Palworld

Palworld on the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination lands at rank 1566 out of 2944 tested combos in the database. That places this pairing in the 47th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it sits just below the median performer for this title. The ranking reflects a system that is competent but not exceptional for Palworld, with the CPU and GPU both contributing to a balanced yet unspectacular result. The combo's position is more about the game's demands than any single component bottleneck, and the data suggests that while this setup can handle the game, it does not dominate the leaderboard.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1566 out of 2944 places it in the lower-middle tier of tested systems for Palworld. This is a notable result because the individual components are strong performers in their own right. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H holds an 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the RTX 4070 sits at an 81st percentile among all GPUs. Yet, when paired together in this specific game, the combination drops to roughly the 47th percentile. This discrepancy suggests Palworld's engine does not scale perfectly with this hardware pairing, or that other combos in the database are better optimized for this particular title.

The CPU's nearest rivals show how closely matched it is to other processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 44573, just 0.2% higher than the Ultra X9 388H's average of 44466. The Intel Core i9-13950HX trails by 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is 0.4% ahead. The Intel Core i5-13600 rounds out the group at 0.5% ahead. These tiny deltas mean the CPU is not the differentiator here; any of these processors would yield similar results in Palworld. The GPU tells a similar story, with the RTX 4070's average score of 37648 sitting within 1.3% of its nearest rivals, including the RTX 4080 Mobile which is 1.3% faster.

What this rank indicates is that Palworld is a game where the combination of CPU and GPU matters more than raw component strength. The system is not a top-tier performer in this title, but it is far from the bottom. The 47th percentile position means that roughly half of tested combos outperform it, and half underperform it. For a game that is still in early access, this mid-pack result is reasonable given the hardware's capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 brings 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is crucial for Palworld, which features large open-world environments with many objects and creatures that need to be streamed. The 12 GB capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data shows it becomes a limiting factor at 4K Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 31. The GPU's 5888 shading units and 184 texture mapping units provide the raw compute power needed for the game's rendering, while the 64 ROPs handle pixel output.

The RTX 4070's clock speeds are a key factor in its performance. The base clock runs at 1920 MHz, boosting to 2475 MHz under load. These clocks, combined with the Ada Lovelace architecture's efficiency, allow the GPU to maintain solid frame rates across most settings. The 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 performance gives the card ample headroom for Palworld's visual effects, though the game's engine does not appear to fully utilize this power at higher resolutions. The 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores are present but Palworld does not heavily rely on ray tracing or DLSS, so these features have minimal impact on the measured results.

The GPU's role becomes more apparent when examining the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the RTX 4070 achieves 180 FPS, showing the card is not the bottleneck at lower settings. However, at 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 31, a 83% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This steep decline indicates the GPU is heavily taxed at higher resolutions and settings, and the 12 GB VRAM may be insufficient for the game's texture demands at 4K Ultra. The GPU's 200W TDP and dual-slot design suggest it is a capable mobile part, but Palworld's requirements push it to its limits at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 180 FPS, which drops to 118 FPS at 1440p Low and 66 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 63% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. At High settings, the drop is from 112 FPS at 1080p to 74 FPS at 1440p and 41 FPS at 4K, a 63% reduction as well. The consistent percentage drop across settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU's performance does not change with resolution.

The Medium settings show a similar trend with min and max FPS data available. At 1080p Medium, the average is 146 FPS with a range of 124 to 168 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 96 FPS with a range of 82 to 110. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 53 FPS with a range of 45 to 61. The frame time consistency, as shown by the min and max values, remains stable across resolutions, suggesting the system does not suffer from stuttering or spikes. The 4K Medium result of 53 FPS is playable but not ideal for a fast-paced survival game.

The scaling analysis points to the GPU as the bottleneck at 4K, while the CPU has more headroom. At 1080p, the system can push well beyond 100 FPS at most settings, indicating the CPU is not holding back the GPU. However, at 4K Ultra, the 31 FPS average shows the RTX 4070 is struggling to keep up with the game's demands. The 12 GB VRAM may also be a factor, as Palworld's large textures and draw distances can exceed this capacity at 4K Ultra. This resolution scaling behavior is typical for a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 180 FPS, which is well above the 144Hz refresh rate that most gaming monitors offer. Medium settings yield 146 FPS on average, with a minimum of 124 FPS and maximum of 168 FPS, providing a smooth experience with some headroom. High settings drop to 112 FPS, still comfortable for competitive play. Ultra settings bring the average down to 85 FPS, which is playable but shows the GPU is starting to work harder. The 1080p results indicate this combo can handle Palworld at high refresh rates without compromising visual quality.

Moving to 2560x1440, the FPS figures become more moderate. Low settings produce 118 FPS, which is still above 100 FPS and suitable for high-refresh displays. Medium settings average 96 FPS, with a range of 82 to 110 FPS, offering a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. High settings drop to 74 FPS, which is acceptable for most players but not ideal for those seeking maximum smoothness. Ultra settings fall to 56 FPS, which is playable but shows the GPU is being pushed. The 1440p results suggest that Medium or High settings are the sweet spot for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings produce 66 FPS, which is playable but not smooth on all displays. Medium settings average 53 FPS, with a range of 45 to 61 FPS, providing a playable but inconsistent experience. High settings drop to 41 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings fall to 31 FPS, which is not recommended for an action-oriented game like Palworld. The 4K results clearly show that this combo is not designed for high-fidelity 4K gaming in this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Palworld?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 provides the most headroom, with Low settings achieving 180 FPS and Ultra still hitting 85 FPS. At 2560x1440, Medium settings offer 96 FPS, which is a good balance. 4K gaming is possible but limited, with even Low settings only reaching 66 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4070's average benchmark score is 37648. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 37628, just 0.1% lower. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 0.4% lower at 37507. The RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% higher at 38135, while the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% lower at 37157.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in Palworld?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 180 FPS, showing the CPU can feed the GPU adequately. The CPU's average benchmark score of 44466 places it within 0.5% of its nearest rivals, and its 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests it has ample power for this game.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 96, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS. This indicates a stable frame rate with minimal drops, making it a viable setting for this resolution.

Q: Should I use Ultra settings at 4K?

A: The data suggests no. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 31, which is below the playable threshold for most gamers. Even 4K Low settings only reach 66 FPS, so players aiming for 4K should consider reducing resolution or settings for a better experience.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H rank against other CPUs?

A: The CPU holds an 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44466. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, scores 44573, which is 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i9-13950HX trails by 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 leads by 0.4%.

Settings Recommendations

For 1920x1080, the data supports using High settings as the best balance of visual quality and performance. The 112 FPS average at High is well above the 60 FPS threshold and leaves room for dips without becoming noticeable. Ultra settings at 85 FPS are also viable if visual fidelity is a priority, but the 24% drop from High to Ultra may not justify the graphical gains. Low settings at 180 FPS are excessive unless the player has a 240Hz or higher display.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings provide the best experience according to the measured data. The 96 FPS average with a minimum of 82 FPS ensures smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. High settings at 74 FPS are playable but may experience noticeable drops during intense combat or exploration. Low settings at 118 FPS are an option for competitive play, but the visual compromise is significant at this resolution. Ultra settings at 56 FPS are not recommended, as the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

For 3840x2160, the data indicates that this combo is not well-suited for high settings. Low settings at 66 FPS are the only option that maintains a playable frame rate, and even this may not be smooth on all displays. Medium settings at 53 FPS are borderline, with a minimum of 45 FPS that could cause noticeable stuttering. High and Ultra settings at 41 FPS and 31 FPS respectively are not recommended for general play. Players with 4K displays should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience, or accept the visual compromises at 4K Low.

The overall recommendation based on the measured FPS data is to target 1920x1080 High for the best combination of smoothness and visual quality, or 2560x1440 Medium if a higher resolution is preferred. This combo delivers its strongest performance at 1080p, where it can comfortably exceed 100 FPS at most settings, and remains playable at 1440p with moderate settings. 4K gaming is possible but limited to Low settings for a playable experience.