Palworld

Palworld, a survival title released in early 2024, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics card. The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 produces a spectrum of results across resolutions and presets, with performance ranging from a highly playable 125 FPS at 1080p Low to a marginal 22 FPS at 4K Ultra. The data shows a configuration that is clearly capable of delivering smooth frame rates at 1080p, but which progressively loses ground as resolution and graphical fidelity increase, ultimately struggling to maintain playable performance at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, contextualizes the ranking of this specific combo, and examines the individual roles of the CPU and GPU in shaping the overall experience.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data for this hardware combination indicates that the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the data shows that all presets are playable, with the High preset delivering an average of 78 FPS. However, the Medium preset provides a more compelling balance, with an average of 101 FPS and a minimum of 86 FPS, ensuring a stable frame rate well above the standard 60 FPS threshold. The jump to High yields a significant cost of 23 FPS (from 101 to 78) for the increase in visual quality, making Medium the superior choice for a smooth and responsive experience at 1080p, while High remains a viable option for those prioritizing visuals over a higher frame rate ceiling.

For 2560x1440, the data suggests that the Medium preset is the most practical choice. The average FPS of 66, with a minimum of 57, hovers near the 60 FPS target, offering a playable experience with a moderate visual upgrade over Low. The High preset, with an average of 51 FPS, is still playable but enters a territory where frame pacing may become more noticeable. The Low preset at 82 FPS is the only option that provides a clear margin for high-refresh-rate monitors, but it does so at the cost of significant visual detail. The choice here is a trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate smoothness, with Medium being the recommended middle ground for most users.

At 3840x2160, the data reveals that this combo is not well-suited for high-fidelity gaming. The Ultra preset is effectively unplayable at an average of 22 FPS. The High preset, at 28 FPS, and the Medium preset, at 37 FPS, are also below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience. Even the Low preset, with an average of 46 FPS, is not reliably playable. Benchmark results indicate that for a consistent 60 FPS target at 4K, this hardware combination would require significant reductions in internal resolution or graphical settings beyond what is provided. The only preset that approaches a playable state is Low, but its 46 FPS average suggests it is best reserved for less demanding scenarios or screenshots. The data clearly indicates that 4K is not a viable resolution for this pairing in Palworld.

How This Combo Ranks

In the Palworld benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3067 out of 3711 tested combos. This places it in the lower percentile of all possible pairings, indicating that the GTX 1070, in particular, is a significant limiting factor in this game. The rank of 3067 suggests that the vast majority of other tested hardware configurations deliver higher average frame rates in Palworld. This is unsurprising given the GPU's age and its performance percentile of 47 when compared to all other GPUs. The CPU, by contrast, performs admirably, sitting in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in this title.

The combo's rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's modest performance. While the i5-12600KF is a strong processor, the GTX 1070's overall benchmark average score of 9780 places it in the 47th percentile, meaning it outperforms only about half of the tested GPUs. The GPU's nearest rivals in terms of average score include the AMD FirePro W5000 and the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M, with the GTX 1070 having a -0.2% and -0.5% deltaPct respectively when compared to them. This indicates that the GPU is performing exactly as expected for its class, but that class is simply not powerful enough to push the combo higher in the rankings for a demanding title like Palworld. The combo's rank is a reflection of the GPU's position in the market, not a sign of any particular bottleneck or inefficiency in the pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the primary determinant of the performance ceilings observed in the measured FPS data. With 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, it provides a memory bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1506 MHz, with a boost clock of 1683 MHz. In the context of Palworld, the data shows that the GPU's capabilities are stretched thin as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU can produce an average of 125 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 59 FPS on Ultra, showing that the visual settings have a direct and substantial impact on the GPU's workload.

The 8 GB of VRAM is a critical consideration for Palworld. At 4K resolution with Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 22, a clear sign that the GPU is struggling with both memory capacity and processing power. The data suggests that the VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at most settings, but at 4K, the combination of high resolution and detailed textures likely exceeds the optimal capacity, contributing to the severe performance drop. The GTX 1070's performance percentile of 47 versus all other GPUs reinforces that it is a mid-range part by modern standards. Its average benchmark score of 9780 and its nearest rivals, which include workstation and older professional cards like the AMD FirePro W5000 and NVIDIA Tesla M10, underscore its legacy position in the performance hierarchy.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo to achieve a consistent 60 FPS in Palworld?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers an average of 101 FPS with a minimum of 86 FPS, and the High preset averages 78 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset provides an average of 66 FPS, but its minimum of 57 FPS falls just short of a consistent 60 FPS. The data indicates that 1080p is the most reliable resolution for maintaining a stable 60 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU bottleneck this system in Palworld?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU, Intel Core i5-12600KF, has a 79th percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of 27799, which is comparable to the Intel Core i9-10900K (deltaPct -0.3%). In contrast, the GPU has a 47th percentile ranking. The substantial FPS drops at higher resolutions, such as from 78 FPS at 1080p High to 51 FPS at 1440p High, are characteristic of a GPU-bound system.

Q: Is it possible to play Palworld at 4K with this hardware?

A: The data shows that all presets at 3840x2160 produce an average FPS below 46. The Low preset averages 46 FPS, while Medium is 37 FPS and High is 28 FPS. None of these results meet the standard for a consistently smooth experience, making 4K gaming largely impractical with this combination.

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

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 for Low settings is 125 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 59 FPS. This represents a reduction of 66 FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest graphical preset, a drop of over 50% in frame rate.

Q: How does the GTX 1070's performance compare to its closest rivals in the benchmark database?

A: According to the average benchmark scores, the GTX 1070 scores 9780. Its nearest rival, the AMD FirePro W5000, scores 9803, which is a 0.2% difference. The NVIDIA Quadro M2000M scores 9832, a 0.5% difference. These deltas show the GTX 1070 performs nearly identically to these other cards in general benchmarks.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a significant and predictable performance penalty as resolution increases. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 78 at 1920x1080 to 51 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 27 FPS. Scaling further to 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 28, representing another 23 FPS drop. This steep decline is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound workload, where the rendering resolution directly dictates the number of pixels the graphics card must process.

The pattern is consistent across all presets. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 101 at 1080p to 66 at 1440p, and then down to 37 at 4K. This scaling behavior confirms that the GTX 1070's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The CPU, with its high single-thread and multi-thread scores (e.g., a 3dmark_single_thread score of 1016 and a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 23391), has ample headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but as the pixel count grows, the GPU's inability to keep up becomes the dominant factor in the performance drop. The data shows that the playable envelope for this combo is largely confined to 1080p, with 1440p being a stretch on lower settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF provides a robust foundation for this system, though its role is secondary to the GPU in Palworld. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a passmark_multithread score of 27575 and a geekbench_singlecore score of 2157, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. This processing power ensures that the system is not CPU-limited at lower resolutions and settings, where the GPU is the clear bottleneck.

Evidence for the CPU's sufficiency can be seen in the FPS data at 1080p. The jump from 125 FPS on Low to 101 FPS on Medium, and then to 78 FPS on High, shows that the frame rate is closely tied to the GPU's workload. If the CPU were the limiting factor, these numbers would be more clustered together. The i5-12600KF's performance is also comparable to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with a deltaPct of -0.3%, which is a well-regarded gaming processor. This suggests that in a system with a more powerful GPU, the i5-12600KF would not be a significant obstacle to achieving higher frame rates in Palworld. Its role is to provide the necessary data to the GPU, a task it performs without becoming the primary constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination in Palworld.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average FPS is 125.
• Medium: Average FPS is 101, with a minimum of 86 and a maximum of 116.
• High: Average FPS is 78.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 59.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average FPS is 82.
• Medium: Average FPS is 66, with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 76.
• High: Average FPS is 51.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 39.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average FPS is 46.
• Medium: Average FPS is 37, with a minimum of 31 and a maximum of 42.
• High: Average FPS is 28.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 22.

This breakdown confirms that the only resolution where all presets achieve a playable frame rate above 60 FPS is 1080p, with the exception of the Ultra preset at 59 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low preset exceeds 60 FPS, while Medium and High are usable but not ideal. At 4K, no preset achieves a playable average FPS, with all results falling into the 22-46 FPS range. The data paints a clear picture of a system that is well-matched for 1080p gaming but requires significant compromises at higher resolutions.