Palworld

Palworld, the 2024 survival title, places a heavy load on both processor and graphics card, and the combination of Intel’s Core i7-12700KF with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER produces a distinctive performance profile. This pairing ranks 1198th out of 1718 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. The benchmark data reveals a system that can handle the game’s world at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K, with the graphics card emerging as the definitive bottleneck at higher resolutions.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28979 and a single-core score of 4091. In the context of Palworld, this CPU is more than capable of feeding the GPU with data. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 151 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower graphical loads. The processor’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043, is crucial for the game's simulation and world-streaming tasks. The 12 cores and 20 threads ensure that background processes and the game’s AI calculations do not starve the main rendering thread.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-12700KF sits in a tight performance cluster. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14400, 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-13800H, and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i9-12900HX in average benchmark scores. This indicates that the CPU's raw processing power is well within the range of these other chips. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core help reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for a game with many dynamic objects. The processor’s 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests it has ample headroom. Even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 26.1, the CPU is likely not the primary cause; the massive drop from 1080p suggests the GPU is overwhelmed. The data implies that this processor will not be the source of frame hitches or stutters, allowing the GPU to work at its maximum potential.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the clear performance limiter in this pairing. This Turing-architecture GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 1650 MHz. The card’s average benchmark score is 19774, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs. The measured FPS data shows a consistent and expected pattern: as resolution and settings increase, frame rates fall sharply. At 1080p Low, the GPU produces 151 FPS, but this drops to 75.1 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This 75.1 FPS figure at Ultra settings hints at the card's limitations with higher graphical fidelity.

The GPU’s nearest rivals are older or lower-tier cards. It is 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, 0.8% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K5200, and 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla K40m. This shows that while it is not a top-tier card, it still outperforms these alternatives. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a key concern for Palworld at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS plummets to 26.1, which is below playable thresholds. The drop from 4K High (33.1 FPS) to 4K Ultra (26.1 FPS) is a 7 FPS decrease, indicating that the Ultra preset demands more memory bandwidth and compute power than the card can provide. The GPU’s 12 nm process node and 175 W TDP are typical for its generation, but the architecture lacks the efficiency of newer cards. The data strongly suggests that this GPU is the primary bottleneck, especially when moving beyond 1080p.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution to play Palworld with this hardware for a consistent 60+ FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets achieve over 60 FPS. At 1080p, the Low preset averages 151 FPS, Medium averages 126.1 FPS, and High averages 96.4 FPS. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is 75.1 FPS, which is above 60.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest competitor in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35355. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14400, scores 35336, making the i7-12700KF 0.1% faster. The i7-12700KF is also 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i9-12900HX and 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-13600T.

Q: Is the GPU more powerful than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070?

A: Yes, the data shows the RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 19774, while the RTX 2070 has a score of 19680. This makes the RTX 2060 SUPER 0.5% faster than the RTX 2070 in this database's benchmarks.

Q: What frame rate can a user expect at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 62.8. This is a playable frame rate, though it is lower than the 96.4 FPS achieved at 1920x1080 with the same settings.

Q: At which setting preset does the 4K experience become completely unplayable?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields an average FPS of 26.1. The High preset is not much better at 33.1 FPS. These frame rates are below the threshold for a smooth experience, indicating that 4K is not viable for this GPU.

Q: By what percentage is the CPU ahead of the Intel Core i7-13800H?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average score of 35355, while the Intel Core i7-13800H scores 35416. This means the i7-12700KF is actually 0.2% slower than the i7-13800H, not ahead.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1198th out of 1718 tested combinations for Palworld. This rank places the system in the 30th percentile of all tested hardware pairings, meaning that roughly 70% of other combos deliver better performance in this game. The low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU, as the CPU is a high-end part that ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs. The GPU, conversely, ranks in the 63rd percentile among all GPUs. This mismatch is reflected in the gameplay data.

The rank suggests that while the system is functional, it is not optimized for high-end play. The CPU has significant untapped potential; upgrading the GPU to a more powerful model would likely yield a dramatic improvement in the combo's rank. The data implies that the i7-12700KF is capable of driving much faster graphics cards, and this pairing is holding back the processor's capabilities. The 1198th rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's inability to keep up with the CPU's output, especially at higher resolutions. For a user looking at this data, it is clear that the graphics card is the weakest link in this chain, and that any performance upgrade should focus on that component.

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

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best playable experience. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, but the High preset provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, with an average of 96.4 FPS. The Ultra preset is also viable at an average of 75.1 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra only improves visual fidelity marginally while costing a significant 21.3 FPS. For the smoothest experience at 1080p, the Medium preset at 126.1 FPS is a strong choice, but High is recommended for its superior visuals while still maintaining a high frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the options become more limited. The High preset, at 62.8 FPS, is the highest quality setting that remains comfortably above 60 FPS. The Medium preset, at 79.5 FPS, is a safer choice if a user wants to ensure a stable frame rate, but High is acceptable for most. The Ultra preset at 49.5 FPS is borderline, and the Low preset at 101.9 FPS sacrifices too much visual quality. For 4K, the data suggests avoiding this resolution entirely, as even the Low preset only averages 53 FPS, and the High preset drops to 33.1 FPS. The optimal experience is to play at 1080p with High settings, which delivers high frame rates without compromising the game's visual presentation.

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

The complete measured FPS breakdown for Palworld with this hardware is as follows:

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: 151.0 FPS
• Medium: 126.1 FPS
• High: 96.4 FPS
• Ultra: 75.1 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: 101.9 FPS
• Medium: 79.5 FPS
• High: 62.8 FPS
• Ultra: 49.5 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: 53.0 FPS
• Medium: 44.2 FPS
• High: 33.1 FPS
• Ultra: 26.1 FPS

The data shows a clear scaling pattern. At 1080p, the system has significant headroom, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 75 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the High preset just barely hits the 60 FPS target, and the Ultra preset falls below it. At 4K, the system is unable to provide a smooth experience at any setting, with the best case being the Low preset at 53 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is also notable, with a difference of 75.9 FPS at 1080p, 52.4 FPS at 1440p, and 26.9 FPS at 4K. This diminishing return highlights the GPU's limitations as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Analyzing the performance drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 96.4 at 1080p to 62.8 at 1440p, a decrease of 34.9%. Moving from 1440p to 4K High, the FPS drops again from 62.8 to 33.1, a further 47.3% decrease. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing power and memory bandwidth. The 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in a modern game.

The scaling is less severe at Low settings. The FPS goes from 151.0 at 1080p to 101.9 at 1440p (a 32.5% drop) and then to 53.0 at 4K (a 48% drop from 1440p). The percentage drops are similar across presets, which indicates that the GPU is consistently the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat when increasing resolution, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. The fact that FPS drops so dramatically with resolution confirms that the RTX 2060 SUPER is saturated. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, is waiting for the GPU to finish rendering frames. This resolution scaling analysis strongly suggests that any attempt to improve 4K performance would require a GPU upgrade, as the current card is operating at its absolute limit.