Palworld

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 produces a highly capable Palworld system, but the data reveals a clear performance hierarchy that favors lower settings and lower resolutions. This combination ranks in the 69th percentile of tested combos, and the measured frame rates show that while 1080p and 1440p are broadly excellent, 4K Ultra remains a demanding target.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake architecture, running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It is an end-of-life desktop part that launched in 2018, and its benchmark scores place it at the 50th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2305. This puts it in the middle of the pack, directly comparable to the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.2% faster) and the Intel Core i7-8809G (0.6% slower), suggesting its computational throughput is a baseline for this generation.

In Palworld, the CPU’s role is most evident at lower graphics settings and lower resolutions, where the GPU is less burdened. At 1080p Low, the system produces 195.3 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it still manages 164.6 FPS. These high frame rates indicate that the i5-9400’s six physical cores are sufficient to feed the RTX 4070 in less demanding scenes, but they also hint at a ceiling. When the GPU load increases, as seen at 4K Ultra with 44.2 FPS, the bottleneck shifts entirely to the graphics card. The CPU’s single-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1125, is adequate for the game’s logic but does not provide headroom for massive frame-rate spikes at lower settings.

The data suggests the i5-9400 is not a limiting factor at higher resolutions, but it does cap the potential at 1080p. For instance, the jump from 1080p Low (195.3 FPS) to 1080p High (153.4 FPS) is a 21.5% drop, which is a smaller relative decline than the 42.9% drop from 4K Low (88.6 FPS) to 4K High (57.6 FPS). This pattern indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is helping maintain high frame rates, but the GPU’s performance scaling is more pronounced at 4K. The processor’s 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are standard for its era, and they do not appear to create any unique bottlenecks in this title.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the undisputed driver of performance in this configuration. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, it features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its boost clock of 2475 MHz and 5888 shading units allow it to reach an FP32 throughput of 29.15 TFLOPS. The GPU sits at the 81st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37283, and it outperforms the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 by 0.6% while trailing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile by 2.2%.

In Palworld, the RTX 4070’s VRAM capacity and bandwidth are critical. The game’s demanding environments and asset streaming are well-served by the 12 GB frame buffer, as evidenced by the stable frame rates across settings. At 1080p, the GPU is rarely the limiting factor, with all settings producing well over 100 FPS: 119.5 FPS at Ultra, 153.4 FPS at High, 184.8 FPS at Medium, and 195.3 FPS at Low. The scaling is smooth, with a 38.8% difference between Low and Ultra.

The GPU’s true strength is visible at 1440p and 4K. At 1440p, High settings yield 101.2 FPS, which is a highly playable result, and even Ultra maintains 74.5 FPS. At 4K, the RTX 4070 begins to show its limits. High settings drop to 57.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 44.2 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. The data shows that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are sufficient for 1440p High but start to struggle at 4K Ultra, where the pixel count overwhelms the 504.2 GB/s bandwidth. The 21 Gbps effective memory speed helps, but it cannot fully compensate for the 4K workload. The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 455.4 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for the game’s visual effects, but the 4K Ultra preset demands more than the hardware can deliver.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 provides the best balance, with High settings achieving 101.2 FPS and Ultra achieving 74.5 FPS. This offers a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining frame rates well above 60 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K High, the average FPS is 57.6, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. 4K Ultra drops to 44.2 FPS, which is below the standard smoothness threshold. 4K Low achieves 88.6 FPS, making it a viable option if visual fidelity is sacrificed.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37283. It is 0.6% faster than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (score of 37507) and 1.9% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A (score of 38008). It is 2.2% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (score of 38135).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck for the RTX 4070?

A: The benchmark results indicate the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 4K, the FPS drops are driven by GPU load. However, at 1080p Low, the 195.3 FPS result suggests the CPU is near its limit, as the GPU could likely push higher frame rates if the processor allowed.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: The gap varies by resolution. At 1080p, High (153.4 FPS) is 28.4% faster than Ultra (119.5 FPS). At 1440p, High (101.2 FPS) is 35.8% faster than Ultra (74.5 FPS). At 4K, High (57.6 FPS) is 30.3% faster than Ultra (44.2 FPS). The relative cost of Ultra increases at higher resolutions.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 532nd out of 1718 tested combinations, placing it in the upper third of all systems. This indicates it is a solid performer, but there are many higher-end configurations that achieve better frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to a clear sweet spot at 2560x1440 with High settings, which delivers 101.2 FPS. This setting provides a substantial improvement in visual quality over Medium (132.8 FPS) while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. At 1080p, High settings are also excellent, offering 153.4 FPS, but the visual benefits of 1440p are more pronounced and the frame rate is still very high.

For users with 4K displays, the measured results require a choice. High settings at 57.6 FPS is the most balanced option, as it is close to the 60 FPS threshold and provides good visuals. Ultra at 44.2 FPS should be avoided for competitive play, but may be acceptable for slower exploration. Low settings at 88.6 FPS are the only 4K option that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, but the visual downgrade is significant. At 1440p, Ultra at 74.5 FPS is playable, but High offers a 35.8% performance boost with a modest visual reduction, making it the superior choice for most users. The conclusion is that High settings at 1440p offer the best balance of fidelity and fluidity, while 1080p High is the fallback for those prioritizing maximum frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 532nd out of 1718 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the 69th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly two-thirds of all systems tested. The ranking reflects the strong GPU performance but also the mid-range CPU, which prevents the system from reaching the top tier. The RTX 4070’s 81st percentile GPU ranking is higher than the combo’s overall ranking, indicating that the CPU drags the system down slightly. In contrast, the i5-9400’s 50th percentile CPU ranking is the weaker link.

The data suggests that the combo is well-matched for 1440p gaming, but it does not have the CPU headroom to compete with systems using newer or higher-end processors. The rank of 532 out of 1718 is a strong result, placing the system in the upper third, but it is not a top-tier configuration. The GPU’s performance is the main driver, and the CPU is sufficient to avoid major bottlenecks at most settings. For users with this combo, the ranking confirms that it is a capable mid-range-to-high-end system that excels at 1080p and 1440p, but it will struggle to compete with top-tier systems at 4K Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates across the board. Low settings produce an average of 195.3 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings follow closely at 184.8 FPS, while High settings drop to 153.4 FPS. Ultra settings produce 119.5 FPS, which is still very smooth for most displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a greater impact from the resolution increase. Low settings average 164.6 FPS, which is a 15.7% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings average 132.8 FPS, a 28.1% drop from 1080p Medium. High settings average 101.2 FPS, a 34.0% drop from 1080p High. Ultra settings average 74.5 FPS, a 37.7% drop from 1080p Ultra. The relative performance gap between settings widens at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly, reflecting the GPU’s workload. Low settings achieve 88.6 FPS, which is a 46.2% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings average 75.0 FPS, a 59.4% drop from 1080p Medium. High settings average 57.6 FPS, a 62.4% drop from 1080p High. Ultra settings produce 44.2 FPS, a 63.0% drop from 1080p Ultra. The data shows that the 4K resolution imposes a severe penalty on all settings, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 44.2 FPS to 88.6 FPS, a 50.1% difference.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the system’s limiting component. The frame rate drops are not linear, and they become more pronounced at higher resolutions. From 1080p High to 1440p High, the FPS drops from 153.4 to 101.2, a 34.0% decrease. From 1440p High to 4K High, the FPS drops from 101.2 to 57.6, a 43.1% decrease. This accelerated decline at 4K indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

This is further confirmed by the scaling at Low settings. From 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the FPS drops from 195.3 to 164.6, a 15.7% decrease, which is relatively modest. From 1440p Low to 4K Low, the FPS drops from 164.6 to 88.6, a 46.2% decrease. The much larger drop at 4K is a clear sign that the GPU’s pixel processing capabilities are being saturated. The CPU’s influence is minimal at 4K, as the frame rates are entirely dependent on the GPU’s ability to fill the screen.

The data shows that the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p Low, where the 195.3 FPS result likely approaches the processor’s maximum frame output. As the resolution increases, the GPU takes over as the primary constraint. The RTX 4070’s 504.2 GB/s bandwidth and 158.4 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient for 4K Ultra, resulting in the 44.2 FPS result. For 1440p High, the GPU has enough headroom to maintain 101.2 FPS, making it the ideal resolution for this combo. The scaling analysis confirms that users should target 1440p for the best balance, as 4K requires a significant settings compromise.