Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder with a 2023 release, presents an interesting profile for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the CPU's capabilities become a defining factor as resolution drops. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the balance between the processor and graphics card in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly indicates a transition from a CPU-limited scenario to a GPU-limited one. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 154 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Ultra, the average FPS drops to 98, a significant reduction of roughly 36%. The jump to 3840x2160 at Ultra sees a further decline to 52 FPS, which is a 47% drop from the 1440p result and a 66% drop from the 1080p result. This steep decline at higher resolutions is typical of a system where the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck.

The scaling pattern across all settings reinforces this. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 227 at 1080p, to 195 at 1440p, and finally to 134 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low (from 227 to 134, a 41% decrease) is less severe than at Ultra (from 154 to 52, a 66% decrease). This suggests that at lower graphical presets, the CPU can feed the GPU more frames, but the GPU still struggles to keep up with the 4K resolution's pixel count. The game's visual complexity at Ultra settings places a heavy load on the RTX 4080, making the resolution the dominant factor in performance.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the system is not fully GPU-bound, as the CPU's performance ceiling is near. The Ryzen 5 3600, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, has a 3DMark max threads score of 4603 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15045, which are respectable but not top-tier. This is evident in the fact that the 1080p Low average of 227 FPS is not proportionally as high as the 4K Low average of 134 FPS when comparing the pixel count difference. The CPU is holding back the absolute peak frame rate at lower resolutions, but it is not a major impediment at 4K where the GPU is the clear limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080's role in Steamworld Build is to handle the increasing graphical demands of higher resolutions and settings. The GPU's memory configuration is substantial, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6X on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This high bandwidth is crucial for streaming textures and geometry data at 4K, helping to maintain the 52 FPS average at Ultra settings. The card's architecture, Ada Lovelace, is built on a 5 nm process from TSMC, with a boost clock of 2505 MHz and a base clock of 2205 MHz. These clocks are high, and the card has a large number of shading units at 9728, which are the primary execution units for the game's rendering tasks.

The GPU's benchmark scores support its strong performance. Its PassMark G3D score is 34457, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 6567. These scores place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows that it is a very capable card for this game, but the Ultra preset at 4K is still a demanding workload, resulting in a 52 FPS average. The card's nearest rivals in benchmark scores, such as the RTX 4080 SUPER with a deltaPct of 0.1% and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X with a -1.1% deltaPct, are very close in raw compute performance, yet the measured FPS in this specific title is what matters most.

The GPU's memory clock of 1400 MHz (22.4 Gbps effective) and 76 RT cores are part of its feature set, but for a city builder like Steamworld Build, the raw rasterization performance and memory bandwidth are likely the more critical factors. The 112 ROPs are responsible for the final pixel output, and at 4K, they are working hard to fill the screen, which is a primary reason for the FPS drop from 1440p to 4K. The card is clearly the driving force behind the visual quality, but its performance is finite, and the Ultra preset at 4K pushes it to its limits.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 206 FPS, with a minimum of 175 FPS and a maximum of 237 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080's performance compare to its nearest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, while its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, has an average score of 54209, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.1%. This indicates they are nearly identical in raw compute benchmarks.

Q: Is the system CPU or GPU bound at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 52. This relatively low frame rate, compared to the 154 FPS at 1080p Ultra, strongly suggests the system is GPU-bound at this resolution and preset.

Q: What is the peak average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 227, which is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3600's multi-threaded performance compare to the Intel Core i5-11400?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has an average benchmark score of 17035. The Intel Core i5-11400 has an average score of 17067, with a deltaPct of -0.2%. This means the i5-11400 is effectively 0.2% faster in the average benchmark score.

Q: What is the frame rate range at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 177, with the minimum recorded at 151 FPS and the maximum at 204 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination is ranked 746th out of 3706 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places the combo in the top 20% of all systems tested, indicating a strong overall performance level. Given the high-end nature of the RTX 4080, this ranking is likely held back by the Ryzen 5 3600. The CPU, while competent, is a 2019 release and its performance is not on par with newer, higher-end processors. The data shows the CPU's average benchmark score is 17035, which is in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, a solid but not exceptional standing.

The combo's rank suggests that while the GPU is capable of very high frame rates, the CPU is preventing the system from reaching the very top tier of performance. In a game like Steamworld Build, where simulation and logic are critical, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient but not ideal. The data shows that the system's performance is respectable, but there is a clear ceiling imposed by the processor. For example, the 1080p Low average of 227 FPS is not a bottleneck, but it is not the 300+ FPS that a top-tier CPU would likely achieve with this GPU. The ranking reflects a system that is powerful but not perfectly balanced for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For a 4K display, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot. It delivers an average FPS of 102, which is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, while maintaining a much higher frame rate than the 52 FPS seen at Ultra. The Minimum FPS of 87 at 4K Medium also ensures that the experience remains fluid during demanding scenes. The High preset at 4K, with an average of 77 FPS, is also playable, but the Medium preset offers a significant performance boost with likely minimal visual difference for a strategy game.

At 1440p, the High preset is the best choice. It achieves an average FPS of 145, which is excellent for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 98 FPS, is also viable, but the High preset provides a substantial 47 FPS advantage. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice, as it still delivers a high average of 154 FPS. The data shows that the system has enough headroom at 1080p to enable the highest visual quality without sacrificing playability. In summary, for a balanced experience, Medium at 4K, High at 1440p, and Ultra at 1080p are the recommended presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured FPS data for this combination.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS is 227.
• Medium: Average FPS is 206, with a minimum of 175 and a maximum of 237.
• High: Average FPS is 185.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 154.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS is 195.
• Medium: Average FPS is 177, with a minimum of 151 and a maximum of 204.
• High: Average FPS is 145.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 98.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS is 134.
• Medium: Average FPS is 102, with a minimum of 87 and a maximum of 118.
• High: Average FPS is 77.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 52.

This data reveals a clear performance hierarchy. The highest average FPS is 227 at 1080p Low, and the lowest is 52 at 4K Ultra. The frame rate scales predictably with resolution and settings, confirming the GPU as the primary performance driver. The minimum FPS values, available for the Medium preset at all resolutions, show that the system maintains a stable frame delivery without severe dips, with the lowest minimum being 87 FPS at 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600's role in this system is to provide the logical foundation for the game. As a city builder, Steamworld Build requires significant CPU resources for simulation, pathfinding, and managing the state of the city. The CPU has 6 cores and 12 threads, which is a capable configuration for this genre. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz and it can boost up to 4.20 GHz. The processor is based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, and is built on a 7 nm process from TSMC. Its 32 MB of shared L3 cache is also important for game logic.

Benchmark results show the CPU's single-threaded performance is a limiting factor. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 2124, and the 3DMark single-thread score is 696. These scores, while adequate, are not high. In a game where the main thread is often the bottleneck, this can limit the maximum frame rate. The data suggests that at 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU's single-thread performance is what prevents the system from achieving even higher frame rates. The difference between 1080p Low (227 FPS) and 1440p Low (195 FPS) is only 32 FPS, a smaller gap than the 61 FPS difference between 1440p Low and 4K Low, which highlights the CPU's influence at lower resolutions.

The CPU's multi-threaded performance is also a factor. The Cinebench R23 multicore score is 15045, and the PassMark multithread score is 17700. These are respectable scores for a 6-core processor. In Steamworld Build, this multi-threading capability is likely used for background simulation tasks, ensuring that the game world remains responsive. The CPU's position in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17035, shows that it is a solid mid-range performer. While it is not a top-tier processor, it is more than sufficient to run the game, but it does create a performance ceiling that prevents the RTX 4080 from being fully utilized at lower resolutions.