Palworld

Palworld’s measured performance with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 reveals a configuration that scales predictably with resolution, but the relationship between settings and frame rate is not uniform. Across all tested resolutions, the jump from Low to Medium to High to Ultra produces diminishing returns in average FPS, while the gap between 1080p and 4K narrows as settings increase Equipment. The data indicates a system that is heavily GPU-bound at 4K, but at 1080p, the CPU’s capability becomes more relevant, though the RTX 4080 still carries the primary load.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is steep but expected for a game like Palworld, which stresses both the CPU’s single-thread performance and the GPU’s rasterization throughput. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 198 at 1080p to 130 at 1440p, a reduction of 68 FPS, and then to 72 at 4K, another 58 FPS drop. This represents a 63.6% decrease from 1080p to 4K at High, indicating that the RTX 4080’s 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient to feed the frame buffer, but the sheer pixel count at 3840x2160 overwhelms the shader array.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more dramatic: 318 FPS at 1080p, 209 at 1440p, and 116 at 4K. The 202 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K Low suggests that at lower settings, the CPU’s role in preparing draw calls becomes less of a bottleneck, but the GPU’s compute units still saturate. The data shows that the RTX 4080’s boost clock of 2505 MHz and 9728 shading units are the limiting factor at 4K, regardless of preset. Medium settings illustrate a middle ground: 257 FPS at 1080p, 169 at 1440p, and 94 at 4K, with the 4K result dropping below 100 FPS for the first time.

Ultra settings compress the resolution scaling further. At 1080p, the average is 150 FPS; at 1440p, it falls to 99 FPS; at 4K, it reaches 55 FPS. The 95 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K Ultra is smaller than the 202 FPS difference at Low, which indicates that at Ultra, the GPU is already near its limits even at 1080p. The limiting component across all resolutions is the GPU, but the CPU’s 24 cores and 24 threads, with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, ensure that it never becomes the primary constraint, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with 24 cores and 24 threads, is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.80 GHz provide the single-thread headroom that Palworld requires for its game logic and physics. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 51731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7303 in single-core, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which trails by 0.2%, and the AMD EPYC 4584PX, which is 1.1% behind, but the EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% ahead.

For Palworld, the CPU’s role is to maintain a consistent frame pacing, especially at 1080p where the GPU is less taxed. The measured data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 318 FPS, which is 60 FPS higher than at 1440p Low (209 FPS) and 202 FPS higher than at 4K Low (116 FPS). This suggests that the CPU’s 24 threads are not fully utilized at lower resolutions, but the high boost clock prevents any stutter. The L3 cache of 36 MB shared and L2 cache of 3 MB per core help with the game’s open-world asset streaming, though the data does not isolate CPU-specific bottlenecks.

At Ultra settings, the CPU’s performance is less visible because the GPU becomes the bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 150, which is only 94 FPS lower than 1080p Low, while at 4K Ultra, the average is 55 FPS, just 61 FPS lower than 4K Low. The CPU’s 51731 Cinebench R23 score and 4823 Passmark single-thread score indicate that it can handle the game’s draw calls, but the RTX 4080’s 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 performance is the ceiling. The memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s from the dual-channel DDR5 support is not a limiting factor, as the GPU’s 716.8 GB/s bandwidth is far higher.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, based on the AD103 chip and Ada Lovelace architecture, is the dominant component in this configuration. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for Palworld’s large textures and draw distances. The GPU’s base clock of 2205 MHz and boost clock of 2505 MHz, combined with 9728 shading units française, deliver 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 6567, and its Passmark G3D score is 34457, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

The RTX 4080’s nearest rivals include the RTX 4080 SUPER, which is 0.1% behind, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, which is 1.1% ahead. The data shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably: at 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 257, but at 4K Medium, it drops to 94 FPS, a 63.4% reduction. The VRAM capacity of 16 GB is not exhausted at any resolution, as the highest setting (Ultra) at 4K still achieves 55 FPS, indicating that the memory bus is sufficient. The 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores are not specifically tested in Palworld, but they contribute to the GPU’s overall throughput.

The GPU’s 320 W TDP and triple-slot design are not reflected in the FPS data, but the measured results show that the RTX 4080 is the primary determinant of performance. At 4K High, the average FPS is 72, which is playable but not high-refresh-rate territory. At 1080p Low, the 318 FPS average exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors, indicating that the GPU is not the limiting factor at that resolution. The GPU’s 48.74 TFLOPS and 280.6 GPixel/s pixel rate are the key specs that explain the 4K Ultra result of 55 FPS, which is the lowest measured average across all settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4080 ranks 247th out of 3711 tested combos for Palworld. This places it in the top 6.7% of all configurations, which is consistent with the high-end nature of both components. The combo rank reflects the CPU’s 96th percentile standing and the GPU’s 86th percentile, but the game-specific ranking is more informative. The data shows that the CPU’s nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, is only 0.2% behind in average benchmark score, yet the combo ranking suggests that the 290K Plus’s 24 threads and 5.80 GHz boost clock provide a slight edge in Palworld’s CPU-bound scenarios.

The GPU’s nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is 0.1% behind in average score, but the combo rank of 247 indicates that the RTX 4080’s 16 GB VRAM and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are well-suited to Palworld’s requirements. In comparison, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which is 2.6% behind in GPU benchmarks, would likely rank lower due to its smaller VRAM and lower bandwidth. The combo’s rank of 247 out of 3711 means that 93.3% of tested combos are slower, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing high frame rates even at 4K.

The ranking also contextualizes the CPU’s role: at 1080p, where the CPU is more relevant, the combo’s 318 FPS average at Low settings is among the highest in the database, but at 4K Ultra, the 55 FPS average is more modest. The combo’s percentile ranking of 93.3% (calculated from the rank) suggests that it is a top-tier configuration for Palworld, but not the absolute best, as there are 246 combos with higher averages. The data indicates that for players seeking 4K Ultra at 60 FPS, this combo falls short, but for 1440p High or 1080p Ultra, it excels.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal preset for this configuration depends on the target resolution and frame rate. At 3840x2160, the High preset delivers 72 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, but the Medium preset at 94 FPS offers a better experience for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors. The Ultra preset at 55 FPS is below 60 FPScard, making it less desirable, while Low at 116 FPS is playable but sacrifices visual fidelity. For 4K, the Medium preset is the best balance, as it provides a 22 FPS improvement over High while still maintaining a playable frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 130 FPS is ideal for 144 Hz monitors, and the Medium preset at 169 FPS is better for 165 Hz panels. The Ultra preset at 99 FPS is also viable, but it is 31 FPS lower than High, which may not justify the visual gains. Low at 209 FPS is excessive for most displays. For 1440p, High is the recommended preset, as it offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium with only a 39 FPS penalty.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 150 FPS is the best choice for 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitors, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a high frame rate. The High preset at 198 FPS is better for 240 Hz displays, and Medium at 257 FPS is suited for 300 Hz monitors. Low at 318 FPS is only necessary for competitive play at the highest refresh rates. For 1080p, Ultra is recommended for most users, as it delivers 150 FPS, which is above 144 Hz, and the visual improvements over High are noticeable in a game like Palworld with its vibrant environments.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination is as follows, resolution by resolution and settings by settings. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 116 FPS, with no min or max recorded. Medium averages 94 FPS, with a min of 80 and max of 108. High averages 72 FPS, and Ultra averages 55 FPS. The data shows a consistent decline from Low to Ultra, with the largest drop between Medium and High (22 FPS) and between High and Ultra (17 FPS).

At 2560x1440, Low averages 209 FPS, Medium averages 169 FPS (min 144, max 195), High averages 130 FPS, and Ultra averages 99 FPS. The percentage decrease from Low to Ultra is 52.6%, which is smaller than at 4K (52.6% vs 52.6% is not accurate; 4K is 52.6% from 116 to 55, which is also 52.6%, but the actual numbers are 116 to 55, a 52.6% drop). At 1920x1080, Low averages 318 FPS, Medium averages 257 FPS (min 219, max 296), High averages 198 FPS, and Ultra averages 150 FPS. The 1080p data shows the largest absolute range, from 318 to 150 FPS, a 168 FPS difference, indicating that the GPU is not fully utilized at lower settings.

The min FPS values are only recorded for Medium settings: 80 at 4K, 144 at 1440p, and 219 at 1080p. These min values provide a floor for frame pacing, and the 4K Medium min of 80 FPS is notably higher than the 4K Ultra average of 55 FPS, suggesting that Medium is a safe choice for consistent performance. The max FPS values for Medium are 108 at 4K, 195 at 1440p, and 296 at 1080p, which align with the average FPS trends.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K Ultra with this combo?

A: The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX, but 1.3% lower than the AMD EPYC 7F72.

Q: Is the RTX 4080’s VRAM sufficient for Palworld at 4K?

A: Yes, the 16 GB of GDDR6X memory is not a bottleneck, as the game achieves 72 FPS at 4K High and 55 FPS at 4K Ultra, indicating that the memory capacity and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are adequate.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: For 2560x1440, the High preset at 130 FPS is recommended for 144 Hz monitors, while Medium at 169 FPS is better for 165 Hz displays, and Ultra at 99 FPS is viable for 100 Hz panels.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 247th out of 3711 tested combos for Palworld, placing it in the top 6.7% of all configurations.

Q: At what resolution does the CPU become the limiting factor?

A: The CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution, as the GPU is the primary constraint, but at 1080p Low (318 FPS), the CPU’s 5.80 GHz boost clock ensures it can keep up with the GPU’s output.