Palworld

Palworld presents an unusually demanding workload for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the Intel Arc B390, and the measured frame rates reveal a system that is overwhelmingly constrained by the graphics solution. The combination ranks 2607 out of 2944 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which aligns with the GPU's low benchmark standing. The data indicates that while the CPU is a modern, capable part, the integrated graphics of the Arc B390 create a hard performance ceiling that dictates the entire gameplay experience across all tested resolutions and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, clearly identifying the GPU as the primary limiting component. At 1080p with High settings, the system produces an average of 53 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average falls to 35 FPS, a reduction of 18 frames or roughly 34%. Scaling further to 4K, the average plummets to 19 FPS, which represents a 64% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern of significant frame loss with each resolution increase is classic evidence of a pixel-bound workload, where the graphics processor's fill rate and memory bandwidth are exhausted long before the CPU's processing capabilities are stressed.

The scaling behavior becomes even more telling at lower settings. At Low settings, the system manages 84 FPS at 1080p, which is a playable level. However, this drops to 56 FPS at 1440p and then to 31 FPS at 4K. The fact that even at the lowest visual fidelity, the 4K frame rate is only 37% of the 1080p frame rate underscores the severity of the GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the resolution scaling would be far more gradual, as lower resolutions would shift the burden onto the processor. Instead, the data shows that the Arc B390's integrated nature, with system-shared memory, cannot keep pace with the increasing pixel counts. The transition from Medium to High settings also shows a consistent penalty across all resolutions, but the resolution itself is the dominant factor in determining overall performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, and its role in this configuration is to provide the visual output for the Core Ultra 5 235. Its benchmark profile is exceptionally weak; a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs tested. This is a stark indicator of its performance class, as it sits closest to legacy discrete parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463, and the GeForce 800M at 1460. The data shows the Arc B390 is only 1.3% ahead of the GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710, confirming that its raw rendering power is comparable to entry-level mobile graphics from over a decade ago.

The GPU's clock speeds and memory configuration further explain the measured results. The chip has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, but its memory is designated as "System Shared" with a bandwidth that is "System Dependent." This means the graphics processor must contend with the CPU for access to the same DDR5 memory pool, which introduces significant latency and bandwidth limitations. With 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs, the theoretical pixel fill rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. However, these figures are meaningless if the shared memory subsystem cannot feed the processor. The FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is respectable on paper, but the 4K results of 19 FPS on High and 15 FPS on Ultra demonstrate that the real-world execution is severely hampered by the memory bottleneck. The GPU's 80W TDP and lack of dedicated video memory make it suitable for basic desktop tasks, but the data confirms it is not designed for demanding 3D applications like Palworld at high resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal experience for this combination is found at 1080p with Low settings, which produces an average of 84 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches a comfortable playable frame rate, and it provides a significant margin over the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the baseline for smooth gameplay. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 16 FPS, bringing the average down to 68 FPS, which is still technically playable but begins to show the system's limitations. However, the increase in visual fidelity from Low to Medium may not justify the 19% performance hit, especially considering that the frame rates are already fragile.

At 1440p, the situation is more difficult. Even at Low settings, the average FPS is 56, which falls below the 60 FPS target. This makes 1440p a less attractive option, as the user would have to accept a lower frame rate for a higher resolution. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 45 FPS, which is playable in a slower-paced survival game but will feel sluggish during combat or fast movement. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, with averages of 35 and 26 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a game that requires responsive controls.

4K gaming is effectively off the table for this hardware. The best 4K result is 31 FPS at Low settings, which is below the minimum threshold for a consistent gameplay experience. The Ultra preset at 4K produces a mere 15 FPS, which is essentially a slideshow. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p, and if they must use a higher resolution, they should expect to compromise heavily on visual quality and frame rate. The measured rows show no scenario where High or Ultra settings provide a playable experience at 1440p or above.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2607 out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the bottom 11.4% of all configurations, indicating that it is one of the weaker systems for this specific game. The ranking is not surprising given the GPU's performance percentile of 9, which is exceptionally low. The CPU, in contrast, is a much stronger component, with a percentile rank of 89 among all CPUs tested.

This disparity between the CPU and GPU performance is a critical takeaway. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a high average benchmark score of 46062, placing it in the 89th percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which scores 46030 (0.1% lower), and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, which scores 46098 (0.1% higher). This shows that the CPU is a competent, mid-to-high-tier part that performs well in general processing tasks. However, when paired with the Arc B390, the system's overall gaming performance is dragged down to the bottom tier. The combo rank of 2607 is a direct reflection of the GPU's inability to utilize the CPU's potential, as the graphics processor becomes the limiting factor in every frame rendered. This pairing demonstrates how a high-performing CPU cannot compensate for a severely underpowered GPU in a graphics-intensive application.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in Palworld?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only configuration that provides a comfortable frame rate, averaging 84 FPS. This is the recommended setup for a responsive gameplay experience.

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

A: No. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 31 FPS on Low settings, which is below playable thresholds. The High preset only manages 19 FPS, and Ultra drops to 15 FPS, indicating that 4K is not viable.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to other GPUs in its performance class?

A: The Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, making it comparable to very old entry-level discrete parts.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The CPU is a high-performing part, ranking in the 89th percentile with an average score of 46062. Its performance is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX. The GPU is the bottleneck, not the CPU.

Q: What is the expected frame rate difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 35 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. This represents a 9 FPS drop for the higher visual quality.

Q: Does the system have dedicated video memory for the GPU?

A: No. The Intel Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the main system RAM. The bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which contributes to its performance limitations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination in Palworld.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 19 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 31 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 25 | 21 | 29 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 15 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | High | 35 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 56 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 45 | 38 | 52 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 26 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | High | 53 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 84 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 68 | 58 | 79 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 40 | — | — |

The data shows a consistent performance hierarchy across all resolutions, with Low being the fastest and Ultra being the slowest. The Medium preset provides a middle ground, with a 68 FPS average at 1080p and a minimum of 58 FPS, which is the only other preset besides Low that maintains a minimum above 60 FPS at that resolution. The lack of min/max data for High, Low, and Ultra presets suggests that the frame times may be less consistent, but the average scores provide a clear picture of the overall performance ceiling.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 65W TDP. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong for its class; it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. In PassMark tests, it scores 37816 for multithreaded performance and 4516 for single-threaded performance. These figures place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it is a very capable processor for general computing tasks.

However, the CPU's role in Palworld is secondary to the GPU, as the game's rendering workload is primarily handled by the graphics processor. The CPU is responsible for game logic, physics, and AI, but the measured frame rates are so low that the CPU is rarely, if ever, the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the CPU is likely providing frames faster than the GPU can render them, but the GPU's performance ceiling of 84 FPS is the system's maximum output. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 2085 Cinebench R23 single-core score, is sufficient for the game's demands, but it cannot overcome the GPU's inability to process the pixel workload. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is also shared with the GPU, which may cause contention, but the primary issue remains the integrated graphics solution's lack of dedicated resources and raw rendering power.