Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder released in late 2023, presents a unique workload that stresses both the CPU's simulation logic and the GPU's rendering pipeline. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070. The data reveals a configuration that is capable of high frame rates but shows distinct scaling characteristics across resolutions and settings, indicating where the balance of system load lies.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and predictable drop in performance as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that drop is highly dependent on the graphics preset. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 332 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low reduces this to 211 FPS, a 36% decrease, while 4K Low yields 112 FPS, a further 47% drop from 1440p. This steep decline at Low settings indicates that the game is heavily GPU-bound even at lower resolutions, with the CPU's high core count and clock speeds providing ample headroom for the simulation.

The scaling pattern shifts when examining higher presets. At Medium settings, the frame rates are 254 FPS at 1080p, 162 FPS at 1440p, and 85 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops from 1080p to 1440p (36%) and from 1440p to 4K (48%) are nearly identical to those seen at Low settings. This consistency suggests that the rendering load scales uniformly with pixel count, and the GPU remains the primary bottleneck. However, the absolute frame rates are lower, indicating that the increased visual complexity at Medium settings adds a consistent overhead across all resolutions.

The High preset shows a similar trend but with a more significant impact from the 4K resolution. The system averages 190 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p, and only 64 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 47%, which is consistent with the other presets. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 128 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p, and just 43 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, and from 1440p to 4K is 48%. This consistent scaling pattern across all four presets strongly suggests that the rendering pipeline is the limiting factor, and the CPU's performance is sufficient to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 holds a combo rank of 512 out of 2924 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the top 17.5% of all tested configurations for this game, indicating a strong performance level. The data shows this is a high-performing combination, though not at the very top of the chart, which likely includes more powerful GPUs or CPUs with higher benchmark scores.

The CPU's individual performance is a key factor in this ranking. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 sits at the 93rd percentile when compared to all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD EPYC 4464P, which is 0.3% slower, and the AMD EPYC 9124, which is 0.7% faster. This places the CPU in a very competitive tier for processing power, which is crucial for the simulation-heavy aspects of a city builder.

The GPU's contribution is also significant, though its percentile ranking is lower than the CPU's. The RTX 5070 is at the 82nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (0.1% faster), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (0.8% slower), and the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile (2% faster). This suggests that while the GPU is powerful, it is not as dominant in its respective field as the CPU is. The combination of a top-tier CPU and a strong GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for this game, avoiding severe bottlenecks from either component.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a high refresh rate experience?

A: The data shows that at 1440p with High settings, the system averages 121 FPS, which is well-suited for a high refresh rate monitor. While 1080p High achieves 190 FPS, the 1440p resolution offers a significant visual upgrade while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds 120 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor in this game?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The consistent percentage drop in FPS from 1080p to 4K across all presets demonstrates that performance scales directly with pixel count, a signature of GPU-bound rendering. The CPU's high percentile ranking (93rd) suggests it has ample headroom.

Q: How does this combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: The system is capable of playable frame rates at 4K. At High settings, it averages 64 FPS. At Medium settings, it averages 85 FPS, and at Low settings, it reaches 112 FPS. However, the Ultra preset at 4K is demanding, with an average of only 43 FPS.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 82 FPS, while the Low preset delivers an average of 211 FPS. This represents a 61% reduction in average frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra, indicating the significant graphical load of the Ultra preset.

Q: Are there any frame rate stability issues at specific settings?

A: The measured data includes minimum and maximum FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate ranges from 216 to 292 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it ranges from 137 to 186 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 73 to 98 FPS. This data shows a consistent spread, indicating no unexpected stutters at this setting.

Q: Given the CPU's specifications, is it well-suited for a city builder like Steamworld Build?

A: Yes, the CPU's 20 cores and 20 threads, along with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, provide substantial processing power. Its benchmark scores, such as a 42,216 score in Cinebench R23 multicore, show high multi-threaded performance, which is beneficial for managing the complex simulations in a city builder. The data confirms it ranks in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the Medium preset offers the best balance between visual fidelity and performance. At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 162 FPS, which is a 34% increase over the High preset's 121 FPS. The visual difference between Medium and High is often less impactful in city builders, where the camera is often zoomed out, while the frame rate benefit is substantial.

For users with a 4K display, the Medium preset is also the recommended starting point. It provides an average of 85 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. While the High preset is also playable at 64 FPS, the Medium preset provides a more consistent experience, with a minimum FPS of 73, ensuring less noticeable dips during complex scenes with many buildings and units.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for this combo, especially at higher resolutions. At 1440p, it averages 82 FPS, which is barely playable. At 4K, it drops to 43 FPS. The performance cost of the Ultra preset is significant, and the visual gains over High are typically marginal. For a smoother experience, the data suggests that High is the most visually demanding preset that still yields excellent frame rates at 1440p (121 FPS) and acceptable ones at 4K (64 FPS).

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset provides a clear picture of performance across all tested configurations.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 332. Medium settings yield an average of 254 FPS, with a minimum of 216 FPS and a maximum of 292 FPS. High settings average 190 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding at this resolution, bringing the average down to 128 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 211 FPS. The Medium preset averages 162 FPS, with a range of 137 to 186 FPS. The High preset averages 121 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces an average of 82 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload is significantly higher. The Low preset averages 112 FPS. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 73 and a maximum of 98 FPS. High settings average 64 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding configuration tested, with an average of only 43 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This high core count is a major asset for Steamworld Build, as the game's simulation logic, which tracks thousands of individual entities and their interactions, can leverage multi-threaded processing. The processor's strong multi-threaded performance is evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42,216, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's cache hierarchy, with 3 MB of L2 cache per core and 30 MB of shared L3 cache, helps reduce latency when accessing frequently used data from the simulation. The processor's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s via dual-channel DDR5 is also sufficient to feed its many cores. In the context of the measured FPS, the data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck. The consistent FPS scaling with resolution indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU is able to maintain the simulation and issue draw calls fast enough to keep the graphics card busy at all tested settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is a Blackwell architecture GPU with 6,144 shading units. It features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This memory capacity is sufficient for the textures and assets in Steamworld Build at 4K resolution. The GPU's boost clock of 2512 MHz allows it to process the geometry and effects common in city builders, such as complex building models and dynamic lighting.

The GPU's performance is central to the FPS results. Its benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 29,137, place it in the 82nd percentile among all GPUs. The data shows that it is the primary determinant of frame rate in this game. The resolution scaling analysis shows a clear GPU-bound scenario, where performance drops by roughly 36-48% for each step up in resolution. For example, at 1080p High, the system achieves 190 FPS, but this drops to 121 FPS at 1440p and 64 FPS at 4K. This pattern confirms that the RTX 5070's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor, and the CPU provides more than enough support to avoid holding the GPU back.