Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build with the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 shows a combination that is heavily influenced by resolution and graphics settings, with the measured frame rates revealing a clear transition from a CPU-bound scenario at lower resolutions to a GPU-bound one at 4K. The data indicates that this pairing is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming in this city builder, but demands compromises at 4K Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, but the shape of that curve is telling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system pushes 257.4 FPS, a figure that drops to 145.1 FPS at High and 99.6 FPS at Ultra. This massive headroom at 1080p strongly suggests that the Intel Core i9-14900K is the primary driver of performance at this resolution, as the RTX 3070 is not being fully taxed. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p (a 61% reduction in frame rate) is primarily a function of the GPU’s workload increasing, but the absolute numbers remain so high that the CPU’s 24 cores and 32 threads are clearly not the bottleneck.

Moving to 1440p, the average frame rates remain highly playable. The Low setting produces 165.1 FPS, while High drops to 93.6 FPS and Ultra to 60.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is a 63% reduction, which is proportionally similar to 1080p. However, the absolute values suggest that the RTX 3070 is starting to become more relevant. The 165.1 FPS at Low is still exceptionally high, but the 60.9 FPS at Ultra indicates that the GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth are beginning to be significant factors in determining the final frame rate.

The 4K results tell a different story about the limiting component. At 3840x2160, the Low setting yields 88 FPS, Medium 67.7 FPS, High 47.8 FPS, and Ultra drops to just 34.3 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a 61% reduction, again consistent with the other resolutions. Yet, the key observation is that even at Low settings, the frame rate is only 88 FPS, which is roughly half of the 1440p Low result. This indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is now the definitive bottleneck. The GPU’s raw compute power is insufficient to feed the display at the same relative performance level seen at lower resolutions.

In summary, the resolution scaling data shows a system that is CPU-limited at 1080p, balanced at 1440p, and GPU-limited at 4K. The drop from 257.4 FPS at 1080p Low to 88 FPS at 4K Low represents a 66% reduction, demonstrating that the RTX 3070 cannot maintain the same performance headroom as the resolution increases. For this game, the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p, where it can deliver high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual fidelity, while 4K is best reserved for Medium or High settings if aiming for a smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 with High settings is 145.1 FPS. This suggests that the Intel Core i9-14900K is providing ample performance headroom, making the experience very smooth even with demanding graphics presets.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 34.3 FPS. This is a demanding scenario for the RTX 3070, and the data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold typically desired for fluid gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p?

A: The data suggests a balance at 2560x1440. For instance, the Low setting achieves 165.1 FPS, which is still very high, but the Ultra setting drops to 60.9 FPS. This implies that while the CPU is capable of high frame rates, the GPU starts to constrain performance as settings increase, making it a more balanced workload.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, the difference is significant. The Low setting averages 88 FPS, while the Ultra setting averages 34.3 FPS. This 53.7 FPS gap indicates that the graphics card’s capabilities are heavily taxed by the higher settings, leading to a substantial performance penalty.

Q: Does this combo rank high among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 764 out of 1730 tested combinations. This places it in the upper-middle tier of the database, indicating that while it is a capable setup, there are many other combinations that provide better performance in Steamworld Build.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 257.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This shows the peak capability of the CPU when the GPU is not heavily loaded.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, and its specifications play a crucial role in this game’s results. With a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz, the CPU demonstrates exceptional single-thread performance, which is critical for the simulation and logic aspects of a city builder. The benchmark data supports this, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7040 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4697. These high single-thread scores translate directly to the high frame rates seen at 1080p, where the CPU is not overshadowed by the GPU.

The processor’s large L3 cache of 36 MB (shared) and its support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory also contribute to its ability to feed the GPU quickly. The benchmark results show a Passmark multithread score of 58674, which indicates that the CPU has substantial multi-threaded capacity. However, in Steamworld Build, the data suggests that single-thread performance is more impactful. At 1080p Low, the 257.4 FPS result is far beyond what the RTX 3070 can typically achieve on its own, confirming that the i9-14900K is not the limiting factor. The 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79824, further reinforces that this is a top-tier processor.

The CPU’s nearest rivals provide context for its overall performance. It is only 0.7% behind the Intel Core i9-14900KF and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF. This indicates that the i9-14900K is performing as expected for its class. In the context of this game, the high boost clock of 6.00 GHz is likely the most important factor, as it ensures that the game’s logic threads are processed with minimal latency. The data shows that at lower resolutions, the CPU’s capabilities are fully utilized, enabling frame rates that far exceed the GPU’s limits. As resolution increases, the CPU’s role diminishes, and the GPU becomes the primary determinant of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Steamworld Build, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 holds a rank of 764 out of 1730 combinations. This placement places it in the 44th percentile of all tested systems, which is a solid but not outstanding result. The rank suggests that while this combo delivers good performance, there are many other configurations that offer higher average FPS in this game, likely due to more powerful GPUs.

The combo’s rank is influenced by the RTX 3070’s limitations at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the system is capable of producing extremely high frame rates, which would contribute positively to its ranking. However, at 4K Ultra, the 34.3 FPS result is a significant drag on the overall score, as the GPU is unable to maintain high performance. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can leverage the CPU’s strengths. The rank of 764 indicates that it is not a top-tier configuration for this game, but it is far from the bottom, offering a good balance of CPU and GPU performance for most players.

The GPU’s own ranking provides additional context. The RTX 3070 is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28238. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, which is 0.9% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, which is 1% slower. This suggests that the GPU is a mid-to-high-end part, but its 8 GB of VRAM and memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s are not sufficient for the most demanding 4K scenarios in this game. The combo rank reflects that the CPU is overqualified for the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU holds the system back at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, based on the Ampere architecture with the GA104 chip, is the other half of this combo, and its role becomes increasingly important as resolution and settings increase. With 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs, the GPU offers substantial compute power, as evidenced by its FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS. The GPU’s boost clock of 1725 MHz and its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provide a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is adequate for 1080p and 1440p but becomes a bottleneck at 4K.

The measured FPS data clearly shows the GPU’s influence. At 1080p, the GPU is not the limiting factor, as the CPU can push frame rates up to 257.4 FPS at Low settings. However, as the resolution increases to 4K, the GPU’s workload grows exponentially. The 4K Low setting produces 88 FPS, which is a 66% drop from the 1080p Low result. This is a clear sign that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the pixel count. The 4K Ultra result of 34.3 FPS further confirms that the RTX 3070 is the primary bottleneck at this resolution, as the GPU’s memory bandwidth and pixel rate are insufficient for the highest settings.

The GPU’s VRAM capacity of 8 GB is also a potential concern at 4K, especially with High or Ultra settings, where texture data can exceed this amount. The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3162 and a Passmark G3D score of 22214, indicates that it is a capable card for its generation, but it is not designed for the most demanding 4K workloads. The data suggests that for Steamworld Build, the RTX 3070 is best paired with a lower resolution to achieve smooth gameplay. The combo’s performance at 1440p High (93.6 FPS) is a good example of a balanced scenario where the GPU is sufficiently challenged without being overwhelmed.