Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places this Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination at rank 1755 out of 2924 tested configurations. This puts the pairing in the 60th percentile of all tested combos, meaning roughly 40% of systems deliver higher frame rates in this city builder. The ranking reflects a significant imbalance between the two components, with the CPU possessing far more headroom than the GPU can utilize in this specific title. This is a system that will deliver playable performance at most settings, but the data suggests it is not optimized for the highest graphical demands of Steamworld Build.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1755 out of 2924 is instructive because it places this specific CPU-GPU pair squarely in the middle of the pack. The Intel Core i7-14700K is a top-tier processor, sitting in the 94th percentile of all CPUs and scoring 33440.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs with a Passmark G3D score of 17326. The discrepancy between the 94th percentile CPU and the 66th percentile GPU is the defining characteristic of this combo. The data implies that the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor for achieving higher frame rates, a conclusion supported by the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69515, a delta of -0.2% from the i7-14700K’s average benchmark score of 69355. This indicates that the i7-14700K is performing precisely as expected for a high-end desktop processor. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT with a score of 20713 and a delta of 1.6%, show that the RTX 5050 is in a competitive but not dominant position. The combination’s overall rank is dragged down by the GPU’s relative performance, meaning that in a CPU-intensive game like a city builder, the processor’s strength is not fully translated into frame rate gains.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. It features 33 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. These specifications suggest a processor built for heavy multi-threaded workloads, which is relevant for Steamworld Build’s simulation and AI logic. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and Geekbench multi-core score of 20767 indicate substantial parallel processing capability. However, the game’s performance is not scaling with this CPU power alone.

The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 200 FPS, which is the highest measured average in the entire dataset. This figure suggests that the CPU can feed frames far faster than the GPU can render them at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 77 FPS, a 61.5% reduction, which points to the GPU becoming the bottleneck as graphical load increases. The CPU’s role is to maintain a high minimum frame rate, and the measured data supports this; the lowest average FPS recorded is 26 at 4K Ultra, which is still a playable number for a city builder, though not ideal. The processor’s 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it is unlikely to be the cause of any performance dips in this title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. It has a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz, with 2560 shading units and 80 tensor cores. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 17326 places it in the 66th percentile, which is modest for a modern graphics card. This is the component that will determine the visual fidelity ceiling of this combo. The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is a potential constraint for high-resolution textures, but the measured data does not show a catastrophic failure at 4K, only a reduction in average FPS.

The GPU’s performance in Steamworld Build is best illustrated by the scaling from Low to Ultra settings. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 200 at Low to 77 at Ultra, a 61.5% decrease. At 1440p, the drop is from 127 to 49, a 61.4% decrease. At 4K, the drop is from 67 to 26, a 61.2% decrease. This consistency across resolutions indicates that the GPU is the primary factor limiting frame rates as settings increase. The RTX 5050’s closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, has a slightly lower average benchmark score, but the difference is minor. The data suggests that the 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s demands, but the raw compute power of the GPU is what prevents higher frame rates at Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 200 at Low to 77 at Ultra. The Medium setting produces an average of 153 FPS with a minimum of 130 and a maximum of 176, showing a stable frame time. High settings yield 115 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 127 at Low, 97 at Medium, 73 at High, and 49 at Ultra. The Medium setting at 1440p shows a minimum of 83 and a maximum of 112, indicating a wider variance than at 1080p. At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly: 67 FPS at Low, 52 FPS at Medium, 39 FPS at High, and 26 FPS at Ultra. The Medium setting at 4K has a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59.

These numbers reveal a clear pattern. The jump from Low to Medium settings is substantial but manageable, while the jump from High to Ultra is the most punishing. For example, at 1440p, the difference between High (73 FPS) and Ultra (49 FPS) is a 32.9% reduction, whereas the difference between Low (127 FPS) and Medium (97 FPS) is a 23.6% reduction. This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces effects that are disproportionately expensive for the RTX 5050. The 1080p Medium preset, with an average of 153 FPS, is the only configuration that exceeds the refresh rate of a typical 144 Hz monitor, while 1440p High at 73 FPS is a solid target for 60 FPS gaming.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K demonstrates where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 200 at 1080p to 127 at 1440p (a 36.5% reduction) and then to 67 at 4K (a 47.2% reduction from 1440p). This is a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern, as resolution increases, the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, and the GPU has to work proportionally harder. At Ultra settings, the scaling is similar: 77 at 1080p, 49 at 1440p (a 36.4% reduction), and 26 at 4K (a 46.9% reduction from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component in all scenarios.

If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a less severe drop in FPS at higher resolutions, as the CPU workload remains constant while the GPU workload increases. Instead, the FPS halves as resolution increases, which is the signature of a GPU that is reaching its compute limits. The data implies that for 4K gaming, this combo is only viable at Low settings (67 FPS), and Medium at 4K (52 FPS) is borderline. At 1440p, the combo can handle High settings (73 FPS) but struggles with Ultra (49 FPS). This analysis confirms that the RTX 5050 is the primary constraint, and the i7-14700K’s performance is not being fully utilized in this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60 FPS in Steamworld Build?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves 73 FPS average. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, it achieves 67 FPS. Therefore, 1440p High is the highest quality setting that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, while 4K is only playable at Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 9115 (69288) and 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515). This indicates it is performing at the expected level for a high-end processor.

Q: Is the GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: Yes, the data strongly suggests this. The GPU has a Passmark G3D score of 17326, placing it in the 66th percentile, while the CPU is in the 94th percentile. The consistent FPS drops from 1080p to 4K across all settings are characteristic of a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 97 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 49 FPS. This is a 49.5% reduction in average frame rate, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: At 3840x2160, the combo achieves 67 FPS at Low settings, 52 FPS at Medium, 39 FPS at High, and 26 FPS at Ultra. For a playable experience, only Low settings meet the 60 FPS threshold, while Medium is acceptable for slower-paced gameplay.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, while the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT has a score of 20713. The RTX 5050 is 1.6% faster, indicating a very close performance margin between the two cards.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy for optimal settings. For a 1080p display, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, delivering 153 FPS average, which is smooth and leaves headroom for complex city-building scenes. The High preset at 115 FPS is also excellent, but the jump to Ultra at 77 FPS is not worth the visual gain given the significant frame rate cost. For 1440p, the High preset at 73 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 97 FPS is also viable for players who prefer higher frame rates. For 4K, the Low preset at 67 FPS is the only option that maintains near-60 FPS performance; Medium at 52 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive during heavy simulation.

The best experience per the measured rows is at 1440p with High settings. This configuration offers a high resolution with a frame rate (73 FPS) that is well above the 60 FPS standard, and it avoids the severe performance penalties seen at Ultra settings. The data shows that the Ultra preset is poorly optimized for this GPU, as it causes a 32.9% frame rate drop from High at 1440p. Therefore, the recommendation is to stick with High settings for the best combination of visual fidelity and smoothness. For players with 1080p monitors, the Medium preset offers the highest frame rates without the diminishing returns of Ultra.