Steamworld Build

# Steamworld Build with Intel Core i5-13400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a measured performance profile in Steamworld Build that reveals a clear balance between CPU-driven simulation logic and GPU-accelerated rendering. This combo ranks 843rd out of 1730 tested combinations, placing it near the middle of the database’s tested pool. The data shows that this pairing is well-suited for high-refresh 1080p play, but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K with maximum settings. The measured rows across three resolutions and four quality presets provide a complete picture of where this system excels and where it falls short.

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

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor built on Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The CPU’s percentile rank against all CPUs is 82, indicating strong general-purpose performance. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 21,279 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,004 in single-core, while Geekbench multi-core reaches 10,971 and single-core 2,301.

For a city builder like Steamworld Build, the CPU’s multi-threaded capability matters because simulation logic—population counts, resource flows, building updates—tends to scale with core counts. The 16 threads here provide ample headroom for background simulation tasks, while the single-thread score of 960 in 3DMark single-thread suggests that even lightly threaded game logic runs efficiently. The nearest CPU rivals show how tightly clustered this chip is: the Intel Core i7-13620H sits 0.1% higher in average benchmark score, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D is 0.5% lower, the AMD EPYC 9474F is 0.5% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 is 0.5% higher. These tiny deltas indicate that the i5-13400F performs essentially on par with a broad set of competitors, meaning the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in Steamworld Build’s frame rates.

The measured FPS data supports this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 241.9 FPS, which is far beyond what any display can show and suggests the CPU is not constraining output at lower settings. Even at 1080p Ultra, the system manages 94.6 FPS, a level that still exceeds typical 60 Hz displays. The CPU’s 82nd percentile standing and its competitive benchmark scores against nearby rivals indicate that Steamworld Build’s simulation demands are comfortably handled by this processor.

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

The measured rows across four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—show a clear progression in frame rates, but the optimal choice depends on the target display refresh rate. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 241.9 FPS, Medium reaches 182.7 FPS, High drops to 135.4 FPS, and Ultra falls to 94.6 FPS. For a 144 Hz monitor, the High preset at 135.4 FPS is the best fit, as it stays above the refresh threshold while providing significantly better visual fidelity than Low or Medium. The Ultra preset at 94.6 FPS is still playable but will not fully utilize a 144 Hz panel.

At 2560x1440, the situation changes. Low yields 154.1 FPS, Medium drops to 116.5 FPS, High hits 85.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 56 FPS. For 1440p, the Medium preset at 116.5 FPS offers the best balance—it remains above 60 FPS and provides a meaningful visual upgrade over Low. The High preset at 85.6 FPS is also viable for 60 Hz displays, but Ultra at 56 FPS dips below the 60 FPS threshold, making it a poor choice for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the data becomes more restrictive. Low achieves 77.6 FPS, Medium drops to 60.1 FPS, High falls to 45.4 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 33.5 FPS. For 4K, the Low preset is the only one that clears 60 FPS, while Medium barely hits the 60 FPS mark. The High and Ultra presets both fall below playable thresholds for most users. The recommendation is to prioritize Medium at 4K if visual quality matters, or Low if frame rate stability is paramount.

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

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound pattern. At Low settings, the system delivers 241.9 FPS at 1080p, 154.1 FPS at 1440p, and 77.6 FPS at 4K—a reduction of 36.3% from 1080p to 1440p, and an additional 49.7% from 1440p to 4K. At Ultra settings, the progression is 94.6 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and 33.5 FPS at 4K, representing drops of 40.8% and 40.2% respectively.

These scaling factors indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 becomes the limiting component as resolution increases. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is ample for 1080p but may struggle with the increased pixel count at 4K. The GPU’s FP32 throughput of 19.18 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s are sufficient for mid-range rendering, but the 4K Ultra result of 33.5 FPS shows that the card cannot sustain high detail at that resolution.

The fact that 1080p Low exceeds 240 FPS while 4K Ultra barely reaches 33.5 FPS confirms that the CPU is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions. If the CPU were limiting, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the sharp decline with increasing resolution points squarely at the GPU. The RTX 5060’s 73rd percentile ranking among all GPUs and its close benchmark parity with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (0% delta) and AMD Radeon RX 570 (-0.2% delta) reinforce this interpretation—it is a solid mid-range card, but not a 4K powerhouse.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo holds rank 843 out of 1730 tested combinations, placing it in the 48.7th percentile of all tested combos in Steamworld Build. This middling position reflects the balanced but not exceptional nature of the pairing. The CPU’s 82nd percentile and GPU’s 73rd percentile individually suggest above-average components, yet the combined ranking in this specific game lands near the median.

This rank makes sense given the measured FPS data. At 1080p, the combo outperforms the vast majority of systems, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 94 FPS. At 1440p, it remains competitive, with Medium at 116.5 FPS. However, at 4K, the system falls behind higher-end configurations, as evidenced by the sub-60 FPS results at High and Ultra. The rank of 843 reflects this mixed performance—strong at lower resolutions, weaker at 4K.

Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing sits in the middle of the pack. The CPU’s nearest rivals all have average benchmark scores within 0.5% of the i5-13400F, meaning any performance differences in Steamworld Build are likely due to the GPU rather than the processor. Similarly, the GPU’s nearest rivals—the RX 7700 XT (0% delta) and RX 570 (-0.2% delta)—show that the RTX 5060 is a typical mid-range card. The combination of these two components yields a system that is neither a top-tier performer nor a weak contender.

FAQ

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

A: The 1920x1080 resolution provides the most consistent frame rates, with all presets exceeding 94 FPS. The 2560x1440 resolution is also viable, with Medium achieving 116.5 FPS. The 3840x2160 resolution is only playable at Low (77.6 FPS) or Medium (60.1 FPS) settings.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25,236. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-13620H, scores 25,201 (0.1% higher). The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D scores 25,365 (0.5% lower), the AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25,103 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 scores 25,099 (0.5% higher).

Q: Does the RTX 5060 have enough VRAM for Steamworld Build at 4K?

A: The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory. At 4K Ultra, the combo achieves 33.5 FPS, which suggests the VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth (448.0 GB/s) are insufficient for maximum detail at that resolution. At 4K Low, the 77.6 FPS result indicates the memory is adequate for lower settings.

Q: What preset should I use at 1440p for a 60 Hz monitor?

A: The High preset at 85.6 FPS is the best choice, as it stays above 60 FPS while providing better visuals than Medium (116.5 FPS) or Low (154.1 FPS). The Ultra preset at 56 FPS falls below the 60 Hz refresh rate and should be avoided.

Q: How does the GPU’s benchmark score compare to its rivals?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 30,109. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT scores 30,097 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 570 scores 30,158 (-0.2% delta), the NVIDIA Tesla M60 scores 29,969 (0.5% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile scores 29,928 (0.6% delta).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 241.9 FPS, indicating the CPU can handle the simulation. The FPS drops sharply at 4K, with Ultra at 33.5 FPS, which points to GPU rendering limits rather than CPU simulation limits.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are as follows: Low delivers 241.9 FPS, Medium reaches 182.7 FPS, High achieves 135.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 94.6 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 147.3 FPS, demonstrating a substantial performance cost for higher visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the results are: Low at 154.1 FPS, Medium at 116.5 FPS, High at 85.6 FPS, and Ultra at 56 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 98.1 FPS, showing that the GPU’s rendering load increases with resolution.

At 3840x2160, the data shows: Low at 77.6 FPS, Medium at 60.1 FPS, High at 45.4 FPS, and Ultra at 33.5 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 44.1 FPS, indicating that the GPU is nearing its limits at this resolution.

The full dataset reveals a consistent pattern: each resolution step up reduces frame rates by roughly 35-50% across all presets. The 1080p results are exceptional, with even Ultra exceeding 90 FPS. The 1440p results are playable at Medium and High. The 4K results require Low or Medium settings for acceptable performance.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB206 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The card includes 3,840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores. Its FP32 performance is 19.18 TFLOPS, and the pixel rate is 119.9 GPixel/s.

The GPU’s 73rd percentile rank among all GPUs places it in the upper-mid range. Its average benchmark score of 30,109 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (30,097, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 570 (30,158, -0.2% delta). The RTX 5060’s PassMark G3D score of 20,891 and DirectX 12 score of 77 indicate solid but not exceptional rendering performance.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role becomes evident in the resolution scaling data. At 1080p, the card’s 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is more than sufficient, delivering 241.9 FPS at Low settings. As resolution increases to 4K, the pixel fill rate of 119.9 GPixel/s becomes a limiting factor, causing the 4K Ultra result of 33.5 FPS. The 8 GB VRAM capacity also appears to constrain high-detail 4K rendering, as the memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s struggles to feed the GPU at that resolution. The card’s 145 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU indicate a power-efficient design that suits mid-range builds, and its PCIe 5.0 x8 interface provides ample bandwidth for the game’s data needs. The GPU’s performance profile aligns with its benchmark standing — it is a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but 4K gaming requires reduced settings.