Palworld

Palworld is a survival title that blends creature collection with base building, resource management, and open-world exploration. Its performance profile is demanding on both CPU and GPU, making it a useful stress test for mid-range hardware. The pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT offers a representative look at how a capable processor and a mid-range graphics card handle this workload. Benchmark results indicate that this combination delivers strong performance at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher visual presets and 4K resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 24 MB L3 cache. The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. The CPU has a TDP of 125 W and was released in October 2023 with a launch MSRP of $294.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14600KF scores 32,544 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4,594 in single-core. It achieves 13,668 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 1,929 in single-core. Geekbench results show a multi-core score of 17,085 and a single-core score of 2,445. The PassMark multithread score is 38,697, and the single-thread score is 4,273. The processor sits in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49,394. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which scores 49,228 (a 0.3% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which scores 49,196 (a 0.4% difference). The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48,995 (a 0.8% difference), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 49,796 (a -0.8% difference).

For Palworld, the CPU's high single-thread performance is particularly relevant. The game's simulation and AI logic for the numerous creatures and base-building elements benefit from strong single-core throughput. The i5-14600KF's 5.30 GHz boost clock helps maintain high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. The 14 cores and 20 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks and the game's various systems, but the data suggests that Palworld's performance scaling with this CPU is more dependent on the GPU at the settings tested.

The benchmark results show that at 1080p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU is not the limiting factor. At 152 FPS with Low settings, the processor is feeding the GPU adequately. The gap between settings is more pronounced at 4K, where the GPU becomes the clear constraint. The CPU's strong single-thread scores indicate it can handle the game's logic without holding back the frame rate, but the graphics card determines the final output at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimizing Palworld with this hardware combination. At 1080p, the Low preset yields an average of 152 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings deliver 123 FPS, still very smooth. High settings produce 95 FPS, which is also playable. Ultra settings drop to 72 FPS, which remains acceptable for many players but is a significant step down from High.

At 1440p, the picture changes. Low settings deliver 100 FPS, Medium drops to 81 FPS, and High produces 62 FPS. Ultra settings fall to 47 FPS, which is on the lower end of playable for a survival game. At 4K, the Low preset averages 55 FPS, Medium averages 45 FPS, and High averages 35 FPS. Ultra at 4K averages only 26 FPS, which is not a good experience for most players.

The best experience per the measured rows is the High preset at 1080p, which offers a solid 95 FPS average. This strikes a balance between visual quality and performance. If a player prioritizes maximum smoothness, the Low preset at 1080p with 152 FPS is the best choice for competitive or fast-paced play. For 1440p, the Medium preset at 81 FPS is the sweet spot, as it remains fluid while offering better visual fidelity than Low. At 4K, the Low preset at 55 FPS is the only viable option, as the other presets fall below 45 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it yields the lowest frame rates and a significant reduction in playability.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drops from 1080p to 4K clearly indicate that the GPU is the limiting component in this pairing. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 95. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 62 FPS, a reduction of about 35%. At 4K High, the average is 35 FPS, a 63% drop from 1080p. This scaling pattern shows that the RX 6600 XT's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth become strained as the pixel count increases.

The trend is consistent across all presets. For the Ultra preset, 1080p averages 72 FPS, 1440p averages 47 FPS, and 4K averages 26 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 35%, and from 1440p to 4K is about 45%. This indicates that the GPU is the performance ceiling at higher resolutions, as the CPU's performance is less affected by resolution. The data suggests that the RX 6600 XT is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, but not adequate for 4K gaming in Palworld, especially at higher settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 95 FPS.

Q: How does the 1440p Medium preset compare to 4K Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 Medium, the average FPS is 81, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average drops to 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K. The average FPS at 4K High is 35, which is a significant drop from the 95 FPS at 1080p High. The CPU's strong single-thread scores are not the limiting factor; the GPU's memory bandwidth and pixel throughput are.

Q: What is the best preset for smooth performance at 1440p?

A: Based on the measured rows, the Medium preset at 1440p provides the best balance, with an average of 81 FPS and a minimum of 69 FPS. The High preset at 1440p averages 62 FPS, and Ultra drops to 47 FPS.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset at 1080p compared to Ultra?

A: The Low preset at 1080p averages 152 FPS, while Ultra averages 72 FPS. This represents a 80 FPS difference, or about 111% higher performance with Low settings.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium?

A: The minimum FPS at 1920x1080 Medium is 104 FPS, with an average of 123 FPS and a maximum of 141 FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, using the Navi 23 chip fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The GPU features 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, along with 32 ray-accelerating cores. Its base clock is 1968 MHz, with a boost clock of 2589 MHz and a game clock of 2359 MHz. The memory clock is 2000 MHz, or 16 Gbps effective. The card has a TDP of 160 W and is powered by a 450 W power supply and a single 8-pin connector. It uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and has a dual-slot width.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RX 6600 XT scores 16,461 in PassMark G3D, and 7,520 in PassMark GPU compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1,804. The GPU's Geekbench scores show an OpenCL score of 80,503, a Vulkan score of 72,417, and a Metal score of 88,720. It sits in the 70th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 24,442. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, which is a 0.7% difference in average score, and the Intel Arc A350M, which is a -0.8% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti is a 0.8% difference, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER is a 1.1% difference. This places the RX 6600 XT in the mid-range category, just slightly above the RTX 2080 SUPER in average score, but with far less ray-tracing capability.

For Palworld, the GPU's role is critical at higher settings and resolutions. The card's 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at these presets, but at 4K, the memory bandwidth and capacity become limiting factors. The measured FPS at 4K High (38 FPS) and 4K Ultra (26 FPS) indicate that the GPU is stretched beyond its optimal range. The RX 6600 XT's performance is strongest at 1080p, where it can deliver over 100 FPS on lower presets. The card's 2,048 shading units and 128 TMUs handle the game's textures and effects well at lower resolutions, but the 8 GB VRAM may be a bottleneck for higher texture settings at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RX 6600 XT and i5-14600KF deliver high frame rates. On the Low preset, the average is 152 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 123 FPS, with a minimum of 104 and a maximum of 141. High settings average 95 FPS. Ultra averages 72 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a consistent drop, with a 47% decrease in performance from Low to Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. The Low preset averages 100 FPS. Medium averages 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. High averages 62 FPS. Ultra averages 47 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 53 FPS, a 53% reduction.

At 3840x2160, the performance falls below 60 FPS on all presets. Low averages 55 FPS. Medium averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. High averages 38 FPS. Ultra averages 26 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 29 FPS, a 47% reduction.

The data reveals that the RX 6600 XT is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can maintain high frame rates across all presets. At 1440p, it is still playable but requires Medium or Low settings for smooth performance. At 4K, it is not recommended for Ultra or High settings, as frame rates drop below 45 FPS. The combination of the i5-14600KF and RX 6600 XT is well-balanced for 1080p and acceptable for 1440p, but the GPU is the clear limiting factor at 4K. The benchmark results indicate that players should prioritize resolution and preset selection to achieve a smooth experience with this hardware.