Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the simulation's appetite for CPU threads and the GPU's rendering load pull in different directions. The data for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 shows a system that can deliver very high frame rates at mainstream resolutions, but one that hits a clear performance wall at 4K Ultra. The measured results reveal a configuration that is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with the CPU proving sufficient for the game's logic and the GPU becoming the primary constraint as resolution and settings increase.

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

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture. It operates at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and can boost up to 4.40 GHz, which provides the raw speed needed for single-threaded tasks like game logic and pathfinding. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip achieves a single-thread score of 2029 in Cinebench R23 and 868 in 3dmark_single_thread, indicating strong per-core performance that is critical for a city builder's simulation tick.

The processor's multi-threaded capabilities are robust for its class. It scores 14372 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 6036 in Cinebench R20 multicore. With a Passmark multithread score of 16908, the i5-11400F places in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, which has an average score of 17189, and the Intel Core i7-1260P, which scores 17212. The deltaPct is only 0.2% against the Ryzen and -0.2% against the Core i7, meaning the i5-11400F is effectively on par with these mobile-focused chips in general compute despite being a desktop part.

For Steamworld Build specifically, the game's simulation benefits from the 12 threads. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 5619 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 5652 show that scaling nearly maxes out at 16 threads, but the marginal gain over the 8-thread score of 4691 is modest. This suggests the game can use multiple cores, but the 6-core/12-thread configuration is more than adequate. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared, which helps keep frequently accessed simulation data close to the cores. The processor's DDR4 memory support with dual-channel configuration and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth ensures the CPU can feed the GPU without bottlenecking at lower resolutions where frame rates are very high.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture with a TU106 chip. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz. This memory configuration is crucial for Steamworld Build, as the game's detailed textures and draw distances can consume significant VRAM, especially at higher resolutions.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest by modern standards. It delivers 6.451 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and has 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It also includes 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, though these are unlikely to be heavily utilized in a city builder. The pixel rate is 80.64 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 201.6 GTexel/s, which are the metrics that directly impact how fast the GPU can fill the screen with rendered geometry.

In benchmark rankings, the RTX 2060 sits in the 58th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 16074. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600S with a score of 15996 (deltaPct of 0.5%, meaning the RTX 2060 is slightly ahead), and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700, both at 16351 (deltaPct of -1.7%, meaning they are slightly ahead). The Passmark G3D score of 14111 confirms its position as a mid-range performer. The 6 GB VRAM is a limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the data shows a significant drop in performance, suggesting the GPU is running out of memory or bandwidth to handle the highest texture quality.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a classic scaling pattern. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 174.8 FPS, which indicates the CPU and GPU are both operating at high efficiency. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 108.4 FPS, a 38% reduction. At 4K Low, it falls to 56.2 FPS, a further 48% drop from 1440p. This steep decline with resolution increase points to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count rises.

The pattern is more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 69.3 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 43.3 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 24 FPS. The difference between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is a 65% reduction in frame rate. This is a much larger drop than the 68% reduction seen from 1080p Low to 4K Low, indicating that the combination of high resolution and high settings stresses the GPU's memory bandwidth and shading units to their limits.

The data suggests that the RTX 2060 is the limiting component at 4K, while the i5-11400F is sufficient to keep up at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 174.8 FPS result shows the CPU is not holding the GPU back. However, at 4K Ultra, the 24 FPS result indicates the GPU simply cannot handle the workload. The CPU's role is relatively constant across resolutions, while the GPU's workload scales with pixel count and settings complexity.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 97.5 FPS, which is a solid experience for a city builder where smooth camera panning and zooming matter. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 69.3 FPS, which is still playable but the extra visual fidelity may not justify the 29% performance hit over High. The Medium preset at 1080p produces 133.5 FPS, which is excellent for very smooth scrolling, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often more noticeable in a game with detailed structures.

At 1440p, the High preset achieves 62.2 FPS, which is right at the threshold for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 1440p provides 85.3 FPS, making it the recommended choice for those who prefer a higher frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 43.3 FPS, which is below the ideal range for a game that requires frequent camera movement. The Low preset at 1440p gives 108.4 FPS, but the visual quality loss is significant.

At 4K, the options are more constrained. The High preset yields only 31.7 FPS, which is borderline unplayable for a city builder where you need to navigate complex layouts. The Medium preset at 4K produces 43.4 FPS, which is workable but not ideal. The Low preset at 4K gives 56.2 FPS, which is the only 4K option that provides a consistently playable experience. The Ultra preset at 4K is effectively unusable at 24 FPS. For the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Steamworld Build at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings where it achieves 56.2 FPS. At Medium settings, it drops to 43.4 FPS, and at High settings, it falls to 31.7 FPS. The Ultra preset is not playable at 24 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F sufficient for this game?

A: Yes, the 6-core/12-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz is more than adequate. The CPU's single-thread score of 2029 in Cinebench R23 and multi-thread score of 14372 indicate it can handle the simulation load without bottlenecking the GPU.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 2060 need for this game?

A: The RTX 2060 has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory. The data shows a significant performance drop at 4K Ultra, suggesting the VRAM or memory bandwidth is a limiting factor at the highest settings.

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

A: The Medium preset provides 85.3 FPS, which is the best balance of performance and visual quality. The High preset delivers 62.2 FPS, which is playable but leaves less headroom for complex scenes.

Q: How does this system compare to its nearest GPU rival?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074, which is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S at 15996. It is 1.7% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700, both at 16351.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 174.8 FPS, indicating neither component is heavily stressed. As settings increase to Ultra, the frame rate drops to 69.3 FPS, showing the GPU becomes the limiting factor.

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

At 1920x1080, the system shows its strongest performance. The Low preset delivers 174.8 FPS, which is exceptionally high. The Medium preset produces 133.5 FPS, a 23.6% reduction from Low. The High preset achieves 97.5 FPS, which is a 44.2% reduction from Low. The Ultra preset yields 69.3 FPS, representing a 60.3% reduction from the Low preset. This scaling shows that each step up in settings costs a significant amount of performance, but even the most demanding preset remains playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are more noticeable. The Low preset provides 108.4 FPS, which is still very smooth. The Medium preset delivers 85.3 FPS, a 21.3% reduction. The High preset achieves 62.2 FPS, a 42.6% reduction from Low. The Ultra preset falls to 43.3 FPS, a 60.1% reduction from Low. The pattern is consistent with the 1080p results, but the absolute numbers are lower across the board.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles with higher settings. The Low preset yields 56.2 FPS, which is the only 4K option above 60 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 43.4 FPS, a 22.8% reduction. The High preset falls to 31.7 FPS, a 43.6% reduction. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 24 FPS, a 57.3% reduction from Low. The data shows that 4K gaming with this configuration requires significant compromises in visual quality to maintain playable frame rates.