Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder that leans on simulation and population management, and the pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER produces a wide spread of performance depending on how you configure it. The data shows a combo that can handle high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions but struggles to maintain fluid motion at the extreme end of the display spectrum. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the role of each component, and what settings deliver the best experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The Core i7-14700F and RTX 2060 SUPER combination sits at rank 2571 out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places the pairing in the lower third of the database, indicating that while it is functional, it is far from the top tier for this specific title. The rank reflects a system that is likely held back more by the graphics card than the processor, as the CPU is a high-end desktop part while the GPU is from the previous generation.

Benchmark results indicate a significant gap between this combo and the top performers. The 69th percentile ranking for the whole system suggests that most other tested configurations will deliver superior frame rates. However, the data also shows that this is not a poor combination; it is simply one that requires careful settings management to achieve a playable experience, particularly at higher resolutions. The combination’s position is a direct result of the GPU’s mid-range standing, as the RTX 2060 SUPER sits at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, while the i7-14700F is a much stronger performer, sitting at the 91st percentile among all CPUs.

When looking at the individual components, the CPU is a clear strength. The i7-14700F’s average benchmark score of 53620 puts it just 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon 6505P and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X. This shows that in raw processing power, the CPU is competitive with much more expensive workstation and enthusiast parts. The GPU, by contrast, has an average score of 18093, which is only 0.4% behind the RTX 3060 Mobile and 1.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 460. This indicates that the graphics card is the limiting factor in this pairing, a conclusion supported by the FPS data showing a steep drop-off as resolution increases.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which preset to use for the best experience. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 109 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Low preset pushes this to 190 FPS, but the visual fidelity loss is unnecessary given that High already provides a comfortable margin. The Medium preset sits between them at 146 FPS, but High is the sweet spot for 1080p, offering a strong balance of visual quality and performance.

For 2560x1440, the High preset drops to an average of 69 FPS. This is still playable, but the data suggests that Medium is the better choice here, delivering 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS. The jump from Medium to High at this resolution costs 24 FPS, which is a significant hit. The Low preset at 1440p provides 121 FPS, but again, Medium offers a much better visual experience while staying comfortably above 60 FPS. Therefore, Medium is the recommended preset for 1440p.

At 3840x2160, the situation becomes more challenging. The Medium preset is the only option that maintains a playable frame rate, averaging 49 FPS with a minimum of 42 FPS. The High preset drops to 37 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 25 FPS, both of which are below the threshold for a smooth experience in a city builder where camera panning and zooming are frequent. The Low preset at 4K averages 64 FPS, but this requires sacrificing most graphical features. The data indicates that Medium is the highest preset that should be used at 4K, and even then, users should expect some dips in busy scenes.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Steamworld Build at 4K?

A: Yes, but only with the Medium preset, which delivers an average of 49 FPS with a minimum of 42 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 4K fall to 37 FPS and 25 FPS respectively, which are not ideal for a game that requires frequent camera movement.

Q: What is the best preset for a 144Hz monitor at 1080p?

A: The High preset is the best choice. It provides an average of 109 FPS, which is close to the 144Hz refresh rate. The Medium preset at 146 FPS would also work, but the visual upgrade to High is worth the slight frame rate reduction.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 121 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 47 FPS. This represents a 157% increase in average FPS when moving from Ultra to Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. The RTX 2060 SUPER sits at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, while the i7-14700F sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs. The FPS drops significantly when resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: Does the Ultra preset ever provide 60 FPS?

A: No. The Ultra preset only averages 74 FPS at 1920x1080. At 2560x1440, it drops to 47 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 25 FPS. It is only viable at 1080p.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with measured minimum and maximum FPS data. At 1080p, it ranges from 124 to 167 FPS with an average of 146. At 1440p, it ranges from 79 to 106 FPS with an average of 93. At 4K, it ranges from 42 to 56 FPS with an average of 49.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo is very capable. The Low preset produces an average of 190 FPS, making it extremely responsive. Medium delivers 146 FPS (min 124, max 167), which is still excellent. High provides 109 FPS, and Ultra drops to 74 FPS. This resolution is where the RTX 2060 SUPER can stretch its legs, and the CPU has no trouble feeding it.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates begin to compress. Low averages 121 FPS, which is still high. Medium averages 93 FPS (min 79, max 106), providing a smooth experience. High drops to 69 FPS, which is playable but starts to show the GPU’s limitations. Ultra falls to 47 FPS, which is not ideal for a game that involves continuous scrolling and zooming.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overburdened. Low averages 64 FPS, which is surprising but still the only preset that approaches 60 FPS. Medium averages 49 FPS (min 42, max 56), which is the highest quality preset that remains playable. High averages 37 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS, both of which are too choppy for a comfortable experience. The data shows a consistent pattern: the gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases, indicating the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are being saturated.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary determinant of frame rates in this title. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data shows it is inadequate for 4K Ultra settings. The GPU’s boost clock of 1650 MHz and its 2176 shading units deliver a peak FP32 performance of 7.181 TFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards. The benchmark results place the GPU at the 62nd percentile, and its nearest rivals include the RTX 3060 Mobile (0.4% faster) and the Radeon RX 460 (1.5% slower), confirming its mid-range positioning.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role is to render the isometric environments and the numerous sprites that populate the city. The 8 GB VRAM is likely the bottleneck at 4K, where texture memory requirements are higher. The data supports this: at 4K, even the Low preset only averages 64 FPS, while at 1080p, it averages 190 FPS. This 3x reduction in performance when quadrupling the pixel count is a sign that the GPU is running out of memory bandwidth, not necessarily raw compute power. The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 136 TMUs also play a role, but their impact is less visible in this data.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a powerhouse that is not the limiting factor in this combo. With 20 cores and 28 threads, it provides massive multi-threading capabilities for the simulation logic in Steamworld Build. The CPU’s boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures that single-threaded tasks, such as pathfinding or UI updates, are handled quickly. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache is also beneficial, as it reduces latency when the game’s logic needs to access frequently used data.

The CPU’s benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958. Its average benchmark score of 53620 places it at the 91st percentile, and the data shows it is 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X. In the context of Steamworld Build, this means the CPU can easily feed the GPU with draw calls and handle the game’s simulation tick rate without breaking a sweat. The measured FPS data shows that frame rates scale down with resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is producing 190 FPS, the CPU is keeping up, as there is no data suggesting a frame rate cap or instability.

The CPU’s 65-watt TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a flexible choice, but its performance is what matters here. In this game, the i7-14700F is overqualified, ensuring that any frame rate drops are solely attributable to the graphics card. The launch MSRP of $359 for the CPU reflects its high-end positioning, and the data confirms it is a top-tier processor that will not hinder the RTX 2060 SUPER in this title.