Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder that scales unusually well with both high-end and mid-range hardware, and this particular pairing of an Intel Core i5-11400F with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D produces a dataset that is more about the CPU holding the GPU back than the GPU struggling with the workload. The measured frames per second across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a clear hierarchy where the RTX 5090 D's immense rendering power is consistently capped by the 6-core, 12-thread Rocket Lake processor at lower resolutions. This analysis walks through the resolution scaling, the measured FPS breakdown, and the specific roles each component plays in this combination.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is the most telling indicator of where the bottleneck lies in this system. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 sees the average frame rate fall from 264 FPS to 161 FPS, a reduction of 103 FPS or approximately 39%. This is a substantial drop, but the absolute numbers remain extraordinarily high, suggesting that even at 4K the GPU is not being fully taxed by the game's visual load at the lowest preset. Moving from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the average drops from 264 FPS to 227 FPS, a 37 FPS decrease, which is a smaller absolute step than the 66 FPS drop seen when moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low. This pattern indicates that the scaling is not linear, and the pixel count increase from 1440p to 4K (roughly 2.25 times the pixels) imposes a much heavier fill-rate demand on the GPU.

At High settings, the scaling behavior changes character. The 1080p High average is 216 FPS, which drops to 175 FPS at 1440p High, a 41 FPS reduction. From 1440p High to 4K High, the average falls from 175 FPS to 92 FPS, an 83 FPS reduction. This steeper decline at higher resolutions with more demanding settings suggests that the GPU is starting to become a more significant factor, but the fact that 4K High still produces 92 FPS indicates that even this extreme resolution is not overwhelming the RTX 5090 D in this title. The most dramatic scaling is observed at Ultra settings, where the 1080p average of 186 FPS drops to 118 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 62 FPS at 4K. The 56 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K at Ultra is the single largest absolute decrease in the dataset, showing that the combination of maximum quality settings and 4K resolution finally creates a scenario where the GPU's raw throughput becomes the limiting factor.

The data suggests that this game is heavily CPU-bound at lower resolutions and settings, particularly at 1080p Low where the 264 FPS average is far beyond what a city builder typically requires for smooth gameplay. The RTX 5090 D is capable of pushing far more frames, but the i5-11400F's single-thread performance and 6-core architecture cannot feed the GPU fast enough at those lower pixel counts. As resolution and settings increase, the load shifts toward the GPU, and the scaling becomes more predictable. The 4K Ultra result of 62 FPS is the only data point where the GPU appears genuinely challenged, while the 1080p and 1440p results across all settings are consistently high enough to suggest that the processor is the primary constraint in this combination.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average frame rate for this combination at 2560x1440 resolution with Medium settings is 206 FPS, with a minimum of 175 FPS and a maximum of 237 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, which places it 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (score 76904) and 1.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (score 78940).

Q: Is the i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D in Steamworld Build?

A: The data suggests yes, particularly at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 264, which is extremely high, but the scaling to 1440p Low only drops to 227 FPS. This relatively small drop indicates the CPU is limiting the frame rate before the GPU's full potential is reached.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high frame rate?

A: For a consistently high frame rate, 1440p is the sweet spot. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 206 FPS, while High at the same resolution yields 175 FPS, both well above the standard high-refresh-rate thresholds.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset produces an average of 161 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 62 FPS. This represents a 99 FPS difference between the two extreme quality presets.

Q: What are the core specifications of the Intel Core i5-11400F?

A: The i5-11400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It features 12 MB of shared L3 cache and is built on Intel's 14 nm Rocket Lake architecture.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Steamworld Build, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 182nd out of 2924 total combinations. This places the setup in the top 6.2% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result for a game that is likely more CPU-dependent than many other genres. The rank indicates that while this is not the absolute top-tier combination, it is well above the median and should provide a very playable experience.

The ranking must be interpreted in the context of the CPU's performance relative to its peers. The i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177, and its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7H12 (score 17120, 0.3% slower) and the Intel Core i5-12450H (score 17239, 0.4% faster). This puts the CPU in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, meaning it is a mid-to-upper-tier processor. The GPU, on the other hand, is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 77712. The combination of a 71st-percentile CPU with a 92nd-percentile GPU explains why the ranking is not higher overall; the CPU is the weaker link in this pairing, preventing the system from achieving the top 1% or 5% of results that the GPU alone might suggest.

The 182nd rank out of 2924 combinations translates to a very high placement, but the data shows that the CPU is holding back the system from achieving even higher scores. A comparison to the CPU's rivals reinforces this: the i5-11400F is nearly identical in performance to the AMD EPYC 7H12 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (which is 0.6% faster), yet the RTX 5090 D is a top-tier GPU. This suggests that the ranking is more a reflection of the CPU's mid-range standing than the GPU's capability. In a city builder like Steamworld Build, where simulation and AI logic can be demanding on the processor, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are adequate for a high frame rate, but the data indicates that a stronger CPU would likely push this combo higher in the rankings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of how this system performs across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average frame rate at 264 FPS, followed by Medium at 240 FPS (with a minimum of 204 FPS and a maximum of 276 FPS), High at 216 FPS, and Ultra at 186 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 78 FPS, which is significant but still leaves the Ultra preset at a very playable 186 FPS. The minimum FPS data is only available for the Medium preset, where the 204 FPS minimum still indicates no noticeable stuttering.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the Low preset maintains a high average of 227 FPS, while Medium drops to 206 FPS (with a minimum of 175 FPS and maximum of 237 FPS), High falls to 175 FPS, and Ultra settles at 118 FPS. At this resolution, the gap between Low and Ultra widens to 109 FPS, and the Ultra preset's 118 FPS average is still well above the 60 FPS minimum for smooth gameplay. The 1440p Medium result is particularly strong, as the 206 FPS average with a 175 FPS minimum suggests that this is a very stable configuration for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the results show the most dramatic scaling. The Low preset averages 161 FPS, which is still a high frame rate for 4K. Medium averages 124 FPS (with a minimum of 105 FPS and maximum of 142 FPS), High drops to 92 FPS, and Ultra falls to 62 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest average in the entire dataset, but the 62 FPS average is still technically playable, though it may not be ideal for fast-paced gameplay. The minimum FPS for 4K Medium is 105 FPS, which is a solid floor. The data shows a clear trend: at 1080p and 1440p, the system is highly capable of sustaining very high frame rates across all settings, while at 4K, only the Low and Medium presets maintain averages above 120 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship GPU with specifications that are almost overkill for a title like Steamworld Build. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. The GPU's base clock is 2017 MHz with a boost clock of 2407 MHz, and it has a massive 21760 shading units. In synthetic benchmarks, the GPU scores 44065 in Passmark's G3D test and 14326 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 77712 puts it 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, though it trails the Radeon RX 6850M XT by 1.6%.

In the context of Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is less about raw performance and more about ensuring that the frame rate does not become a limiting factor, even at maximum settings. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 62, which is the only point where the GPU's limits are tested. The 32 GB of VRAM is far more than any city builder would need, as the game's texture and geometry data are unlikely to exceed a few gigabytes. The high boost clock of 2407 MHz and the massive number of shading units contribute to the GPU's ability to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions, but the 1080p and 1440p results suggest that the GPU is not being fully utilized. The fact that the 1080p Low preset produces 264 FPS, while the 1440p Low preset produces 227 FPS, indicates that the GPU has plenty of headroom, and the bottleneck lies elsewhere.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals shows that it is a top-tier card, but in this game, the CPU is the more critical component for achieving high frame rates. The RTX 5090 D's massive compute power is somewhat wasted in a city builder, where the simulation and logic threads often limit performance. The 4K Ultra result of 62 FPS is the only data point where the GPU's capabilities are truly challenged, and even then, the frame rate remains playable. This suggests that for most users, the GPU will not be the limiting factor in this game, and the focus should be on CPU performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the user's resolution and frame rate targets. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 186 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many monitors. The High preset at 216 FPS offers a slight advantage for those with 240 Hz displays, but the visual difference between High and Ultra may be minimal. The Medium preset at 240 FPS is also viable for extreme refresh rates, but the jump from Medium to Ultra is more significant in terms of visual quality than the frame rate drop from 240 to 186 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended balance, offering an average of 175 FPS. This is sufficient for most high-refresh-rate monitors and provides a better visual experience than Medium at 206 FPS. The Ultra preset at 118 FPS is still playable and is a good choice for users who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate, but the 57 FPS difference between High and Ultra is substantial. The Medium preset at 206 FPS is ideal for competitive or fast-paced gameplay, but for a city builder, the visual enhancements in High are worth the performance cost.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the best option, with an average of 124 FPS and a minimum of 105 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with good visual quality. The High preset at 92 FPS is also viable for 60 Hz displays, but the drop from 124 to 92 FPS is noticeable. The Low preset at 161 FPS is overkill for 4K and sacrifices too much visual quality. The Ultra preset at 62 FPS is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold for average frame rate, and while it is technically playable, it is not recommended for a smooth experience. The data suggests that for a balanced experience across all resolutions, the Medium or High presets are the best choices, with Medium being the safest option at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 14340 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2024 in single-core, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 16908. Its average benchmark score of 17177 places it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, and it performs nearly identically to the AMD EPYC 7H12 (0.3% faster) and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (0.6% slower).

In Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is critical, as city builders are known for being CPU-intensive due to the simulation of many entities, pathfinding, and AI logic. The data supports this, as the frame rates at 1080p and 1440p are significantly higher than at 4K, but the GPU is not the limiting factor at those resolutions. The 264 FPS at 1080p Low is likely close to the CPU's maximum frame rate capability, as increasing the resolution to 1440p Low only drops the average to 227 FPS, a 37 FPS reduction. This suggests that the CPU is holding the frame rate to a certain level, and the GPU is simply waiting for the CPU to provide draw calls and simulation updates.

The i5-11400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for a modern city builder, but the game may not fully utilize all 12 threads. The single-thread performance, which is reflected in the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2024, is likely the most important factor for frame rate in this genre. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz is decent, but newer processors with higher IPC and faster clocks would likely yield higher frame rates. The CPU's 71st percentile ranking, combined with the GPU's 92nd percentile, clearly indicates that the CPU is the bottleneck in this system. For users looking to maximize performance, upgrading to a CPU with better single-thread performance would likely result in higher frame rates, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where the GPU is not fully utilized. The data shows that the i5-11400F is a capable processor, but it is not in the same league as the RTX 5090 D, and this mismatch is reflected in the overall combo ranking.