Palworld

# Palworld with Intel Core i5-14400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D

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 from the Core 14th Gen lineup, based on Raptor Lake-R architecture. It runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts up to 4.70 GHz. The chip carries 20 MB of shared L3 cache with 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 80 KB of L1 per core. Built on Intel's 10 nm process node, it has a 65 W TDP and fits the Intel Socket 1700. The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. It has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory, and the launch MSRP is $196.

In Palworld, this CPU-GPU combination produces FPS numbers that clearly indicate where the processing load falls. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 350 FPS average, which is extraordinarily high and suggests the CPU is feeding frames at a rate most monitors cannot even display. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 66 FPS, a scenario where the GPU is heavily taxed. The pattern across resolutions and settings shows that the i5-14400F is not the limiting factor in this pairing — the RTX 5090 D is the dominant component, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up at every tested resolution.

The i5-14400F's multi-threaded performance is respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055. Its average benchmark score of 32279 places it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, it edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U by 0.1% and the Intel Core i9-11900 by 0.2%, while trailing the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS by 0.2% and leading the Intel Core i7-12800H by 0.5%. These margins are tiny, meaning the i5-14400F sits right in a competitive cluster of mid-range to upper-mid-range processors. For a game like Palworld, which relies on world simulation and many simultaneous entity interactions, having 16 threads is useful, but the single-thread performance of a 3055 R23 score is more critical for maintaining smooth frame pacing.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F strong enough to avoid bottlenecking the RTX 5090 D in Palworld?

A: Yes. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 350 FPS average, and at 1080p Ultra it still hits 181 FPS. These numbers indicate the CPU can deliver frames faster than the GPU can render at lower settings, so the CPU is not the bottleneck.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rivals in raw compute?

A: The i5-14400F scores 32279 on average benchmarks, sitting 0.1% above the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and 0.2% above the Intel Core i9-11900. It is 0.2% below the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS and 0.5% above the Intel Core i7-12800H. Performance differences are negligible in this cluster.

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows 205 FPS average at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 174 FPS and a maximum of 235 FPS. This is well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D's 32 GB of GDDR7 memory matter for Palworld?

A: The GPU has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus with 1.79 TB/s bandwidth. While Palworld does not necessarily require that much VRAM, the memory capacity ensures there is no VRAM limitation at any tested setting or resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Palworld?

A: This specific combination ranks 31st out of 2944 tested combos, placing it in the top 1.1% of all configurations tested for this game.

Q: What is the single-core performance of this CPU?

A: The i5-14400F scores 3055 in Cinebench R23 single-core, 307 in Cinebench R15 single-core, and 1283 in Cinebench R20 single-core. These scores indicate strong per-core performance for games that rely on one or two main threads.

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 as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 350 FPS at 1080p to 252 FPS at 1440p, then to 140 FPS at 4K. That is a 28% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 44% reduction from 1440p to 4K. At High settings, the drop goes from 239 FPS at 1080p to 157 FPS at 1440p (down 34%), then to 87 FPS at 4K (down 45% from 1440p). At Ultra settings, the progression is 181 FPS at 1080p, 119 FPS at 1440p (down 34%), and 66 FPS at 4K (down 45% from 1440p).

The consistency of the percentage drops across different settings presets indicates that the GPU is the primary scaling factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect smaller FPS differences between resolutions at lower settings, because the CPU would cap the frame rate regardless of resolution. Instead, the FPS scales almost linearly with pixel count, which is the classic signature of a GPU-limited scenario. The RTX 5090 D's massive compute resources — 21760 shading units, 104.8 TFLOPS FP32, and a boost clock of 2407 MHz — are being exercised more as resolution rises.

At 4K Ultra, the combo still manages 66 FPS average, which is playable for a survival game. At 4K Low, it reaches 140 FPS, showing that even at the highest resolution, the GPU has enough headroom when settings are reduced. The data suggests that for players targeting 4K, the RTX 5090 D is doing the heavy lifting, and the i5-14400F is comfortably keeping pace. At 1080p, the frame rates are so high (350 FPS at Low, 311 FPS at Medium) that the CPU's per-core performance becomes more relevant, but even then, the i5-14400F does not appear to be the limiting factor.

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

1920x1080:

• Low: 350 FPS average
• Medium: 311 FPS average, with a minimum of 264 FPS and a maximum of 357 FPS
• High: 239 FPS average
• Ultra: 181 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo delivers extremely high frame rates across all settings. The spread from Low to Ultra is 169 FPS, indicating that settings have a significant impact on GPU load even at this resolution. The Medium preset shows a tight range between minimum and maximum (264-357 FPS), suggesting stable frame delivery.

2560x1440:

• Low: 252 FPS average
• Medium: 205 FPS average, with a minimum of 174 FPS and a maximum of 235 FPS
• High: 157 FPS average
• Ultra: 119 FPS average

At 1440p, the frame rates remain very high. Low settings still exceed 240 FPS, which is beyond the refresh rate of most gaming monitors. Ultra settings drop to 119 FPS, which is still smooth for most displays. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 174 FPS, indicating no major frame dips.

3840x2160:

• Low: 140 FPS average
• Medium: 114 FPS average, with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS
• High: 87 FPS average
• Ultra: 66 FPS average

At 4K, the GPU is clearly working harder. Low settings produce 140 FPS, which is excellent for 4K gaming. Medium settings drop to 114 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS, still smooth. High settings yield 87 FPS, and Ultra falls to 66 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K shows a 35 FPS range between minimum and maximum, which is acceptable for a survival game.

The data shows that the RTX 5090 D is powerful enough to drive Palworld at high frame rates even at 4K, and the i5-14400F does not prevent the GPU from reaching these numbers.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This Intel Core i5-14400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination ranks 31st out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. That places it in the top 1.1% of all configurations tested for this game. The rank of 31 means there are only 30 other system combinations that achieve higher frame rates in Palworld, which is a remarkable result given the CPU is a mid-range 14th Gen Core i5.

The GPU's benchmark percentile tells a complementary story. The RTX 5090 D sits in the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77712. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (1.1% higher score), the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (1.6% lower), and NVIDIA Tesla P100 variants (2.1% and 2.4% lower). These are all close scores, but the RTX 5090 D's advantage in Palworld comes from its specific architecture and driver optimization.

The CPU's percentile of 83 is lower than the GPU's 92, which might suggest the CPU is the weaker link in this pairing. However, the actual game performance shows that even with a CPU in the 83rd percentile, this combo reaches top-31 status. This indicates that Palworld is not particularly CPU-bound, or that the i5-14400F's performance is sufficient for the game's demands. The combination of a very strong GPU and a competent mid-range CPU is enough to beat 99% of all tested systems.

Compared to the GPU's nearest rivals, the RTX 5090 D's performance in Palworld is likely the main driver of this high ranking. The GPU's massive memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s and 32 GB of GDDR7 memory provide ample resources for the game's open world and many active entities.

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

The measured data provides clear guidance for different display targets and player preferences.

For 4K displays: The High preset at 87 FPS average is the sweet spot for visual quality and smoothness. Ultra drops to 66 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. Medium at 114 FPS is the best choice if you prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. Low at 140 FPS is overkill for most 4K monitors, which typically cap at 120 Hz or 144 Hz.

For 1440p displays: Medium at 205 FPS is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors (240 Hz or above). High at 157 FPS is ideal for 144 Hz displays, providing a perfect match. Ultra at 119 FPS is still smooth and offers the best visual quality. Low at 252 FPS exceeds the refresh rate of even the fastest consumer monitors.

For 1080p displays: The data shows diminishing returns at this resolution. Even Ultra at 181 FPS exceeds the refresh rate of most 1080p monitors, which typically max out at 144 Hz or 240 Hz. Medium at 311 FPS and Low at 350 FPS are far beyond what any display can show. For 1080p, you can safely use Ultra settings and still get a frame rate that exceeds most monitors' capabilities.

Best overall recommendation: The Medium preset offers the most balanced experience across all resolutions. At 1080p, it delivers 311 FPS with a minimum of 264 FPS. At 1440p, it hits 205 FPS with a minimum of 174 FPS. At 4K, it maintains 114 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS. The Medium preset has the only complete data with both minimum and maximum values, indicating that the testing captured stable frame delivery. For players with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, Medium at 205 FPS is ideal. For 4K players who want smooth gameplay, Medium at 114 FPS is the best compromise between visual quality and performance.

If you have a 4K 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor and want the best visual experience, High at 87 FPS is the highest quality preset that stays above 60 FPS. Ultra at 66 FPS is acceptable for single-player survival gameplay, but the 21 FPS drop from High to Ultra is substantial. The data clearly shows that Medium is the most versatile preset across all resolutions, offering the best combination of high average FPS and stable minimums.