Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build pairs the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, a combination that sits in the middle of the database’s tested configurations for this city builder. The measured results show a system that is capable of smooth play at mainstream resolutions but begins to strain under the load of 4K and maximum settings. The data indicates a clear balance between the 14-core processor and the 8 GB graphics card, with performance scaling that reveals which component governs the experience at each tier of visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K produces a dramatic shift in frame rates, highlighting the RTX 4060 as the primary constraint at higher resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers 129 FPS, but this drops to 82 FPS at 1440p and further to 43 FPS at 4K. This represents a 67% reduction in average frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings, indicating that the GPU is being pushed progressively harder as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern becomes more telling when examining Low settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 225 FPS, which falls to 143 FPS at 1440p and 76 FPS at 4K. The 4K result at Low settings is still higher than the 1080p Ultra result of 87 FPS, suggesting that even at the lowest visual quality, the 4K resolution demands significant graphics processing power. This points to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K regardless of settings, as the resolution itself becomes the limiting factor.

Conversely, the gap between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings is 82 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K at Low settings is 67 FPS. This relatively even distribution suggests that the RTX 4060 is handling the resolution scaling in a predictable manner, with each step up in resolution costing a similar proportion of performance. The data shows that at 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound in certain scenarios, as the 225 FPS Low result exceeds what the GPU would typically deliver in a purely GPU-limited workload.

The Medium settings row provides additional insight, with 1080p producing 172 FPS, 1440p producing 110 FPS, and 4K producing 58 FPS. The 4K Medium result includes a minimum FPS of 49 and a maximum of 67, showing some variability but still maintaining playable frame rates. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings is a 66% drop, closely matching the High settings pattern, which reinforces that resolution is the dominant factor in performance degradation.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Core Ultra 5 245 and RTX 4060 ranks 1530th out of 2924 tested combinations for Steamworld Build. This places the configuration in the 52nd percentile of all tested combos, meaning slightly more than half of the tested systems perform better in this specific game. The rank reflects the mid-range positioning of both components, with neither being a top-tier performer in their respective categories.

The CPU alone achieves a 90th percentile ranking among all processors, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 245 is a strong performer in general computing tasks. However, the GPU sits at a 61st percentile among all graphics cards, which drags the overall combo ranking down. This disparity suggests that the processor is capable of feeding the graphics card adequately, but the RTX 4060 limits the system’s overall gaming performance in Steamworld Build.

When compared to the CPU’s nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 245 shows competitive performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 0.4% lower, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 0.5% lower, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H scores 0.6% higher and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 0.8% higher. These deltas are minimal, indicating that the processor is well-matched with its direct competitors in synthetic benchmarks, though this does not directly translate to identical gaming performance.

The GPU’s nearest rivals tell a similar story of tight competition. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 0.2% lower, while the AMD Radeon 780M scores 0.3% higher, the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 0.5% higher, and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 scores 0.7% higher. These small percentage differences suggest that the RTX 4060 is positioned in a dense cluster of graphics cards with similar raw compute capabilities, making the combo’s rank more dependent on the game’s specific optimization than on raw hardware differences.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is a key factor in the game’s performance at higher resolutions, as the data shows significant frame rate drops at 4K. The 8 GB capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K Ultra result of 29 FPS suggests that memory pressure or bandwidth limitations may be affecting performance at the highest settings.

The GPU operates at a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with memory running at 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective). These clock speeds are typical for the Ada Lovelace architecture, and the 3072 shading units provide the compute throughput necessary for the game’s rendering demands. The 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores are present but are unlikely to be heavily utilized in a city builder like Steamworld Build, which focuses more on traditional rasterization.

The RTX 4060’s 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is moderate by modern standards, and the data suggests this is the limiting factor at 4K. The pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K resolution requires substantially more fill rate. The 48 ROPs and 96 TMUs are adequate for the game’s visuals, but the 128-bit memory bus may cause bottlenecks when accessing large textures at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s 115 W TDP is modest, and the card’s 240 mm length makes it suitable for most cases. The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is narrower than the x16 interface found on higher-end cards, but this is unlikely to impact performance significantly in a game like Steamworld Build, which does not appear to be bandwidth-sensitive based on the measured results. The card’s end-of-life production status indicates it is being phased out, but the measured performance remains relevant for current benchmarks.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the system delivers its strongest performance across all settings. Low settings produce 225 FPS average, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the CPU is capable of driving the game well beyond typical display refresh rates. Medium settings yield 172 FPS with a minimum of 147 FPS and maximum of 198 FPS, providing a smooth experience even during busy city-building moments. High settings achieve 129 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 87 FPS, still comfortably above 60 FPS for smooth gameplay.

Moving to 1440p, the performance remains strong but shows clear scaling. Low settings produce 143 FPS, Medium settings achieve 110 FPS with a minimum of 93 FPS and maximum of 126 FPS, and High settings reach 82 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but still playable for a city builder where precise timing is less critical. The 1440p results indicate that the RTX 4060 is still capable of delivering high frame rates at this resolution.

At 4K, the performance becomes more constrained. Low settings achieve 76 FPS, which is playable, while Medium settings produce 58 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS and maximum of 67 FPS. High settings drop to 43 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 29 FPS. These results show that 4K gaming is only viable at Low or Medium settings with this combination, and even then, the frame rates may feel less responsive during heavy simulation loads.

The minimum FPS data available for Medium settings shows that 1080p has a minimum of 147 FPS, 1440p has a minimum of 93 FPS, and 4K has a minimum of 49 FPS. These minimums are all within 15% of their respective averages, suggesting that the game maintains relatively stable frame pacing without severe drops. The maximum FPS values follow similar patterns, with 1080p reaching 198 FPS, 1440p reaching 126 FPS, and 4K reaching 67 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Steamworld Build at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The measured results show 76 FPS at 4K Low and 58 FPS at 4K Medium. High settings drop to 43 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 29 FPS, which may be too low for comfortable play.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination in Steamworld Build?

A: The data indicates that 1440p provides the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1440p High, the system achieves 82 FPS, while 1440p Ultra reaches 55 FPS. Both are playable, with the High setting offering smoother frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 scores within 0.8% of its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 0.4% lower, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 0.5% lower, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H scores 0.6% higher and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 0.8% higher.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: Based on the measured results, 8 GB is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at all settings. At 4K, the performance drops significantly, but this could be attributed to the GPU’s overall compute capabilities rather than VRAM capacity alone.

Q: What is the combo’s ranking among all tested systems for this game?

A: The combination ranks 1530th out of 2924 tested combos, placing it in the 52nd percentile. This indicates that slightly more than half of the tested systems perform better in Steamworld Build.

Q: Does the game prefer CPU or GPU performance?

A: The data suggests the game is GPU-bound at higher resolutions, as the frame rates scale consistently with resolution changes. At 1080p Low, the 225 FPS result indicates the CPU can handle the game’s simulation logic, but the GPU becomes the bottleneck as resolution increases.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset at 87 FPS provides the best visual experience while maintaining smooth frame rates. The High preset at 129 FPS offers a significant performance margin for those who prioritize frame rate stability, but the Ultra preset is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings at 172 FPS are unnecessary for most users, as the visual quality difference between Medium and Ultra is noticeable in a city builder where players spend extended periods examining their creations.

At 1440p, the High preset at 82 FPS is the recommended choice. This setting provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance, with the 82 FPS average leaving headroom for demanding simulation moments. The Ultra preset at 55 FPS is playable, but the drop below 60 FPS may be noticeable during heavy zoom or rotation. Medium settings at 110 FPS are also viable, but the visual compromise may not be worth the performance gain when High already delivers smooth results.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset at 58 FPS is the highest quality setting that maintains playable frame rates. The Low preset at 76 FPS offers a smoother experience but with significant visual downgrades. The High preset at 43 FPS and Ultra at 29 FPS are not recommended for regular play, as the frame rates are too low for a comfortable experience. Players with 4K displays should consider running at 1440p if their monitor supports it, as the performance at 1440p High is substantially better than 4K Medium.

The minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows that 1080p maintains a minimum of 147 FPS, 1440p maintains 93 FPS, and 4K maintains 49 FPS. This indicates that Medium settings provide stable frame pacing across all resolutions, making it the most consistent preset for users who prioritize smoothness over visual quality.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This configuration provides substantial processing power for the simulation and pathfinding calculations that city builders require. The processor is built on the Arrow Lake architecture using a 3 nm process, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, which helps maintain responsive performance as the game’s population and building count grows.

The CPU’s benchmark scores demonstrate strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648. The PassMark multi-thread score of 38706 and single-thread score of 4394 further confirm the processor’s capability. These scores place the CPU in the 90th percentile among all processors, indicating that it is well-suited for the computational demands of Steamworld Build’s simulation systems.

In the context of this game, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU at most settings. The 225 FPS result at 1080p Low suggests that the processor is capable of feeding the GPU far beyond what most displays can show, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, the 14 threads may be a limiting factor in heavily populated cities, where the game’s simulation logic could scale beyond what this processor can handle.

The CPU’s memory support includes dual-channel DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, which provides sufficient data throughput for the game’s asset streaming. The processor’s 65 W TDP is modest, and the integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU provides a fallback for basic display tasks, though the discrete RTX 4060 handles all gaming workloads. The CPU’s release date of 2025-01-06 makes it a recent addition to the market, and its 90th percentile ranking indicates that it will remain competitive for several years.