Palworld

Palworld places heavy demands on both processor and graphics hardware, and the Intel Core i7-12700K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti produces a specific performance profile that shifts dramatically with resolution and settings. The data shows a system that is capable of very high frame rates at 1080p, but which becomes increasingly GPU-bound as resolution climbs, with the Ultra preset proving particularly punishing at 4K.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K brings a 12-core, 20-thread configuration based on the Alder Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz can boost up to 5.00 GHz, and the processor includes a 25 MB shared L3 cache. These specifications position it as a high-end desktop part, and its synthetic benchmarks confirm strong multi-threaded performance: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29241 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 13892. Single-thread performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4128.

For a survival game like Palworld, which often involves managing many entities and physics calculations, the combination of high clock speeds and multiple cores is relevant. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276, compared to the single-thread score of 1043, suggests that while the CPU scales well with additional threads, its per-core strength is what helps maintain high frame rates when the GPU is not the limiting factor. The processor sits in the 89th percentile against all CPUs, placing it near the top of the performance hierarchy. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, shows an average score of 35802, which is a negligible 0.3% difference. In practice, this means the CPU has ample headroom for Palworld at most settings, and the measured frame rates at 1080p Low (217 FPS) indicate that the processor is not a bottleneck in that scenario.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is ranked 686th out of 1718 tested combos for Palworld. This places it in the upper portion of the field, though not at the very top. The percentile ranking for the CPU is 89, and the GPU sits at the 74th percentile, suggesting that the graphics card is the more limiting component in this pairing.

The gap between the two components' relative standings is instructive. The CPU is a top-tier performer, but the GPU, while capable, is not in the same elite tier. This is a common configuration where the processor can push well beyond what the graphics card can deliver, especially at higher resolutions. The combo's mid-pack ranking reflects this dynamic: it is not held back by CPU limitations, but it cannot reach the frame rates of combos with higher-end graphics cards. The data indicates that the system's overall performance in Palworld is constrained by the graphics card's throughput, particularly when settings are increased.

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 how the system’s performance scales with resolution. At 1080p High, the combo averages 135.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops this to 87.3 FPS, a reduction of 48.1 FPS. At 4K High, the average falls further to 50.4 FPS, which is a 37.2 FPS drop from the 1440p figure. This consistent decline with each resolution step indicates that the rendering load is scaling directly with pixel count, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance.

However, the scaling is not linear across all settings. At Low settings, the drop from 1080p (217 FPS) to 1440p (139.5 FPS) is a 77.5 FPS reduction, but the drop to 4K (75.5 FPS) is 64 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low is roughly 65%, while at High it is roughly 63%. This similarity suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU is still the primary limiter at 4K, although the CPU has more influence at 1080p where the frame rates are exceptionally high. The data points to a system where the RTX 3070 Ti is the bottleneck for achieving higher frame rates at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU provides ample support for the highest possible FPS at 1080p.

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

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of performance across the three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 217 FPS on Low, 173.6 FPS on Medium, 135.4 FPS on High, and 101.8 FPS on Ultra. The progression shows a steady decline as settings increase, with a 115.2 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. At this resolution, even the Ultra preset maintains over 100 FPS, which is a strong result.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 139.5 FPS on Low, 114.4 FPS on Medium, 87.3 FPS on High, and 65.5 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 74 FPS. The system remains playable across all presets, but the Ultra setting begins to approach the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, the averages are 75.5 FPS on Low, 66 FPS on Medium, 50.4 FPS on High, and 35.2 FPS on Ultra. Here, the High and Ultra presets fall below the 60 FPS mark, with Ultra delivering only 35.2 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 50.4 FPS seen on High.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s. Its base clock is 1575 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and the memory runs at an effective speed of 19 Gbps. The GPU is built on the Ampere architecture with 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units. Its synthetic performance is measured by a Passmark G3D score of 23356 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 137518.

The GPU's performance in Palworld is directly reflected in the measured FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average of 35.2 FPS suggests that the graphics card is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and heavy settings. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is likely a factor at 4K with high texture settings, as the game may be exceeding the available memory, causing performance to drop. The GPU's 74th percentile ranking against all GPUs, with a nearest rival like the AMD Radeon RX 6700 showing a 0.8% difference in average score, indicates that it is a solid mid-to-high-range performer. However, the data shows it lacks the raw power to sustain high frame rates at 4K with Ultra settings, where the frame rate drops below 40 FPS.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset provides an average of 101.8 FPS, which is a smooth experience for most players. However, the High preset at 135.4 FPS offers a significant frame rate advantage with a smaller visual penalty, making it the best choice for competitive play or high refresh rate monitors. The Low preset at 217 FPS is excessive for most displays, but it shows the system's maximum capability.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 87.3 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 114.4 FPS is also viable if a higher frame rate is preferred over graphical fidelity. The Ultra preset at 65.5 FPS is playable but approaches the lower boundary of smoothness. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that maintains an average above 70 FPS, at 75.5 FPS. The Medium preset at 66 FPS is acceptable, but the High preset at 50.4 FPS and the Ultra preset at 35.2 FPS fall below the 60 FPS threshold, making them less desirable for a consistently smooth experience. For 4K, the data suggests that lowering settings to Medium or Low is necessary to maintain playable frame rates, while 1440p High and 1080p Ultra provide the best overall experience for their respective resolutions.