Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the simulation and rendering load can shift dramatically depending on the scale of your settlement. The benchmark data for the Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 reveals a system that is exceptionally strong for this title, though the CPU's older architecture becomes a measurable factor at higher resolutions. The i5-9400 offers 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which is sufficient for the game's logic, but the RTX 3080's raw power often outpaces it, leading to a bottleneck that defines the performance curve.

CPU Role

In Steamworld Build, the CPU manages the simulation of your colony, including worker pathfinding, resource distribution, and the underlying economic systems. The Intel Core i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, is a competent but not elite processor for this task. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 places it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs, indicating a mid-range standing in the broader market. This is reflected in its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores nearly identically at 2300 points (0.2% difference). This suggests that while the i5-9400 can handle the game's demands, it does not provide a significant computational headroom.

The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 184.6 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 36.7 FPS. This scaling indicates that the CPU's single-threaded performance, which yields a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1125, may not be the primary limiter at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed. However, as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the CPU must keep up with frame-to-frame draw calls. The i5-9400's 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support at 42.7 GB/s are adequate, but they are not modern. The performance delta between the CPU and its closest rivals (Intel Xeon E-2134 at 2295 points, 0.4% slower) is minimal, meaning the i5-9400 sits in a tight performance cluster.

The bottleneck becomes apparent when analyzing the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the system goes from 152.6 FPS at 1080p to 55.4 FPS at 4K. This is a 63.7% reduction in performance, which is substantial. While the RTX 3080 is the primary driver for this drop due to its rendering load, the CPU's inability to feed frames faster at lower resolutions is evident in the 1080p results. The i5-9400 is not the weakest link, but it is a limiting factor when paired with a GPU that sits in the 80th percentile of all GPUs. The RTX 3080's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro Duo, has a similar average score (35860 vs 35787), but the CPU's mid-range standing means the full potential of the GPU is not always realized.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-9400 bottleneck the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 in Steamworld Build?

A: The data suggests a partial bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 184.6 FPS, but this is far from the RTX 3080's theoretical limits, indicating the CPU is capping performance. The bottleneck becomes less pronounced at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is the clear limiter, dropping to 36.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a smooth experience?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution offers a strong balance. At High settings, the combo delivers 106.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. This is superior to 4K High (55.4 FPS) and more demanding on the GPU than 1080p, making it the sweet spot.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core i3-10305, scores 2300, a mere 0.2% difference. The Intel Core i7-8809G is slightly faster at 2319 points (0.6% higher), while the Intel Xeon E-2134 is nearly identical at 2295 points (0.4% lower).

Q: Is the RTX 3080's performance consistent with its market position?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 35787, placing it in the 80th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro Duo, scores 35860 (0.2% higher), which shows the RTX 3080 is performing as expected for its tier, though the CPU pairing limits its top-end output.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 2560x1440 Ultra, the combo achieves 71.9 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. This is a 32.6% drop from High settings at the same resolution, showing that Ultra is demanding on the GPU.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 783 out of 1730 tell us?

A: This rank places the combo in the top half of all tested combinations for Steamworld Build. It indicates that while this pairing is not the best available, it is solidly above average, providing a good experience for most players.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data across different presets provides a clear hierarchy for optimizing the experience. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields 184.6 FPS, which is excellent for competitive or high-refresh scenarios, but the Medium preset at 167.5 FPS offers a better visual quality trade-off with only a 9.3% performance loss. For most users, the High preset at 152.6 FPS is the recommended choice, as it maintains a smooth framerate while providing significantly better visuals than Low. The Ultra preset at 117.6 FPS is still playable, but the 22.9% drop from High suggests it is not worth the performance cost unless visual fidelity is the top priority.

At 2560x1440, the recommendation shifts. The Low preset at 157.9 FPS is overkill for most displays, and the Medium preset at 145 FPS is a strong contender. However, the High preset at 106.8 FPS is the standout option, as it delivers a near-60 FPS experience with high-quality settings, making it the best balance for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset at 71.9 FPS is playable, but the 32.6% drop from High indicates that the GPU is being heavily taxed, and users with 60Hz monitors may not notice a significant difference between High and Ultra.

For 4K gaming, the choices are more constrained. The Low preset at 98.2 FPS is the only option that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for smooth 4K play. The Medium preset at 78.9 FPS is still playable, but the High preset at 55.4 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold, which may cause noticeable stuttering in a city builder. The Ultra preset at 36.7 FPS is not recommended, as the performance is too low for a satisfying experience. The data strongly suggests that for this combo, the High preset at 1080p or 1440p provides the best overall experience, balancing visual quality with frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is ranked 783rd out of 1730 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This placement, which is in the top 45% of all configurations, indicates that the system is capable, but not exceptional. The CPU's 50th percentile standing is the primary drag on the ranking, as the RTX 3080 is much stronger. If the CPU were paired with a more powerful processor, the combo's rank would likely improve, but the data shows that the i5-9400 is a moderate performer that holds the system back somewhat.

The rank is particularly telling when considering the GPU's performance. The RTX 3080, which is in the 80th percentile of all GPUs, is clearly the stronger component in this pairing. However, the combo's rank of 783 suggests that the CPU is limiting the system's potential. The nearest rival data for the CPU shows that it is closely matched with other mid-range processors, but these rivals do not offer a significant performance boost. The i5-9400's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 3346 and R15 multi-core score of 803 are solid, but they are not exceptional for a 6-core part. This means that while the combo is above average, it does not reach the top tier of performance for this game.

The rank also implies that many other combinations, likely those with newer CPUs or higher-end processors, achieve better results. The 1730 tested combos represent a broad spectrum of hardware, and being in the middle of the pack is a fair assessment of this pairing. The data shows that the combo is capable of high frame rates at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 152.6 FPS at 1080p High, but it struggles to maintain high performance at 4K Ultra, which is a common theme for mid-range CPU and high-end GPU combinations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. At High settings, the combo delivers 152.6 FPS at 1920x1080, which drops to 106.8 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 30% decrease), and then to 55.4 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 48.1% decrease from 1440p). This scaling pattern shows that the GPU becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises. The 1080p to 1440p drop of 30% is significant, but the 1440p to 4K drop of 48.1% is even more pronounced, indicating that the RTX 3080 is hitting its limits at 4K.

This behavior is typical for a system where the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. At 1080p, the CPU can feed frames quickly enough, but the GPU is not fully utilized, as shown by the 184.6 FPS at Low settings. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the CPU is able to keep up with the frame rate demands. The i5-9400's 6 cores are sufficient for the game's simulation at these resolutions, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The data supports this: at 4K Low, the system still achieves 98.2 FPS, which is a 46.8% drop from 1080p Low, but the GPU is clearly the constraint.

The limiting component is therefore the GPU at 4K, but the CPU at 1080p. At 1440p, the system is balanced, with neither component being a clear bottleneck. The 145 FPS at Medium settings and 106.8 FPS at High settings show that the RTX 3080 is being well-utilized, and the CPU is not holding back performance. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is also telling: 184.6 to 98.2 FPS is a 46.8% drop, which is less severe than the High settings drop of 63.7%, suggesting that the CPU is still a factor at Low settings even at 4K. Ultimately, the data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, where the balance between CPU and GPU is optimal, and the performance is consistently high across all presets.