Palworld

Palworld presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination. The measured data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, yet demonstrates the substantial headroom of the CPU when the load shifts. The combination of a 14-core, 14-thread processor with a high-end 16 GB graphics card produces a wide range of frame rates, from very high at 1080p to borderline playable at 4K Ultra, indicating that the user's experience will be heavily defined by their display and settings choices.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and can boost up to 5.10 GHz. This configuration, with its 24 MB of shared L3 cache, provides a solid foundation for gaming. Its benchmark percentile of 90 indicates it outperforms the vast majority of CPUs on the market. The average benchmark score of 48995 places it in close competition with several rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which it trails by a marginal 0.5%, and the Intel Core i5-14600K, which it leads by a slight 0.8% margin.

In Palworld, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions and settings where the GPU is not the primary bottleneck. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution decreases, the frame rate increases significantly, suggesting that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve very high frame rates. For instance, at 1080p Low settings, the system reaches an average of 316 FPS. This high frame rate is a direct reflection of the CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread capabilities, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 scores of 4648 for single-core and 32924 for multi-core.

The processor's 14 threads, while not as numerous as some high-end desktop parts, are sufficient for the game's demands. The relationship between CPU and GPU becomes apparent when looking at the 4K results. At 4K High, the average FPS is 72, which is a dramatic drop from the 316 FPS seen at 1080p Low. This is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the limiting factor. The CPU is no longer the primary constraint; instead, the RTX 4080 SUPER is working at its maximum capacity to render the higher resolution. The CPU's performance is still relevant, but it has enough headroom that it is not the bottleneck in this scenario. The data suggests that the Core Ultra 5 245 is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 4080 SUPER in Palworld, and its performance is only fully taxed when trying to push extremely high frame rates at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. The card's boost clock is rated at 2550 MHz, and it has a substantial 10240 shading units. Its benchmark percentile of 86 places it well above the average GPU, and its average benchmark score of 54209 is nearly identical to the non-SUPER RTX 4080, which it trails by only 0.1%. This indicates that the "SUPER" moniker carries a marginal performance increase in synthetic benchmarks, but in real-world gaming, the two are very close.

In Palworld, the GPU is the dominant force in determining frame rates at higher resolutions. The data shows a clear scaling pattern with resolution. At 1440p High, the average FPS is 130, which is a 58 FPS increase over the 4K High result. This demonstrates the immense workload that 4K rendering places on the GPU. The 16 GB of VRAM is a significant asset for a game like Palworld, which features a large, open world with many objects and textures. This capacity helps prevent texture popping and stuttering, especially at higher settings where memory usage is more demanding. The 736.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth also ensures that the GPU can quickly access the data it needs to render the game world.

The GPU's performance is also tied to the settings. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution is substantial. At 4K, the average FPS drops from 115 on Low to 55 on Ultra. This 60 FPS difference underscores the significant graphical workload that Ultra settings add. The RTX 4080 SUPER handles this workload well, but it is clear that Ultra settings at 4K are a demanding task, pushing the card to its limits. At 1440p, the card is more comfortable, with the Ultra setting still producing a playable average of 98 FPS. The data indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a powerful GPU, but Palworld at 4K Ultra is a scenario that will stress even this high-end component.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combination shows a very clear and predictable scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions: 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160. The pattern indicates a system that is heavily GPU-bound, particularly at higher resolutions. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the frame rates drop by a significant margin. For example, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 197 at 1080p to 130 at 1440p, a reduction of 67 FPS. This demonstrates the increased pixel count and the corresponding load on the GPU.

The most telling data comes from the 4K results. At 4K High, the average FPS is 72, which is a 58 FPS drop from the 1440p High result. This is a massive performance hit and clearly shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER is being fully utilized. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings is a 125 FPS drop, from 197 to 72 FPS. This is a 63.5% reduction in performance, which is a direct consequence of the 4K resolution having four times the pixels of 1080p. This significant drop indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at 4K, as the CPU's performance is not affecting the frame rate as much.

In contrast, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe, but still substantial. The frame rate drops from 316 to 208 FPS at Low settings, a 108 FPS difference. This suggests that even at 1440p, the GPU is still the main bottleneck, but the CPU has more room to stretch its legs. The data points to a clear conclusion: this system is balanced for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the sole limiting factor. The CPU has enough power to support high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering capabilities cap the overall performance. The system's performance is therefore most consistent at 1440p, where the GPU is still strong enough to provide high frame rates, but the CPU is not being held back as much as it is at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combination can achieve in Palworld?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 316 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995. It trails the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 by 0.5% and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G by 0.4%, but it leads the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H by 0.6% and the Intel Core i5-14600K by 0.8%.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4080 SUPER and the standard RTX 4080 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% lower than the standard RTX 4080's average score of 54247. This indicates a negligible difference in synthetic performance.

Q: Is the system capable of running Palworld at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: At 4K with High settings, the system produces an average of 72 FPS, which is generally considered playable. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 55, which may be less ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: What is the performance drop when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 197 FPS at 1920x1080 to 72 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a significant reduction of 125 FPS, or roughly 63.5%.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The frame rate drops significantly at this resolution regardless of settings, suggesting the RTX 4080 SUPER is working at its limit, while the CPU has more headroom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for this hardware combination across all tested settings and resolutions. The data shows a clear hierarchy, with frame rates decreasing as resolution and graphical settings increase.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|:--------- |:------- |:---------- |:------ |:------ |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 115 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 94 | 79 | 108 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 72 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 55 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 208 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 169 | 143 | 194 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 130 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 98 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 316 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 256 | 218 | 294 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 197 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 149 | N/A | N/A |

The data reveals that at 1080p, even Ultra settings yield a very high average of 149 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, the Medium setting provides a solid 169 FPS average, while High settings still deliver a smooth 130 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with a 98 FPS average, remains a viable option. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the best bet for a stable experience, with a 94 FPS average and a minimum of 79 FPS. The High preset at 4K is also playable at 72 FPS, but the Ultra preset is the most demanding, dropping the average to 55 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For users with a 1080p display, the data indicates that the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it provides an average of 149 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and will make full use of most high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset, at 197 FPS, is also an excellent option for those with 240Hz or higher displays, but the visual fidelity of Ultra is a worthwhile trade-off for the slight FPS reduction.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers a smooth 130 FPS average, which is ideal for most gaming monitors. The Ultra preset, at 98 FPS, is still playable and offers a noticeable visual improvement, but the drop in frame rate may not be worth it for competitive players. The Medium preset, with a 169 FPS average, is a good option for those seeking the highest possible frame rates, but it comes at the cost of visual quality. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the most balanced option. It provides a 94 FPS average with a minimum of 79 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience. The High preset, at 72 FPS, is also playable, but the lower minimum frame rate could lead to occasional stutters. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as its 55 FPS average is below the 60 FPS target.

In summary, the best experience is achieved by prioritizing a high frame rate over maximum visual fidelity. The data suggests that the High preset at 1440p offers the best balance of performance and image quality, while the Medium preset is the safest choice for 4K. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset is the clear winner.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination is ranked 216th out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the top 7.3% of all tested systems, indicating a very high level of performance. This ranking confirms the strength of both components, but particularly the GPU, given the game's heavy reliance on it at higher resolutions.

The high ranking is supported by the measured frame rates. The system's ability to maintain an average of over 60 FPS at 4K High is a significant achievement. The data shows that this combo is better than the vast majority of systems tested, which is expected given the high-end nature of the RTX 4080 SUPER. The CPU, while not the top performer in its class, is more than sufficient to support the GPU's capabilities.

The ranking of 216 out of 2944 also provides context for the system's performance relative to other potential configurations. It suggests that there are only a handful of combinations that can outperform it, primarily those featuring even more powerful GPUs or CPUs. The data indicates that this is a top-tier system for Palworld, capable of delivering a highly enjoyable gaming experience at all but the most demanding settings. The combination's performance is a reflection of the balanced pairing of a high-core-count CPU with a high-end GPU, resulting in a system that is well-suited for high-resolution, high-fidelity gaming.