Steamworld Build

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 58th out of 1,730 tested combos in Steamworld Build. That places this configuration in the top 3.4% of all tested pairings, which is an exceptional result for a city builder. The ranking reflects a system that is dramatically overqualified for the game's demands, but the data shows this is not a case of wasted potential — the high refresh rates achieved at every resolution indicate the combo is being utilized effectively, especially at lower settings where the CPU and GPU both contribute to frame generation.

Compared to other tested combos, this pairing sits in the upper echelon, but it does not top the chart. The 58th position out of 1,730 suggests there are a handful of configurations with even more headroom, likely those using newer CPU generations with higher single-thread performance. However, for a game like Steamworld Build, which is a city builder with complex simulation logic, the ranking is more than sufficient to deliver a smooth experience at any display resolution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with 32 MB of L3 cache. In Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is primarily to handle the simulation logic, pathfinding, and resource management that city builders are known for. The 8 cores and 16 threads are more than adequate for this workload, as the game is not heavily multithreaded but benefits from having multiple cores available for background tasks.

Benchmark results show the CPU scores 23,794 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 3,359 in single-core, with a PassMark multithread score of 27,988. These numbers place it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 86% of processors on the market. In the context of this game, the single-core performance is particularly relevant because city builders often have a single-thread bottleneck for simulation ticks. The 3,359 single-core score in Cinebench R23 is robust, and the boost clock of 4.80 GHz helps maintain high frame rates even when the simulation grows complex with many buildings and citizens.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (0.1% faster), AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (0.3% slower), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (0.3% faster), and AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (0.3% slower). These deltas are negligible, indicating that the 5800XT is competitive with much newer mobile and low-power parts in synthetic benchmarks. For Steamworld Build, this means the CPU is not the limiting factor at any settings level — the data confirms this, as frame rates scale more with GPU settings than with resolution, which would not be the case if the CPU were struggling.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a massive GPU, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, with a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. Its FP32 performance is 82.58 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is to render the isometric environments, handle the visual effects of building construction, and maintain smooth framerates as the city expands. The 24 GB of VRAM is far beyond what this game requires, but it ensures there are no texture pop-ins or stutters even at 4K with high-detail assets. The memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s is also overkill, but it means the GPU can handle any sudden spikes in rendering demand without throttling.

The GPU ranks at the 91st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 66,473. Its nearest rivals are all professional or workstation cards: the NVIDIA Tesla T4 (0.4% slower), NVIDIA Tesla P40 (0.5% faster), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 (0.9% slower), and NVIDIA Quadro P6000 (1.3% slower). The RTX 4090 outperforms these in gaming workloads, and the data shows it is the dominant component in this combo. At 1080p Low, the combination achieves 315.9 FPS, which indicates the GPU is not being fully utilized at lower settings — instead, the CPU is likely providing the ceiling for frame generation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in Steamworld Build shows a clear pattern: higher resolutions and higher settings reduce frame rates, but the system remains playable even at the most demanding configuration. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 315.9 on Low settings to 171.1 on Ultra. The Medium preset delivers 284 FPS, and High comes in at 255.5 FPS. This resolution is clearly not a challenge for this hardware — even Ultra settings produce frame rates that would satisfy any high-refresh-rate monitor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers drop but remain impressive. Low settings yield 269.4 FPS, Medium produces 217.1 FPS, High hits 159.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 110.6 FPS. The step from High to Ultra is a 30.7% reduction, which is expected given the increased rendering demands. At this resolution, the combo is still capable of driving a 144 Hz monitor at High settings without dropping below the refresh rate.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the data shows the first signs of strain. Low settings achieve 145.7 FPS, Medium drops to 112.3 FPS, High falls to 81.6 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 58.8 FPS. The Ultra 4K result is the only configuration that dips below 60 FPS, which is a critical threshold for smooth gameplay. The gap between 1080p Ultra (171.1 FPS) and 4K Ultra (58.8 FPS) is a 65.6% reduction, highlighting how resolution scaling affects performance. For a city builder, 58.8 FPS is still playable, but it is not ideal for players who prefer high refresh rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Steamworld Build with this combo?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at High settings delivers 159.6 FPS, which is a strong balance between visual fidelity and frame rate. At 4K, High settings produce 81.6 FPS, which is still smooth, but 1440p offers more headroom for complex city simulations.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but just barely. The measured average FPS at 4K Ultra is 58.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Players who prefer absolute visual quality may accept this, but for consistent smoothness, dropping to High settings at 4K or Medium settings at 4K provides 81.6 FPS and 112.3 FPS respectively.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 315.9 FPS, which suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at lower settings because the GPU is not stressed. As settings and resolution increase, the GPU becomes more involved. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 58.8 FPS, indicating the GPU is now the primary bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 58th out of 1,730 tested, placing it in the top 3.4% of all combinations. The CPU performs within 0.3% of its nearest rivals, and the GPU outperforms its nearest rival by 0.5% (NVIDIA Tesla P40), making this a top-tier pairing for this game.

Q: Should I use the Low or Medium preset for competitive play?

A: If you prioritize maximum frame rates, Low at 1080p provides 315.9 FPS, but Medium at 1080p still delivers 284 FPS. For 1440p, Low offers 269.4 FPS and Medium 217.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium is visually noticeable, so Medium is recommended for better quality without sacrificing much performance.

Q: What settings provide the most consistent experience across all resolutions?

A: High settings are the most consistent, with frame rates of 255.5 FPS at 1080p, 159.6 FPS at 1440p, and 81.6 FPS at 4K. This preset offers a good balance, ensuring no resolution drops below 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the High preset is the best overall choice for this combo. At 1080p, it delivers 255.5 FPS, which is far beyond any display's refresh rate, and at 1440p it produces 159.6 FPS, ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 4K, High settings maintain 81.6 FPS, which is smooth and well above the 60 FPS threshold. The jump from High to Ultra yields only marginal visual improvements in a city builder, but it costs 30.7% performance at 1440p and 28% at 4K — a poor trade-off.

For players with a 4K display who want the absolute best visuals, Ultra at 4K is possible at 58.8 FPS, but this is below the smoothness threshold. Instead, Medium at 4K provides 112.3 FPS with a modest reduction in visual quality, making it the better option for 4K gaming. At 1440p, High is the sweet spot — it clears 144 Hz comfortably and leaves headroom for large cities with many entities on screen.

At 1080p, the choice is less critical because even Ultra achieves 171.1 FPS. However, for competitive play or very high refresh rates (240 Hz or more), Medium at 284 FPS or Low at 315.9 FPS are the only options that can keep up. The data suggests that most players will find High at 1440p to be the most practical configuration, offering a perfect balance of visual fidelity and performance for this hardware combination.