Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from late 2023, presents an interesting case for the Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050. The measured data reveals a configuration that scales predictably across resolutions, though the performance ceiling is clearly defined by the graphics card. This analysis explores how the combination of a 12-core, 20-thread processor and an 8 GB graphics card handles the game's demands, from the lowly 1080p preset to the demanding 4K Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic, painting a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies in this system. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 115 FPS at 1920x1080 to 73 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 39 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 66% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest resolution tested. The scaling is consistent and steep, which is a classic indicator that the graphics card is the limiting factor.

The data suggests that the RTX 5050 is being pushed to its limits as pixel count increases. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing, with the High preset losing nearly half its frame rate (73 to 39 FPS). This steep decline at 4K indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s and its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory are insufficient to maintain fluid performance at that resolution. The pixel rate of 82.30 GPixel/s and texture rate of 205.8 GTexel/s are simply not enough to feed the 3840x2160 display without significant frame loss.

The scaling pattern also reveals that the CPU is not the primary constraint in this scenario. If the i7-12700K were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a more consistent frame rate across resolutions, as the CPU workload would remain relatively static while the GPU work increased. Instead, the frame rates drop in near-perfect proportion to the increase in pixel count, confirming that the RTX 5050 is the component determining performance. For players targeting 4K, this data implies that even the Low preset (67 FPS) is the only viable option, and even then, it is only marginally above the 60 FPS threshold.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the star of this show, and its specifications directly explain the measured results. With 2560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, the GPU has a solid foundation for rasterization, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity and 128-bit memory bus are the critical limitations. The boost clock of 2572 MHz and base clock of 2317 MHz are respectable, but the memory speed of 2500 MHz (20 Gbps effective) is the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

The benchmark results for the GPU show its overall position: it scores 17326 in Passmark G3D and 2502 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its percentile ranking of 66 among all GPUs indicates it is a mid-range performer. The nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (1.6% faster), the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (0.6% faster), the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (1.6% faster), and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (1% faster). This tight grouping suggests that the RTX 5050 is competitive with older mid-range cards, but not a leap forward.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is most evident in the Medium settings across resolutions. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average FPS is 153, with a minimum of 130 and a maximum of 176. This wide range between min and max FPS suggests that the GPU is handling the game's variable load, but the 130 FPS minimum shows it is not always smooth. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average drops to 97 FPS, with a min of 83 and max of 112. The relative consistency here (a 29 FPS spread) indicates the GPU is more uniformly taxed. The FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS is the theoretical peak, but the real-world results show that memory bandwidth is the true constraint, particularly at 4K where the Medium preset averages just 52 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a formidable processor, and its specifications suggest it should not be a bottleneck in a city builder like Steamworld Build. With 12 cores (based on the Alder Lake architecture) and 20 threads, it has ample parallel processing power. The base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz are high, and the 25 MB of shared L3 cache is generous. The CPU's multi-threaded performance is strong, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19784 and a Passmark multithread score of 34404.

The CPU's benchmarks place it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35287. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-13600T (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i7-12700KF (0.2% slower), the Intel Core i7-13700T (0.3% slower), and the Intel Core 5 213PE (0.4% slower). This clustering shows that the i7-12700K is performing exactly as expected for its class. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 and the max-thread score of 9979 indicate that the processor can handle heavy multi-threaded workloads without breaking a sweat.

In the context of Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is to manage the simulation logic, which includes the game's city-building mechanics and AI pathfinding. The data suggests the processor is more than capable of this task. The fact that the frame rate scales so heavily with resolution implies the CPU is delivering frames as fast as the GPU can render them. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work, the CPU achieves 200 FPS, which confirms its single-thread performance (a Passmark single-thread score of 4013). The processor is not the limiting factor in this configuration; it is providing a stable foundation for the GPU to work from.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience depends heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. The data shows that the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it is the only setting that provides min and max FPS values in the dataset, indicating a stable frame delivery.

For 1080p, the Medium preset yields an average of 153 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset, at 115 FPS average, is also viable, but the jump to Ultra (77 FPS) is a significant drop. Given that the Medium preset has a minimum of 130 FPS, it is the safest choice to avoid stutter. For 1440p, the Medium preset again shines with a 97 FPS average and a minimum of 83 FPS, which is still smooth. The High preset at 73 FPS is playable, but the Ultra preset at 49 FPS is likely too low for a comfortable experience.

At 4K, the situation is dire. The Medium preset averages just 52 FPS, and the High preset drops to 39 FPS. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 26 FPS. The Low preset at 4K averages 67 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches a smooth experience. However, the visual compromise is substantial. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this GPU is not practical unless the player is willing to accept the Low preset. The recommended path is to stick to 1440p Medium for the best combination of visual fidelity and frame rate, or 1080p Medium/High for maximum smoothness.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand database of tested combinations, this specific pairing performs as expected. The combo rank for Steamworld Build is 1755 out of 2924 tested combos, placing it in the 60th percentile. This is a mid-pack ranking, which aligns with the GPU's 66th percentile and the CPU's 84th percentile. The lower rank relative to the CPU's high percentile indicates that the GPU is holding the combo back.

This rank suggests that many other combinations of processors and graphics cards deliver better frame rates in this game. The RTX 5050, while capable at lower resolutions, drags the overall combo down at higher settings. The i7-12700K is more than adequate, but it is paired with a GPU that is not in the same performance tier. The data indicates that a player with this CPU could benefit from a more powerful GPU to unlock higher settings and resolutions, as the processor has headroom to spare. The combo is not a poor performer, but it is not a top-tier one either, and its rank reflects that it is a balanced but modest setup.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination:

1920x1080:

• Low: 200 FPS average
• Medium: 153 FPS average, 130 FPS minimum, 176 FPS maximum
• High: 115 FPS average
• Ultra: 77 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 127 FPS average
• Medium: 97 FPS average, 83 FPS minimum, 112 FPS maximum
• High: 73 FPS average
• Ultra: 49 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 67 FPS average
• Medium: 52 FPS average, 44 FPS minimum, 59 FPS maximum
• High: 39 FPS average
• Ultra: 26 FPS average

The data shows a clear progression: as resolution increases, the frame rate drops. The Medium preset consistently provides the most stable frame delivery, as evidenced by the presence of min and max values. The Low preset offers the highest frame rates, but likely with a significant visual cost. The Ultra preset is consistently the lowest performer, and at 4K it is below playable thresholds. The High preset is a middle ground, but it does not offer the stability of Medium.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU-GPU combo better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: The measured data shows that the combo performs well at both resolutions. At 1080p Medium, it averages 153 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it averages 97 FPS. While 1080p offers higher frame rates, 1440p is still smooth, making it the better choice for visual clarity without sacrificing playability.

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

A: The data indicates that 4K is challenging. The only preset that achieves an average above 60 FPS is Low (67 FPS). The Medium preset averages 52 FPS, and High drops to 39 FPS. For a stable 60 FPS experience, 4K is not recommended unless the player uses the Low preset.

Q: Why is the Ultra preset so much slower than High at all resolutions?

A: The Ultra preset imposes a significant performance penalty. At 1080p, it drops from 115 FPS (High) to 77 FPS (Ultra), a 33% reduction. At 1440p, it drops from 73 FPS to 49 FPS, a 33% reduction. This suggests the Ultra settings tax the GPU's memory bandwidth and shading units heavily, with diminishing visual returns.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K a bottleneck for the RTX 5050 in this game?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck. The frame rates scale heavily with resolution, which is a sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high multi-threaded scores (e.g., 19784 in Cinebench R23) and its ability to reach 200 FPS at 1080p Low indicate it has headroom to spare.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of overall benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (1.6% faster), the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (0.6% faster), the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (1.6% faster), and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (1% faster). This indicates it is a mid-range performer.

Q: What is the most stable settings preset for this combo?

A: The Medium preset is the most stable, as it is the only one with reported minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p, it maintains a minimum of 130 FPS, and at 1440p, it maintains a minimum of 83 FPS. This suggests a more consistent frame pacing compared to other presets.