Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder focused on resource management and base construction, presents a unique workload that scales dramatically with both CPU and GPU capabilities. The Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination produces a wide spread of frame rates across the tested presets, ranging from a highly playable 76 FPS at 4K High to a staggering 353 FPS at 1080p Low. This data suggests a system with immense headroom, where the limiting factor shifts between the processor and graphics card depending on the resolution and visual fidelity demands. The analysis below explores how this specific hardware pairing behaves in this game, using only the measured data to interpret its performance characteristics.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its benchmark results show strong multi-threaded capability, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838 and a 3DMark max threads score of 9983. The single-thread performance is also notable, achieving a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4071 and a 3DMark single thread score of 1043. This combination of high multi-core and single-core throughput is crucial for a city builder, which must simulate numerous entities while also handling the game's logic on a primary thread.

In the context of Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is most apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 353 FPS, a figure that indicates the CPU is capable of feeding frames far faster than most displays can refresh. The processor's 25 MB of shared L3 cache likely aids in keeping frequently accessed simulation data close at hand, reducing latency. The data shows the i7-12700KF performs nearly identically to its direct rival, the Intel Core i7-12700K, with an average benchmark score delta of just 0.2%. This near-parity in synthetic tests translates to the game, where the performance ceiling at high frame rates is effectively the same for both chips.

The processor's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it in a strong position, but the data suggests that at 4K Ultra, the CPU is no longer the primary constraint. When comparing the frame rate drop from 1080p Ultra (153 FPS) to 4K Ultra (51 FPS), a 67% reduction, it becomes clear that the GPU is handling the increased pixel count. However, the CPU's robust multi-threading is still essential for maintaining playable frame rates in a genre known for late-game simulation slowdowns. The data indicates the CPU is not a weak link in this pairing, as the system can produce over 300 FPS in less demanding scenarios, which is far beyond the typical refresh rate of gaming monitors.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end graphics card built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. Its boost clock is listed at 2550 MHz. The GPU's performance in this game is highly dependent on the chosen settings, as evidenced by the significant frame rate variation across presets. At 4K High, the card delivers 76 FPS, which is a smooth experience for a city builder, but dropping to Low settings at the same resolution yields 133 FPS, showing the card's raw power is far from being fully utilized at lower fidelity.

The RTX 4080 SUPER's 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 54209 place it in the upper echelon of graphics hardware. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, has an average score of 54247, a delta of only -0.1%, indicating that the SUPER variant offers a marginal performance improvement over its predecessor in synthetic tests. In Steamworld Build, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for the game's textures and geometry, even at 4K resolution, which is why the card is not bottlenecked by memory capacity but rather by the computational demands of the Ultra preset. The 4K Ultra result of 51 FPS is the only measurement that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that the Ultra settings introduce effects that heavily tax the GPU's shading units and ray tracing cores.

The GPU's performance scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 144 FPS at 2560x1440 to 76 FPS at 3840x2160, a 47% reduction. This substantial drop indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is being pushed to its limits at 4K, where the increased pixel count requires more compute throughput. The data suggests that for players seeking a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the appropriate choice, as the Ultra preset's demands exceed what the card can comfortably deliver.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and preset combination for a 60 FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, the 4K High preset delivers an average of 76 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS target. The 4K Ultra preset averages only 51 FPS, so High is the recommended choice for 4K gaming.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, which is a 0.2% difference from the Intel Core i5-13600T (35305) and a -0.1% difference from the Intel Core i7-13700T (35403). This indicates the i7-12700KF sits squarely between these two processors.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 353 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate. The GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution; the CPU is more likely to be the constraint, though it still manages to deliver exceptionally high performance.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 193 FPS, while the High preset averages 144 FPS. This represents a 49 FPS difference, indicating that the Medium preset reduces graphical load significantly.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems?

A: This specific combination of Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 254th out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build, placing it in the top 7% of all configurations.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a playable experience at any resolution?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 the Ultra preset averages 153 FPS, and at 2560x1440 it averages 97 FPS. Only at 3840x2160 does the Ultra preset drop below 60 FPS, averaging 51 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER achieves a rank of 254 out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This top 7% placement indicates that this hardware pairing is exceptionally well-suited for this game, outperforming the vast majority of other configurations tested. The ranking reflects the balanced nature of the CPU and GPU, where neither component severely hampers the other's potential in this specific workload.

The high rank is supported by the synthetic benchmark data, where the CPU's 85th percentile and the GPU's 86th percentile rankings show both components are in the upper tier of their respective categories. The near-parity performance with the Intel Core i7-12700K (0.2% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (-0.1% delta) suggests that this combo is essentially a top-tier pairing without the premium of the absolute highest-end parts. The data implies that the 254th rank is not a fluke but a consistent result of the hardware's capabilities, as the system can deliver high frame rates across all resolutions, with only the most demanding 4K Ultra preset posing a challenge.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals a clear shift in the system's bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 353 FPS, but this drops to 252 FPS at 1440p and 133 FPS at 4K. This represents a 62% reduction from 1080p to 4K, indicating that even at Low settings, the GPU is becoming a more significant factor as resolution increases. The data shows that the CPU has ample headroom at lower resolutions, as the frame rates are far beyond typical display refresh rates, but the GPU's workload increases linearly with pixel count.

For the High preset, the scaling is more pronounced. The frame rate drops from 227 FPS at 1080p to 144 FPS at 1440p (a 37% reduction) and then to 76 FPS at 4K (a 47% reduction from 1440p). This progressive decline suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions, as the increased pixel count requires more memory bandwidth and compute power. The RTX 4080 SUPER's 736.3 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for most tasks, but the 4K Ultra preset, which averages only 51 FPS, shows that the card's compute capabilities are stretched thin by the most demanding visual effects.

The scaling pattern also indicates that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck in this game. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would not increase so dramatically when lowering the resolution. The fact that 1080p Low yields 353 FPS while 4K Low yields 133 FPS proves that the GPU is the component that scales with resolution, while the CPU maintains a consistent performance ceiling.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance across all settings: Low achieves 353 FPS, Medium averages 303 FPS with a minimum of 257 and maximum of 348, High averages 227 FPS, and Ultra averages 153 FPS. These figures indicate that at 1080p, the system is heavily GPU-bound only at the Ultra preset, while lower presets are likely limited by the CPU's frame generation capability.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset averages 252 FPS, Medium averages 193 FPS (min 164, max 221), High averages 144 FPS, and Ultra averages 97 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across presets, with an average reduction of about 35-40%, which aligns with the 1.78x increase in pixel count. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 164 at 1440p still provides a smooth experience, suggesting that even the lowest frame rates are well above playable thresholds.

At 3840x2160, the system's limits become apparent. Low averages 133 FPS, Medium averages 102 FPS (min 86, max 117), High averages 76 FPS, and Ultra averages 51 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS, making it unsuitable for a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset's minimum of 86 FPS shows that the system can maintain high frame rates even at 4K, provided the settings are not maxed out. The data reveals a clear tiering: Low and Medium presets are highly playable at 4K, High is playable, and Ultra is marginal.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 4K gaming, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it delivers an average of 76 FPS, which is smooth for a city builder. The Ultra preset at 4K, averaging 51 FPS, is not recommended for a consistent experience, as the frame rate may dip during complex scenes, though it remains technically playable. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 102 FPS and a minimum of 86 FPS, is also an excellent choice for players who prioritize high frame rates over maximum visual fidelity.

For 1440p, the Ultra preset provides an excellent balance, averaging 97 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. This allows players to experience the game's highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. If the player prefers even higher frame rates for a competitive edge or a higher refresh rate monitor, the High preset at 1440p, averaging 144 FPS, is the best option, as it aligns with standard 144Hz displays. The Medium preset at 1440p, averaging 193 FPS, is suitable for those with 165Hz or 240Hz monitors, though the visual difference between Medium and High may be noticeable.

At 1080p, all presets are viable, with even the Ultra preset averaging 153 FPS. The High preset at 227 FPS is the recommended choice for most users, as it provides a high frame rate with better visual quality than Medium. For players with 360Hz monitors, the Low preset at 353 FPS is the only option that can fully utilize such a display's refresh rate, though the visual compromise is significant. Overall, the data suggests that the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions, making it the default recommendation for this hardware combination.