Steamworld Build

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER occupies the 654th position out of 1730 tested combinations for Steamworld Build. This places the combo in the upper-middle tier of the database, meaning it outperforms a clear majority of systems tested in this city builder, though it is not at the very top of the leaderboard. The data indicates this is a capable pairing for the game, but the ranking also suggests that users seeking the absolute highest frame rates, particularly at lower resolutions, might find other configurations with more recent CPUs performing better.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 654 out of 1730 represents the 62nd percentile of all tested systems. This is a solid result, showing that the i5-9400 and RTX 4070 SUPER work well together in Steamworld Build. The CPU’s individual benchmark percentile is 50, meaning it sits exactly at the median of all processors tested, while the GPU’s percentile is 84, indicating it is significantly stronger relative to its own field. The disparity suggests that in this game, the graphics card is doing most of the heavy lifting, and the processor is not holding the system back to a major degree. The average benchmark score for the CPU is 2305, which is nearly identical to its closest rivals, such as the Intel Core i3-10305 with a score of 2300 and a delta of 0.2 percent, and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 also at 2299. This means the i5-9400 is performing exactly as expected for its class, providing a stable foundation for the much more powerful GPU.

GPU Role

The RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. It comes equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is listed at 2475 MHz, with a base clock of 1980 MHz. These figures are crucial for Steamworld Build, a game where rendering large, detailed cityscapes can quickly consume memory bandwidth. The data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 43.6, while at High settings it jumps to 67.9. This indicates that the game’s Ultra preset is particularly demanding on the GPU’s resources, likely due to heavy use of the 12 GB VRAM and the need to push a high number of pixels through the 504.2 GB/s pipe. The GPU’s benchmark performance is strong, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627 and a Passmark G3D score of 29995, placing it at the 84th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A6000, has an average score of 42653, which is only 0.2 percent higher, confirming that the RTX 4070 SUPER is a top-tier performer in this database.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER in this game?

A: No, the benchmark data does not indicate a significant bottleneck. The combo ranks 654 out of 1730, which is a strong result. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 2305 is very close to its nearest rivals, and the frame rates achieved are high across most settings, suggesting the CPU keeps up adequately.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at with this combo?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 126.4 FPS, which is excellent for a city builder. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is even higher, reaching 184.6 on Low settings, but 1440p offers a better balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 4070 SUPER than its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 42576. Its closest competitor, the NVIDIA RTX A6000, scores 42653, which is 0.2 percent higher. In practice, this is a negligible difference, meaning the 4070 SUPER is functionally on par with the A6000 in raw compute terms.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 67.9, which is playable. However, at Ultra settings, the average drops to 43.6 FPS, which may feel less smooth. For a consistent experience, High settings are recommended for 4K.

Q: Does the CPU’s 6-core/6-thread configuration limit performance?

A: The data suggests it does not significantly limit performance in this specific game. The i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads, and its benchmark scores are solid. Since the combo’s rank is in the top 38 percent, the CPU is providing enough throughput to keep the GPU well-fed.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the average FPS goes from 184.6 on Low to 130.6 on Ultra. At 2560x1440, it goes from 160.8 on Low to 84.8 on Ultra. The largest drop is at 3840x2160, where it falls from 117.9 on Low to 43.6 on Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the user’s resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 130.6 FPS, which is high enough for most displays, making it the best choice for visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. At 2560x1440, the High preset provides an average of 126.4 FPS, which is a better choice than Ultra (84.8 FPS) because it maintains a high refresh rate experience while still offering substantial graphical detail. The Medium preset at 1440p produces 143.3 FPS, but High is recommended for the better visual quality at a minimal performance cost. For 3840x2160, the High preset is the clear winner, yielding 67.9 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 43.6 FPS, which is below the ideal mark for a smooth experience. Therefore, High settings at 4K offer the best balance between visual quality and playability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 184.6 FPS, while Medium reaches 169 FPS. High settings produce 150.5 FPS, and Ultra still manages a very playable 130.6 FPS. This resolution is clearly CPU and GPU friendly, with all presets exceeding 130 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings hit 160.8 FPS, and Medium follows at 143.3 FPS. High settings are still excellent at 126.4 FPS, but the Ultra preset drops to 84.8 FPS. This shows a steep performance cliff between High and Ultra at this resolution, likely due to increased GPU load.

At 3840x2160, the impact of the higher resolution is clear. Low settings provide 117.9 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium drops to 91 FPS, and High falls to 67.9 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding only 43.6 FPS. The data shows a linear decline in performance as settings are increased, with the gap between High and Ultra being the most significant.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory. In the context of Steamworld Build, these specifications are adequate for managing the game’s simulation logic, which is the primary CPU workload in a city builder. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multicore score is 7969, and its single-core score is 1125, indicating a balanced performance that is well-suited for a mix of simulation and game logic. The benchmark data shows that the CPU’s average score of 2305 is almost identical to its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon E-2134 with a delta of 0.4 percent. This means the i5-9400 is performing precisely at the expected level for its class. The fact that the combo achieves high frame rates, particularly at 1080p and 1440p, confirms that the CPU is not causing a significant bottleneck. Even at 4K, where the GPU is the limiting factor, the CPU still manages to feed the RTX 4070 SUPER enough data to achieve 67.9 FPS on High settings. Overall, the i5-9400 provides a stable and reliable foundation for this GPU, ensuring that the system performs well in this simulation-heavy game.