Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from 2023, shows remarkably scalable performance on the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070. Measured frame rates span from a highly playable 40 FPS at 4K Ultra to a blistering 311 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating a combination that can adapt to a wide range of display and quality preferences. The data positions this pairing at rank 614 out of 2924 tested combos for this game, placing it comfortably in the upper fifth of all configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern as resolution increases, with the most significant performance drop occurring when moving from 1440p to 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 178 FPS at 1080p to 113 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 65 FPS. The jump to 4K High brings the average down to 60 FPS, which is a further 53 FPS drop. This scaling suggests that the RTX 4070 begins to face a substantial pixel-pushing workload at 3840x2160, though 60 FPS remains achievable at the High preset.

The pattern is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. Here, the average FPS goes from 120 at 1080p to 76 at 1440p, and then plummets to 40 at 4K. This 36 FPS difference between 1440p and 4K Ultra highlights a steep curve where the GPU’s rendering limits become the primary constraint. The fact that 4K Ultra is the only configuration in the entire dataset to dip below 60 FPS average suggests that this setting combination is the absolute ceiling for this hardware pairing.

Conversely, the Low preset shows the least dramatic scaling, with 311 FPS at 1080p, 198 FPS at 1440p, and 104 FPS at 4K. The relatively smaller absolute drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings (94 FPS) compared to the drop at Ultra (36 FPS) is interesting; it indicates that at lower graphical loads, the frame rate is less constrained by raw pixel count and more by other factors. The 4K Low result of 104 FPS proves that the RTX 4070 has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming when visual fidelity is dialed down.

The data strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, especially on higher presets. The RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth, while substantial, are challenged by the 8.3 million pixels of 4K. In contrast, the 1080p results, with frame rates exceeding 300 FPS at Low, show a scenario where the CPU's capability is more exposed, though the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 still provides enough throughput to avoid any major bottleneck at lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. For a city builder like Steamworld Build, which often involves simulating numerous entities and complex economic systems, multi-core performance is typically critical. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a Passmark multithread score of 49682 place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating a very strong processor for handling the background simulation tasks that such games demand.

The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 311 FPS, a figure that is so high that the CPU’s single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5960) becomes a significant factor. This score suggests the Core Ultra 7 265 has excellent per-core speed, allowing it to feed the GPU efficiently even at very high frame rates. The gap between 1080p Low (311 FPS) and 1440p Low (198 FPS) is 113 FPS, which is a larger drop than the one from 1440p Low to 4K Low (94 FPS). This non-linear scaling is a classic sign that the CPU is doing more relative work at lower resolutions, while the GPU takes over the burden as resolution increases.

The processor’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache likely help with the game’s data access patterns, which can involve frequent reads of building and resource states. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while standard for dual-channel DDR5, is sufficient to keep the 20 cores fed with simulation data. The data shows that even at 4K Medium, the system maintains 80 FPS, proving that the CPU is not causing a major holdback until the GPU is fully saturated. The Core Ultra 7 265's performance is closely matched by its direct rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which scores 0.3% higher in average benchmarks, while it sits 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4464P.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the most balanced experience for this system is achieved at 1440p with High settings, producing an average of 113 FPS. This provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience while maintaining a high level of visual quality. For users with 1080p displays, the High preset at 178 FPS is excellent, but the Medium preset at 238 FPS with a minimum of 202 FPS offers an even more fluid experience for fast-paced camera movements, with only a modest visual compromise.

At 4K, the High preset at 60 FPS is the clear recommendation for a playable experience, as it hits the standard target for console-quality smoothness. The Medium preset at 4K yields 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS, which is arguably the sweet spot for 4K gaming on this hardware, providing a 20 FPS uplift over High while still maintaining a very playable frame rate. The Ultra preset at 4K, averaging only 40 FPS, is not recommended for general play, as the visual fidelity gains do not justify the performance drop below the 60 FPS threshold.

For maximum image quality, the Ultra preset is best reserved for 1080p displays, where it achieves 120 FPS, or 1440p, where it still maintains a respectable 76 FPS. The Low preset, while delivering the highest frame rates (311 FPS at 1080p), should only be used for competitive play or when testing the absolute limits of the hardware. The data suggests that Medium and High presets offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions, with the 1440p High and 4K Medium configurations standing out as particularly efficient choices.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Steamworld Build at 4K with a consistent 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at the High preset, the average FPS is exactly 60. For a more comfortable margin, the Medium preset at 4K provides an 80 FPS average with a measured minimum of 68 FPS.

Q: What is the highest frame rate this combination can achieve?

A: The maximum measured average FPS is 311, which occurs at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This indicates the hardware is capable of extremely high refresh rates at lower resolutions.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data shows that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K, especially on the Ultra preset where the average FPS drops to 40. At 1080p, the frame rates are so high that the CPU's performance is more likely to be a limiting factor, though the Core Ultra 7 265 handles it well.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rivals in this context?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score that is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P4 and 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56. It is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile in average benchmarks.

Q: What is the best preset for a 1440p monitor with a high refresh rate?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 yields 113 FPS, which is ideal for 120Hz displays. For 144Hz or higher, the Medium preset at 151 FPS would be a better choice.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a playable experience at any resolution?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset is playable at 1080p (120 FPS average) and 1440p (76 FPS average). At 4K, the 40 FPS average falls below the generally accepted playable threshold.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, is a critical component in this pairing. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, which is a decisive factor in the 4K performance. The GPU’s boost clock of 2475 MHz and 5888 shading units allow it to process the game’s textures and effects efficiently. The measured data shows that the GPU’s capabilities scale well up to 1440p, where even the Ultra preset maintains a playable 76 FPS average.

However, the 4K results expose the RTX 4070’s limitations. The drop from 60 FPS at High to 40 FPS at Ultra at 3840x2160 demonstrates that the 12 GB VRAM buffer and the GPU’s compute power are stretched thin by the increased pixel count and higher-fidelity assets. The 4K Medium result of 80 FPS indicates that the GPU can handle 4K when settings are moderated, but the transition from Medium to High at 4K (a 20 FPS drop) is more severe than the transition from Medium to High at 1440p (a 38 FPS drop), showing a steeper performance curve at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 and a Passmark G3D score of 26927, place it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, is essentially tied with a 0.1% higher average score, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 0.4% behind. This indicates that the RTX 4070 is a solid mid-to-high-range performer. In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role is to render the game’s stylized visuals, and the data confirms that it does so admirably up to 1440p, while requiring careful preset selection at 4K to maintain smooth frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates provides a thorough look at the performance envelope of this system.

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system delivers exceptional performance. The Low preset averages 311 FPS, which is the highest result in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce an average of 238 FPS, with a minimum of 202 FPS and a maximum of 274 FPS, indicating excellent frame pacing. The High preset averages 178 FPS, still far above the 144Hz refresh rate common on 1080p monitors. Even the most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p manages a very smooth 120 FPS average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The Low preset averages 198 FPS, a significant step down from 1080p but still incredibly high. Medium settings yield 151 FPS average, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 174 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz displays. The High preset delivers 113 FPS, which is perfect for 120Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 1440p still holds up well, with an average of 76 FPS, making it a viable option for those prioritizing visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the demands of 4K become apparent. The Low preset averages 104 FPS, proving that the RTX 4070 can handle 4K gaming comfortably when settings are reduced. Medium settings yield an 80 FPS average, with a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 92 FPS, which is a very good result for 4K. The High preset drops to exactly 60 FPS average, meeting the standard for smooth console-like performance. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that struggles, with a 40 FPS average that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is not suitable for 4K play on this hardware.

These numbers show a consistent hierarchy: frame rates decrease as resolution and settings increase, with the most significant proportional drops occurring at 4K Ultra. The Medium preset’s measured min and max FPS values (68-92 at 4K, 129-174 at 1440p, 202-274 at 1080p) suggest that this setting offers the most stable frame delivery, making it a reliable choice for a smooth experience across all resolutions. The data confirms that while the system is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p, 4K gaming requires a more conservative approach to settings to stay within a playable frame rate range.