Steamworld Build

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 places at rank 780 out of 1730 tested combinations in Steamworld Build. This position places it in the upper-middle tier of the database, meaning it outperforms a majority of tested systems while remaining short of the top-tier hardware configurations. The ranking reflects a balanced pairing where neither component dramatically bottlenecks the other, though the data reveals distinct limitations at higher settings.

The combo's percentile positioning is notable when compared to the individual component benchmarks. The CPU sits at the 77th percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 72nd percentile among all graphics cards. The measured in-game performance, however, shows this pairing achieves a combined ranking that is consistent with these individual standings, suggesting the two components work together without one severely limiting the other in most scenarios. The data indicates this is a mid-pack-to-upper-mid-pack configuration that handles the game's demands competently across most resolution and settings combinations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F brings six cores and twelve threads to the pairing, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This Alder Lake-S architecture processor operates on the Intel Socket 1700 platform and features 18 MB of shared L3 cache. For Steamworld Build, a city builder genre title, the CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are relevant for managing the simulation and AI elements that scale with city population and complexity.

Benchmark data shows the CPU's 3DMark scores scaling from 909 in single-thread to 5912 at max threads, indicating strong scaling across its twelve threads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16518 versus a single-core score of 2332 shows the processor's ability to leverage its full thread count effectively. In the context of Steamworld Build, the data suggests the CPU can handle the background simulation load without becoming the primary limiting factor at most settings, though the game's city-building mechanics may create CPU-bound scenarios as the simulation grows more complex.

The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core i7-8700K, which scores 0.1% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, which scores 0.7% higher. This indicates the i5-12400F sits within a tight performance cluster, with deltas under 1.3% against its closest competitors. The AMD EPYC 7773X trails by 1.3%, placing the i5-12400F in a competitive position among its peers.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its Ampere architecture includes 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units. The GPU's base clock runs at 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1725 MHz, while memory operates at 1750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective speed.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 3070 achieves a Passmark G3D score of 22214 and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 11195. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3162 provides a baseline for DirectX 12 performance. The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, which scores 0.9% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, which scores 1% higher. The AMD FirePro S7150 leads by 0.6%, while the AMD Radeon R9 M295X trails by 1.1%.

For Steamworld Build, the GPU's role becomes increasingly important at higher resolutions and settings. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game's graphical demands, though the data shows performance scaling that suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K resolution with higher quality presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 258.3 FPS on Low settings, 196.9 FPS on Medium, 144.6 FPS on High, and 100.7 FPS on Ultra. These figures show the pairing provides smooth performance across all settings at this resolution, with even the most demanding Ultra preset maintaining triple-digit frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the measured averages are 161.4 FPS on Low, 121.4 FPS on Medium, 94.5 FPS on High, and 61.1 FPS on Ultra. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with the Ultra preset crossing below the 60 FPS threshold at 61.1 FPS, indicating the higher resolution begins to stress the GPU more noticeably.

At 3840x2160, the averages fall to 87.7 FPS on Low, 66 FPS on Medium, 48.3 FPS on High, and 34 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Ultra setting produces the lowest measured performance at 34 FPS, which would be noticeable in a city builder where smooth camera panning and zooming matter for the experience. The Low preset at 4K remains playable at 87.7 FPS, showing the GPU's capability when graphical demands are reduced.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling pattern reveals the limiting component across different scenarios. From 1080p to 1440p, the FPS drops by approximately 37.6% on Low, 38.3% on Medium, 34.7% on High, and 39.3% on Ultra. These consistent reductions suggest the GPU is becoming the primary constraint as pixel count increases, though the CPU still contributes to the overall performance envelope.

Scaling from 1440p to 4K shows more dramatic drops: 45.7% on Low, 45.6% on Medium, 48.9% on High, and 44.4% on Ultra. The near-uniform percentage drops across all settings indicate the GPU's rendering throughput is the dominant factor at these higher resolutions. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases, with the RTX 3070's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth becoming the performance ceiling.

The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU can still contribute meaningfully to frame rates, as evidenced by the 258.3 FPS Low setting result. However, by 4K, the GPU's limitations become apparent, particularly at High and Ultra presets where the average FPS falls below 50. This scaling behavior indicates the RTX 3070 is better suited to 1080p and 1440p gaming for this title, with 4K requiring reduced settings for acceptable performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 100.7 FPS delivers the best visual quality while maintaining smooth performance, making it the recommended choice for users with 1080p displays. The High preset at 144.6 FPS offers a slight performance margin for those prioritizing frame rate stability over maximum visual fidelity.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 94.5 FPS provides the best balance between visual quality and performance, keeping the experience well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 121.4 FPS is suitable for users who prefer higher frame rates, while the Ultra preset at 61.1 FPS sits just above the 60 FPS line and may experience occasional dips during complex city simulations.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 66 FPS offers the most playable experience, maintaining frame rates above 60 while providing reasonable visual quality. The Low preset at 87.7 FPS is recommended for users who prioritize smoothness above all else, while the High preset at 48.3 FPS and Ultra at 34 FPS fall below the 60 FPS threshold and would likely result in a less responsive experience in a city builder where constant camera movement and building placement occur.

The data indicates that for most users, the High preset at 1080p or 1440p represents the sweet spot for this combo, delivering frame rates that comfortably exceed 60 FPS while maintaining visual quality. At 4K, users should opt for Medium settings to maintain playable performance.