Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build with the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel Arc B390 presents a clear case of a CPU far outclassing its GPU counterpart. The benchmark data shows a system where the integrated graphics solution is the primary constraint, limiting performance across all tested resolutions and settings. The Ryzen 5 2600, a 6-core, 12-thread processor from 2018, provides ample processing power for this city builder, but the Arc B390, an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher graphical loads. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, examines the scaling patterns, and contextualizes the roles of both components.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate achieved by this combo in Steamworld Build?

A: The highest average FPS recorded across all tested configurations is 106, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra preset, the system delivers an average of 14 FPS, which is the lowest performance point in the entire dataset.

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

A: At 2560x1440, switching from Low to Ultra settings results in a significant frame rate drop, going from an average of 67 FPS down to 26 FPS.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B390 have its own dedicated VRAM?

A: No, the Intel Arc B390 uses system shared memory for its graphics operations. Its memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent."

Q: How does the combo's ranking in this game compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2573rd out of 2924 tested combinations for Steamworld Build, placing it in the lower percentile of systems for this specific title.

Q: Is there a settings preset at 1080p that maintains an average above 60 FPS?

A: Yes, both the Low preset (106 FPS) and Medium preset (81 FPS) achieve averages above 60 FPS at 1920x1080 resolution. The High preset hits exactly 60 FPS on average.

Settings Recommendations

The data suggests that the optimal experience with this hardware combination is found at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the system can leverage the CPU's strength to maintain playable frame rates. The Medium preset at 1080p delivers an average of 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. This provides a solid, consistent performance that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for a balanced visual and performance experience.

While the Low preset at 1080p offers a higher average frame rate of 106 FPS, the jump to Medium yields a substantial improvement in visual fidelity for a relatively modest performance cost. The High preset at 1080p drops to an average of exactly 60 FPS, which is still playable, but the margin for error is smaller, and dips below that threshold are more likely during busy scenes. The Ultra preset at 1080p should be avoided, as it cuts the average frame rate down to 41 FPS, which can feel less fluid for a city builder where camera movement and placement are frequent.

At higher resolutions, the settings choices become more restrictive. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (67 FPS average) provides a comfortable frame rate. The Medium preset at 51 FPS is borderline, and both High (38 FPS) and Ultra (26 FPS) fall below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience. At 3840x2160, all presets yield average frame rates below 35 FPS, making the game largely unplayable at this resolution with this hardware. The recommendation is to prioritize 1080p with Medium settings for the best overall experience, as it offers a good balance of visual quality and performance headroom.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a GPU-bound system. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 60 FPS to 38 FPS, a reduction of roughly 37%. The further step to 3840x2160 at High settings brings the average down to 20 FPS, a 47% drop from the 1440p figure. This consistent and significant decrease in performance as resolution increases is a classic indicator that the graphics processor is the limiting factor.

This pattern is consistent across other settings. At the Medium preset, performance scales from 81 FPS at 1080p, down to 51 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 27 FPS at 4K. The Low preset follows the same trend, with averages of 106, 67, and 35 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The consistent halving of performance with each major resolution increase points directly to the Intel Arc B390's fill-rate and shading limitations, rather than any CPU bottleneck.

The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint in this scenario. If the Ryzen 5 2600 were the limiting factor, we would expect to see less of a performance delta between resolutions, as the CPU workload would remain relatively similar while the GPU workload scales with pixel count. The substantial FPS drops at higher resolutions indicate that the Arc B390 is saturated and cannot keep up with the increased rendering demands, leaving the powerful CPU underutilized.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 106 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 81 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. The High preset brings the average down to 60 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of 41 FPS.

Moving up to 2560x1440, performance drops across the board. The Low preset manages an average of 67 FPS. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS. The High preset falls to an average of 38 FPS. The Ultra preset is significantly more demanding, yielding an average of only 26 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system is heavily strained. The Low preset produces an average of 35 FPS. The Medium preset averages 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 31 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 20 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding configuration tested, resulting in a low average of just 14 FPS.

The data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy of performance based on settings and resolution. The frame rate deltas between Low and Ultra presets are substantial, particularly at higher resolutions, where the GPU's limitations become more pronounced. The 1080p Medium result stands out as the sweet spot, offering a playable frame rate with a reasonable visual uplift from the Low preset.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance bottleneck in this configuration. Its benchmark presence is minimal, with a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This score positions it just slightly ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463 (a 1.3% delta). This indicates that the Arc B390's raw rendering power is very low, which aligns with its classification as an integrated graphics processor (IGP).

The GPU's specifications support this finding. It is built on Intel's Xe3-LPG architecture, features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its boost clock is listed at 2500 MHz. However, the most critical limitation is its memory configuration: it relies on system shared memory, making its bandwidth "System Dependent." This means the GPU shares the system's main memory bandwidth, which is a significant disadvantage for a demanding game like Steamworld Build, especially at higher resolutions.

The performance data directly reflects these limitations. The steep drop in FPS from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K is a direct consequence of the GPU's inability to handle the increased pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth demands. The fact that the Ultra preset at 4K yields only 14 FPS underscores how underpowered this integrated GPU is for modern gaming. Its position in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, near the GeForce GT 625 OEM and GT 710, confirms that it is only suitable for the lightest of graphical workloads.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 presents a stark contrast to the GPU. It is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen+ architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. In the benchmark data, it scores in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, demonstrating that it is a solidly performing processor for its generation. Its average benchmark score of 21484 places it nearly even with the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V (21440, a 0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i9-11900H (21367, a 0.5% delta).

For a city builder like Steamworld Build, which involves simulation and managing numerous entities, the CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are often more important than in other genres. The Ryzen 5 2600's 12 threads are well-suited for this type of workload. Its PassMark multithread score is 13160 and its Geekbench multicore score is 5648, indicating strong parallel processing capabilities that should handle the game's simulation logic without issue.

The measured FPS data supports the theory that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 106 FPS, which is a high frame rate that suggests the CPU can feed the GPU with enough data. However, as the resolution increases and the GPU becomes more strained, the FPS drops, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. The fact that performance scales with resolution, not with complexity, indicates that the CPU is not limiting the frame rate. The Ryzen 5 2600 is a capable processor that is being held back by the Arc B390's limited graphics performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of this CPU and GPU places the system at rank 2573 out of 2924 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This ranking, which puts it in the bottom 12% of all systems, is a direct reflection of the Intel Arc B390's performance. While the CPU is performing its role adequately, the GPU's low benchmark percentile and poor high-resolution performance drag the entire system down.

The disparity between the components is clear when looking at their individual percentiles. The CPU's 75th percentile ranking suggests it is a capable mid-range part. However, the GPU's 9th percentile ranking is the dominant factor in this game's performance. The combination of a solid CPU with a very weak GPU results in a system that is unbalanced, where the graphics processor is the definitive limiting factor. The substantial FPS drops with increasing resolution and settings, as seen in the measured data, are a textbook symptom of this imbalance.

This rank indicates that for a game like Steamworld Build, users with this specific hardware setup will have a significantly below-average experience compared to the broader pool of tested systems. The data suggests that to improve performance, the graphics solution would need to be upgraded, as the CPU has headroom to support a more powerful GPU. The current combination is heavily skewed by the Arc B390's limitations, preventing the Ryzen 5 2600 from showcasing its full potential in this title.