Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places unique demands on a system, and the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with the Intel Arc B390 produces a highly constrained experience. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that is fundamentally limited by its graphics processor, resulting in playable frame rates only at lower resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, showing that while the CPU is a capable 6-core, 12-thread processor, the GPU’s low standing in the benchmark hierarchy creates a significant bottleneck that defines the entire performance profile.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and it draws 65 W of power. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable asset for a city builder, a genre that often involves managing large populations and complex simulation logic. The processor's benchmark scores indicate a solid mid-range performer; its average benchmark score of 17035 places it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. This suggests that, in isolation, the CPU has enough computational headroom for most gaming tasks.

However, the data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this specific combination. Looking at the measured FPS, the scores are overwhelmingly low, especially at higher resolutions. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 106 FPS, which is a respectable number. Yet, when the resolution increases to 4K, the average FPS drops to 35 at the same Low settings. This dramatic decline is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU is capable of feeding frames, but the GPU cannot render them fast enough at higher resolutions.

The Ryzen 5 3600’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the Intel Core i7-1260P and the Intel Core i5-11400, with delta percentages of 0.2% and -0.2%, respectively. This indicates that the CPU’s performance is highly comparable to these other mainstream processors. In the context of Steamworld Build, the CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are more than sufficient. The game’s simulation-heavy nature would benefit from the 12 threads, but the measured frame rates show that this potential is never fully realized because the GPU is unable to keep pace. The data suggests that the CPU is waiting for the GPU, not the other way around.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is the dominant bottleneck in this configuration. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, and it relies on "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own. The GPU’s clocks are listed with a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. Its performance percentile is remarkably low, sitting at just the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a stark indicator of its limited capabilities, and it is corroborated by its average benchmark score of 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test.

The GPU’s nearest rivals are older, entry-level discrete cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, with the Arc B390 performing 1.3% and 2.7% better, respectively. This context is crucial. The Arc B390 is not competing with modern gaming GPUs; it is competing with decade-old hardware that was never intended for high-end gaming. The implications for Steamworld Build are severe. The game, which has a top-down isometric view, still requires a certain level of pixel throughput and fill rate that this IGP simply cannot provide.

The GPU’s shading units (1536) and texture mapping units (48) are present, but its fill rates are low. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. These figures, combined with the lack of dedicated memory bandwidth, explain why the frame rates collapse at higher resolutions. At 4K, the GPU is tasked with rendering over 8 million pixels, and the data shows it struggles immensely, with the average FPS falling to 20 on High settings. The GPU is the clear limiting component, and its performance dictates the entire experience.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling data provides a clear picture of the system’s bottleneck. Moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K, the frame rates drop consistently across all settings, but the rate of decline is steep and consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. For example, at Low settings, the system produces 106 FPS at 1080p, 67 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K. This is a performance drop of roughly 37% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 48% from 1440p to 4K. These are massive reductions that cannot be attributed to CPU limitations.

A CPU-bound scenario would show much less variation between resolutions, as the CPU’s workload is largely independent of pixel count. The fact that the FPS almost halves every time the resolution increases is a definitive indicator that the GPU’s pixel processing capability is the limiting factor. The trend is consistent across all settings. At High settings, the FPS goes from 60 at 1080p to 38 at 1440p and finally to 20 at 4K. Even at Ultra settings, which would stress the GPU further, the frame rate plummets from 41 at 1080p to 26 at 1440p and 14 at 4K.

This data suggests that the GPU is running out of processing power and memory bandwidth as the resolution increases. The Intel Arc B390’s reliance on system memory, which is shared with the CPU, means that memory bandwidth is a premium resource. As the resolution increases, the demand for memory bandwidth grows, and the IGP is unable to keep up. The system is effectively crippled at 4K, where even the lowest settings cannot maintain a playable 30 FPS, hitting an average of 35 FPS. The resolution scaling confirms that any attempt to play at higher resolutions will be met with a severe performance penalty.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1080p, the system shows its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 106, which is the highest score recorded for this combo. Medium settings yield an average of 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93, indicating a stable experience. High settings drop to 60 FPS on average, which is on the edge of playability for many users. Ultra settings, however, bring the system to its knees, with an average of only 41 FPS.

At 1440p, the performance drops noticeably. The Low preset produces an average of 67 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium settings average 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59, suggesting some noticeable stutters. High settings fall to 38 FPS, which is becoming choppy for a city builder. Ultra settings are barely playable at 26 FPS on average.

At 4K, the experience is largely unplayable. Low settings yield an average of 35 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31, showing significant frame pacing issues. High settings average just 20 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to a slideshow-like 14 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable option for this hardware combination, and even 1440p requires significant compromises in visual quality to approach playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2573rd out of 2924 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations tested. This ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU’s poor performance. While the CPU is a mainstream processor that sits in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, the GPU’s 9th percentile standing drags the entire combo down.

This massive discrepancy between the CPU and GPU performance is the key takeaway. The combo rank is not a reflection of the CPU’s capabilities but rather evidence of the GPU’s severe limitations. In a game like Steamworld Build, where the CPU is often more important than in fast-paced action titles, this pairing fails to capitalize on the CPU’s strengths. The system is effectively a powerful engine attached to a very weak transmission.

The benchmark results indicate that this combo is closer in performance to systems with very old or integrated graphics solutions than to any modern gaming PC. The GPU’s nearest rivals, which are all over a decade old, are a clear indication that this is not a gaming-focused component. The rank of 2573 out of 2924 is a clear verdict: this is a low-performance combination that will struggle with any modern game, and Steamworld Build is no exception. The data suggests that users with this combo will need to make severe sacrifices to achieve a playable experience.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable settings for a playable experience are at 1080p. At 1440p, the frame rates drop to a level that would hinder the gameplay experience, and 4K is entirely out of the question. The data shows that the 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that provides a truly smooth experience, with an average of 106 FPS. This is the only setting that offers a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target, ensuring a fluid and responsive interaction with the game’s city-building mechanics.

For users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, the 1080p Medium preset is the best compromise. It delivers an average of 81 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The minimum FPS of 69 indicates that the frame rate remains stable, with no significant dips that would cause stuttering. This preset offers a better-looking game while still maintaining a high level of performance. The 1080p High preset, averaging 60 FPS, is on the borderline. While it is technically playable, any complex scene or large city population could cause the frame rate to dip below this level, leading to noticeable lag.

The 1080p Ultra preset, at 41 FPS, is not recommended. The visual improvement over Medium is unlikely to justify the significant performance drop. The data shows that this combo is not powerful enough to handle the game’s higher presets without sacrificing playability. Therefore, the recommendation is clear: for a smooth experience, use 1080p Low. For a balanced experience, 1080p Medium is the optimal choice, offering a significant visual upgrade while maintaining a frame rate that is high enough to ensure the game remains responsive. Any other resolution or preset combination will result in a subpar experience.