Palworld

Palworld, the survival title that blends creature collection with base building, presents a demanding workload that scales heavily with both resolution and preset. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions. The data, derived from benchmark results, reveals a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU's substantial headroom becomes more apparent at lower settings. This combination ranks 2066th out of 2944 tested combos in this specific game, indicating a mid-to-lower tier standing that is largely defined by the graphics card's age and specifications.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression across resolutions tells a clear story about system balance. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 152 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops this to 100 FPS, a reduction of approximately 34%. At 4K (3840x2160), the average further falls to 55 FPS, which is another 45% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline as resolution increases is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario; the rendering load is scaling with pixel count, and the RTX 2060 SUPER is struggling to keep pace.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. Consider the High preset: the average FPS goes from 95 at 1080p, to 62 at 1440p, and finally to 35 at 4K. The scaling factor from 1080p to 4K for High settings is a 63% performance loss. For Medium settings, the numbers are 123, 81, and 45 FPS respectively. This consistent drop-off, regardless of the quality preset, confirms that the limiting factor is the pixel throughput of the graphics card rather than the computational demands of the game's logic or physics.

The data suggests that the system is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, where it can push high refresh rates on lower presets. However, 1440p represents a significant compromise, and 4K is only playable at the lowest settings. The fact that the 4K Low average of 55 FPS is lower than the 1080p Ultra average of 72 FPS further illustrates that resolution is the dominant variable affecting performance in this configuration. The CPU is not the primary constraint here; the GPU's rendering capabilities are the deciding factor in how the game feels at each resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 1650 MHz, and it has a pixel rate of 105.6 GPixel/s. These specifications, while respectable for its generation, place it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 18093, positioning it very close to rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, which has a score of 18159 and a deltaPct of -0.4%, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 with a score of 18189 and a deltaPct of -0.5%.

In the context of Palworld, the GPU's role is decisive. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is a critical factor at higher resolutions and settings. The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS collapses to 26, a figure that is barely above a slideshow. This is likely due to the combination of high-resolution textures and the game's open-world nature filling the VRAM, forcing the card to rely on slower memory paging. The transition from 1080p Ultra (72 FPS) to 4K Ultra (26 FPS) represents a 64% performance drop, a huge penalty that underscores the card's limitations when pushed to its maximum.

The 2060 SUPER's performance relative to its direct rivals is marginal. The deltaPct values against its nearest competitors are all within 1.6%, meaning that in a synthetic benchmark, these cards are nearly interchangeable. However, in a real-world game like Palworld, the specific architecture and driver optimizations can cause larger swings. The data shows that this GPU is the bottleneck in this pairing, particularly at 1440p and 4K. The CPU has the power to feed it more frames, but the GPU cannot render them fast enough, resulting in the lower FPS figures observed.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, featuring 24 cores and 24 threads. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with a large 36 MB shared L3 cache. It is built on a 3 nm process node and supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. This processor scores in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84003. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (score 83807, deltaPct 0.2%) and the AMD EPYC 4584PX (score 83090, deltaPct 1.1%), indicating that it is a top-tier performer.

Given the GPU's bottleneck, the CPU's role in Palworld is to provide a stable foundation without becoming a limiting factor itself. The data suggests it performs this role admirably. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 152 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would require a capable CPU to maintain. The fact that the FPS scales down so dramatically with resolution, rather than plateauing due to a CPU limit, indicates that the processor has significant headroom. The CPU is not the cause of the performance drops seen at higher resolutions.

The processor's high single-thread and multi-thread capabilities, evident from its 7303 score in Cinebench R23 single-core and 51731 in multi-core, are more than sufficient for the game's AI and world simulation tasks. The data shows that even with the frame rate capped by the GPU, the system does not exhibit signs of stuttering or frame pacing issues that would be indicative of a CPU bottleneck. In this specific combo, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a future-proofing element; it ensures that if the GPU were upgraded, the CPU would not be the next weak link in the chain for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2066th out of 2944 tested combos in Palworld. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems, which is a direct reflection of the GPU's age and performance class. A top-tier CPU (96th percentile) is being paired with a mid-range GPU (62nd percentile), and the overall combo rank reflects the weaker component's limitations in a GPU-intensive title.

This ranking is logical given the data. The CPU's high average benchmark score of 84003 does not translate into a high game rank when paired with a GPU that has an average score of only 18093. The disparity between the two components is stark. The combo's rank is likely pulled down by the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at 1440p and 4K, which are resolutions where the CPU's power could otherwise be more fully utilized. The data indicates that this is a system built for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming or e-sports titles, where the CPU's strength can shine, but it is not well-suited for high-fidelity 4K gaming.

The benchmark results show that the combo is not competitive with systems that pair similar CPUs with modern, high-end GPUs. However, the rank is not a measure of failure; it is a measure of balance. The system is perfectly functional, but its performance ceiling is determined by the RTX 2060 SUPER. For a user with this combo, the data suggests that focusing on 1080p gaming or lowering settings at 1440p is the optimal way to achieve a smooth experience, as pushing higher resolutions will result in the sub-60 FPS averages seen in the data.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Palworld at 4K smoothly?

A: No. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS is 55 on Low settings, 45 on Medium, 35 on High, and 26 on Ultra. Only the Low preset approaches a playable frame rate, but it is still below 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system to achieve high frame rates?

A: 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can consistently exceed 60 FPS on all presets. The data shows averages of 152 FPS on Low, 123 FPS on Medium, 95 FPS on High, and 72 FPS on Ultra.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus holding back the RTX 2060 SUPER?

A: No. The data indicates the opposite. The CPU is very powerful (96th percentile), and the performance drops when increasing resolution point to the GPU as the limiting component. The CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU more frames.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: It is very closely matched. Its average benchmark score is 18093, which is only 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159) and 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18189).

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS is 26, which was measured at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding configuration tested.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 100 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 47 FPS. This represents a 53% performance loss from Low to Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for this combo in Palworld, with the minimum and maximum FPS where recorded.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Ultra | 26 | N/A | N/A |

| | High | 35 | N/A | N/A |

| | Medium | 45 | 38 | 52 |

| | Low | 55 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 (1440p) | Ultra | 47 | N/A | N/A |

| | High | 62 | N/A | N/A |

| | Medium | 81 | 69 | 93 |

| | Low | 100 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 (1080p) | Ultra | 72 | N/A | N/A |

| | High | 95 | N/A | N/A |

| | Medium | 123 | 105 | 142 |

| | Low | 152 | N/A | N/A |

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear guide for optimizing the experience with this hardware. The primary goal is to maintain an average FPS above 60 for a smooth gameplay experience. At 1920x1080, all presets achieve this goal, from the 152 FPS average on Low to the 72 FPS average on Ultra. This makes 1080p the definitive resolution for this combo, where users can freely choose their preferred quality level. For a balance of visual fidelity and performance, the High preset at 1080p, with its 95 FPS average, offers a significant improvement over Medium without sacrificing the high frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. The Low preset, at 100 FPS, is the only option that provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset, with an average of 81 FPS, is still playable and is arguably the best balance for 1440p, as it offers a solid frame rate and better visuals than Low. The High preset (62 FPS) hovers near the 60 FPS threshold, which could lead to noticeable dips in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, at 47 FPS, should be avoided for a consistently smooth experience.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that this combo is not suited for high-quality gaming. The Low preset, with a 55 FPS average, is the only playable option, but it falls short of the 60 FPS ideal. The Medium preset (45 FPS) and High preset (35 FPS) are below the playable threshold, and the Ultra preset (26 FPS) is not recommended. Therefore, the recommendation is to prioritize 1080p for the best experience, or if 1440p is desired, to stick with the Medium preset to maintain a playable frame rate. Pushing to 4K should only be considered if the user is willing to accept significantly reduced visual quality and frame rates.