Palworld

Palworld pairs the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, a combination that lands at rank 1583 out of 2944 tested combos in this game. The measured data across three resolutions and four quality presets reveals a system that can handle the survival title comfortably at 1080p, but which requires careful settings management to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and can boost up to 5.00 GHz, with a 28 W TDP that positions it as a power-efficient chip for laptops. The CPU features a 24 MB shared L3 cache, along with 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and it supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

In synthetic benchmarks, this processor delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14551 and a single-core score of 1759, while PassMark's multithread test shows 25933 and single-thread performance sits at 3509. These numbers place the chip at the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 34083. The nearest rivals in the database are remarkably close: the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 33989 (just 0.3% behind), the AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220 (0.4% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X scores 34260 (0.5% ahead). This clustering indicates the 165H is a mid-pack performer whose compute capabilities are sufficient for Palworld's CPU demands, which are not extreme given the game's focus on exploration and creature collection rather than dense simulation.

For Palworld specifically, the CPU's role is to manage the game world, including the physics of Pals, base building, and the open-world environment. The measured frame rates show that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 177 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower settings where the GPU can push high frame rates. However, the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p (from 177 FPS down to 84 FPS) indicates that as graphical load increases, the GPU takes on more work, and the CPU keeps pace. The data does not show any resolution where the CPU becomes the limiting factor, as frame rates scale consistently with GPU load across all tested settings.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a chip designated GB205 that contains 31,100 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. It comes with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and it operates at a base clock of 2325 MHz with a boost clock of 2512 MHz. The memory runs at 1750 MHz, which translates to 28 Gbps effective, and the card has a 250 W TDP with a suggested 600 W power supply.

The GPU's compute resources include 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, 80 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores, enabling 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s. In DirectX 12 benchmarks, the card scores 108 in PassMark's DirectX 12 test and 277 in DirectX 11, while its PassMark G3D score is 29137 and the GPU compute score is 15787. The overall average benchmark score is 40377, placing it at the 82nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318, 0.1% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063, 0.8% behind), and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (40870, 1.2% ahead), showing that the RTX 5070's raw compute is closely matched by professional-tier workstation cards.

In Palworld, the GPU's role is dominant, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling across resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo manages just 31 FPS, while at 1080p Low it reaches 177 FPS, a spread that clearly points to the GPU as the primary performance driver. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is a key factor at higher resolutions and settings, where texture data and geometry can strain memory. The measured data shows that at 4K Medium, the average FPS is 52 with a minimum of 45 and maximum of 60, while at 1440p Medium it hits 95 FPS (min 80, max 109), and at 1080p Medium it reaches 144 FPS (min 122, max 165). These figures indicate that the RTX 5070 is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in this title, but the 4K Ultra result of 31 FPS suggests the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute are insufficient for maximum settings at that resolution.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across three resolutions provides a clear picture of how this combo scales. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 110 at 1080p to 73 at 1440p and then to 40 at 4K. This represents a 33.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 45.2% drop from 1440p to 4K, for a total reduction of 63.6% from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the values are 177 FPS at 1080p, 117 FPS at 1440p, and 65 FPS at 4K, showing drops of 33.9% and 44.4% respectively. Medium settings follow a similar pattern: 144 FPS at 1080p, 95 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K, with drops of 34.0% and 45.3%. Ultra settings show the steepest decline: 84 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p, and 31 FPS at 4K, representing drops of 34.5% and 43.6%.

These consistent percentage drops across all settings — roughly one-third from 1080p to 1440p and another 44-45% from 1440p to 4K — indicate that the GPU is the limiting component at every resolution. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller frame rate differences at lower settings where the CPU must feed more frames per second. Instead, the scaling is uniform, which is characteristic of a system where the GPU's rendering workload scales directly with pixel count. The 4K results, particularly the 31 FPS at Ultra and 40 FPS at High, show that this resolution is only viable at Low settings (65 FPS) or Medium settings (52 FPS), and even then, the minimum frame rates are not recorded for Low, suggesting potential instability. The 1440p results are more encouraging, with all settings above 55 FPS and Medium offering 95 FPS with a minimum of 80, which is a solid experience. At 1080p, the combo excels, with even Ultra surpassing 84 FPS and Low reaching 177 FPS, making this resolution the sweet spot for maximum performance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 achieves a rank of 1583 out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld, placing it in the 46.2nd percentile — slightly below the median of all tested systems. This ranking is based on measured frame rates across the tested settings and resolutions, and it reflects the real-world performance of this pairing in this specific game.

The rank of 1583 suggests that while this combo is capable of running Palworld, many other combinations deliver higher average frame rates. The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking relative to all GPUs is strong, but the CPU's 84th percentile is similar, so the pairing is balanced. However, the game's performance is clearly GPU-bound, as shown by the resolution scaling, which means that combos with a more powerful GPU would rank higher regardless of CPU choice. The fact that this combo sits just below the midpoint of all tested combos indicates that the RTX 5070, while a capable card, is not at the top tier for Palworld at higher resolutions. The 12 GB VRAM and 192-bit memory bus, while sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, limit performance at 4K where the 31 FPS Ultra result drags the overall ranking down. Combos with higher-end GPUs that can maintain 60+ FPS at 4K would naturally outrank this setup, while combos with weaker CPUs but similar GPUs might perform comparably, given the GPU-bound nature of the game.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 110 FPS on average, which is a strong experience for a survival game that benefits from smooth camera movement and responsive controls. Medium offers 144 FPS (min 122, max 165), which is even smoother, while Low reaches 177 FPS for competitive-level responsiveness. Ultra at 84 FPS is still playable, but the drop from Medium to Ultra (from 144 to 84 FPS) is significant, and the visual gain may not justify the 41.7% performance loss. For 1080p, the data suggests Medium as the best balance, offering 144 FPS with a minimum of 122, ensuring no noticeable stutters.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset achieves 95 FPS with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 109, which is the best measured configuration for a smooth experience at this resolution. High drops to 73 FPS, which is still acceptable for most players, but the minimum frame rate is not recorded, introducing uncertainty. Low provides 117 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but sacrifices visual fidelity. Ultra at 55 FPS is borderline, and the lack of a recorded minimum makes it risky. The recommendation here is Medium, as it provides a high average with a safe minimum above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. Low delivers 65 FPS, which is playable but visually basic, while Medium offers 52 FPS with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 60, which is inconsistent and may cause noticeable dips. High at 40 FPS and Ultra at 31 FPS are below the threshold for smooth gameplay and should be avoided. For 4K, the data indicates that Low is the only preset that provides a consistently playable experience, and even then, the lack of a recorded minimum frame rate means there is some risk of occasional drops. If visual quality is paramount, Medium at 52 FPS is an option, but players should be prepared for frame rate variability. Overall, the best experience per the measured rows is 1440p Medium, which offers 95 FPS average with a 80 FPS minimum, or 1080p Medium for even higher performance at 144 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve in Palworld?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 177, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. At 1440p Low, it reaches 117 FPS, and at 4K Low, it drops to 65 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has an average benchmark score of 34083, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (33989), 0.4% lower than the AMD EPYC 4244P (34220), and 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (34260).

Q: Is this combo better suited for 1080p or 4K gaming in Palworld?

A: The data strongly favors 1080p, where all settings exceed 84 FPS and Low reaches 177 FPS. At 4K, only Low settings (65 FPS) provide a playable average, while Ultra drops to 31 FPS, indicating the GPU is overwhelmed at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and how does it affect Palworld performance?

A: The RTX 5070 is at the 82nd percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 40377. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 580, scores 40318, which is 0.1% behind. This GPU-bound performance is confirmed by frame rate scaling that drops uniformly by about a third from 1080p to 1440p and another 44-45% from 1440p to 4K.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest minimum frame rate at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset has a recorded minimum FPS of 80, with an average of 95 and a maximum of 109. This is the only 1440p setting with a recorded minimum, making it the safest choice for consistent performance.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combos in Palworld?

A: The combo ranks 1583 out of 2944 tested combinations, which places it slightly below the median. This ranking reflects its strong 1080p and 1440p performance but is held back by weaker 4K results, particularly the 31 FPS Ultra average at 3840x2160.