Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from late 2023, presents a specific challenge for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and Intel Arc B390 combination. The data places this pairing at rank 2573 out of 2924 tested combos, indicating a performance tier that is decidedly entry-level. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to understand how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the game's performance, how the experience scales across resolutions, and what settings offer the most playable experience.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. This is a 7 nm part from TSMC, featuring a 16 MB L3 cache and a 65 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded capabilities, scoring 17,272 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7,254 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Its single-thread performance is also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,438 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1,843.

In the context of Steamworld Build, a city builder, the CPU is responsible for managing the simulation of the city's population, economy, and resource flows. The 5600GT's multi-threaded performance is relevant here, as city builders often benefit from having more cores to handle the various background calculations. The data shows a 3DMark max-threads score of 5,554, which is only slightly higher than the 8-thread score of 4,968, suggesting that the processor's scaling begins to plateau beyond 8 threads. However, with 12 threads available, the CPU has enough headroom to manage the game's simulation logic without becoming a primary bottleneck at lower resolutions.

The CPU's performance relative to its direct competitors is noteworthy. Its average benchmark score of 20,733 places it within 0.5% of the Intel Core i5-12490F (deltaPct: -0.3), the Intel Xeon 6325P (deltaPct: -0.4), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U (deltaPct: -0.4). It is also nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 7J13. This indicates that the Ryzen 5 5600GT offers compute performance that is essentially on par with these other mid-range and even data-center parts. For a city builder, this processing power is sufficient to maintain a stable frame rate, as the primary limitation on performance will shift to the GPU as the resolution increases.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. A critical detail for this analysis is its memory configuration: the GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning its performance is heavily dependent on the speed and bandwidth of the system's main DDR4 RAM. The data lists its memory bandwidth as "System Dependent," which is a crucial factor in a game like Steamworld Build where texture loading and memory access patterns can impact frame pacing.

The GPU's raw compute specifications are limited. It features 1,536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 1,482 points. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, highlighting its entry-level positioning. The nearest rivals in the database are all older NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct: 1.3), the GeForce 800M (deltaPct: 1.5), the GeForce GT 625 OEM (deltaPct: 2.5), and the GeForce GT 710 (deltaPct: 2.7). The Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than the GT 520MX, which underscores its very low absolute performance ceiling.

For Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is to render the game's visuals, including the isometric view of the city, buildings, and various environmental effects. The "System Shared" memory is a significant constraint; it means the IGP must compete with the CPU for the same memory bandwidth. This is likely the primary reason for the significant frame rate drops observed when moving to higher resolutions and settings, as the GPU is unable to efficiently handle the increased data demands. The data suggests that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck in this pairing, especially at 4K.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which provides strong evidence for the GPU being the limiting component. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS. When moving to 1440p, this drops to 67 FPS, and further to 35 FPS at 4K. This represents a significant reduction in performance, with the 4K figure being only 33% of the 1080p score.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the simulation load would be unchanged. Instead, the data shows that increasing the pixel count, and therefore the GPU's rendering load, has a dramatic negative impact on performance. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is approximately 37% (from 106 to 67 FPS), and the drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 48% (from 67 to 35 FPS). These are substantial declines that point directly to the Intel Arc B390's inability to keep up with the higher resolution demands.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. At Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 81 at 1080p, to 51 at 1440p, and then to 27 at 4K. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a performance retention of only 33%, which is a very low figure. This confirms that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck. The CPU, while not top-tier, is not the cause of these extreme frame rate drops. The data indicates that users seeking higher resolutions will need to make significant compromises in graphical settings to achieve playable frame rates.

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

The dataset provides average FPS figures for four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) across three resolutions. The numbers tell a stark story of performance limitations.

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its best performance. The Low preset delivers an average of 106 FPS, which is very smooth. The Medium preset achieves 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93 FPS, indicating some frame pacing variance but still a playable experience. High settings drop to 60 FPS, which is the threshold for smooth gameplay on a standard monitor. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 41 FPS, showing a substantial performance cost for the highest visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to struggle. The Low preset yields an average of 67 FPS, which is still acceptable. The Medium preset drops to 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59 FPS. This is on the lower edge of playability for many users. High settings produce an average of 38 FPS, which is noticeably less smooth. The Ultra preset falls to 26 FPS, which is generally considered too low for a comfortable experience.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the performance becomes largely unplayable except at the lowest settings. The Low preset manages an average of 35 FPS, which is borderline. The Medium preset averages 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31 FPS, showing significant stutter. High settings drop to 20 FPS, and the Ultra preset plunges to 14 FPS. These figures indicate that the Intel Arc B390 is not capable of delivering a smooth 4K experience in Steamworld Build, even at the lowest settings.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where this combo can consistently achieve high frame rates. The performance at 4K is insufficient for a playable experience, making 1080p the target resolution for this hardware pairing.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Steamworld Build, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2573 out of 2924 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested. This low ranking is a direct result of the Intel Arc B390's weak performance, as the CPU is capable of much better results in other contexts.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 9 versus all GPUs is a stark indicator of its position. The nearest rival GPUs are from a decade ago, with the Arc B390 being only 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX. This means that in terms of raw graphics power, this combo is expected to perform at a level comparable to a very old, low-end graphics solution. The CPU, in contrast, performs at the 74th percentile against all CPUs, which is a mid-range result.

The combination of a mid-range CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is severely unbalanced for gaming. While the CPU can handle the game's simulation, the GPU cannot keep up with the rendering demands, especially at higher resolutions. The combo rank of 2573 reflects this bottleneck. The data suggests that the overall system performance is capped by the GPU's limitations, and any potential CPU headroom is left unused. This is a clear case where the graphics solution is the primary constraint on the gaming experience.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo are heavily dependent on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for lower frame rates.

For a smooth experience at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only option that provides a significant margin above 60 FPS, with an average of 106 FPS. The Medium preset, at 81 FPS, is also a very good choice, offering a balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset, at 60 FPS, is playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, at 41 FPS, is not recommended for a consistent experience. For most users, Medium at 1080p is the best recommendation, as it provides a high frame rate with improved visuals over Low.

At 2560x1440, the options are more limited. The Low preset, averaging 67 FPS, is the only setting that consistently stays above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset, at 51 FPS, may be acceptable for some, but it is below the ideal smoothness target. High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to their low average frame rates of 38 and 26 FPS, respectively. Therefore, Low at 1440p is the recommended setting for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, none of the settings provide a fully smooth experience. The Low preset, at 35 FPS, is the only one that approaches playability, but it will still feel choppy. Medium, High, and Ultra are all below 30 FPS and should be avoided for a comfortable experience. The data suggests that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware in Steamworld Build, and users should stick to 1440p or 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Steamworld Build with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The data clearly shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can consistently achieve high frame rates above 60 FPS, making it the best choice for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals in terms of performance?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710, indicating it performs at a level similar to these very old, low-end GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT a bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The CPU's performance is on par with rivals like the Intel Core i5-12490F, and the significant frame rate drops at higher resolutions indicate that the GPU is the limiting component, not the CPU.

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K with acceptable performance?

A: No. At 4K, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 35 FPS, and the Medium preset drops to 27 FPS. These frame rates are too low for a playable experience.

Q: What settings should I use for a target of 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: The data shows that the Medium preset averages 81 FPS, and the High preset averages 60 FPS. The Low preset averages 106 FPS. To maintain a solid 60 FPS with some visual quality, the Medium preset is the recommended choice.

Q: What is the overall ranking of this combo compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2573 out of 2924 tested combinations for Steamworld Build, placing it in the lower percentile of all systems in the database.