Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the simulation's pace is dictated by how quickly the CPU can process the underlying game logic. In this pairing, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is the primary driver of the experience, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 handles the visual presentation. Benchmark data indicates that this combination produces a playable experience at most settings, though the GPU becomes a significant bottleneck at the highest resolutions and quality presets.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. For a city builder like Steamworld Build, the single-thread performance is often critical for handling the main simulation loop, while the additional threads manage background tasks like pathfinding and resource distribution. The CPU's benchmark scores reflect a strong showing: it achieves a 3DMark single-thread score of 951 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2943, indicating robust per-core performance that should keep the simulation running smoothly.

The multi-threaded capabilities are equally relevant, as large cities with many entities will utilize all available cores. The processor scores 20,851 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 24,530 in PassMark multithread, demonstrating it can handle heavy workloads without becoming a bottleneck. In the context of this game, the data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 174.6 FPS, which is far beyond what a city builder requires, confirming that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower graphical loads. The Ryzen 5 8400F sits at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, has a nearly identical average benchmark score with a 0% delta, indicating that this processor is well-positioned for modern gaming tasks.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is an older Turing-architecture GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it features 1920 shading units. For Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is primarily to render the isometric view of the city, handle the visual effects of building construction, and manage the draw distance for various structures. The 6 GB VRAM is a critical consideration; at higher resolutions and settings, the game may exceed this capacity, leading to texture streaming issues or frame rate drops.

The data supports this concern. At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 24.4, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at 1440p Ultra, the average FPS is only 41.3, suggesting the GPU is struggling with the increased pixel count and graphical fidelity. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 14,111 places it at the 58th percentile, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, scores slightly higher with a delta of 0.5%. This indicates the RTX 2060 is a mid-range performer that can handle the game at lower settings but will require compromises for high-resolution play.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1426th out of 1730 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom half of all configurations, but the ranking does not necessarily imply a poor experience. The rank reflects the aggregate performance across all resolutions and settings, where the GPU's limitations at 4K drag down the overall average. In practice, the combo performs much better at 1080p, where it achieves a high of 174.6 FPS on Low settings and a respectable 96.8 FPS on High settings.

The data shows that this combo is capable of delivering a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings. The rank is influenced by the fact that many other tested combos include more powerful GPUs that can handle 4K Ultra, whereas this setup cannot. However, for a city builder, where the gameplay is not as fast-paced as a shooter, the lower frame rates at 4K may still be acceptable for some users. The key takeaway is that this combo is not a top-tier performer, but it is a functional mid-range option.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Steamworld Build at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes, the benchmark data shows an average of 96.8 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is well above the standard 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the performance impact of moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 96.8 at 1080p to 64.5 at 1440p, a decline of approximately 33%. The GPU becomes more of a limiting factor as the resolution increases.

Q: Is the 6 GB VRAM on the RTX 2060 sufficient for this game?

A: At 1080p and 1440p with Low to High settings, the 6 GB VRAM appears adequate based on the measured frame rates. However, at 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 24.4, suggesting the VRAM capacity or memory bandwidth is insufficient for the highest fidelity.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25,064, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X's score of 25,057, a 0% delta. This indicates they offer similar overall CPU performance.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, with all settings yielding playable frame rates. At 2560x1440, the Ultra setting is the only one that dips below 60 FPS, coming in at 41.3 FPS.

Q: Does the GPU's performance rival any other cards?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score is 16,074, which is slightly higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S's score of 15,996, a delta of 0.5%. This shows they are closely matched in overall GPU capability.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 96.8. Moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 64.5, and at 4K High, it falls to 31. This represents a 67% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline is a classic indicator that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU, which is responsible for the simulation logic, does not have to work significantly harder as the resolution increases; it is the GPU that has to render more pixels.

The scaling pattern is more pronounced at the Ultra preset. From 1080p Ultra (66.5 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (41.3 FPS), the drop is 38%, and from 1440p to 4K Ultra (24.4 FPS), the drop is another 41%. This non-linear decline suggests that at 4K, the GPU is hitting a hard limit, likely due to the combination of pixel fill rate and the 6 GB memory capacity. Conversely, the Low preset shows a less dramatic decline, going from 174.6 FPS at 1080p to 109 FPS at 1440p, and 56.3 FPS at 4K. The fact that even at Low settings the 4K frame rate is only 56.3 FPS confirms that the RTX 2060 is not designed for 4K gaming, and the GPU is the limiting factor across all settings at that resolution.

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

Based on the data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the High preset, delivering an average of 96.8 FPS. This provides a visually rich environment with a frame rate that keeps the simulation feeling responsive. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 132.9 FPS, which is a significant jump, but the visual fidelity may be noticeably lower. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 66.5 FPS, which is still playable, but the performance cost of Ultra is high relative to the visual gain, as the frame rate is 31% lower than High.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the best choice, with an average of 64.5 FPS. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a sharper image than 1080p. The Medium preset at 1440p provides 81.4 FPS, but the visual quality may be too compromised for a game where you are constantly looking at the details of your city. The Ultra preset at 1440p should be avoided, as the 41.3 FPS average will feel sluggish. For 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset at 56.3 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS but may be acceptable for a slower-paced game. However, for the best experience, sticking to 1080p or 1440p with High settings is recommended.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is a complete breakdown of the average FPS measured for this combo in Steamworld Build.

1920x1080:

• Low: 174.6 FPS
• Medium: 132.9 FPS
• High: 96.8 FPS
• Ultra: 66.5 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 109 FPS
• Medium: 81.4 FPS
• High: 64.5 FPS
• Ultra: 41.3 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 56.3 FPS
• Medium: 42.2 FPS
• High: 31 FPS
• Ultra: 24.4 FPS

This data reveals that the combo is most comfortable at 1080p, where every preset achieves above 60 FPS. At 1440p, the Ultra preset is the only one that falls below 60 FPS, while at 4K, no preset reaches the 60 FPS mark. The performance gap between Low and Ultra settings is consistent across all resolutions, with Ultra being roughly 62% slower than Low at 1080p, 62% slower at 1440p, and 57% slower at 4K. This indicates that the graphical settings have a significant impact on the GPU load, and the RTX 2060 requires careful tuning to balance visual quality with frame rate.