Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the simulation's pace is dictated by CPU logic, but the visual rendering of your growing metropolis is firmly in the GPU's domain. The data for the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination reveals a system that is exceptionally well-balanced for this title, delivering high frame rates at 1440p and 4K, but with a clear performance ceiling at 1080p that points to the CPU as the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions. The measured results show a system capable of dominating the game's Ultra preset at 1440p while still providing a playable, though demanding, 4K experience.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. For a city builder like Steamworld Build, which must track numerous entities, resource flows, and citizen AI, this level of multi-threaded performance is crucial. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889 and Geekbench multi-core score of 15636 indicate substantial parallel processing capability. This is directly reflected in the benchmark data, where at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 337.3 FPS, a figure so high that it suggests the CPU is feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them, even at this entry-level setting.

The processor's single-thread performance is equally important for the game's main simulation thread. A strong single-core score, as evidenced by the 4643 points in Cinebench R23, ensures that the game's core logic loop runs efficiently. This is why the frame rate scales so well from Low to Medium settings at 1080p, dropping from 337.3 FPS to 259 FPS, but then falls significantly to 189.9 FPS at High and 130.6 FPS at Ultra. This pattern indicates that as the graphical load increases, the GPU begins to take on more of the work, but the CPU is still not the limiting factor until the very high preset levels. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-14600KF sits in a strong position, with an average benchmark score 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600K and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, solidifying its role as a high-end, capable gaming processor.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, is tasked with the visual heavy lifting. It comes with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a key factor in the game's performance at higher resolutions and settings, as Steamworld Build’s detailed textures and geometry require substantial memory throughput. The GPU's boost clock of 2512 MHz and its 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power allow for smooth rendering of the game's vibrant, stylized world. The benchmark results show the GPU's strength, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs.

The role of the RTX 5070 becomes more pronounced as resolution and settings increase. At 4K with Ultra settings, the frame rate drops to 42.2 FPS, a significant reduction from the 79.5 FPS at 1440p Ultra. This is a clear sign that the GPU is now the primary bottleneck, as the sheer number of pixels and the complexity of the Ultra preset overwhelm the rendering pipeline. The GPU's performance is also contextualized by its nearest rivals, where it holds a slight edge with an average score 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, but it trails the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 by 0.2%. This positions the RTX 5070 as a top-tier card, but one where 4K Ultra in a demanding game like Steamworld Build will require compromises.

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

The measured FPS data paints a clear picture for optimal settings. At 4K, the High preset delivers an average of 64.9 FPS, which is the most balanced experience for a smooth, playable frame rate on a high-resolution display. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 42.2 FPS, is likely too demanding for consistent smoothness, while the Medium preset at 87.4 FPS is a viable alternative for those prioritizing frame rate over maximum visual fidelity. The data suggests that High is the "sweet spot" for 4K, providing a significant jump from the 42.2 FPS of Ultra to a much more fluid 64.9 FPS, a 53.8% improvement.

For 1440p, the Ultra preset becomes the clear recommendation. The system achieves an average of 79.5 FPS at this setting, which is above the threshold for a highly responsive experience. This is a substantial 88.4% performance increase over the 4K Ultra result, making 1440p the resolution where the RTX 5070's full power can be utilized with maximum visual settings. While the High preset at 123.7 FPS is even faster, the jump to Ultra is reasonable for the visual upgrade it provides. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but the Ultra preset at 130.6 FPS is the best way to leverage the high refresh rate potential of a 1080p monitor, ensuring the GPU is still being exercised without hitting the CPU bottleneck seen at lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is ranked 313 out of 1730 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places the system in the top 18% of all hardware configurations tested in the database, indicating a high-performance pairing. The rank is a composite measure of the system's ability across all resolutions and settings, and a top-quartile placement confirms that this is a powerful setup for this specific game. The strong CPU and GPU individual benchmark scores, with the CPU in the 93rd percentile and the GPU in the 83rd percentile, combine to produce a system that can handle the game's demands without a major weak link.

This high ranking reflects the balance of the two components. The i5-14600KF's strong multi-threading ensures the simulation runs smoothly, while the RTX 5070's raw power ensures high frame rates at demanding settings. The data shows that this pairing is not just about raw FPS but about consistent performance across the board. While it does not crack the top 100, its standing in the top 18% of all combos is a strong indicator that users can expect an excellent experience, with the primary trade-off being between resolution and graphical fidelity, rather than a fundamental performance deficiency.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions provides critical insight into which component is the limiting factor. Starting at 1080p with High settings, the system produces 189.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the frame rate drops to 123.7 FPS, a 34.9% decrease. The scaling continues at 4K, where the average FPS falls to 64.9, a 65.8% reduction from the 1440p figure. This dramatic drop as resolution increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 5070 is working increasingly harder to fill the additional pixels, and its performance is what ultimately determines the frame rate at higher resolutions.

Conversely, the relatively small performance gap between 1080p and 1440p at lower settings highlights the CPU's strength. At Low settings, the system goes from 337.3 FPS at 1080p to 211.5 FPS at 1440p, a 37.3% decrease. This drop is less severe than the 65.8% drop seen at High settings when moving from 1440p to 4K, suggesting that at 1080p and 1440p Low, the CPU is still capable of feeding the GPU enough data, but the GPU is starting to become the constraint. The data indicates a balanced system where the CPU is powerful enough to avoid being a bottleneck at most settings, but the GPU is the definitive limiting component at 4K, especially on the Ultra preset where the frame rate dips below 60 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but with a caveat. The data shows an average of 64.9 FPS on the High preset at 4K, which is smooth. However, on the Ultra preset, the frame rate drops to 42.2 FPS, which may not be ideal for all players.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p with this hardware?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice. The measured results show an average of 79.5 FPS, which provides a highly responsive and visually rich experience without compromising on performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At lower settings like Low and Medium, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as evidenced by the extremely high frame rates (337.3 and 259 FPS). At the Ultra preset, the GPU becomes more of a constraint, bringing the frame rate down to 130.6 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-14600KF compare to its closest rival, the i5-14600K?

A: The benchmark data shows the i5-14600KF has an average score that is 0.4% higher than the i5-14600K, making them effectively equal in performance, with the KF variant being marginally faster in this aggregate metric.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 4K?

A: The High preset yields an average of 64.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 42.2 FPS. This represents a 53.8% performance increase for the High preset, making it a much better choice for smooth 4K gameplay.

Q: Is the RTX 5070 significantly faster than the RTX 3090?

A: According to the average benchmark scores, the RTX 5070 is 0.6% faster than the RTX 3090. This indicates they are very closely matched in overall performance, with the newer card having a slight edge.

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

The measured performance data is presented below, showing the average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

1920x1080

• Low: 337.3 FPS
• Medium: 259 FPS
• High: 189.9 FPS
• Ultra: 130.6 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 211.5 FPS
• Medium: 163.2 FPS
• High: 123.7 FPS
• Ultra: 79.5 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: 112.5 FPS
• Medium: 87.4 FPS
• High: 64.9 FPS
• Ultra: 42.2 FPS