Palworld

Palworld presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination, with the data showing a clear performance hierarchy that favors lower resolutions and medium settings. The benchmark results indicate that this combo is a 1080p-oriented pairing, capable of delivering high frame rates but struggling to maintain playability at 4K, particularly on higher presets. The measured frame rates reveal a system where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, while the CPU’s strong multi-threaded performance ensures it is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, indicating that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the dominant constraint at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 95 at 1920x1080 to 62 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 33 FPS, and then further to 35 at 3840x2160, representing a 63% loss from the 1080p figure. This pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the pixel count overwhelms the graphics card’s compute and memory bandwidth.

The scaling behavior becomes more pronounced when examining the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 152 FPS, which drops to 100 FPS at 1440p and then to 55 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is slightly more than one-third of the 1080p Low result, showing that even at the lowest graphical load, the 4K resolution presents a substantial challenge. This suggests that while the CPU can push very high frame rates at 1080p, the GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high throughput when the pixel count quadruples.

The Medium preset data includes minimum and maximum FPS values, offering insight into frame time consistency. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 123 FPS with a minimum of 105 and a maximum of 142, showing a relatively tight range. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average drops to 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93, indicating a wider relative spread. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average is 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52, which means the frame rate can dip to levels that are noticeably less smooth. This data shows that as resolution increases, not only does the average FPS fall, but the frame pacing becomes less stable, likely due to the GPU hitting its limits.

The Ultra preset exhibits the most severe scaling, with the average FPS falling from 72 at 1080p to 47 at 1440p and then to 26 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured value in the entire set, confirming that this preset is not viable at that resolution for this hardware. The data suggests that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU’s performance metrics, such as a 3DMark max threads score of 7952 and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23391, are far above what would be needed to sustain these frame rates at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2619 out of 3711 combos for Palworld. This places the combo in the lower half of all tested configurations, indicating that while it is functional, it is not a top-tier performer for this game. The rank reflects the combination’s overall capability, which is constrained by the GPU’s mid-range standing, as evidenced by its 62nd percentile ranking among all GPUs.

The CPU’s performance percentile is higher, sitting at the 79th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799. This places the i5-12600KF in a competitive position against its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K which has a deltaPct of -0.3 and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D also at -0.3. This proximity in scores, with the i5-12600KF being within 0.3% of these processors, shows that the CPU provides a solid foundation for gaming, but the overall combo rank is dragged down by the GPU.

The GPU’s average benchmark score is 18093, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile with a deltaPct of -0.4 and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 at -0.5. These figures show that the RTX 2060 SUPER is positioned near other mid-range graphics cards, but it is not a high-end performer. The combination of a strong CPU with a mid-range GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for 1080p gaming but falls behind combos with more powerful graphics cards in a demanding title like Palworld.

The data indicates that the combo’s rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s limitations. While the CPU can feed frames effectively, the GPU’s processing power and memory capacity cap the achievable frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. This is reflected in the measured FPS, which shows the system performing well at 1080p but struggling to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p on High settings, where it achieves 62 FPS, and failing to reach playable levels at 4K on Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 123 FPS with a minimum of 105 FPS. This preset offers a high frame rate that is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the minimum FPS ensures that the experience remains fluid even in demanding scenes. The jump to High settings at 1080p reduces the average to 95 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance headroom.

For users with 1440p monitors, the Medium preset is again the recommended choice, yielding an average of 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS. This is a playable frame rate, though it is noticeably lower than the 1080p result. The Low preset at 1440p achieves 100 FPS, but the visual quality reduction may not be worth the performance gain, as Medium provides a more stable experience with a minimum FPS that is closer to the average. High settings at 1440p should be approached with caution, as the 62 FPS average leaves little room for drops in intense combat scenarios.

At 4K resolution, the data suggests that only the Low preset, with an average of 55 FPS, is viable for a playable experience. The Medium preset at 4K averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, which may be acceptable for some users who prioritize visual quality over smoothness, but it is below the ideal threshold for fast-paced action. The High preset at 4K drops to 35 FPS, and Ultra is effectively unplayable at 26 FPS. Therefore, the recommendation for 4K is to use Low settings to maintain a playable frame rate, or to consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution above 1080p, as it produces an average of 72 FPS at 1080p, 47 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. While the 1080p Ultra result is smooth, the performance cost at higher resolutions is too severe. Overall, the data supports a settings strategy that prioritizes Medium at 1080p and 1440p, with Low being the only sensible option for 4K on this hardware.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution, with all presets except Ultra delivering an average FPS above 95. This resolution provides the highest frame rates and the most consistent performance.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Palworld?

A: The data indicates that 4K gaming is only possible on the Low preset, which achieves an average of 55 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra presets produce average FPS of 45, 35, and 26 respectively, which are below ideal playability.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799, placing it within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-10900K and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D. This indicates that it performs on par with these processors in general benchmarks.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, which is within 0.5% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700. This shows it is a mid-range performer relative to its peers.

Q: What is the average FPS on Medium settings at 1440p?

A: On Medium settings at 2560x1440, the combo achieves an average of 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for most users.

Q: Does the combo rank highly among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2619 out of 3711 tested combinations for Palworld, placing it in the lower half. This is due to the GPU’s mid-range performance relative to other graphics cards.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary factor limiting performance in Palworld, as evidenced by the sharp FPS drops at higher resolutions. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a bottleneck at 4K, where the frame rate drops significantly even on Low settings. The GPU’s boost clock of 1650 MHz and base clock of 1470 MHz are typical for its class, but the 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is not enough to handle the demands of 4K Ultra presets.

The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a PassMark G3D score of 16462 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011, place it in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, including the RTX 3060 Mobile and Radeon Pro 5700, show that it is a mid-range card. In Palworld, this translates to a situation where the GPU is the limiting component at all resolutions above 1080p. The data shows that at 1080p High, the GPU can achieve 95 FPS, but this drops to 62 FPS at 1440p and 35 FPS at 4K, a clear indicator that the graphics card is being overwhelmed by the increasing pixel load.

The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor at 4K, where the game’s textures and geometry require more memory. The RTX 2060 SUPER’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is also a limiting factor, as it cannot transfer data fast enough to sustain high frame rates at 4K. The measured FPS at 4K Medium, with an average of 45 and a minimum of 38, shows that the GPU is working at its limits. The presence of 34 RT cores and 272 Tensor cores does not provide a significant advantage in this title, as the performance is primarily bound by rasterization and memory throughput. The data suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates on most presets, but it is not a 4K-capable card for demanding games like Palworld.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF provides ample processing power for Palworld, ensuring that it is not the bottleneck in this system. With 10 cores and 16 threads, the CPU can handle the game’s multi-threaded workloads effectively. The CPU’s benchmark results are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23391 and a single-core score of 3302. The 3DMark max threads score of 7952 and the PassMark multi-thread score of 27575 further confirm its capability. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.90 GHz and base clock of 3.70 GHz provide high single-thread performance, which is crucial for games that rely on a primary thread.

The CPU’s performance is on par with its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with a deltaPct of -0.3 for both. This indicates that the i5-12600KF is a competitive processor for gaming. In Palworld, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data at lower resolutions, as shown by the high FPS at 1080p. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 152 FPS, which is likely CPU-limited, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide a solid foundation for game performance.

The data indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this game, as the FPS drops at higher resolutions are consistent with GPU-bound behavior. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with a 3DMark 16-thread score of 7956, shows that it has sufficient headroom. The measured FPS at 4K Low, which is 55, is likely limited by the GPU, as the CPU could theoretically push more frames if the GPU could render them. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and Geekbench single-core score of 2157, ensures that it handles the game’s primary game logic and draw calls efficiently. Overall, the i5-12600KF is a strong partner for the RTX 2060 SUPER, providing more than enough power to avoid becoming a bottleneck in Palworld.