Palworld

Palworld’s performance on the Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a clear picture of a system where the graphics card dictates the experience at higher resolutions, while the processor remains a capable foundation. The measured frame rates across twelve distinct configurations show a wide performance envelope, from 24.3 FPS at 4K Ultra to 145.7 FPS at 1080p Low. This analysis breaks down the data to explain the roles of each component, how resolution scaling affects playability, and which settings offer the best balance of visual quality and performance.

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 based on the Alder Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, which can boost up to 4.40 GHz under load. The chip has an 18 MB shared L3 cache and a 65 W TDP, positioning it as a mainstream desktop part. In synthetic benchmarks, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16518 and a single-core score of 2332, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 9138. Its average benchmark score is 19221, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, which indicates solid mid-range performance.

The data suggests the i5-12400F is not the limiting factor in Palworld for most of the tested configurations. The processor’s 3DMark scores show strong scaling from 2 threads (1699) to 8 threads (4779) and max threads (5912), demonstrating good multi-threaded capability that can handle the game’s simulation and AI workloads. When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400F is virtually tied with the Intel Core i7-8700K, being only 0.1% faster in average benchmark score. It is also 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-1335U and 1.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7773X, while being 0.7% slower than the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS. This parity with older high-end parts and modern mobile chips shows that the CPU has ample headroom for a game like Palworld.

Given that frame rates change dramatically with graphics settings at the same resolution, the bottleneck shifts to the GPU as settings increase. For instance, at 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 95 on Low to 47.3 on Ultra. If the CPU were the primary constraint, we would expect less variance across settings. The relatively flat performance delta between Low and High settings at 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed, still shows a large gap (145.7 FPS vs 91 FPS), which is typical for GPU-bound scenarios. The i5-12400F’s role is to provide consistent frame pacing and avoid stutters, which its 12 threads and high boost clock are well-suited for, allowing the Arc B580 to operate at its full potential.

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

The Intel Arc B580 is the clear performance driver in this configuration. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU is based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation) and is built on TSMC’s 5 nm process. Its base and boost clocks are both 2670 MHz, with memory running at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The card has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output pipelines, along with 20 ray tracing cores. Its FP32 performance is rated at 13.67 TFLOPS, and it has a TDP of 190 W.

In the benchmark data, the Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 760M, which it beats by 0.1%, and the NVIDIA P106-100, which it beats by 0.3%. It is 0.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile. This places the B580 in a competitive position within its performance class, capable of handling modern titles at 1080p and 1440p with adjustments.

The GPU’s 12 GB of VRAM is a significant asset for Palworld. At 4K with Ultra settings, the game’s demands likely exceed the card’s raw compute capabilities, resulting in a 24.3 FPS average. However, the generous memory allocation means that texture loading and asset streaming are less likely to cause hitches, even when the frame rate is low. The core clock of 2670 MHz is relatively high, which helps maintain throughput in compute-heavy scenes. The data shows the GPU scaling is consistent: increasing resolution from 1080p to 1440p to 4K at High settings reduces average FPS from 91 to 61.1 to 35.1, respectively. This linear degradation is a hallmark of a GPU-bound workload, confirming that the Arc B580’s processing power is the primary determinant of performance in this pairing.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling across resolutions. At 1080p High, the system achieves an average of 91 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 61.1 FPS, a reduction of approximately 33%. At 4K High, the average falls to 35.1 FPS, which is a further 43% drop from 1440p and represents a 61% decrease from the 1080p figure. This steep decline is characteristic of a system where the graphics card is doing the heavy lifting.

The trend is consistent across all settings. For Low settings, the progression is 145.7 FPS at 1080p, 95 FPS at 1440p, and 51.2 FPS at 4K. Medium settings show 116.4 FPS, 79.3 FPS, and 45.9 FPS for the same resolution progression. Ultra settings show 68 FPS, 47.3 FPS, and 24.3 FPS. In every case, the frame rate roughly halves or worse when moving from 1080p to 4K. This is a textbook example of a GPU-limited scenario, as the CPU’s workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) remains relatively constant across resolutions, while the GPU’s pixel and shading workload increases exponentially.

The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-12400F has sufficient performance to avoid becoming a bottleneck even at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system pushes 145.7 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would stress a weaker CPU. The fact that this configuration achieves such numbers suggests the processor has headroom. As resolution increases, the GPU becomes the sole constraint, and the FPS drops accordingly. For users aiming for high refresh rate monitors at 1080p, the system is capable. For 4K gaming, the GPU lacks the power to deliver smooth frame rates, regardless of the CPU’s capability.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings balance depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best experience for most users, delivering an average of 91 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the visual upgrade from Medium (116.4 FPS) to High is substantial, while the frame rate penalty is acceptable. The Ultra preset at 68 FPS is also playable, but the performance drop of 25% compared to High may not justify the marginal visual gains, especially in a survival game where responsiveness matters.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, yielding an average of 79.3 FPS. This provides a fluid experience on standard 144Hz monitors. The High preset at 61.1 FPS is borderline playable, but it sits close to the 60 FPS line, and any demanding scenes could cause drops. The Low preset at 95 FPS is very fast, but the visual quality reduction is significant. The Ultra preset at 47.3 FPS dips below the 60 FPS target, making it less ideal for action-heavy moments.

At 3840x2160, the game is severely GPU-limited. The Low preset produces an average of 51.2 FPS, which is the only configuration at this resolution that approaches playability. The High preset at 35.1 FPS and Medium at 45.9 FPS are too choppy for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 24.3 FPS is essentially unplayable. Therefore, for 4K, users must either accept Low settings to get near 60 FPS or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better balance. The data suggests that this hardware combination is best suited for 1080p High or 1440p Medium gaming, with 4K reserved for less demanding scenarios or visual fidelity at lower frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Palworld at 60 FPS on a 1440p monitor?

A: Yes, the measured data shows that at 2560x1440 resolution with Medium settings, the average FPS is 79.3. The High preset also achieves an average of 61.1 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target, though it may dip in busy scenes.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F holding back the Intel Arc B580 in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the limiting factor. The FPS drops significantly with higher graphics settings and resolution, which is a sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 19221 places it in the 77th percentile, showing it has enough headroom for this title.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming with this hardware?

A: Based on the data, the only viable option at 3840x2160 is the Low preset, which averages 51.2 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45.9 FPS, and High drops to 35.1 FPS, while Ultra is at 24.3 FPS. Users should expect to compromise heavily on visual quality to achieve playable frame rates at 4K.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: According to the data, the Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has a score of 23181. This makes the B580 0.7% slower than the RTX 4060 in average synthetic performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p High and 1080p Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 91 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS. This represents a 25% reduction in average frame rate when moving from High to Ultra, which might not be worth the visual upgrade for competitive play.

Q: Does the GPU have enough memory for Palworld at high resolutions?

A: The Intel Arc B580 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 456.0 GB/s bandwidth. While this is sufficient for the game’s assets, the 4K Ultra performance (24.3 FPS) indicates that raw processing power, not memory capacity, is the limiting factor at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following table details the average FPS for each tested configuration.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

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

| 1920x1080 | Low | 145.7 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 116.4 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 91.0 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 68.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 95.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 79.3 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 61.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 47.3 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 51.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 45.9 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 35.1 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 24.3 |

At 1080p, the system shows excellent scalability, with the Low preset delivering 145.7 FPS and the Ultra preset at 68 FPS. This range allows users to prioritize either competitive frame rates or visual fidelity. At 1440p, the frame rates compress into a tighter band, from 95 FPS on Low to 47.3 FPS on Ultra, showing the GPU’s workload increasing. At 4K, all presets fall below 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset dipping to 24.3 FPS, making the game difficult to play smoothly. The data confirms that the Intel Arc B580 is best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates with appropriate settings adjustments. The overall combo rank in game is 1341 out of 1718 tested combinations, which puts this specific hardware pairing in the lower-middle tier for Palworld, primarily due to the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions.