Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the simulation and rendering load can shift between the CPU and GPU depending on your settings and resolution. This analysis covers the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, using the measured data provided. The results show a combo that is capable of smooth play at high refresh rates in 1080p, but requires careful settings management to maintain playability at 4K.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the strongest choice. At High settings, the combo produces an average of 129.5 FPS, and at Medium settings, it reaches 175.4 FPS. This provides a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS threshold for most monitors.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 perform at 4K in this game?

A: The data shows that 4K is demanding. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 30.6, which is not ideal for a smooth experience. Lowering to High settings improves this to 43.3 FPS, but it remains below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 in this game?

A: The benchmark data suggests the combo is balanced. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 225.2 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This indicates the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to produce high frame rates.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets?

A: The difference is significant. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 225.2 on Low to 89.7 on Ultra, a decrease of over half the frame rate. At 4K, the drop is from 77.2 on Low to 30.6 on Ultra.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 952nd out of 1730 tested combos for this game. This places it in the mid-range of all tested systems, indicating it is a capable but not top-tier setup for Steamworld Build.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1440p High and 4K Medium?

A: At 1440p High, the combo averages 82.4 FPS, which is very smooth. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 58.0, which is close to but slightly below the 60 FPS target. The 1440p High setting provides a significantly better frame rate with likely similar visual quality.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. In Steamworld Build, these specifications directly impact how many pixels can be rendered per second, especially at higher resolutions.

The data shows a clear relationship between GPU load and resolution. At 1920x1080, the GPU has less work to do, resulting in high frame rates across all settings. For instance, at Medium settings, the combo achieves 175.4 FPS. As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU's workload increases, and the average FPS at Medium settings drops to 111.9. At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed, and the average FPS at Medium settings falls to 58.0. The VRAM capacity becomes a factor at higher resolutions and settings, as the game needs to store more texture data. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance changes when moving between resolutions, as the CPU performance remains constant.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 952nd out of 1730 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places the system in the 55th percentile of all tested configurations. This is a mid-pack ranking, suggesting that while the combo is capable of running the game well, there are many other systems that perform better.

The CPU itself has a percentile of 75 against all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 17181. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U with a score of 17189 and a delta of 0%, and the Intel Core i7-1260P with a score of 17212 and a delta of -0.2%. This indicates that the i5-11400F is a solid mid-range processor, but it is not a top-tier performer. The GPU has a percentile of 66 against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23181. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600M with a score of 23321 and a delta of -0.6%, and the Intel Arc B580 with a score of 23021 and a delta of 0.7%. This shows the RTX 4060 is a competent mid-range graphics card. The combo rank reflects the sum of these parts, placing it firmly in the middle of the pack for this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The results are as follows:

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers excellent performance. The Low preset yields an average of 225.2 FPS. The Medium preset averages 175.4 FPS, and the High preset averages 129.5 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset still manages a very playable 89.7 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 140.8 FPS. The Medium preset averages 111.9 FPS, and the High preset averages 82.4 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 56.3 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 77.2 FPS, which is still smooth. The Medium preset averages 58.0 FPS. The High preset averages 43.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of 30.6 FPS, which is not suitable for a smooth experience.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows how performance scales with resolution, highlighting the shift in bottleneck. Moving from 1080p to 1440p with the High preset, the average FPS drops from 129.5 to 82.4, a 36% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K with the same preset, the average FPS drops from 82.4 to 43.3, a 47% decrease.

This pattern is consistent across all presets. For example, on the Medium preset, the FPS drops from 175.4 at 1080p to 111.9 at 1440p, and then to 58.0 at 4K. The scaling is not linear, with the largest relative drop occurring when moving to 4K.

This behavior indicates that at 1080p, the system is likely not fully GPU-bound in all scenarios, allowing the CPU to push frame rates higher. As the resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows, and it becomes the primary limiting factor. The steep drop at 4K suggests that the RTX 4060's 8 GB of VRAM and 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high performance at this resolution, particularly with higher preset levels.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the settings should be chosen based on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the optimal choice, delivering an average of 129.5 FPS. This provides a great balance between visual fidelity and performance, easily exceeding the 60 FPS target for most displays. The Ultra preset is also viable at 89.7 FPS if maximum visual quality is preferred.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 82.4 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. The Medium preset at 111.9 FPS is an option for those who prefer higher frame rates on a high refresh rate monitor, but the visual quality reduction is noticeable.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 77.2 FPS. The Medium preset at 58.0 FPS is borderline acceptable, but it may have noticeable dips. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for 4K, as their average frame rates of 43.3 and 30.6 FPS respectively will result in a stuttery and less responsive experience. For a 4K display, the best strategy is to use the Low preset or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p and using the High preset for a much better experience.