Palworld

Palworld on the Intel Core i5-14400F + Intel Arc B370 combination delivers playable frame rates only at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, and the data indicates a severe GPU bottleneck that makes higher resolutions impractical. The combo ranks 2706 out of 2944 tested configurations, placing it in the bottom 10% of systems for this title. While the Core i5-14400F is a capable 10-core processor with strong synthetic scores, the integrated Arc B370 graphics solution holds the entire experience back, resulting in sub-30 FPS performance at 4K across all settings.

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, running on a 10 nm process node. It features a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. For a survival game like Palworld, which involves world simulation, creature AI, and base building, the 16 threads provide ample parallel processing headroom.

Synthetic benchmarks confirm the CPU’s strength. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 21,645 in multi-core and 3,055 in single-core tests. Geekbench results show 11,268 multi-core and 2,058 single-core scores. The Passmark multithread score is 25,470, and the single-thread score is 3,701. These numbers place the CPU in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,279. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (deltaPct 0.1), Intel Core i9-11900 (deltaPct 0.2), and AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (deltaPct -0.2), showing the i5-14400F sits in a competitive performance band for productivity workloads.

However, in Palworld, the CPU's potential is largely untapped. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, the system only reaches 76 FPS average, while dropping to 17 FPS at 4K High. This pattern indicates that the integrated graphics unit, not the CPU, is the limiting factor. The CPU’s Passmark physics score of 1,523 and floating-point math score of 61,319 suggest it can handle complex game logic, but the Arc B370's FP32 throughput of 6.144 TFLOPS is simply insufficient to render frames quickly enough. The data supports a conclusion that the i5-14400F would not bottleneck this game if paired with a stronger GPU, as its compute capabilities far exceed what the current graphics solution can deliver.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings produces the highest average FPS at 76 FPS. This is the only configuration that achieves a consistently smooth experience. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 62 FPS, which is still playable but shows the GPU struggling as settings increase.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1,186 (deltaPct -0.2), ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1,190 (deltaPct -0.5), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M with 1,192 (deltaPct -0.7). This places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating very low relative performance.

Q: Is the Core i5-14400F a bottleneck for Palworld when paired with the Arc B370?

A: No. Given that the CPU ranks in the 83rd percentile overall and has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,645, while the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile, the GPU is clearly the limiting component. The FPS drops from 76 at 1080p Low to 28 at 4K Low demonstrate a GPU-bound scenario where resolution scales negatively with performance.

Q: What is the performance delta between the Core i5-14400F and its closest rival, the Intel Core i9-11900?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900 has an average benchmark score of 32,226, which is 0.2% higher than the i5-14400F's 32,279. This negligible difference means the two CPUs perform nearly identically in synthetic workloads, indicating the i5-14400F offers comparable compute power to a previous-generation flagship.

Q: Can this system run Palworld at 4K resolution at any setting?

A: Technically yes, but not playably. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 13. At 4K High, it reaches 17 FPS. Even at 4K Low, the average is only 28 FPS. All of these are below the 30 FPS threshold generally considered minimal for playability, making 4K impractical for this combo.

Q: Does the CPU's single-core performance limit Palworld's frame rate at 1080p?

A: The data suggests no. The CPU's single-core Cinebench R23 score is 3,055, and Passmark single-thread score is 3,701, both respectable figures. The FPS at 1080p Low is 76, which is likely near the GPU's maximum output capability. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect similar FPS across different GPU loads, but the data shows a linear decline as settings increase, confirming GPU limitation.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a textbook case of GPU-bound scaling. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 76 at 1920x1080 to 50 at 2560x1440, and further to 28 at 3840x2160. This represents a 34% performance loss from 1080p to 1440p, and a 44% loss from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count, which indicates the graphics processor is saturated at all resolutions.

At High settings, the progression is 47 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 34% and 45% respectively, mirroring the Low setting pattern. This consistency across settings confirms that the bottleneck is purely the GPU's rendering capability, not memory bandwidth or CPU instruction throughput. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU work per frame remains relatively constant regardless of resolution.

The Medium settings data provides additional insight with min and max FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the system ranges from 52 to 71 FPS with an average of 62. At 1440p Medium, the range is 35 to 47 with an average of 41. At 4K Medium, the range narrows to 19 to 26 with an average of 23. The narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates the GPU is working at maximum capacity, reducing frame time variance as it becomes fully utilized. The Arc B370's shared memory architecture, which uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth, likely contributes to this scaling behavior, as memory bandwidth becomes a constraint at higher pixel counts.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 76 FPS, which is the highest score across all tests. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and maximum of 71. High settings drop to 47 FPS average, and Ultra settings bottom out at 36 FPS. This resolution is the only one where any setting achieves a playable frame rate above 30 FPS, and Low and Medium both exceed the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 50 FPS, which is borderline playable. Medium settings average 41 FPS, with a range of 35 to 47. High settings drop to 31 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 24 FPS. Only Low and Medium settings at 1440p offer average frame rates above 30 FPS, but the minimum values for Medium (35 FPS) suggest occasional dips that could affect gameplay smoothness.

At 3840x2160, all settings are below playable thresholds. Low settings average 28 FPS, Medium averages 23 FPS with a range of 19 to 26, High averages 17 FPS, and Ultra averages 13 FPS. The data shows that even the lowest settings cannot maintain a consistent 30 FPS at 4K, making this resolution unsuitable for Palworld on this hardware. The overall combo rank of 2706 out of 2944 configurations places this system in the bottom 8% for Palworld performance, corroborating the measured FPS data.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process node. It features 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 2,400 MHz. Its compute capabilities are rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 and 12.29 TFLOPS for FP16 (2:1 ratio). The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s.

Memory is a significant limitation. The Arc B370 uses System Shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system's main RAM. The bus width is also System Shared, and bandwidth is System Dependent. This architectural choice explains the severe performance drops at higher resolutions, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The 25 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate this is a low-power integrated solution, not designed for demanding gaming workloads.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,184 places the GPU in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older discrete cards: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1,186), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1,190), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1,192). The Arc B370 is slightly slower than all of these, with deltaPct values of -0.2, -0.5, and -0.7 respectively. This positioning explains why Palworld, which requires sustained GPU throughput for rendering large open-world environments, struggles on this hardware. The GPU's 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate is insufficient to fill 4K frames at acceptable speeds, as evidenced by the 13-28 FPS range across all settings at that resolution.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal configuration for this system is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which achieves an average of 76 FPS. This is the only setting that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay during action sequences or when exploring dense areas. The 1080p Medium preset, averaging 62 FPS, is a viable alternative for players who prioritize visual quality, as it maintains an average above 60 FPS while offering better textures and effects than Low.

For players who prefer higher visual fidelity, 1080p High at 47 FPS is the maximum setting that stays above 30 FPS average. However, this leaves little headroom for frame rate drops during intense moments, and the minimum FPS data is not provided for this preset, making it a riskier choice. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 36 FPS, which is playable but may feel inconsistent.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset at 50 FPS is the recommended choice, as it stays above 40 FPS average. The Medium preset at 41 FPS is acceptable for less demanding scenes, but the minimum of 35 FPS suggests potential stuttering. High and Ultra at 1440p (31 and 24 FPS) are not recommended due to sub-30 FPS averages. At 3840x2160, no setting is recommended, as all presets fail to reach 30 FPS average, with the best being Low at 28 FPS.

The data clearly indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming in Palworld. The performance gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 40 FPS (76 vs 36), demonstrating that the GPU cannot handle high settings at any resolution. Players should prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, using Low settings at 1080p for the smoothest experience, or Medium settings if they can tolerate occasional dips below 60 FPS.