Palworld

Palworld, a survival title released in early 2024, presents a demanding workload that stresses both CPU and GPU. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 yields a specific performance profile across resolutions and settings. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to characterize the experience, identify bottlenecks, and provide actionable settings recommendations based solely on the provided benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination for Palworld?

A: The combo ranks 1922nd out of 2944 tested combinations in this game. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, indicating that while it can play the game, many other hardware pairings deliver higher frame rates.

Q: What is the best average frame rate achieved at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded at 1920x1080 is 156 FPS, which is achieved with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is the RTX 5060 capable of running Palworld at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 27 FPS on Ultra to 57 FPS on Low. Only the Low preset approaches a playable 60 FPS target, while the High preset delivers a 35 FPS average.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 7 165H's average benchmark score is 34083. This is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and 0.4% behind both the AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350. It also trails the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X by 0.5%.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset yields an average of 64 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 48 FPS. This represents a 16 FPS decrease when moving from High to Ultra.

Q: Does the GPU's performance metric align with its in-game results?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331 and sits at the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 860M, is 0.3% behind, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is 1.2% ahead. This mid-range standing is consistent with the measured frame rates, which are solid at 1080p but struggle at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this configuration. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The card's base clock is 2280 MHz, with a boost clock of 2497 MHz. These specifications are fundamental to its performance in Palworld, a game that can be demanding on both memory capacity and raw compute.

The benchmark data shows a strong correlation between the GPU's workload and frame rates. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The measured FPS drops from 57 at Low to 27 at Ultra, a 30 FPS swing that demonstrates the immense pressure placed on the 8 GB frame buffer and the GPU's compute units at higher resolutions and quality presets. The 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth is likely a constraining factor at 4K Ultra, where texture data and shading calculations overwhelm the memory subsystem. In contrast, at 1080p, the GPU has more headroom, allowing the CPU to play a more significant role in determining the maximum frame rate.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are reflected in its synthetic benchmarks. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 20891 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628. These scores place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating competent mid-range performance. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 112787 and Vulkan score of 113321 further corroborate its compute potential. However, the in-game results at 4K reveal that this compute power is insufficient for high-fidelity Palworld at that resolution, as the Ultra preset only manages a 27 FPS average.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 2944 tested hardware combinations for Palworld, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 secures the 1922nd position. This ranking is a holistic measure of the overall gaming experience, factoring in performance across all tested resolutions and settings. A rank in the 65th percentile (1922 / 2944) suggests that while the system is functional, it is outclassed by a significant majority of other configurations tested.

This mid-to-low ranking is consistent with the individual components' standings. The RTX 5060 GPU sits at the 72nd percentile among all GPUs, which is respectable. However, the Core Ultra 7 165H CPU is at the 84th percentile among all CPUs. The combination's performance in Palworld is not simply an average of these two; the game's engine and specific demands pull the overall experience down. The data suggests that the GPU, while capable at lower resolutions, is the primary bottleneck at higher settings, preventing the system from achieving a higher overall rank. The 1922nd position implies that users with higher-tier GPUs, even if paired with slightly weaker CPUs, will likely achieve better frame rates in this title, especially at 1440p and 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a granular look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. Here is the exact breakdown:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS is 156.
• Medium: Average FPS is 126, with a minimum of 107 and a maximum of 145.
• High: Average FPS is 97.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 74.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS is 103.
• Medium: Average FPS is 83, with a minimum of 71 and a maximum of 96.
• High: Average FPS is 64.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 48.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS is 57.
• Medium: Average FPS is 46, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53.
• High: Average FPS is 35.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 27.

At 1080p, the system demonstrates strong performance, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a 74 FPS average. This indicates a well-balanced configuration for this resolution. Moving to 1440p, the Ultra preset dips below 60 FPS, making the High preset the most viable for a smooth experience. At 4K, the system struggles; only the Low preset achieves an average above 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset is effectively unplayable at 27 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K, with a 46 FPS average and a 39 FPS minimum, represents the lowest playable option for users who prioritize visual quality over a locked 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. This scaling is a direct indicator of the system's bottleneck characteristics.

From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 34% across all settings. For example, on High, the frame rate falls from 97 to 64, a 33 FPS decrease. This is a significant, but expected, performance hit associated with rendering 78% more pixels.

The jump from 1440p to 4K is even more punishing. On High settings, the average FPS plummets from 64 to 35, a 45% reduction. On Ultra, it drops from 48 to 27, a 44% reduction. This steep decline is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. The RTX 5060 is overwhelmed by the sheer pixel count of 4K (3840x2160), which is 2.25 times the pixel count of 1440p. The memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and the 8 GB VRAM capacity are insufficient to handle the increased data load at this resolution, causing the frame rate to collapse.

This scaling pattern confirms that the GPU is the primary limiting component. The CPU's role becomes less significant at higher resolutions because the frame rate is constrained by the GPU's rendering speed rather than the CPU's ability to feed it data. The system is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, but 4K gaming requires a substantial reduction in settings to achieve playable frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity.

• For 1080p gaming: The High preset is the recommended choice, delivering a 97 FPS average. This provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience with good visual quality. The Ultra preset (74 FPS) is also viable for users with 75Hz or 144Hz monitors who prioritize image quality, as it stays comfortably above 60 FPS. The Low preset (156 FPS) is excessive for most displays but useful for competitive play or maximizing frame rate on a 165Hz+ monitor.

• For 1440p gaming: The High preset is the clear winner, with a 64 FPS average that is suitable for most 60Hz displays. The Medium preset (83 FPS) is a better choice for users with 144Hz monitors, offering a higher frame rate with a moderate reduction in visual quality. The Ultra preset (48 FPS) is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as it sits below the 60 FPS threshold.

• For 4K gaming: The Low preset (57 FPS) is the only option that approaches a playable 60 FPS target. It will provide a stable, albeit visually basic, experience. The Medium preset (46 FPS) is a compromise for users who prefer higher quality over frame rate, but the 39 FPS minimum may lead to noticeable stuttering in demanding scenes. The High (35 FPS) and Ultra (27 FPS) presets are not recommended for general play.

The data strongly suggests that this system is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with High settings, where it provides a balanced and enjoyable experience. For 4K, users must accept significant compromises, primarily using Low settings to maintain playability.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Its synthetic Cinebench R23 scores are 14551 for multi-core and 1759 for single-core, placing it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs.

In Palworld, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and the simulation of the open world. The high multi-threaded score (14551) suggests it can handle a significant number of concurrent tasks. However, the game's performance in this combo is more heavily influenced by the GPU, as evidenced by the resolution scaling. At 1080p Low, the 156 FPS average indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to achieve high frame rates. The single-core score of 1759 is also adequate for the game's main thread, preventing a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions.

The CPU's benchmark performance is closely matched with its rivals. It is only 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and 0.4% behind the AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350. This parity means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the choice between these processors would have a negligible impact on Palworld's frame rate. The data shows that the Core Ultra 7 165H provides a solid foundation, but it is not the primary determinant of the gaming experience in this specific configuration. The GPU's limitations at higher resolutions are the main factor holding the system back from achieving higher ranks and frame rates.