Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where simulation depth, not raw visual fidelity, typically dictates performance. In this configuration, the pairing of the Intel Core i5-10400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D creates a distinct bottleneck dynamic. The benchmark data shows that this combo ranks in the 424th position out of 2924 tested combinations, placing it in the top 15% of all systems. The measured frame rates indicate that this pairing is heavily skewed toward high-refresh-rate gameplay at 1440p and 1080p, while 4K Ultra settings remain the only scenario where the system's considerable graphical power is fully taxed.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. For a city builder like Steamworld Build, which often relies on single-thread performance for game logic and simulation updates, this processor's specifications are adequate but not exceptional. Its single-thread benchmark scores, such as 688 in 3dmark_single_thread and 1451 in cinebench_r23_singlecore, place it in a mid-range tier. The processor's 12 MB of shared L3 cache is a relevant asset for keeping frequently accessed simulation data close to the cores.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiting factor in most tested configurations. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 225 FPS, which is a high frame rate that indicates the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently at lower graphical loads. However, the processor's performance ceiling becomes apparent when comparing its multi-threaded scores. With a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 10283 and a passmark_multithread score of 12115, the i5-10400F provides sufficient throughput for the game's background simulation tasks but does not offer the massive headroom of higher-core-count rivals. The percentileVsAllCpus rating of 68 confirms that this CPU sits above the median but is not a top-tier performer.

In this specific game, the CPU's role is to maintain a stable frame pacing floor. The measured data shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is 67 FPS (from 225 to 158), which is a smaller absolute delta than the performance scaling seen at 4K. This indicates that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck, and the CPU's relative influence on the final frame rate diminishes. The i5-10400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to avoid hard stutters in Steamworld Build, but the benchmark results imply that a stronger CPU would not unlock significantly higher frame rates at 4K, where the RTX 5090 D is already the constraining factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship graphics card featuring the GB202 chip on a 5 nm process. It is equipped with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. The card's raw compute capabilities are immense, with 21,760 shading units and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. This hardware configuration is designed to eliminate any GPU-related bottlenecks in most games, and the benchmark data for Steamworld Build reflects this, but only at the highest settings.

The GPU's role in this combo is to provide headroom. At 4K Ultra, the system delivers 62 FPS, which is the only measured result below the 90 FPS threshold. This shows that even a card with 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance can be brought to its knees by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings in a city builder, likely due to draw calls and complex rendering of numerous structures. The 32 GB VRAM is a significant asset, as it ensures that texture streaming and large simulation maps do not cause memory-related hitches, even at 4K. The GPU's percentileVsAllGpus rating of 92 indicates it is in the top 8% of all graphics cards tested.

Comparing the GPU's performance across resolutions reveals its scaling behavior. The jump from 1080p to 1440p at High settings results in a 26 FPS drop (from 184 to 158), and the jump from 1440p to 4K at High settings results in a 66 FPS drop (from 158 to 92). This steep decline at 4K highlights the immense pixel throughput required at that resolution. The RTX 5090 D's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, have an average score delta of -1.6%, but in this game, the 5090 D's sheer memory bandwidth and compute power provide a definitive advantage in maintaining playable frame rates at 4K, where other cards would likely fall below 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves a rank of 424 out of 2924 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places the system in the 85th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of systems. However, the ranking also reveals a mismatch. The GPU is a top-tier component (92nd percentile), while the CPU is a mid-range part (68th percentile). This imbalance means the combo's rank is likely held back by the processor in CPU-bound scenarios.

The data suggests that the combo's strength lies in high-resolution gaming. At 4K Ultra, the system's rank is probably higher than its overall rank, because the GPU is fully utilized. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the CPU may prevent the system from reaching its full potential, potentially lowering the rank relative to combos with stronger processors. The nearest rival CPUs for the i5-10400F, such as the Intel Core 7 160UL (deltaPct -0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (deltaPct -0.6%), have similar average scores, indicating that the CPU is performing as expected for its class. The combo's overall rank confirms the RTX 5090 D's ability to carry the system, but it is not a top-100 finish, which would likely require a more balanced, high-end CPU pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers very high frame rates. The Low preset yields an average of 225 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce an average of 205 FPS, with a minimum of 174 and a maximum of 235 FPS. High settings average 184 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 158 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra (a 67 FPS drop) shows that the GPU is still capable of handling the load, but the CPU's single-thread performance begins to show limitations at these high frame rates, where the simulation tick rate can become a factor.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent. Low settings average 194 FPS, Medium settings average 176 FPS (with a minimum of 150 and a maximum of 202), High settings average 158 FPS, and Ultra settings average 118 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 76 FPS, which is a larger gap than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is starting to become more of a limiting factor. The 1440p Ultra result of 118 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making this resolution the sweet spot for high refresh rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 157 FPS, Medium settings average 124 FPS (with a minimum of 105 and a maximum of 142), High settings average 92 FPS, and Ultra settings average 62 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only one that approaches the edge of playability, and the 92 FPS average at High settings is a solid result for a demanding resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 95 FPS, which is the largest scaling delta in the dataset, confirming that the GPU is the dominant factor at this resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combo for a high refresh rate monitor?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 is the optimal choice for high refresh rate gaming. At 1440p, the system achieves an average of 176 FPS on Medium settings and 158 FPS on High settings, both of which are well above the 144 Hz refresh rate threshold. At 1080p, the frame rates are higher (up to 225 FPS), but the difference is less noticeable, and 4K drops below 100 FPS on High settings.

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

A: Yes, but just barely. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 62 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS target, but it leaves little headroom for large, complex cities that might increase simulation load. For a more consistent 4K experience, the High settings preset, which averages 92 FPS, is a safer choice.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D's performance in this game compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, which is 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. However, these are aggregate benchmark scores. In Steamworld Build specifically, the 32 GB VRAM and high bandwidth of the 5090 D are likely to provide a more significant advantage in 4K scenarios, where memory capacity can be a limiting factor for other cards.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D?

A: The data indicates that the CPU is a bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 225 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame generation capability. At 4K Ultra, the CPU is less of a factor, as the GPU is clearly the limiting component. The CPU's 68th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 92nd percentile confirms this imbalance.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 176 FPS (with a minimum of 150 FPS), while the High preset averages 158 FPS. This represents a 18 FPS drop, or approximately 10%, for the visual quality upgrade. The High preset also has a higher minimum frame rate potential, making it a reasonable trade-off for most users.

Q: Does the system maintain consistent frame times?

A: The data shows frame time consistency is best at Medium settings across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 174 FPS and the maximum is 235 FPS, a spread of 61 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the spread is 52 FPS (150-202). This suggests that Medium settings provide a stable frame pacing experience, while Low and Ultra presets may have more variance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the most balanced experience across all resolutions. This is evident from the fact that it is the only settings level with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, indicating a stable frame delivery. At 1440p, Medium averages 176 FPS, which is high enough for any monitor, and the minimum of 150 FPS ensures no noticeable stutters. Similarly, at 4K, Medium averages 124 FPS, which is a significant improvement over the 62 FPS at Ultra, while still providing a visually rich experience.

For users with a 1080p display, the High preset is a strong recommendation. It averages 184 FPS, which is still far above the refresh rate of most monitors, while offering better visual fidelity than Medium. The jump to Ultra at 1080p only costs 26 FPS (down to 158), but the visual difference is often minimal in a top-down city builder.

For 4K displays, the High preset is the practical ceiling. It delivers an average of 92 FPS, which is smooth and leaves headroom for complex simulation scenes. The Ultra preset, at 62 FPS, is playable but risks dropping below 60 FPS in dense areas, which can be jarring in a management game where you are constantly zooming and panning. The Low preset is not recommended for any resolution above 1080p, as it sacrifices too much visual clarity for a marginal FPS gain over Medium. Ultimately, the data supports Medium as the default choice, with High as the recommended upgrade for those who prioritize visuals over maximum frame rates, and Ultra reserved for 1080p or 1440p displays.