Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder that places a premium on simulation logic and draw calls, and the pairing of the Intel Core i5-10400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER produces a distinct performance profile across resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured data to show where the bottleneck lies and what you can expect from this specific configuration.

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

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boosts up to 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In the context of Steamworld Build, a genre that often relies on single-thread performance for game logic updates but can scale to multiple cores for rendering tasks, this CPU's specifications are a mixed bag.

Benchmark data shows the i5-10400F scores 688 in 3DMark single-thread, which is modest, but its multi-threaded performance is stronger, with a 3DMark max-threads score of 4735 and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283. The CPU's general average benchmark score is 14185, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates it is a competent mid-range part, but not a top-tier performer.

In this specific game, the CPU's influence is most apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high, reaching 225 FPS on Low settings. This suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain very high frame rates, but the single-thread score of 688 in 3DMark suggests that in complex simulation scenarios, it could become a limiting factor. The 4.30 GHz boost clock helps mitigate this, but the architecture is older than the GPU's Ada Lovelace design.

The data shows that the i5-10400F sits between the Intel Xeon 6756E and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C in overall CPU performance, with a delta of 0.2% and -0.6% respectively. This means that while it is not the fastest CPU available, its performance is consistent with other parts in its class. For Steamworld Build, the 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to handle the game's simulation and rendering, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p, but the older architecture means it may not be the ideal partner for a high-end GPU at lower resolutions where the CPU is more likely to be the bottleneck.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: Can this combo handle Steamworld Build at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, it can. Measured data shows a 67 FPS average at 4K with High settings. However, pushing to Ultra settings drops the average to 45 FPS, which may be below the target for smooth gameplay on a high-refresh 4K display.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: For a 1440p display, the High preset yields an average of 126 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth play. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 85 FPS average, which is still playable but represents a significant performance cost for the visual uplift.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 225 FPS average, while the Ultra preset drops to 134 FPS average. This represents a roughly 40% reduction in frame rate, showing that the Ultra preset is demanding even at the lowest resolution.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER the bottleneck at any resolution?

A: Based on the data, the GPU becomes the bottleneck primarily at 4K with Ultra settings, where the average FPS falls to 45. At 1080p and 1440p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU is likely to be the limiting factor, especially on Low presets where the GPU has less work to do.

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

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 205 with a minimum of 174 and a maximum of 235. At 1440p Medium, the average is 168 with a range of 143 to 194. At 4K Medium, the average is 89 with a range of 76 to 102. This shows good consistency across resolutions.

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

A: The i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14185, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Xeon 6756E and 0.5% higher than the AMD EPYC 7552. It is 0.3% slower than the Intel Core 7 160UL and 0.6% slower than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. These deltas are negligible, indicating performance parity with these parts.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 184 FPS average. Moving to 1440p High, that number drops to 126 FPS. At 4K High, the average is 67 FPS. This is a steep decline, with the 4K result being roughly 36% of the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. As resolution increases, the number of pixels the RTX 4070 SUPER must render increases dramatically, and the frame rate falls accordingly. The fact that the 4K High result is 67 FPS, while the 1080p Low result is 225 FPS, suggests that at 1080p, the GPU is not the primary constraint; otherwise, we would see a more linear drop. Instead, the CPU's single-thread performance is likely capping the frame rate at lower resolutions.

Look at the Low settings across resolutions. At 1080p, the average is 225 FPS. At 1440p, it is 194 FPS. At 4K, it is 116 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is only 31 FPS, which is a smaller relative decline than the drop from 1440p to 4K, which is 78 FPS. This indicates that the CPU is holding the frame rate back at 1080p, and only when the GPU load increases significantly at 4K does the GPU become the limiting factor.

The data suggests that for this particular game and combo, 1440p is the sweet spot. At 1440p High, the 126 FPS average is high enough for smooth gameplay, while at 4K High, the 67 FPS average is acceptable but not ideal for high-refresh displays. The drop from 225 FPS at 1080p Low to 116 FPS at 4K Low is a 48% reduction, which is lower than the 64% reduction seen from 1080p High to 4K High, again pointing to the CPU being the bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 969th out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places it in the top 26% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU.

This rank is influenced by the CPU's performance. With a percentile of 68 against all CPUs, the i5-10400F is not a top-tier part, but it is above average. The GPU, however, ranks in the 83rd percentile against all GPUs, making it a significantly stronger component. The combination of a slightly-above-average CPU and a well-above-average GPU results in a combo that is faster than the majority of tested systems.

The rank of 969 suggests that while this combo is capable, it is not at the very top of the leaderboard. Combos with higher-ranked CPUs, such as newer Intel Core i7 or i9 parts, or AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 parts, would likely score higher, especially in CPU-bound scenarios at 1080p. However, the high GPU percentile means that at higher resolutions like 4K, this combo can compete with systems that have faster CPUs but similar GPUs.

The data indicates that this combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where the GPU is the primary driver of performance. At 1080p, the CPU may hold back the GPU, preventing it from reaching its full potential. At 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor, and the CPU's performance is sufficient to keep up.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a high-end graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU has 7168 shading units and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, with a base clock of 1980 MHz.

In Steamworld Build, a city builder that can be heavy on draw calls and memory usage, the 12 GB VRAM is a significant asset. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is capable of producing very high frame rates at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average is 225 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it is 194 FPS. This indicates that the GPU has substantial headroom for this game, and the CPU is likely the bottleneck at these settings.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s is ample for this title, and the 12 GB capacity ensures that even at 4K Ultra, there is no memory pressure. The fact that the 4K Ultra preset averages 45 FPS shows that the GPU is being pushed hard at that resolution, but it still maintains a playable frame rate.

The RTX 4070 SUPER scores 29995 in Passmark G3D and 172795 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB and the RTX 5050 Mobile, with negligible performance deltas. This positions the GPU as a strong performer for 1440p and entry-level 4K gaming.

In this game, the GPU's role is to provide enough raw throughput to handle the rendering of the city and its details. The data shows that at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is not the limiting factor, as frame rates are high. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary constraint, but it still delivers acceptable performance on High settings. The 220 W TDP and dual-slot design are standard for this class of card, and the suggested 550 W PSU is a realistic requirement.

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

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are very high. The Low preset achieves an average of 225 FPS. The Medium preset delivers 205 FPS average, with a minimum of 174 FPS and a maximum of 235 FPS. The High preset yields 184 FPS average. The Ultra preset drops to 134 FPS average. This shows that even at the highest settings, the combo is capable of frame rates well above 60 FPS, making it suitable for high-refresh monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 194 FPS. The Medium preset averages 168 FPS, with a range of 143 to 194 FPS. The High preset averages 126 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 85 FPS average. These numbers indicate that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combo, as the High preset provides a smooth experience, and even Ultra is playable.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly. The Low preset averages 116 FPS, which is still very playable. The Medium preset averages 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS. The High preset averages 67 FPS, which is acceptable for slower-paced city building. The Ultra preset averages 45 FPS, which is at the edge of playability for a game like this.

The data shows a clear pattern: the combo is CPU-bound at 1080p, well-balanced at 1440p, and GPU-bound at 4K. The Medium preset offers the best balance of performance and visual quality across all resolutions, with the minimum FPS staying above 76 at 4K and above 174 at 1080p. The High preset is a solid choice for 1440p, providing 126 FPS average. For 4K, the High preset at 67 FPS is the recommended choice, as the Ultra preset's 45 FPS average may be too low for some users.