Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places its computational weight on the CPU's ability to manage the simulation of a growing settlement, while the GPU is responsible for the visual fidelity of the scene. The Intel Core i3-12100F provides the foundation with 4 cores and 8 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This configuration is paired with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, which is the primary pool for data that is frequently accessed by the simulation logic. The benchmark data indicates that the CPU's single-thread performance is a strong suit, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2224 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681. In a city builder, this is critical, as the game's core loop of placing buildings and managing resources often cannot be parallelized effectively and relies on a single fast core for the main update cycle.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are not to be ignored, however. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11912 shows that the processor can handle a heavier load when the simulation scales across its 8 threads. This is reflected in the game's performance, where the CPU's ability to allocate tasks across its threads ensures that the frame pacing remains stable, even when the population density rises. The i3-12100F's average benchmark score of 13516 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and it sits within a very tight cluster of rivals. For instance, it is only 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U, according to the average score data. This suggests that the CPU is a very consistent performer, with no significant bottlenecks that would cause it to fall behind similarly positioned processors in the simulation-heavy segments of Steamworld Build.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is tasked with rendering the game's stylized visuals, and its specifications directly dictate the frame rates achievable at various settings. The GPU is built on the Polaris 20 chip with a GCN 4.0 architecture, featuring 2048 shading units. It operates at a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1244 MHz. The most significant limiting factor for this card is its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, which provides a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is the key constraint at higher resolutions and detail levels, as the texture data required for high-detail scenes can quickly fill the available VRAM, leading to significant performance penalties.

The GPU's compute capabilities are moderate, with an FP32 performance of 5.095 TFLOPS. The data shows that the RX 570's average benchmark score of 30158 places it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, which is surprisingly high given its age. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, with negligible deltas of 0.2%. This indicates that in synthetic benchmarks, the RX 570 performs at a level comparable to much newer cards, but the actual gameplay in Steamworld Build is more heavily influenced by its 4 GB VRAM limit. The benchmark results show that the game is playable at lower settings, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck when attempting to push the visual quality, particularly at 4K where the High preset yields only 19.3 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 95.1 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to its closest competitor in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's average score of 13534.

Q: Is the GPU's VRAM capacity a limiting factor in this game?

A: Yes, the 4 GB VRAM on the AMD Radeon RX 570 is a critical constraint, as increasing the settings from Medium to High or Ultra causes a steep drop in performance at all resolutions, indicating that the graphics card is running out of memory for texture storage.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 resolution, the Low preset produces an average of 57.7 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 22.4 FPS, a difference of 35.3 FPS.

Q: Where does this specific hardware combination rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 1629 out of 1730 tested combos for Steamworld Build.

Q: Can this setup handle 4K gaming at a playable frame rate?

A: The data indicates that 4K gaming is not viable with this combo, as the highest average frame rate at 3840x2160 is 31.1 FPS on the Low preset, and the Ultra preset drops to an unplayable 12.7 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates reveal a clear hierarchy of performance that scales predictably with resolution and settings. At the demanding 3840x2160 resolution, the system is severely strained. The Low preset yields an average of 31.1 FPS, which is the only playable result at this resolution, while Medium and High drop to 21.9 FPS and 19.3 FPS respectively. The Ultra preset is not viable for play, producing a mere 12.7 FPS. This pattern strongly indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and capacity are overwhelmed by the pixel count and texture sizes at 4K.

Moving down to 2560x1440, the performance becomes more manageable. The Low preset delivers a smooth 57.7 FPS, and the Medium preset provides a respectable 43.7 FPS. The High preset falls to 33.8 FPS, which is still within the range of playable for a city builder, where frame pacing is less critical than in an action game. The Ultra preset, however, still suffers, with an average of 22.4 FPS, showing that the 4 GB VRAM limit is still a major obstacle at this resolution.

At the standard 1920x1080 resolution, this hardware combo finds its sweet spot. The Low preset achieves a very high 95.1 FPS, indicating that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU efficiently when the graphical load is low. The Medium preset, at 71.8 FPS, offers a strong balance, and the High preset at 52.3 FPS is also comfortably playable. The Ultra preset at 1080p produces an average of 37.4 FPS, which is lower but still technically playable for a slower-paced game. The data shows a consistent pattern: the performance ceiling is defined by the GPU's ability to process the scene, while the CPU maintains high frame rates when the GPU is not the primary constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this specific combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 570 at rank 1629 out of 1730 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This rank of 1629 places it in the bottom approximate 6% of all configurations tested. This low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's age and limited memory, which holds back the otherwise competent CPU. The CPU's performance is in the 72nd percentile of all processors, but the GPU's capabilities are the limiting factor in this pairing.

The benchmark results show that the system is heavily GPU-bound at higher settings and resolutions. The CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, as evidenced by the 95.1 FPS result at 1080p Low, but the GPU cannot maintain that level of performance when the graphical demands increase. The combination of a mid-range CPU with an entry-level GPU from a previous generation results in a system that is well-suited for 1080p gaming at medium settings but falls behind more balanced or higher-end configurations. The rank of 1629 reflects that while the system is functional, it does not provide a competitive experience in Steamworld Build compared to the vast majority of other hardware pairings tested in the database.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination is found at 1920x1080 resolution. The data shows that the Medium preset, with an average of 71.8 FPS, provides a significant improvement over the High preset's 52.3 FPS, while still maintaining a visual quality that is acceptable for a city builder. The High preset is also viable, but the higher frame rate of the Medium preset ensures a smoother simulation and camera movement, which is more pleasant for the long play sessions typical of this genre.

For users who prioritize a rock-solid frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p delivers a very high 95.1 FPS, ensuring that the simulation runs with maximum fluidity, though with reduced graphical detail. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 57.7 FPS, but the Medium preset at 43.7 FPS is a compromise that still offers a playable frame rate. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it yields sub-40 FPS averages at all resolutions and drops to 12.7 FPS at 4K, which is not a playable experience. The data suggests that the best course of action is to prioritize the Medium preset at 1080p as the default recommendation, as it provides the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, with the option to drop to Low for a higher frame rate or a higher resolution if desired.