Palworld

Palworld presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination, with benchmark results placing this pairing at rank 1663 out of 1718 tested combos. The data indicates that the GTX 1650 is the primary limiting factor across all tested configurations, and the measured FPS reveals a system that is only viable at lower resolutions and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and clearly demonstrates that the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 71.7 FPS, but this falls to 50.3 FPS at 1440p and further to 29.1 FPS at 4K. This represents a 59% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced at higher settings. With Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 31.3 FPS at 1080p to 24.8 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 10.7 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is essentially unplayable, showing that this combination cannot handle the pixel count increase when visual quality is prioritized.

The data suggests that the GTX 1650's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 128-bit memory bus are overwhelmed at higher resolutions. The transition from 1080p to 1440p at High settings shows a 30% performance drop (46.2 to 32.4 FPS), while the jump from 1440p to 4K at the same settings shows a 56% drop (32.4 to 14.2 FPS). This accelerating decline indicates that memory bandwidth constraints become more severe as resolution increases.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 operates with a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz, paired with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory running at 2001 MHz (8 Gbps effective). The memory bandwidth is 128.1 GB/s, which is modest by current standards and directly impacts performance in a game like Palworld that appears to be sensitive to texture and geometry loading.

The GPU's benchmark scores reinforce its position as a lower-tier performer. With a Passmark G3D score of 7880 and an average benchmark score of 8713, the GTX 1650 sits at the 43rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 550X (0.4% faster) and NVIDIA Quadro P2200 (0.5% slower), showing that it is positioned at the entry-level segment.

The measured FPS data aligns with these synthetic benchmarks. At 1080p Medium, the card produces 59.2 FPS, which is playable but not smooth for a survival game where quick reactions matter. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is likely a limiting factor at 4K, where even Low settings only yield 29.1 FPS. The FP32 performance of 2.984 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 53.28 GPixel/s are insufficient for Palworld's demands at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frames, the optimal experience is found at 1080p with Low settings, where the combo achieves 71.7 FPS. This is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS threshold, which is generally considered the minimum for smooth gameplay. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate drops to 59.2 FPS, which is borderline playable but may exhibit stuttering in busy areas.

For players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, 1080p High at 46.2 FPS is the best compromise. This setting provides improved visuals while maintaining a frame rate that is acceptable for a slower-paced survival game. However, the data does not support using Ultra settings at any resolution; even at 1080p, Ultra produces only 31.3 FPS, which is likely to feel sluggish.

At 1440p, the only viable option is Low settings, which delivers 50.3 FPS. Medium and High at this resolution produce 38.3 and 32.4 FPS respectively, which are below the preferred 60 FPS target. At 4K, all settings produce unplayable results, with the highest being Low at 29.1 FPS. The recommendation is clear: stay at 1080p and use Low or Medium settings for the best balance of performance and visuals.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Palworld at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with Low settings, where the measured average is 71.7 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate drops to 59.2 FPS, just below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with the GTX 1650?

A: No playable 4K results are observed. The best 4K result is 29.1 FPS at Low settings, with Ultra producing only 10.7 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 8713, placing it within 0.5% of the AMD Radeon 550X, AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100, and NVIDIA RTX 3050 A Mobile.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: 1080p is clearly the best resolution, offering the highest frame rates across all settings. The data shows 71.7 FPS at Low, 59.2 FPS at Medium, and 46.2 FPS at High.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in Palworld?

A: The data does not show CPU bottlenecking. The Intel Core i7-12700KF has 12 cores and 20 threads, and its benchmark scores (e.g., 28979 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) are far above the GPU's capabilities, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the impact of Ultra settings?

A: Ultra settings severely reduce performance. At 1080p, Ultra yields 31.3 FPS, a 46% drop from Low settings. At 4K, Ultra produces only 10.7 FPS, making it unusable.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a high-end processor from the Alder Lake architecture, featuring 12 cores and 20 threads with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its benchmark performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28979 and a single-core score of 4091, placing it at the 89th percentile of all CPUs.

In Palworld, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The processor's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14400 (0.1% faster) and Intel Core i9-12900HX (0.2% slower), showing that it is well-matched with mid-range and high-end chips. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide ample bandwidth for game logic and world simulation.

However, the measured FPS does not show any CPU limitation. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 71.7 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's frame delivery limit, but the GPU is clearly the constraint at higher settings. The CPU's 3DMark scores (e.g., 9983 at max threads) and Passmark results (e.g., 34092 multi-thread) indicate it can handle Palworld's threads without being a bottleneck, but the GTX 1650's 2.984 TFLOPS FP32 performance cannot keep up with the rendering demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are: Low 71.7 FPS, Medium 59.2 FPS, High 46.2 FPS, and Ultra 31.3 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 40.4 FPS, showing a significant performance penalty for higher visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the results are: Low 50.3 FPS, Medium 38.3 FPS, High 32.4 FPS, and Ultra 24.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 25.5 FPS, indicating that resolution is starting to dominate the performance equation.

At 3840x2160, the results are: Low 29.1 FPS, Medium 22.1 FPS, High 14.2 FPS, and Ultra 10.7 FPS. All settings produce unplayable frame rates, with Ultra at less than half the frame rate of Low. The data shows a clear pattern: the GTX 1650 cannot maintain playable performance at 4K regardless of settings, and even at 1440p only Low settings provide a playable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination ranks 1663 out of 1718 tested combos in Palworld, placing it in the bottom 3% of all systems. This ranking reflects the severe GPU limitation, as the CPU is a high-performance part that would normally be paired with a much more capable graphics card.

The CPU's percentile of 89% against all CPUs contrasts sharply with the GPU's percentile of 43% against all GPUs. This imbalance is the root cause of the low ranking. The GTX 1650's average benchmark score of 8713 is within 0.5% of the AMD Radeon 550X and NVIDIA Quadro P2200, all of which are entry-level or workstation cards that are not designed for demanding games like Palworld.

The combo's in-game rank of 1663 out of 1718 is consistent with the measured FPS results. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 71.7 FPS, which is acceptable, but the combination cannot deliver a consistently smooth experience at higher settings or resolutions. The data suggests that this pairing is only suitable for low-end 1080p gaming, and users seeking better performance in Palworld would need to upgrade the GPU significantly.