump from the High preset's 47 FPS average, and it keeps the frame rate above the 50 FPS threshold for most of the time, which is a better experience than the Low preset's visual quality.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the processor in this combo?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F had a launch MSRP of $174.

Settings Recommendations

Given the performance data, the choice of settings is critical for a playable experience. The priority should be maintaining a frame rate that is consistently above 30 FPS, and ideally closer to 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only one that guarantees an average FPS well above the 60 FPS target, hitting 76 FPS. This is the best choice for players who prioritize smoothness above all else. However, for a better visual experience, the Medium preset is the recommended sweet spot. It delivers an average of 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS, which means it will rarely dip below the 50 FPS threshold. This provides a much more visually detailed world than Low while maintaining a frame rate that is still very playable. The High preset, at 47 FPS, is a compromise that may be acceptable to some, but it is the point where the GPU starts to struggle to maintain a consistent 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 36 FPS is not recommended for general play, as it introduces noticeable stutter and a lack of fluidity.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset is the only one that provides an average FPS of 50, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset drops to 41 FPS, which is on the edge of what is considered smooth for a survival game. The High and Ultra presets, at 31 and 24 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a good experience. This resolution is pushing the GPU to its limits.

At 3840x2160, the data shows that no settings preset is viable for a smooth experience. The highest average FPS is 28 at Low settings, and the Ultra preset drops to a slideshow-like 13 FPS. This combo is not suited for 4K gaming in Palworld.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data shows a clear performance hierarchy based on resolution and settings.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Ultra: 13 FPS average. This is unplayable.
• High: 17 FPS average. This is unplayable.
• Medium: 23 FPS average, with a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 26 FPS. This is a very poor experience.
• Low: 28 FPS average. Even the lowest settings cannot achieve a playable frame rate at this resolution.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Ultra: 24 FPS average. This is not a smooth experience.
• High: 31 FPS average. This is borderline playable, but will feel choppy.
• Medium: 41 FPS average, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47 FPS. This is a playable, but not ideal, experience.
• Low: 50 FPS average. This is the best this combo can do at this resolution, and it is a playable experience.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Ultra: 36 FPS average. This is playable but will have noticeable frame drops during intense moments.
• High: 47 FPS average. This is a decent experience for those who want better visuals.
• Medium: 62 FPS average, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 71 FPS. This is the best balance of visuals and performance.
• Low: 76 FPS average. This is the smoothest experience the combo can provide.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on the Medium preset drops the average FPS from 62 to 41, a reduction of about 34%. Moving further to 3840x2160 on the same preset drops the average FPS to 23, a reduction of another 44% from the 1440p result.

This steep decline with each resolution increase is a textbook sign of a GPU bottleneck. The Intel Core i5-12400F has ample headroom to feed frames to the graphics card, but the Intel Arc B370 simply cannot process the increased pixel count fast enough. The CPU is waiting on the GPU, not the other way around.

The scaling is consistent across all settings. For example, on Low settings, the FPS goes from 76 at 1080p to 50 at 1440p, and then to 28 at 4K. The consistent halving or near-halving of frame rates as the pixel count jumps confirms that the graphics card's fill rate and shading power are the primary constraints. The system is not memory-bandwidth limited or CPU-limited in this title; it is purely a function of the GPU's rendering capability. Upgrading the graphics card would yield a massive improvement in performance, while a CPU upgrade would show almost no benefit in this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen series, based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB of L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 12380 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1680 points in single-core.

These scores, and its 73rd percentile ranking, indicate a processor with plenty of multi-threaded and single-threaded capability for gaming. Palworld, like most modern survival games, can utilize multiple cores for world simulation and AI, but the i5-12400F's 12 threads are more than sufficient for the task. The data from the measured FPS does not show any signs of CPU limitation, such as frame rate plateaus that don't change with resolution.

Instead, the CPU's role here is to feed the GPU. Its strong performance relative to the GPU means it is never the bottleneck. The fact that the combo ranks at 2706 out of 2944, while the CPU alone is in the 73rd percentile, reinforces this. The system's overall performance is dragged down entirely by the graphics card. The i5-12400F is a well-matched partner for a much more powerful GPU, but with the Arc B370, its potential is largely untapped. If you were to pair this CPU with a stronger graphics card, you would see a substantial increase in frame rates in Palworld.