Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build with the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 produces a combination that ranks in the lower-mid tier of tested hardware configurations. The data places this pairing at rank 1423 out of 1730 tested combos, meaning it outperforms roughly 18% of all tested systems while trailing the majority. This position is not surprising given the asymmetry between the components: the CPU is a high-end desktop part with benchmark scores in the 96th percentile of all processors, while the GPU sits in the 58th percentile of all graphics cards. The combo’s overall standing is thus constrained by the graphics subsystem, which becomes the primary bottleneck in this city-building title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1423 out of 1730 tested configurations places it in the lower half of the field, yet the data shows this is a playable pairing for Steamworld Build at most settings. The CPU, Intel Core i7-14700KF, demonstrates exceptional raw compute capability with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557 and a single-core score of 6290, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the Intel Core i7-14700K with an average score of 70074 (a 0% delta), the AMD EPYC 9115 at 69887 (0.3% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X at 70420 (0.4% behind), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 at 71056 (1.3% behind). These deltas are negligible, indicating the i7-14700KF performs essentially on par with its closest competitors in synthetic CPU tests.

The GPU, however, tells a different story. The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon RX 7600S at 15996 (0.5% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M at 16351 (1.7% ahead), and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 at 15786 (1.8% behind). These small deltas confirm the GPU is a mid-range component from an older generation. In Steamworld Build specifically, the measured frame rates show the system can deliver smooth gameplay at 1080p with settings from Low to High, but struggles at higher resolutions or with Ultra presets. The ranking reflects this reality: the CPU’s strength cannot compensate for the GPU’s limitations in a game that appears to rely heavily on graphics processing for its visual rendering.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture with a TU106 chip manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, along with 30 ray tracing cores and 240 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and its memory runs at 1750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective speed. The 6 GB of GDDR6 memory is connected via a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is adequate for 1080p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the measured FPS data demonstrates.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role is critical at every resolution tested. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 22 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 6 GB VRAM capacity appears sufficient for the game’s assets at this resolution, but the GPU’s compute power—rated at 6.451 TFLOPS for FP32—cannot maintain higher frame rates. The texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s are modest by modern standards, and the data shows that reducing settings from Ultra to High at 4K produces a 47.7% improvement in average FPS (from 22 to 32.5). Further reduction to Medium yields 44.6 FPS, and Low settings reach 56.4 FPS. These numbers indicate the GPU is the dominant constraint, as the CPU’s massive multi-threading capabilities (20 cores, 28 threads) are not fully utilized in this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on optimal settings for this combo. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 171.9 FPS on Low settings, 134.4 FPS on Medium, 98.7 FPS on High, and 67.4 FPS on Ultra. All of these are playable, but the jump from High to Ultra costs 31.3 FPS (a 31.7% reduction), which may not justify the visual improvement. For a balance of visual quality and performance, High settings at 1080p are the sweet spot, delivering nearly 100 FPS while maintaining a reasonable level of detail.

At 2560x1440, the picture changes. Low settings produce 108.9 FPS, Medium yields 83.8 FPS, High drops to 62.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 40.3 FPS. The High preset at 1440p is still above 60 FPS and represents a good choice for users with 1440p monitors. However, Ultra at 1440p dips below the 60 FPS threshold, and the data suggests Medium or High are more appropriate for this resolution. At 3840x2160, only Low settings (56.4 FPS) approach playable frame rates, while Medium (44.6 FPS) and High (32.5 FPS) are marginal, and Ultra (22 FPS) is not recommended. For 4K, users should stick to Low or Medium settings, with Low being the only preset that consistently stays above 55 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF a bottleneck in Steamworld Build?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. The i7-14700KF scores in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557. The frame rate differences between resolutions and settings are more consistent with GPU limitations, as the RTX 2060’s 58th percentile ranking suggests.

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

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 56.4, while Medium drops to 44.6, High to 32.5, and Ultra to 22. For a smooth experience, 4K Low is the only viable option, and even then, the frame rate may fluctuate in busy city-building scenes.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074. The AMD Radeon RX 7600S is 0.5% ahead with 15996, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M is 1.7% ahead with 16351, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 1.8% behind with 15786. These differences are minor, confirming the GPU’s mid-range positioning.

Q: What is the best resolution/settings combination for this system?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 with High settings provides 98.7 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and performance. For 1440p, High settings at 62.9 FPS are acceptable, but users seeking higher frame rates should use Medium at 83.8 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU’s 20-core configuration help in this game?

A: The i7-14700KF’s multi-threading capabilities are substantial, but Steamworld Build’s performance is more dependent on the GPU. The measured frame rates scale more with resolution and settings changes than with CPU load, suggesting the game is not heavily multi-threaded.

Q: Is the 6 GB VRAM on the RTX 2060 sufficient for this game?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the data shows no obvious VRAM-related performance cliffs, as frame rates scale predictably with settings. At 4K, the lower frame rates are more likely due to raw compute limitations rather than VRAM capacity, though 6 GB is modest for 4K textures.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows how performance degrades as resolution increases, revealing the GPU as the primary limiting component. At 1080p High, the system achieves 98.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p High reduces this to 62.9 FPS, a 36.3% drop. At 4K High, the average falls to 32.5 FPS, which is 67.1% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is typical for a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels directly impacts the frame rate. The RTX 2060’s 1920 shading units and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory are simply not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K, even with the powerful i7-14700KF driving the system.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At Low settings, 1080p yields 171.9 FPS, 1440p drops to 108.9 FPS (a 36.6% reduction), and 4K falls to 56.4 FPS (a 67.2% reduction from 1080p). At Medium, the numbers are 134.4 FPS at 1080p, 83.8 FPS at 1440p, and 44.6 FPS at 4K—showing a consistent 37.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 66.8% drop from 1080p to 4K. Ultra settings show the most severe scaling: 67.4 FPS at 1080p, 40.3 FPS at 1440p, and 22 FPS at 4K. The consistent percentage drops across presets confirm that resolution scaling is independent of settings, and the GPU’s pixel throughput is the bottleneck. The CPU’s performance, which remains constant across resolutions, cannot mitigate this, meaning users should target 1080p for the best experience and accept 4K only with Low settings for playable frame rates.