Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder where the pace of simulation and the density of on-screen construction dictate performance, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 shows a clear pattern of scaling. The data reveals a system that is remarkably capable at 1080p, but which begins to show its limitations as resolution scales upward. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU becomes the defining factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU's robust multi-core architecture ensures the simulation logic remains fluid. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across the tested resolutions and settings, interprets the GPU's role, and provides actionable recommendations for players based on the observed data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Steamworld Build shows a distinct and predictable drop in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate falls from 138 FPS at 1080p to 88 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 46 FPS at 4K. This is a substantial reduction, with the 4K result representing only about a third of the performance seen at 1080p. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 5060 is increasingly tasked with rendering more pixels, and its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus are pushed to their limits.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, the Low preset yields 240 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 153 FPS at 1440p and 81 FPS at 4K. Similarly, the Medium preset sees a decline from 184 FPS at 1080p to 117 FPS at 1440p and 62 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, starting at 93 FPS at 1080p, falling to 59 FPS at 1440p, and reaching a playable but lower 31 FPS at 4K. The consistent halving of performance between 1080p and 4K across all settings strongly suggests that the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth of the GPU are the primary bottlenecks, not the CPU.

This behavior indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, is more than capable of feeding the graphics card at lower resolutions. The CPU's high multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216, ensures that the game's simulation and AI logic run without becoming a limiting factor. It is only when the rendering resolution increases that the workload shifts decisively to the GPU. The data shows that for players targeting 4K, the RTX 5060 will be the determining factor for achievable frame rates, making it necessary to consider lower settings to maintain smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the sole graphics processor in this combo, and its specifications directly explain the observed performance in Steamworld Build. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The 3840 shading units and 48 ROPs are clocked at a base of 2280 MHz with a boost of 2497 MHz, delivering a pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s. These figures suggest a card designed for high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, and the benchmark data confirms this.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity appears to be sufficient for Steamworld Build at the tested settings, as there is no indication of texture thrashing or stuttering in the measured numbers. However, the memory bus width and bandwidth are likely the key constraints at 4K resolution. The game, being a city builder, renders many detailed objects, and the sheer amount of pixel data required at 3840x2160 seems to saturate the 448.0 GB/s bandwidth. This is reflected in the 46 FPS average at High settings, which is a significant drop from the 138 FPS at 1080p.

In contrast, the GPU's compute capabilities are not the primary bottleneck. The FP32 performance of 19.18 TFLOPS is ample for a game of this genre, which relies more on fill rate and bandwidth than on complex shader computations. The data suggests that the RTX 5060 is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Steamworld Build, but its performance at 4K is limited by its memory subsystem. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628 and PassMark G3D score of 20891 place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a solid mid-range performer that excels in this specific title at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players using a 1080p monitor, the Ultra preset is entirely viable, with an average of 93 FPS. This provides the highest visual fidelity while still maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 1080p offers even more headroom at 138 FPS, which would be beneficial for high refresh rate displays, but the Ultra preset is recommended for those prioritizing image quality.

At 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot, delivering an average of 88 FPS. This provides a great balance between visual quality and performance, ensuring a fluid experience on standard 1440p monitors. The Medium preset also performs admirably at 117 FPS, but the visual uplift from High is generally worth the performance trade-off. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 59 FPS, which is just at the edge of playability, but the High preset is a safer choice to avoid dips below 60 FPS in busy scenes.

For 4K resolution, the data indicates that the Medium preset is the highest playable option, with an average of 62 FPS and a minimum of 53 FPS. This is a playable experience, though the Low preset at 81 FPS would be a more comfortable option if consistent performance is a priority. The High preset at 46 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 31 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. The benchmark results clearly show that 4K gaming with this combo requires a compromise on settings, and Medium offers the best visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1636 out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations, indicating a balanced performance that is capable of handling the game well, but not at the top of the charts. The rank reflects the strengths of both components: the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance prevents it from being a bottleneck, while the GPU's capabilities are sufficient for mainstream resolutions.

The CPU itself is ranked in the 93rd percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 64640, placing it slightly below the AMD EPYC 4464P by 0.3% and above the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F by 0.3%. This high percentile suggests that the processor is among the top tier for general computing and gaming workloads. In the context of Steamworld Build, this means the CPU is unlikely to be the cause of any frame rate limitations, and the overall combo rank is more heavily influenced by the GPU's performance at higher resolutions.

The GPU, on the other hand, is in the 72nd percentile of all graphics cards, with an average score of 26331. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M, which is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which is 1.2% faster. This places the RTX 5060 in a competitive position within its segment. The combo's rank of 1636 out of 3706 suggests that while many other systems may achieve higher frame rates in Steamworld Build, this pairing offers a solid and well-rounded experience, particularly for 1080p and 1440p gaming, without the need for a more powerful GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the playable frame rate for this combo at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K, the Medium preset yields an average of 62 FPS, which is the highest playable setting. The Low preset offers 81 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 46 FPS and 31 FPS, respectively.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 a bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates it is not. The CPU's performance is in the 93rd percentile, and the frame rates scale predictably with resolution, suggesting the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: The High preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 88 FPS. The Ultra preset is also playable at 59 FPS, but High provides more headroom for consistent performance.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 5060 compared to its nearest rival?

A: According to the data, the RTX 5060 is 1.2% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT and 0.3% faster than the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550.

Q: Does the game use more than 8 GB of VRAM at the tested settings?

A: There is no evidence of this in the measured data. The frame rates are consistent without signs of stuttering, suggesting the 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for Steamworld Build at these presets.

Q: What is the combo's rank compared to all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1636 out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build, placing it in the upper-middle tier of performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measured for each resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :---------- |

| 3840x2160 | High | 46 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 81 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 62 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 31 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 88 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 153 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 117 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 59 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 138 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 240 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 184 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 93 |

The Medium preset at 1440p and 4K also recorded minimum and maximum frame rates. At 1440p, the minimum was 99 FPS and the maximum was 135 FPS. At 4K, the minimum was 53 FPS and the maximum was 71 FPS. These figures provide context for frame time consistency, showing that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate does not drop below playable levels for the Medium preset. The data confirms a clear performance hierarchy, with 1080p delivering excellent frame rates across all settings and 4K requiring a reduction to Medium or Low for a smooth experience.