Palworld

Palworld, a survival title released on 2024-01-18, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, based on measured FPS data. The combination ranks 2350 out of 2944 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower-mid tier of systems evaluated. This indicates that while the hardware is capable of running the game, users will need to manage settings carefully to achieve smooth gameplay, particularly at higher resolutions. The data reveals a system where the GPU is often the primary constraint, but the CPU's capabilities also play a role in determining overall frame pacing.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2350 out of 2944 tested combinations places it in the 21st percentile of all systems tested for Palworld. This is a low ranking, suggesting that this specific CPU-GPU pairing is not optimized for this particular title's demands. The data shows that this configuration is far from the top tier, and users should expect a mid-range experience with significant compromises required at higher settings. The ranking reflects a balance of raw compute power and memory bandwidth that is insufficient for the game's higher-end graphical loads. While it can play the game, it will not do so with the visual fidelity or frame rates of higher-ranked combos. This rank is a strong indicator that the system is better suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve higher frame rates, rather than for pushing 4K resolutions with high detail. The overall benchmark score for the CPU is 32697, which is near the middle of the pack, but the GPU's score of 21035 and its 66th percentile ranking among all GPUs are the deciding factors for this game's performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary component for rendering Palworld's visuals. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a critical factor in Palworld, as the game's open-world environments and texture detail can be demanding on VRAM. The measured FPS data shows a clear correlation between resolution and performance, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The GPU's base clock is 2317 MHz, with a boost clock of 2572 MHz, and it has a TDP of 130 W. With 2560 shading units and 80 TMUs, the card's raw compute power is reflected in its 13.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2502, and its Passmark G3D score is 17326, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. This indicates that the RTX 5050 is a modest performer, and the data shows it is the main bottleneck for Palworld at higher resolutions. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 23, which is barely playable, while at 1080p Low, it reaches 132 FPS. This wide spread demonstrates that the GPU's capabilities are the deciding factor in frame rate, especially as resolution increases. The card's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, has a similar average benchmark score, with a deltaPct of 1.6, confirming its position in the performance hierarchy.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a mobile processor with 16 cores and 22 threads, based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a TDP of 28 W. While its multi-core performance is respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028, its role in Palworld is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The CPU's single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1743, is more relevant for gaming. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 132 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is capable of supporting high frame rates. However, the CPU's overall benchmark average of 32697 puts it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, which is a decent score. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, has a nearly identical average score with a deltaPct of 0, indicating similar overall compute capability. The CPU's cache configuration, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache, is adequate for the game's needs. While the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, it is not so powerful that it can compensate for the GPU's limitations. At 1080p, the system's ability to hit 132 FPS on Low settings shows there is headroom in the CPU, but the GPU will limit performance as settings are increased.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the system performs best. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 132 FPS, which is very smooth. Medium settings reduce the average to 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 FPS and a maximum of 123 FPS, still a very playable experience. High settings bring the average down to 82 FPS, and Ultra settings drop it further to 63 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, allowing for high refresh rates on lower presets and solid 60 FPS gameplay on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the frame rates become more taxing. Low settings average 87 FPS, which is still good, but Medium drops to 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS. High settings average 54 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 41 FPS. This shows that 1440p requires a compromise between visual quality and frame rate. At 4K, the system struggles. Low settings average 48 FPS, Medium drops to 39 FPS, High to 30 FPS, and Ultra to 23 FPS. These figures are below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, and even the 30 FPS baseline is only achievable on Low settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and highlights the GPU as the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 132 FPS. At 1440p Low, this drops to 87 FPS, a reduction of 34%. At 4K Low, the average is 48 FPS, which is a 64% reduction from the 1080p figure. This pattern is consistent across all settings. For example, on High settings, the FPS drops from 82 at 1080p to 54 at 1440p, and then to 30 at 4K. This scaling behavior is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. As the resolution increases, the GPU must process more pixels, which directly impacts frame rate. The CPU's role becomes less significant at higher resolutions, as the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are saturated. The data confirms that the RTX 5050's 8 GB of VRAM and 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The system is clearly optimized for 1080p gaming, with the performance degradation at higher resolutions being steep and consistent. For users targeting 1440p, Medium settings at 71 FPS are the best balance, while 4K should be reserved for Low settings if a playable frame rate is desired.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Palworld at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: The data shows that at 4K, the system only achieves an average of 48 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 30 FPS on High and 23 FPS on Ultra. These frame rates are below the standard 60 FPS target and are not considered smooth for a fast-paced action game.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The measured data indicates that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, the system achieves 132 FPS on Low, 107 FPS on Medium, and 63 FPS on Ultra, all of which provide a good gaming experience.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more of a bottleneck in Palworld?

A: The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The frame rate drops by over 50% from 1080p to 4K at the same settings, indicating that the RTX 5050's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor, not the CPU.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT?

A: According to the benchmark data, the RTX 5050 has an average score of 21035, while the RX 5600 XT has an average score of 20713. This gives the RTX 5050 a 1.6% performance advantage over the RX 5600 XT in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the highest settings preset that can maintain a 60 FPS average at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Medium preset achieves an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS. This is the highest preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS at this resolution.

Q: What is the CPU's ranking among all processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it performs better than 83% of the processors in the database.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 82 FPS offers a great balance between visual quality and smoothness, while the Ultra preset at 63 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize image quality. For users with high refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset at 107 FPS is recommended, as it provides a significant frame rate boost with only a modest reduction in visual fidelity compared to High. At 1440p, the Medium preset at 71 FPS is the best choice, as it is the only preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS. The High preset at 54 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced gameplay. At 4K, the Low preset at 48 FPS is the only setting that provides a playable experience, but it will not look great. The Ultra preset at 23 FPS is not recommended for any serious gameplay. In summary, for the best experience, users should target 1080p with Medium or High settings, or 1440p with Medium settings. This approach leverages the system's strengths and avoids the steep performance penalty of 4K rendering.