Steamworld Build

# Steamworld Build with Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

This configuration places the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 in the 1636th position out of 3706 tested combos for Steamworld Build, putting it in the upper-middle portion of the database. The pairing delivers playable performance across most settings, with the CPU's strong multi-threaded throughput complementing the GPU's modern Blackwell architecture in a city builder that scales well with both resources.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo sits at rank 1636 out of 3706 tested combinations, which places it in the 56th percentile of all systems tested for this game. This is a respectable standing, though it indicates that a substantial portion of tested hardware configurations outperform this pairing in Steamworld Build. The ranking reflects a balanced system where neither component becomes a severe bottleneck, but the GPU's mid-range positioning in the benchmark database limits the overall ceiling.

The RTX 5060 holds the 72nd percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the i5-14400F ranks in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. This 11-point gap suggests the processor is comparatively stronger than the graphics card in the broader benchmark landscape. In Steamworld Build specifically, the combination's rank of 1636 out of 3706 translates to a position that is solidly mid-pack, with the data indicating that higher-ranked combos typically pair stronger GPUs with similarly capable processors.

The CPU's nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark scores include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% higher average score), Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% higher), AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (0.2% lower), and Intel Core i7-12800H (0.5% higher). These margins are negligible, meaning the i5-14400F performs essentially on par with a range of mobile and desktop chips from previous generations. For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon 860M (0.3% lower average score), NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (0.3% lower), AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (0.8% lower), and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (1.2% higher). The tight clustering of these scores indicates the RTX 5060 sits in a competitive bandwidth of GPU performance.

Given that Steamworld Build is a city builder with potentially complex simulation elements, the combo's mid-pack ranking suggests it can handle typical gameplay but may struggle in the most demanding late-game scenarios with large populations and extensive infrastructure.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 brings 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU's base clock runs at 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz, while memory operates at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). Built on TSMC's 5 nm process with the GB206 chip, the card features 3840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster operation pipelines. Ray tracing is handled by 30 RT cores, and 120 tensor cores support AI-accelerated features.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU's role becomes increasingly important as resolution and settings scale upward. At 1080p, the card demonstrates substantial headroom, with frame rates ranging from 93 FPS at Ultra to 240 FPS at Low. The 8 GB VRAM capacity proves adequate for this title across all tested configurations, as even at 4K Ultra the game runs without exceeding the memory allocation, though performance drops to 31 FPS at that extreme setting.

The GPU's FP32 compute throughput of 19.18 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s provide the raw processing power needed for the game's isometric rendering and environmental detail. The texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s ensures that the game's varied building textures and terrain features can be rendered efficiently. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628 and Passmark G3D score of 20891 place the card in a competitive position relative to its nearest rivals, with the data showing performance within 1.2% of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT.

At 1440p, the RTX 5060 maintains strong performance with 88 FPS at High settings and 59 FPS at Ultra, indicating that this resolution represents a sweet spot for the card. The 4K results show the GPU's limitations, with High settings producing 46 FPS and Ultra dropping to 31 FPS, suggesting that 4K gaming requires settings compromises to achieve smooth gameplay.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F features 10 cores and 16 threads, combining six performance cores with four efficiency cores in a Raptor Lake-R architecture. The processor runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts up to 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. Built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die size, the CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration.

The CPU's benchmark results reveal strong multi-threaded performance, with Cinebench R23 multi-core scoring 21645 and single-core scoring 3055. Geekbench results show 11268 multi-core and 2058 single-core scores. Passmark multi-thread testing yields 25470, while single-thread scores hit 3701. The processor's aggregate benchmark score of 32279 places it at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with its nearest rivals showing remarkably similar performance.

For Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is critical for simulation logic, pathfinding, and managing the game's complex systems. The 16 threads provide ample parallelism for handling multiple city subsystems simultaneously, while the 4.70 GHz boost clock ensures responsive single-threaded performance for the game's main loop. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps maintain data locality for frequently accessed game state information.

The CPU's data compression score of 315521 in Passmark indicates strong performance for tasks involving game asset loading and save file management. The floating-point math score of 61319 and integer math score of 81524 demonstrate the processor's capability to handle the calculations required for resource management and production chains in the game. The physics score of 1523 from Passmark suggests adequate performance for any physics calculations in the game's simulation.

The launch MSRP for this processor is $196, placing it in the mainstream desktop segment. The CPU's ECC memory support and PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes provide headroom for system expansion, though Steamworld Build's requirements are modest enough that these features primarily benefit system longevity rather than immediate gaming performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 5060 delivers exceptional performance across all settings. Low settings produce 240 FPS average, Medium achieves 184 FPS with a minimum of 156 FPS and maximum of 212 FPS, High reaches 138 FPS, and Ultra maintains 93 FPS. Every configuration at this resolution exceeds the standard 60 FPS threshold by a wide margin, making 1080p gaming a thoroughly smooth experience regardless of visual quality preferences.

The 2560x1440 results show strong performance with some settings requiring consideration. Low settings hit 153 FPS, Medium delivers 117 FPS with 99 FPS minimum and 135 FPS maximum, High achieves 88 FPS, and Ultra drops to 59 FPS. The data indicates that 1440p Ultra sits right at the edge of 60 FPS gameplay, with the 59 FPS average suggesting that most players would find this playable but may prefer High settings for additional headroom.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings produce 81 FPS, Medium delivers 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS and maximum of 71 FPS, High drops to 46 FPS, and Ultra falls to 31 FPS. The 4K results show a clear progression where each settings tier costs approximately 15-20 FPS, with Ultra proving largely unplayable at this resolution and High requiring compromise on visual fidelity for acceptable frame rates.

The frame time consistency varies by resolution and settings. The Medium settings at both 1440p and 4K show the only recorded minimum and maximum values, with 1440p Medium ranging from 99 to 135 FPS and 4K Medium spanning 53 to 71 FPS. This suggests that Medium settings provide stable performance with predictable frame pacing, while other configurations lack published variance data.

Comparing resolution scaling, the RTX 5060 shows roughly 1.6x performance improvement when moving from 4K to 1440p at High settings (46 to 88 FPS), and approximately 1.6x improvement from 1440p to 1080p at the same settings (88 to 138 FPS). This consistent scaling indicates the GPU is the primary performance limiter across all tested configurations.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 at High settings provides the best balance, delivering 88 FPS average while maintaining visual quality. At this resolution, Ultra settings still achieve 59 FPS, making 1440p viable for high-fidelity play.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: The RTX 5060 produces 46 FPS at 4K High and 62 FPS at 4K Medium. While Medium settings approach playable territory, the 31 FPS at Ultra makes 4K gaming viable only with reduced quality settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest competitors?

A: The i5-14400F scores within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and Intel Core i9-11900, and within 0.5% of the Intel Core i7-12800H. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is 0.2% faster. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming scenarios.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo delivers 93 FPS average. This provides smooth gameplay with substantial headroom above the 60 FPS threshold, even during demanding city-building scenarios.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Steamworld Build?

A: The measured performance across all resolutions and settings indicates that 8 GB of GDDR7 memory is adequate for this game. Even at 4K Ultra, where performance drops to 31 FPS, the system continues to function without memory-related stuttering or crashes.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT?

A: The RTX 5060 trails the RX 6750 XT by 1.2% in average benchmark score, with the RTX 5060 scoring 26331 compared to the RX 6750 XT's 26011. This places the two cards in essentially the same performance tier.

Settings Recommendations

For 1920x1080 displays, Ultra settings at 93 FPS provide the best experience, as the frame rate remains well above playable thresholds while delivering maximum visual quality. Players prioritizing higher refresh rates can drop to Low settings for 240 FPS or Medium for 184 FPS, though the visual compromise rarely justifies the frame rate gain on standard 60-144 Hz displays.

At 2560x1440, High settings offer the optimal combination of visual fidelity and performance at 88 FPS. Ultra settings at 59 FPS remain viable for players who prioritize image quality over frame rate stability, but the 88 FPS at High provides better headroom for busy city scenes with many on-screen elements. The 117 FPS at Medium serves as a strong option for competitive or high-refresh-rate play.

For 3840x2160, Medium settings at 62 FPS represent the recommended configuration, delivering playable performance with reasonable visual quality. Low settings at 81 FPS provide additional smoothness for players sensitive to frame rate dips, while High at 46 FPS and Ultra at 31 FPS fall below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. The 53 FPS minimum at 4K Medium indicates that frame drops can occur during demanding moments, so players should be prepared for occasional slowdowns.

The data consistently shows that Medium settings provide the most stable frame pacing across resolutions, with recorded minimum and maximum values at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. For the best overall experience, the 2560x1440 High configuration offers a strong balance of visual quality and performance headroom, making it the recommended default for most players using this hardware combination.