Palworld

Palworld with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon 760M presents a challenging performance profile. The data shows a system that is firmly limited by its integrated graphics solution, with frame rates that require significant compromises in both resolution and visual settings to achieve playable results. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, revealing a clear hierarchy of constraints.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, underscoring the GPU's dominant role in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 52 FPS, but this drops to 34 FPS at 1440p (a 34.6% reduction) and further to 19 FPS at 4K (a 63.5% reduction from 1080p). This scaling pattern is characteristic of a system where pixel throughput, not CPU logic, is the primary bottleneck.

The 1080p to 1440p transition is particularly telling. With High settings, the frame rate falls from 32 FPS to 21 FPS, a 34.4% drop. At 4K High, the system manages only 12 FPS. The data implies that the AMD Radeon 760M's shading units and ROPs are overwhelmed by the increased pixel count. The GPU has 512 shading units and 16 ROPs, and with a pixel rate of 41.58 GPixel/s, the 4K resolution (8.3 million pixels) demands more than double the fill rate work of 1080p (2.1 million pixels). The result is a dramatic collapse in performance that cannot be mitigated by the CPU, which shows no signs of being the limiting factor at these frame rates.

Interestingly, the scaling between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution is also steep, but the resolution scaling is the more dominant factor. For instance, at 1080p, the spread from Low (52 FPS) to Ultra (24 FPS) is 28 FPS, while the spread from 1080p Low to 4K Low is 33 FPS. This suggests that while settings adjustments offer some headroom, the resolution itself is the harsher constraint. The data indicates that 4K is essentially out of reach for this combo, with even Low settings producing a 19 FPS average that would be considered unplayable in a fast-paced survival game.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 760M is the decisive component in this pairing. Its benchmark profile places it at the 35th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 6019. The nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6400 (0.3% higher score), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M (0.3% higher), and NVIDIA Quadro P2000 (0.5% lower), indicating that this iGPU performs at the level of a modest entry-level discrete GPU. However, its integrated nature limits its ability to sustain high performance in demanding titles like Palworld.

The GPU's architecture is RDNA 3.0 on a 4 nm process, with a boost clock of 2599 MHz. The memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the CPU's DDR5 memory with a bus width that is also system-dependent. This shared memory configuration is a critical weakness. The bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," but the CPU's memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s, which is shared between the CPU and GPU. In a game like Palworld, which can be memory-sensitive, this shared bandwidth likely contributes to the substantial FPS drops at higher resolutions where memory pressure increases.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 400 and Passmark G3D score of 5310 paint a picture of a GPU that is adequate for 1080p gaming at lower settings but struggles under load. The DirectX 11 and 12 Passmark scores (52 and 25, respectively) are particularly low, suggesting that the GPU's driver overhead or hardware capabilities limit its performance in modern API workloads. The data shows that even at 1080p, the GPU is the bottleneck, as the CPU's frame delivery is not constrained by its own processing power.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 52, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches a comfortable 60 FPS target, though it still falls short.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon 760M has an average benchmark score of 6019, placing it at the 35th percentile. It is 0.3% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M, and 0.5% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro P2000. These deltas are negligible, indicating near-identical performance levels.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: No, the data shows that 4K performance is severely limited. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 19 with Low settings, and the lowest is 9 with Ultra settings. These frame rates are not suitable for smooth gameplay in Palworld.

Q: What is the role of the CPU's integrated graphics in this setup?

A: The CPU features Arc Xe-LPG 128EU integrated graphics, but the measured performance comes from the AMD Radeon 760M. The CPU's own iGPU is not used for this game's rendering; the AMD GPU is the sole graphics processor.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2933 out of 2944 tested combinations in Palworld, placing it in the bottom 0.4% of all systems. This indicates that it is among the least capable configurations for this game.

Q: Does changing resolution have a bigger impact than changing settings?

A: Yes, the data shows that resolution scaling has a more dramatic effect. For example, going from 1080p Low (52 FPS) to 1440p Low (34 FPS) loses 18 FPS, while going from 1080p Low to 1080p Ultra (24 FPS) loses 28 FPS. However, the 4K jump from 1080p Low loses 33 FPS, making resolution the harsher constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the only viable path to acceptable performance is to prioritize Low settings at 1080p. The 1080p Low preset yields 52 FPS, which is the sole configuration above 50 FPS. This should be the baseline for any playable session. The 1080p Medium preset drops to 42 FPS, which is still marginally playable but introduces more visual detail at the cost of 10 FPS. The 1080p High preset at 32 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 24 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 1440p, the situation is more dire. The Low preset produces 34 FPS, which is below the 40 FPS threshold many players consider minimum for a survival game. The Medium preset at 28 FPS and High at 21 FPS are increasingly unplayable. At 4K, all settings are effectively non-viable, with the best case being 19 FPS at Low. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p and accept the visual compromises of the Low preset to maintain frame rates above 50 FPS. If a player prioritizes visual fidelity over smoothness, 1080p Medium at 42 FPS is the most balanced option, but it is still a significant compromise.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 2933 out of 2944 tested combinations in Palworld, placing it in the bottom 0.4% of all systems. This is a stark indicator of its limitations. The rank reflects the combined CPU and GPU performance, with the GPU being the clear weak link. The AMD Radeon 760M's 35th percentile standing among all GPUs is the primary driver of this poor ranking, as the CPU's 83rd percentile standing shows it is a comparatively strong component. The data implies that this combo is designed for general productivity and light gaming, not for demanding titles like Palworld.

The rank of 2933 out of 2944 means that only 11 other combos perform worse, which is a sobering statistic. It places this system in the same tier as older or lower-end integrated graphics solutions. The nearest GPU rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6400, is a discrete card, yet it scores only 0.3% higher, showing that the 760M is competitive with entry-level discrete offerings. However, in Palworld's specific workload, the combo's performance is insufficient for a smooth experience at standard resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings average 52 FPS, Medium averages 42 FPS with a minimum of 36 and maximum of 48, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 24 FPS. This shows a clear linear degradation as settings increase, with a 28 FPS difference between Low and Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 34 FPS, Medium averages 28 FPS with a minimum of 23 and maximum of 32, High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 18 FPS, indicating that the GPU is becoming saturated and settings have less relative impact.

At 3840x2160, the performance is critically low. Low settings average 19 FPS, Medium averages 15 FPS with a minimum of 13 and maximum of 18, High averages 12 FPS, and Ultra averages 9 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is only 10 FPS, showing that the GPU is completely overwhelmed and cannot benefit from reduced settings. The data reveals a pattern where the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth limitations become the absolute bottleneck at 4K, making any settings adjustment futile.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a capable processor, but its role in Palworld is secondary to the GPU. With 16 cores and 22 threads, a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028, the CPU is well-equipped to handle game logic and simulation. Its 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32697, places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F (0.2% higher score) and Intel Core i5-14600T (0% difference), showing it is a solid mid-range performer.

However, the CPU's performance is irrelevant when the GPU cannot deliver frames. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU has the least work to do, the frame rate is capped at 52 FPS. This suggests that the GPU, not the CPU, is the limiting factor. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (89.6 GB/s bandwidth) are sufficient for gaming, but the system-shared GPU memory creates a contention point. The CPU's Passmark multi-thread score of 24873 indicates strong multi-core performance, which is beneficial for Palworld's open-world simulation, but the frame rate is still dictated by the GPU's rendering capabilities.

The data implies that pairing this CPU with a discrete GPU would yield much higher frame rates, as the CPU has ample headroom. But in this combo, the CPU sits idle waiting for the GPU to complete its rendering tasks. The Core Ultra 7's integrated Arc Xe-LPG 128EU is not used for this game, and the AMD Radeon 760M is the sole graphics processor. This creates a system where the CPU is overqualified for the GPU's output, leading to a bottleneck that is entirely on the graphics side.