Palworld

Palworld pairs the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 with the integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, and the measured results show a combo that is severely constrained by its GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread Arrow Lake processor with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs tested. However, the Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU (IGP) solution with a boost clock of 2500 MHz and a 300 MHz base clock, landing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This massive disparity explains why the frame rates in Palworld are consistently low across all tested settings, with the best average result at 1080p Low being 84 FPS, but dropping to a barely playable 19 FPS at 4K High. The data indicates that this configuration is fundamentally GPU-bound, and the CPU's capabilities are largely left on the table.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 provides the computational foundation for this Palworld experience, featuring 10 cores and 10 threads. With a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, this processor is designed for high-frequency workloads, which is critical for a game like Palworld that simulates a living world with numerous AI-driven creatures and base-building mechanics. The processor's single-threaded performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655, suggests it is well-equipped to handle the primary game logic and physics calculations. Its multi-threaded capability, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891, allows it to manage background tasks and the many simultaneous interactions that Palworld requires without becoming a bottleneck.

In the context of this specific benchmark data, the CPU's role is to feed the Intel Arc B390 with enough data to render frames. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30459 and the single-thread score of 4412 further underscore the processor's strong computational capacity. However, the measured FPS in Palworld does not reflect this CPU’s potential. For instance, at 1080p Low settings, the average FPS is 84, which is a respectable figure, but at 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 15 FPS. This drastic drop is not due to the CPU failing to keep up, as its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2609 and PassMark physics score of 2342 indicate robust performance. Instead, the data suggests that the CPU is consistently waiting on the integrated GPU to complete its rendering tasks. The Core Ultra 5 225 is a high-end desktop part that competes closely with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with benchmark scores of 36945 and 37018 respectively, showing a deltaPct of 0 and -0.2. This means the CPU is not the limiting factor; rather, its performance headroom is being wasted due to the weak GPU partner.

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

Analyzing the measured FPS data for Palworld with this combo reveals that the choice of settings is a trade-off between visual fidelity and playability, with all options requiring significant compromises. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS of 84, which is the only setting that approaches a smooth experience for fast-paced gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS, offering a more stable and visually richer experience that is still playable. The High preset at 1080p drops to an average of 53 FPS, which is acceptable for a survival game but may feel less responsive in combat scenarios. The Ultra preset at 1080p is the most demanding, producing an average of 40 FPS, which is a significant step down and suggests that the integrated GPU is overwhelmed by the highest visual effects.

For an optimal balance between visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the recommended starting point, as it provides a 68 FPS average with a 58 FPS minimum, ensuring that frame pacing remains consistent. Moving up to 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only viable option for a playable experience, averaging 56 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 45 FPS, and the High preset falls to 35 FPS, which are borderline for a game requiring quick reactions. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages just 26 FPS, making it unsuitable for general play. At 3840x2160, all settings are below playable thresholds, with Low averaging 31 FPS, Medium averaging 25 FPS, High averaging 19 FPS, and Ultra averaging 15 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K resolution is not feasible with this combo for Palworld. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is achieved with the Medium preset at 1080p, which balances the visual upgrade over Low with a playable frame rate.

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

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K in Palworld for this combo is steep and reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 53 at 1920x1080 to 35 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 18 FPS, and then further down to 19 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 16 FPS from 1440p. This represents a 64% decrease in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at High settings. Similarly, at Low settings, the average FPS declines from 84 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p and then to 31 at 4K, a 63% drop overall. The Medium preset shows a similar pattern: 68 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K. This consistent halving of performance with each major resolution increase is a hallmark of a system where the GPU's fill rate and shading power are the primary constraints.

The data implies that the Intel Arc B390, with its 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, is simply not capable of handling the pixel workload at higher resolutions. The GPU’s pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are too low for the demands of Palworld’s large open-world environments at 1440p and 4K. If the CPU were the limiting component, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload does not scale with pixel count. The observed steep drop indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck; rather, the integrated GPU’s rendering capabilities are being exhausted. The fact that even at 1080p Low the average FPS is only 84, while the CPU is in the 85th percentile, reinforces that the GPU is the sole limiting factor, preventing the Core Ultra 5 225 from delivering higher frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the broader database of tested hardware combinations for Palworld, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B390 ranks remarkably low. The combo holds a rank of 2607 out of 2944 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of all configurations. This ranking is a direct result of the Intel Arc B390’s poor performance, as its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU’s nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, with scores of 1463 and 1460, respectively, showing a deltaPct of 1.3 and 1.5. This means the Arc B390 is only slightly faster than these decade-old entry-level mobile parts, which is a stark indicator of its limited gaming capabilities.

The CPU’s strong standing, being in the 85th percentile and matching the performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, is completely negated by the GPU. The combo’s rank of 2607 is not a reflection of the CPU’s ability but rather proof of how heavily the integrated GPU drags down the overall experience. In games where the CPU is the bottleneck, this combo would rank much higher, but in Palworld, which has significant rendering demands, the GPU’s weakness is exposed. The data suggests that users with this CPU would see a dramatic improvement in frame rates by pairing it with any discrete GPU, as the current configuration leaves the processor’s potential largely unrealized in gaming scenarios. The ranking highlights that this combo is only suitable for the most basic gaming at low resolutions and settings, and it is far below the median experience for Palworld players.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and the Panther Lake chip. Its role in Palworld is to handle all rendering duties, and the measured FPS indicates it is severely underpowered for this task. The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and it has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units. It also features 12 ray tracing cores, although Palworld’s performance issues are more likely related to raw rasterization throughput than ray tracing. The GPU’s memory is system-shared, with its bandwidth being system-dependent, which is a major limitation for a game with large textures and open-world streaming, as it must contend with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

The GPU’s raw compute power is listed at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, which might sound adequate on paper, but its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 tells a different story. This score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM, with scores of 1443 and 1446, respectively. The data indicates that the Arc B390 is not capable of maintaining playable frame rates in Palworld at higher settings. For instance, at 1080p Medium, it averages 68 FPS, but at 1440p Medium, that drops to 45 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it falls to 25 FPS. The GPU’s low ROP count of 24 and its pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s are insufficient for high-resolution rendering, causing the steep FPS drops observed. The system-shared memory is also a likely culprit for stuttering, as it reduces the effective bandwidth available for texture streaming, particularly at higher resolutions where the memory footprint grows. The GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck in this combo, and its performance is the primary reason for the low rank and poor playability in Palworld.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings to play Palworld with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: Based on the measured data, the best experience is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which yields an average of 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS. The Low preset at 1080p is faster at 84 FPS, but Medium offers a better visual balance while remaining playable. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset is acceptable at 56 FPS, and at 3840x2160, all presets are below 31 FPS and not recommended.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 or the Intel Arc B390 the limiting factor in Palworld?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is definitively the limiting factor. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all processors, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482. The steep FPS drop from 84 at 1080p Low to 31 at 4K Low indicates a GPU bottleneck, as CPU workload does not scale with resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations in Palworld?

A: This combo ranks 2607 out of 2944 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested for Palworld. This low rank is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B390’s poor graphics performance, which is only slightly better than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 625 OEM, according to benchmark scores.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 84 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS. This represents a 52% reduction in average frame rate when switching from the lowest to the highest visual quality settings, showing that the integrated GPU’s performance is heavily impacted by graphical effects.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware in Palworld?

A: No, 4K gaming is not viable. At 3840x2160, the best average FPS is 31 on the Low preset, with the Medium preset at 25 FPS, High at 19 FPS, and Ultra at 15 FPS. These frame rates are below the threshold for a smooth and responsive experience in a survival game that requires frequent and precise inputs.

Q: How does the CPU’s benchmark performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, which is nearly identical to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores 36945, resulting in a deltaPct of 0. It is also comparable to the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, which scores 37018, showing a deltaPct of -0.2. This indicates the CPU is competitive with these desktop parts, but its gaming performance here is held back by the GPU.