Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build pairs the Intel Core i3-12100F with the AMD Radeon RX 9060, a combination that delivers a playable but tier-dependent experience. The data shows a clear ceiling at 4K Ultra, while 1080p and 1440p offer robust performance across most settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, component roles, and optimal configurations based strictly on the provided benchmark results.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 is the strongest resolution, with average frame rates ranging from 81 FPS at Ultra settings to 209 FPS at Low settings. The 2560x1440 resolution also performs well, with averages between 51 FPS (Ultra) and 133 FPS (Low).

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The data shows a 70 FPS average at 4K Low, which drops to 54 FPS at Medium. However, 4K High yields 40 FPS, and 4K Ultra produces just 27 FPS, which is below the typically desirable 30 FPS minimum for a city builder.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494. It is essentially tied with the Intel Core 3 N355, which scores 13492 with a 0% deltaPct. It is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452) and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U (13351).

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014. It sits 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129). It is 1% ahead of both the AMD Radeon R9 370X and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15862 and 15852, respectively), and 2.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679).

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 133 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 51 FPS. This represents a drop of 82 FPS, indicating that Ultra settings place a significant load on the GPU.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested configurations?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1667 out of 2924 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places it in the upper-middle tier of the database.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.30 GHz. In Steamworld Build, a city builder genre that often relies on simulation and logic, the CPU's single-thread performance is critical. The benchmark data shows a 3dmark_single_thread score of 893, which is the foundation for handling the game's core simulation loop. The 3dmark_4_threads score of 2859 indicates that the CPU can effectively utilize its four physical cores, which is relevant for managing the various subsystems in a city-building game.

The processor's L3 cache is 12 MB shared, which helps with data retrieval for the game's assets. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 4051 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 4023 suggest that the CPU's performance plateaus after 8 threads, which is expected for a 4-core/8-thread part. In terms of raw compute, the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11860 and single-core score of 1674 provide context for its capability. The Passmark single-thread score of 3444 reinforces that this CPU's strength lies in tasks that do not scale perfectly with many cores.

Given the measured FPS, the CPU appears sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by the high frame rates at lower settings. However, the 4K Ultra result of 27 FPS suggests that at higher resolutions and settings, the load shifts more towards the GPU, but the CPU's 4-core limit may become a bottleneck in complex late-game scenarios with many entities, though this specific data does not isolate that variable. The processor's percentile rank is 68, meaning it outperforms 68% of all CPUs in the database, and its avgBenchmarkScore is 13494. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which offers flexibility in platform choice, and connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this configuration. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This memory capacity is a key factor in determining which settings are viable. The GPU has a base clock of 1700 MHz, a boost clock of 2990 MHz, and a game clock of 2400 MHz. Its 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs handle pixel processing, while the 28 RT cores are dedicated to ray tracing, though Steamworld Build's traditional city-builder visuals likely do not stress this hardware significantly.

The GPU's FP32 performance is 21.43 TFLOPS, which is a measure of its raw compute power. The Passmark G3D score of 17631 and the 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322 provide synthetic benchmarks. The GPU sits at the 59th percentile among all GPUs. The measured FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern tied to the GPU's workload. At 1080p, the GPU is the limiting factor at Ultra settings (81 FPS), but at Low settings (209 FPS), the CPU's limits are likely more exposed. The transition to 1440p shows a similar trend, with a 102 FPS average at Medium and 76 FPS at High.

The 4K results demonstrate the GPU's limitations with its 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 54, with a min of 46 and max of 62. This is the only resolution and settings combination with a full min/max range provided, suggesting it represents a stable but demanding load. The drop from 4K Medium to 4K High (54 to 40 FPS) and then to 4K Ultra (27 FPS) indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck, as higher settings require more texture data to be streamed. The GPU's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, scores slightly higher in synthetic tests, but the measured in-game data for this specific title shows the RX 9060's performance profile.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete matrix of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combination performs exceptionally well. The Low preset yields an average of 209 FPS, which is extremely high and suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at this point. The Medium preset averages 160 FPS, with a min of 136 and a max of 184 FPS, showing a smooth experience. High settings average 120 FPS, and Ultra settings still manage a solid 81 FPS. This indicates that 1080p is the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings average 133 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings drop to 102 FPS, with a min of 87 and max of 117 FPS, ensuring a consistent frametime. High settings average 76 FPS, which is excellent for a city builder at this resolution. Ultra settings average 51 FPS, which is playable but begins to show the GPU's strain. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p is a drop of 82 FPS, illustrating the significant cost of the highest preset.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. Low settings average 70 FPS, which is surprisingly playable. Medium settings drop to 54 FPS, with a min of 46 and max of 62 FPS, which is a playable but less fluid experience. High settings average 40 FPS, which is on the edge of playability for a simulation game. Ultra settings average just 27 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience. The data shows a clear linear decline in performance as settings increase at 4K, with the gap between Medium and Ultra being 27 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested configurations for Steamworld Build, this specific combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1667 out of 2924 tested combos. This places it in the 57th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than half of the configurations in the database. This ranking is a holistic measure that accounts for all resolutions and settings tested.

The ranking suggests that this is a mid-to-upper tier setup. It is not a top-tier enthusiast build, but it is far from a low-end configuration. The CPU's rank (68th percentile) is notably higher than the GPU's rank (59th percentile), which indicates that the CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU when compared to other parts in the database. This imbalance is reflected in the game's performance: at lower resolutions and settings, the system is likely CPU-bound, while at higher resolutions and settings, it becomes GPU-bound. The combo's rank of 1667 means that 1257 other tested combinations were faster, and 1666 were slower. This positions the system as a capable 1080p and 1440p machine, with 4K being a stretch goal at lower presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 120 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it provides a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset. The Ultra preset at 81 FPS is also viable, but the 39 FPS drop from High may not be worth the marginal visual gains in a game like Steamworld Build, where the interface and readability are more important than extreme graphical fidelity.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is again the best balance. The 76 FPS average is smooth and responsive, and it looks substantially better than the Medium preset. The Medium preset at 102 FPS is a good alternative for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the High preset offers a better visual experience without dropping below the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 51 FPS is playable but not ideal for a game with a lot of UI elements, as the lower frame rate can make menu navigation feel less responsive.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the only recommended option. It delivers an average of 54 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target but still playable for a city builder. The data shows a min of 46 FPS, indicating that there may be occasional dips, but the average is acceptable. The Low preset at 70 FPS is smoother but sacrifices too much visual quality. The High and Ultra presets (40 and 27 FPS) are not recommended, as they fall below the playable threshold. In summary, the High preset at 1080p and 1440p, and the Medium preset at 4K, offer the best combination of visual fidelity and performance based on the measured data.