Palworld

Palworld, a survival title released in early 2024, presents a demanding open-world environment that tests both CPU and GPU capabilities. This analysis focuses on the specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile graphics card, using measured frame rate data across multiple settings and resolutions. The data provides a clear picture of how this mobile flagship pairing handles the game, revealing performance bottlenecks and optimal configurations.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile combination ranks at position 852 out of 3711 tested combos for Palworld. This places the pairing in the top 23% of all system configurations tested for this game, demonstrating that while it is a strong performer, it is not at the absolute apex of the performance hierarchy. The rank reflects the balance between the high-end mobile GPU and the mid-to-high-tier mobile CPU, with the overall system capability being constrained by the processor's thermal and power envelope.

Benchmark results indicate this is a high-tier configuration, but the data suggests that other combos with more powerful desktop-class CPUs paired with the same GPU achieve higher rankings. The 852nd position out of 3711 combos indicates that a significant number of tested systems—approximately 2860—perform better in Palworld. This is likely due to the Core Ultra 7 155H's status as a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, which can limit sustained performance compared to higher-wattage desktop chips. The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU has substantial headroom, especially at lower resolutions, meaning the CPU is often the limiting factor in this specific pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the dominant component in this combo, and its specifications heavily influence the Palworld performance profile. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s. This generous memory allocation and bandwidth are crucial for Palworld, which features large, streaming open-world environments with numerous creatures and player-built structures. The 16 GB capacity ensures that texture loading and asset streaming remain fluid even at high resolutions and detail settings.

The GPU's clock speeds are set at a base of 1335 MHz and a boost of 1695 MHz, with memory running at an effective speed of 18 Gbps. While these clocks are relatively modest for an RTX 4090-class chip in a mobile form factor, the Ada Lovelace architecture's efficiency compensates. The GPU also boasts 9728 shading units and 76 RT cores, which support DirectX 12 Ultimate, a feature set that Palworld can leverage for advanced visual effects. The data shows that the GPU's performance is substantial, as it manages to deliver playable frame rates at 4K with High settings, achieving an average of 57 FPS.

However, the GPU's role is most clearly defined when examining the scaling of performance. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully utilized in many scenarios, as the CPU becomes the bottleneck. The measured FPS at 1080p Low reaches 250, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame generation limit. As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU's workload scales, and its performance becomes more prominent, demonstrating its capacity to handle the graphical demands of Palworld at higher pixel counts.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a distinct pattern in how performance scales from 1080p to 4K, indicating the shifting balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 250. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 164 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 91 FPS. This scaling shows a 34% decrease in performance from 1080p to 1440p and a further 45% decrease from 1440p to 4K. This steep drop-off suggests that the GPU is being tasked more heavily as the pixel count increases, but the initial drop from 1080p to 1440p is less severe than the subsequent drop to 4K.

At Medium settings, the trend continues. 1080p Medium averages 202 FPS, 1440p Medium averages 133 FPS (a 34% reduction), and 4K Medium averages 74 FPS (a 44% reduction from 1440p). This consistent pattern across settings indicates that the GPU is the scaling factor, with its raw compute and memory bandwidth being the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra setting, which averages 43 FPS, demonstrates the GPU's limits, as this configuration demands the most from the hardware.

The data indicates that the limiting component changes with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is the bottleneck, as evidenced by the high frame rates that approach typical CPU limits for game logic and draw calls. At 1440p, the balance shifts, with the GPU becoming the more significant constraint. At 4K, the GPU is unequivocally the limiting factor, as performance scales linearly with the pixel count and settings. The 91 FPS at 4K Low versus the 250 FPS at 1080p Low shows a 64% reduction in performance, which is close to the theoretical pixel count difference of 4x, highlighting the GPU's workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 4K display, the High preset at 57 FPS is the best balance, as it provides a visually rich experience while maintaining playable performance. The Ultra preset at 43 FPS is below the threshold for smooth gameplay on many displays, and the Medium preset at 74 FPS, while faster, sacrifices visual quality. The High preset offers a 32% performance increase over Ultra while providing most of the visual benefits.

For 1440p gaming, the High preset at 102 FPS is the recommended choice, as it offers a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate displays while maintaining high visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 133 FPS is also viable for competitive play, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often noticeable. The Ultra preset at 78 FPS is playable but does not fully utilize the GPU's potential, as the High preset offers a 31% performance increase.

At 1080p, the High preset at 156 FPS is the sweet spot for most users, providing excellent visual quality and high frame rates. The Medium preset at 202 FPS is suitable for competitive scenarios, but the Low preset at 250 FPS is unnecessary for most gameplay, as the visual degradation is too significant. The Ultra preset at 118 FPS is also playable, but it does not provide a substantial visual improvement over High to justify the 24% performance drop. For the best experience, the data suggests using High settings at any resolution, as it provides the best balance of visual quality and frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Palworld?

A: The data shows that 1440p with High settings provides an average of 102 FPS, which is a good balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 4K, the High preset yields 57 FPS, which is playable but less smooth. At 1080p, the High preset yields 156 FPS, which is very fast but may not utilize the GPU's full potential.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 852nd out of 3711 tested combinations for Palworld, placing it in the top 23% of all systems. This indicates a strong performance level, though there are many more powerful combos that achieve higher frame rates.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: The bottleneck shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as frame rates reach 250 FPS on Low, which is near the CPU's limit. At 4K, the GPU is the bottleneck, as the workload scales with pixel count, and performance drops to 91 FPS on Low.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K?

A: At 4K, the Low preset averages 91 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 43 FPS. This represents a 53% reduction in performance when moving from Low to Ultra, showing the significant impact of graphical settings on frame rate.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for Palworld?

A: The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is more than sufficient for Palworld at all tested settings. The data shows no indication of memory-related performance issues, suggesting the VRAM capacity is adequate for the game's demands.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset has measured minimum FPS values of 172 at 1080p, 113 at 1440p, and 63 at 4K. These minimums indicate that the game maintains a playable frame rate even during demanding scenes, with the 4K minimum being the lowest.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a 24 MB shared L3 cache. Its integrated graphics are the Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. The CPU's benchmark scores are notable: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743. It also achieves a Passmark multi-thread score of 24873 and a single-thread score of 3468. These figures place the CPU at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a solid performer.

In Palworld, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the primary constraint. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 250, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame generation capability for this game. The 16 cores and 22 threads are sufficient to handle Palworld's complex world simulation, which includes numerous AI-driven creatures, resource gathering, and building physics. The CPU's performance is also reflected in its ranking, as it sits close to rivals like the Intel Core i5-14600T, which has an average score of 32707, a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which scores 32662, a 0.1% delta.

However, the CPU's limitations become apparent when compared to more powerful desktop processors. Its 28 W TDP is a significant constraint, as it limits sustained boost clocks under heavy load. This is why, despite the powerful GPU, the combo does not rank higher in Palworld. At 1080p, the CPU is the bottleneck, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. The data shows that at 1080p High, the FPS is 156, which is lower than what the GPU could theoretically produce if the CPU were faster. This indicates that the CPU's single-thread performance, while good, is not exceptional enough to drive frame rates beyond a certain point in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all tested configurations. At 1080p, the Low setting delivers the highest average FPS at 250, with no minimum or maximum recorded. The Medium setting averages 202 FPS, with a minimum of 172 and a maximum of 233. The High setting averages 156 FPS, and the Ultra setting averages 118 FPS. This shows a clear progression, with the Low setting being 60% faster than Ultra, and Medium being 29% faster than High.

At 1440p, the Low setting averages 164 FPS. The Medium setting averages 133 FPS, with a minimum of 113 and a maximum of 153. The High setting averages 102 FPS, and the Ultra setting averages 78 FPS. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with a 34% reduction for Low, 34% for Medium, 35% for High, and 34% for Ultra. This uniformity indicates that the GPU is the scaling factor, as the relative performance between settings remains constant.

At 4K, the Low setting averages 91 FPS. The Medium setting averages 74 FPS, with a minimum of 63 and a maximum of 85. The High setting averages 57 FPS, and the Ultra setting averages 43 FPS. The performance drop from 1440p to 4K is more severe, with a 45% reduction for Low, 44% for Medium, 44% for High, and 45% for Ultra. This steeper decline indicates that the GPU is being pushed to its limits at this resolution, and the bandwidth and compute capabilities are the primary constraints. The Medium setting at 4K has the only complete set of FPS data, showing a minimum of 63 FPS, which is still within a playable range for most users.