Steamworld Build

In Steamworld Build, the pairing of an Intel Core i5-12400 with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 128th out of 1,730 tested combos, placing it in the upper tier of configurations. The data shows a CPU that sits at the 77th percentile among all processors and a GPU at the 88th percentile, indicating a balanced pairing for this city builder. Benchmark results reveal that the combo delivers playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra, though the scaling across resolutions and settings exposes where each component takes the lead.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s 128th position out of 1,730 tested combinations places it in the top 8% of all configurations evaluated for Steamworld Build. This rank reflects the combined strengths of the i5-12400 and RTX 4080 SUPER, both of which outperform the majority of their peers. The CPU’s 77th percentile and the GPU’s 88th percentile suggest that the graphics card carries more weight in this game’s performance profile, but the processor still holds its own. When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 19,850 is within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-9700 (19,831), the Intel Core i7-8700 (19,894), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (19,928), and the Intel Core i5-11600K (19,771). The RTX 4080 SUPER’s average score of 53,610 is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (53,489), 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (53,414), 2.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7700S (52,505), and 2.9% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (52,086). These margins are small, but they place the combo in a competitive position for a game that rewards both CPU and GPU headroom.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s rank in Steamworld Build?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 + RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 128th out of 1,730 tested combos, placing it in the upper tier of configurations.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 19,850 is 0.1% higher than the i7-9700, 0.2% lower than the i7-8700, 0.4% lower than the Threadripper PRO 5995WX, and 0.4% higher than the i5-11600K.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER’s average score of 53,610 is 0.2% ahead of the RX 6900 XT, 0.4% ahead of the Pro W6600M, 2.1% ahead of the RX 7700S, and 2.9% ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti.

Q: What frame rate does the combo achieve at 4K Ultra?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 50.8, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but still playable for a city builder.

Q: Which settings deliver 60+ FPS at 4K?

A: At 4K, High settings yield 78.1 FPS, Medium yields 101.7 FPS, and Low yields 133.1 FPS, all above 60. Ultra is the only preset that falls short.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor?

A: The data suggests the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher settings and resolutions, while the CPU can push very high frame rates at 1080p Low (309.9 FPS), indicating it is not the primary constraint in most scenarios.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It features 18 MB of shared L3 cache and a TDP of 65 W, making it a power-efficient choice for a desktop build. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 15,935 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,249 in single-core, with a Passmark multithread score of 18,747. These numbers place it at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 19,850 is nearly identical to that of the i7-9700 and i7-8700, as noted earlier. For Steamworld Build, a city builder that relies on simulation logic and AI updates, the CPU’s 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (309.9) and 1440p Low (253.1) shows that the CPU can feed the GPU far beyond typical refresh rates, meaning the processor is rarely the limiting factor in this game. The launch MSRP for the i5-12400 is $199.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists the average FPS for each resolution and settings preset, as measured in Steamworld Build:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 78.1 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 133.1 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 101.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 50.8 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 144.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 253.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 194.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 98.9 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 224.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 309.9 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 279.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 150.8 |

At 1080p, even the Ultra preset delivers 150.8 FPS, which is well above the needs of most displays. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 159.1 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom. At 1440p, Ultra still holds 98.9 FPS, while High reaches 144.0 FPS. At 4K, the picture changes: Ultra drops to 50.8 FPS, while High maintains 78.1 FPS. The data indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER can handle 4K High comfortably, but Ultra pushes it to the edge.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals how the workload shifts. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 309.9 at 1080p to 133.1 at 4K, a reduction of 176.8 FPS. At Medium, the drop is from 279.5 to 101.7, a 177.8 FPS decrease. High settings see a decline from 224.5 to 78.1, a 146.4 FPS difference. Ultra shows the steepest relative drop: from 150.8 at 1080p to 50.8 at 4K, a 100.0 FPS loss. The percentage of 1080p performance retained at 4K shrinks as settings increase: Low retains 43% (133.1/309.9), Medium retains 36% (101.7/279.5), High retains 35% (78.1/224.5), and Ultra retains 34% (50.8/150.8). This pattern indicates that the GPU becomes the dominant constraint at higher presets, while the CPU’s influence fades. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as the GPU is not fully taxed; the 309.9 FPS ceiling suggests the i5-12400’s single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 2,249) is the bottleneck. As resolution and settings rise, the GPU’s 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 736.3 GB/s bandwidth take over, and the frame rate scales with the GPU’s compute load.

Settings Recommendations

For a smooth experience at 4K, the High preset is the highest setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, delivering 78.1 FPS. Ultra at 4K falls to 50.8 FPS, which may be acceptable for a city builder but is below the 60 FPS target. At 1440p, Ultra is viable at 98.9 FPS, and High reaches 144.0 FPS, making either a good choice depending on refresh rate. At 1080p, all presets exceed 150 FPS, so the choice comes down to visual fidelity; Ultra at 150.8 FPS is still far above typical display refresh rates. The data suggests that for most users, High at 4K or Ultra at 1440p offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate. Low settings at any resolution produce frame rates well above 130 FPS, but they sacrifice the graphical detail that a city builder’s camera often showcases. Medium settings provide a middle ground, with 101.7 FPS at 4K and 194.5 FPS at 1440p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process and features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2295 MHz, boosting to 2550 MHz, and it houses 10,240 shading units, 80 RT cores, and 320 tensor cores. In synthetic benchmarks, the GPU scores 34,245 in Passmark G3D and 19,822 in Passmark GPU compute, placing it at the 88th percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 53,610 is 0.2% ahead of the RX 6900 XT and 2.9% ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti, as previously noted. In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role becomes evident in the resolution scaling: at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 50.8 FPS, indicating that the GPU is fully utilized. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for this game’s textures, and the high memory bandwidth supports the large draw distances typical of city builders. The launch MSRP for the RTX 4080 SUPER is $999. The data shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at 4K and at high settings, while the CPU handles the simulation overhead. For users targeting 4K High or 1440p Ultra, this GPU delivers the necessary headroom, but Ultra at 4K pushes it to its limits.