Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the interaction between a high-core-count CPU and a mid-range GPU creates a distinct performance profile. The data for the Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 shows a system that scales predictably with resolution, but whose frame rates are heavily influenced by the graphics settings preset. This combination ranks in the top 27% of all tested configurations in this game, indicating a strong, if not top-tier, experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases, though the magnitude of the drop varies significantly by settings preset. At the Low preset, the average frame rate falls from 298 FPS at 1920x1080 to 189 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 109 FPS, and then to 100 FPS at 3840x2160, a further reduction of 89 FPS. This steep decline indicates that even at Low settings, the rendering load grows substantially with pixel count.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, starting at 228 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 145 FPS at 1440p, and settling at 77 FPS at 4K. The High preset follows suit with 171 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, and 57 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, beginning at 115 FPS at 1080p, falling to 73 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 39 FPS at 4K.

The percentage drops between resolutions are telling. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS loss across all presets is roughly 36%. The transition from 1440p to 4K is even more punishing, with an average FPS loss of about 48% across the same presets. This disproportionate decline at 4K strongly suggests that the RTX 3080 is the limiting component at higher resolutions; the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth become bottlenecks as the number of pixels to render multiplies.

At 1080p, however, the data implies that the CPU is more of a factor. The spread between the Low preset (298 FPS) and the Ultra preset (115 FPS) is enormous, but even the Low preset result is well below the theoretical maximum of the i9-14900K, which scores 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The fact that frame rates are not pegged at a monitor's refresh limit suggests that the game's simulation logic or draw call submission is creating a ceiling, even when the GPU has plenty of headroom. The data shows the system is well-balanced for 1440p, where the GPU and CPU workloads are more evenly matched, but becomes GPU-bound at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is 298 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset. This suggests the pair is more than capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p in this title.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160, the system averages 57 FPS on High settings and 77 FPS on Medium settings. The data indicates that 4K at Ultra settings (39 FPS) will not provide a consistently smooth experience, but Medium or High presets are viable.

Q: How does the RTX 3080's memory configuration affect performance?

A: The RTX 3080 has 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. This is sufficient for the game's requirements at most settings, but the significant FPS drop from 1440p to 4K (e.g., from 109 to 57 FPS on High) suggests that the memory bandwidth and capacity are stressed at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo if prioritizing frame rate?

A: For maximum frame rate, 1920x1080 is the clear choice, with averages ranging from 115 to 298 FPS depending on the settings preset. For a balance of visual fidelity and performance, 2560x1440 on High settings (109 FPS) appears to be the sweet spot.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K a bottleneck for the RTX 3080 in this game?

A: At lower resolutions like 1080p, the data suggests the CPU is not the primary limiter, as frame rates vary wildly with settings. However, the i9-14900K's high multi-threaded performance (39,399.5 in Cinebench R23) is likely sufficient to feed the GPU. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as evidenced by the sharp FPS decline.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems in this game?

A: This specific combination ranks 1008 out of 3706 tested combos, placing it in the 72nd percentile. This indicates it performs better than the majority of systems tested, but it is not in the top tier for this specific game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 plays a central role in determining the playable settings, particularly as resolution increases. With a boost clock of 1710 MHz and 8704 shading units, the GPU's raw compute power is substantial, evidenced by a PassMark G3D score of 25,086. However, its performance in Steamworld Build is heavily dictated by the settings preset, which modulates the load on the GPU's fixed-function hardware.

The 10 GB of GDDR6X memory is a critical factor. While this capacity is not a problem at 1080p or 1440p, the jump to 4K creates a much larger demand for texture and geometry data. The measured FPS drop from 109 FPS at 1440p High to 57 FPS at 4K High suggests the 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth is being saturated. The memory clock runs at 1188 MHz, yielding 19 Gbps effective, which is standard for this generation but is a limiting factor when pushing higher resolutions.

The GPU's performance percentile (68th among all GPUs) is lower than the CPU's (95th percentile). This data point reinforces the interpretation that the RTX 3080 is the weaker link in this pairing. When the settings are lowered to Low, the 4K frame rate jumps to 100 FPS, indicating that reducing the shading and texture work allows the GPU to keep up. The data shows that the RTX 3080's architecture, with 68 RT cores and 272 tensor cores, is more than adequate for a city builder, but the memory subsystem becomes the primary constraint at 4K. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with modern rendering paths, but the game's performance is ultimately bound by the sheer pixel fill rate and memory transfer demands.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a rank of 1008 out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places the system in the 72nd percentile of all tested configurations. The data indicates this is a solidly above-average pairing, capable of delivering high frame rates, but it is not among the elite setups tested.

The CPU's individual performance is exceptional, scoring 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and sitting in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14900KF (deltaPct of -0.3%) and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (deltaPct of -0.6%), are essentially tied in performance, showing that the i9-14900K is at the top of its class. The GPU, however, is less dominant, ranking in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA P106-100 (deltaPct of -0.3%) and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (deltaPct of -0.3%), are lower-tier parts, which highlights that the RTX 3080's average benchmark score is boosted by its compute capabilities but is not exceptional in gaming-specific metrics.

This disparity in component ranking explains the combo's overall position. The CPU provides a massive performance headroom, preventing it from being a bottleneck, but the GPU's 10 GB memory and 320-bit bus hold the system back from reaching the very top of the rankings. The combo rank of 1008 suggests that while many systems with less capable CPUs but stronger GPUs (like an RTX 4090) will outperform it, it still beats a significant majority of the field. For a 1440p gaming target, this rank is excellent, but for 4K enthusiasts, it indicates the system will require compromises in settings, as shown by the 39 FPS average at 4K Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system is incredibly fast. The Low preset delivers an average of 298 FPS. The Medium preset averages 228 FPS, with a minimum of 194 FPS and a maximum of 262 FPS. The High preset averages 171 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, still delivering a very playable 115 FPS average. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system is never CPU-bound and maintains high frame rates even at the highest settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 189 FPS. The Medium preset averages 145 FPS, with a minimum of 123 FPS and a maximum of 167 FPS. The High preset averages 109 FPS, which is ideal for a 144Hz monitor. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 73 FPS, which is still smooth but marks the first point where the GPU begins to show strain.

At 3840x2160, the system's limits are exposed. The Low preset averages 100 FPS, which is surprisingly high and indicates the GPU can handle the pixel count when visual effects are minimized. The Medium preset averages 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS, which is playable but with noticeable dips. The High preset averages 57 FPS, which is on the edge of smoothness. The Ultra preset is the worst performer, averaging just 39 FPS, which is likely too choppy for a city builder where you need to pan and zoom constantly.

The frame time consistency, where provided, shows that the Medium preset has a tighter range (e.g., 123-167 FPS at 1440p) compared to the overall averages, indicating that the game is more stable at this preset than at the extremes. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is overkill for this GPU, 1440p is the perfect match, and 4K is only viable on Medium or Low settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends entirely on the target resolution.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. With an average of 115 FPS, it provides the best visual quality without sacrificing playability. There is no reason to drop below this preset at this resolution, as even the most demanding settings are easily handled.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the best balance. It delivers an average of 109 FPS, which is smooth on most monitors and offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium. The Ultra preset, at 73 FPS, is playable but may feel less fluid when the city grows large and the simulation becomes more complex. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot, as it retains high frame rates while providing good detail.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It averages 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS, which is acceptable for a strategy title. The High preset, at 57 FPS, is borderline, and the Ultra preset, at 39 FPS, should be avoided. The Low preset at 4K, while averaging 100 FPS, sacrifices too much visual fidelity for a game that relies on seeing the details of your city. Therefore, Medium provides the best compromise between visual quality and a stable, playable frame rate at 4K.

In summary, the data indicates that users should prioritize the High preset at 1440p for the best overall experience, while those with 4K displays should settle for Medium to maintain a smooth simulation. The system is powerful enough to avoid any CPU-related stutters, but the GPU's memory bandwidth is the deciding factor at higher resolutions.