Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from late 2023, presents a unique stress profile that often diverges from typical action games. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G paired with the Intel Arc B580 across 12 data points, covering three resolutions and four settings presets. The data reveals a system that is heavily influenced by both CPU architectural characteristics and GPU driver overhead, making it a fascinating case study in bottleneck dynamics.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and it is built on a 7 nm process. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates a substantial gap between single-threaded and multi-threaded performance; for instance, its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1919, while its multi-core score reaches 13593. This indicates a processor that is competent in multi-threaded workloads but has modest single-core strength, which is often the limiting factor in simulation-heavy genres like city builders.

In Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is primarily to manage the game's simulation logic, including citizen pathfinding, resource distribution, and the complex economic systems. The data suggests that this processor is a significant bottleneck, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is not as strained. Looking at the 1080p results, the average FPS at Low settings is 184, which is extraordinarily high and suggests that the CPU can push frames well beyond typical display refresh rates. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a dramatic drop from 184 FPS to 71 FPS. This 61.4% reduction is far steeper than what would be expected from purely graphical changes, implying that the CPU's single-thread performance, reflected in its Passmark single-thread score of 2653, is struggling to keep up with the increased draw calls and object counts at higher settings.

The CPU's 8 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are also relevant. City builders often have large working sets of data for the simulation state. The data indicates that at 4K Ultra, the frame rate collapses to 24 FPS, which is likely a combination of the CPU being unable to feed the GPU with enough data and the GPU's own limitations at that resolution. The Ryzen 5 4600G's 3DMark single-thread score of 726 is notably low, and this appears to directly translate to a performance ceiling in this game. The benchmark results indicate that while the CPU has enough raw multi-threading capability (evidenced by a Passmark multithread score of 15992) to handle the simulation, its per-core performance is the primary constraint, preventing high minimum frame rates and causing significant drops when visual complexity increases.

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

The Intel Arc B580 is the GPU component, featuring the Xe2-HPG architecture on a 5 nm process. It comes equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU's core clock is listed at a constant 2670 MHz for both base and boost, and it has a TDP of 190 W. In synthetic tests, its Passmark G3D score is 15748, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. This positions it as a mid-range performer, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (deltaPct of 0.6% in favor of the Arc) and the RTX 3080 (deltaPct of -0.7%), showing it trades blows with older high-end cards.

In the context of Steamworld Build, the GPU's 12 GB VRAM is a significant asset, ensuring that texture memory is unlikely to be a bottleneck even at 4K Ultra settings. However, the data shows that the GPU is not the primary limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the Arc B580 achieves an average of 141 FPS, but at 1440p Medium, it drops to 89 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it falls to 47 FPS. This scaling pattern suggests that the GPU's raw fillrate and shading power are being tested as resolution increases. The GPU's pixel rate is 213.6 GPixel/s, which seems adequate for 1080p but is strained at 4K, where the pixel count quadruples.

The Intel Arc B580's driver overhead is a known factor in its performance profile. The data shows a peculiar pattern: at 4K Ultra, the system only manages 24 FPS, a catastrophic drop from the 35 FPS at 4K High. This 31% performance penalty for moving from High to Ultra is substantial. The GPU's FP32 compute of 13.67 TFLOPS is decent, but the game's visual effects at Ultra, such as advanced lighting and shadow rendering, are likely interacting poorly with the GPU's architecture, causing a disproportionate hit. The GPU's performance in Passmark DirectX 11 (128) versus DirectX 12 (76) is interesting, but the game's engine API is not specified in the data, so this remains speculative. What is clear is that the GPU is not the bottleneck at 1080p, but it becomes an equal partner in the slowdown at 4K, with both components struggling to maintain playable frame rates.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 184 at 1080p to 117 at 1440p (a 36.4% reduction) and then to 62 at 4K (a 47.0% reduction from 1440p). This scaling is relatively smooth, indicating that at Low settings, the system is primarily GPU-limited, as the CPU has enough headroom to handle the simulation at these low visual demands. The GPU's bandwidth and compute are being scaled proportionally with the pixel count.

However, the scaling at High settings tells a different story. From 1080p (105 FPS) to 1440p (67 FPS), there is a 36.2% drop, which is similar to the Low settings pattern. But from 1440p to 4K, the drop is to 35 FPS, a 47.8% reduction. This steeper decline at 4K High suggests that the CPU is beginning to struggle, as the increased resolution doesn't just add pixels; it also increases the complexity of the scene data being sent to the GPU. The CPU's limited single-thread performance (Passmark single-thread score of 2653) becomes a bottleneck as it tries to process the game's simulation and render commands simultaneously.

The most revealing data point is the Ultra settings scaling. At 1080p, the system achieves 71 FPS; at 1440p, it drops to 45 FPS (a 36.6% reduction); and at 4K, it plummets to 24 FPS (a 46.7% reduction from 1440p). The fact that the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is much larger than the drop from 1080p to 1440p indicates that the system is hitting a hard wall. This is not just a GPU issue; it's a combined CPU-GPU bottleneck where neither component can keep up with the demands of rendering a complex city simulation at 4K with all settings maxed out. The data implies that for this combo, 1080p is the sweet spot where the CPU provides enough frames for the GPU to render, while 4K is practically unplayable at Ultra settings, and even 4K High is barely playable at 35 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Steamworld Build at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 105 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings. This is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay on most monitors.

Q: What is the best resolution for this setup to achieve 60 FPS?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves 67 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. However, at 4K with Medium settings, it drops to 47 FPS, so 1440p High is the highest resolution/settings combination that reliably exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: Is there a big difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the performance cost is significant. At 1080p, High achieves 105 FPS while Ultra achieves 71 FPS, a 32.4% drop. At 1440p, the drop is from 67 FPS to 45 FPS, a 32.8% reduction. The visual upgrade may not justify the performance hit for many users.

Q: Why is the 4K performance so poor?

A: The data indicates a combined bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 24 FPS. The CPU's single-thread performance (Passmark single-thread score of 2653) and the GPU's fillrate are both insufficient for the demands of the simulation and rendering at that resolution with maxed-out settings.

Q: Is the 12 GB of VRAM in the Intel Arc B580 helpful in this game?

A: The GPU has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is likely more than enough for Steamworld Build at any settings. The data does not show VRAM capacity as a limiting factor; performance drops are more attributable to compute and CPU limitations.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has an average benchmark score of 17507. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE, scores 17482, which is a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core 7 150U is 0.6% slower, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE is 0.6% faster. This indicates the 4600G is well-positioned among its peers in general computing, but its gaming performance in this specific title is limited by its single-core strength.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. The data shows that the Medium preset offers a strong balance. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves an average of 141 FPS with a minimum of 119 FPS, providing a smooth and responsive experience. At 1440p Medium, the average is 89 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, which is still excellent for a city builder and ensures fluid camera panning and zooming. Even at 4K Medium, the system manages 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS, which is playable, though not ideal for fast-paced interactions.

The High preset is also viable, but it comes with a notable cost. At 1080p High, the average is 105 FPS, which is still very good. At 1440p High, it drops to 67 FPS, which is acceptable for most users. However, at 4K High, the average falls to 35 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may feel sluggish. The Ultra preset is not recommended for this configuration. While it achieves 71 FPS at 1080p, the drop to 45 FPS at 1440p and 24 FPS at 4K makes it unsuitable for consistent play at higher resolutions. The data suggests that the Medium preset is the "best experience" for most users, as it provides high frame rates across all resolutions while still offering a visually detailed world. For those with 4K displays, the Low preset at 62 FPS is also a viable option, but Medium at 47 FPS may be preferable for the visual quality if the user can tolerate the lower frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|------------|----------|-------------|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 184 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 141 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 105 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 71 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 117 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 89 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 67 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 45 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 62 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 47 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 35 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 24 |

The data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns. At 1080p Low, the system pushes 184 FPS, but this drops to 141 at Medium and 105 at High. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p is a 32.4% reduction, which is the largest relative drop between consecutive settings at that resolution. At 1440p, the Medium preset provides a minimum FPS of 76 and a maximum of 103, with an average of 89. This is a stable and playable range. At 4K, the Medium preset is the only one that provides a minimum FPS (40) above the 30 FPS playability threshold, although the Low preset at 62 FPS is the only one that achieves a truly smooth experience. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 4K, with an average of 24 FPS. This breakdown confirms that the system's performance degrades gracefully with resolution, but the CPU bottleneck becomes more pronounced as settings increase, particularly at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Steamworld Build, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and the Intel Arc B580 ranks 2781 out of 3706 total combos. This places it in the 25th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual components' positions in their respective markets; the CPU is in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. The disparity between the component percentiles and the combo's in-game rank suggests a significant performance mismatch or a specific issue with how these two pieces of hardware interact with the game's engine.

The combo's rank of 2781 out of 3706 implies that 925 other combinations perform worse, but the vast majority (74.9%) perform better. This is a clear indication that while this system can play the game, it does not provide a high-performance experience relative to the wider database. The data suggests that the CPU's weak single-thread performance (as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 726) is the primary culprit, as it likely fails to feed the relatively powerful Arc B580 GPU efficiently in a simulation-heavy game like Steamworld Build. The GPU's architecture and driver overhead may also contribute, but the CPU appears to be the limiting factor that drags the combo's overall ranking down. For users considering this pairing, the data implies that they should expect a playable but not exceptional experience, and should look towards the Medium settings preset at 1080p or 1440p to achieve the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, rather than pushing for High or Ultra settings where the CPU bottleneck becomes severe.