Steamworld Build

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a playable but strictly entry-level experience in Steamworld Build, with performance that scales predictably across resolutions and settings. The data indicates this combo is firmly at the low end of the spectrum, ranking 3419 out of 3706 tested combinations, which places it in the bottom 8% of all systems measured. While the CPU is a capable mid-range part, the integrated-class GPU severely limits the overall frame rates, making this a configuration for low-detail 1080p play rather than a high-fidelity experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a steep and consistent performance drop as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo averages 95 FPS, which is a smooth and highly playable result. Moving to 1440p Low drops that average to 61 FPS, a 36% reduction, and at 4K Low the average falls to 32 FPS, which is just over a third of the 1080p figure. This steep scaling curve demonstrates that the Intel Arc B370's rendering capabilities are the primary limiting factor, as the workload per pixel increases dramatically with resolution.

The pattern holds across all quality presets. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 55 FPS at 1080p to 35 FPS at 1440p (a 36% drop), and then to 18 FPS at 4K (a 67% drop from 1440p). The Ultra preset shows the same trajectory, starting at 37 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 23 FPS at 1440p, and becoming nearly unplayable at 12 FPS at 4K. The fact that even the 1080p Ultra average of 37 FPS is below the 1440p Low average of 61 FPS confirms that both resolution and settings heavily tax the GPU, with no evidence of the CPU becoming a bottleneck at any point in this range.

The scaling between Medium and High settings is also revealing. At 1080p, the gap between Medium (73 FPS) and High (55 FPS) is 18 FPS, while at 1440p the gap narrows to 11 FPS (46 vs 35). At 4K, the gap shrinks further to just 7 FPS (25 vs 18). This convergence at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is saturated at 4K, where even reducing settings from High to Medium yields diminishing returns because the pixel fill rate is the dominant constraint. The data strongly suggests that users targeting 4K on this combo should expect sub-30 FPS averages even on Low settings, making 1080p the only practical resolution for consistent playability.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It has a 32 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU shows solid single-thread performance with a 3dmark single-thread score of 917 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1989, which are respectable figures for a desktop part. Its multi-threaded results are also strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11838 and a Passmark multithread score of 21858.

However, the benchmark results for Steamworld Build indicate that the CPU's capabilities are largely irrelevant to the final frame rates in this game. The 5600X sits at the 75th percentile against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms three-quarters of all processors tested. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U (0.5% behind), and the Intel Core i7-11700 (0.5% behind), all of which are similarly capable parts. Given this level of CPU performance, the 5600X should be able to feed frames to a discrete GPU without issue in a city builder like Steamworld Build, which typically relies on single-thread performance for simulation logic.

Yet the measured FPS at 1080p Low (95 FPS) is far below what the CPU alone could theoretically push, and the fact that performance degrades so sharply with resolution proves the CPU is not the constraint. In a CPU-limited scenario, frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions, but the data shows a 63 FPS difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low. The 12 threads and 4.60 GHz boost clock are more than sufficient for this genre, and the 3dmark 16-thread score of 5582 confirms the CPU maintains strong multi-threaded throughput. The conclusion is that the Ryzen 5 5600X is a well-matched partner for the Arc B370 in terms of avoiding a CPU-side bottleneck, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limited rendering power.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance, and the data shows it is a severely underpowered component for this game. The GPU is based on the Xe3-LPG architecture on a 3 nm process, with 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. It has a boost clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 300 MHz, but its memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on shared system memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a critical limitation for a game like Steamworld Build, which may require substantial memory bandwidth for texture streaming and asset loading.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark results are telling. It scores 1184 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12, which places it at the 5th percentile against all GPUs, meaning it outperforms only 5% of all graphics cards tested. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% ahead), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% behind), which are all legacy parts from over a decade ago. This comparison underscores the Arc B370's status as an integrated-class solution, and its 25 W TDP with no power connectors further confirms it is designed for low-power systems, not high-performance gaming.

In Steamworld Build specifically, the GPU's limitations manifest clearly. The average FPS at 1080p Ultra is just 37 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the 4K Ultra average of 12 FPS is essentially a slideshow. The GPU's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply too low to handle the demands of modern rendering at high resolutions. The fact that the 1080p Low average of 95 FPS is the only result above 60 FPS across all tested configurations highlights that this GPU can only deliver acceptable performance when the rendering load is minimized. The data indicates that the Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck in every scenario, and no amount of CPU headroom can alleviate its rendering constraints.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system?

A: The only configuration that achieves an average FPS above 60 is 1080p with Low settings, which delivers 95 FPS. For a balance of quality and playability, 1080p Medium at 73 FPS is also reasonable, while 1440p High drops to 35 FPS and is less suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 3419 out of 3706 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems measured. This is consistent with the GPU's 5th percentile ranking against all GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The CPU is in the 75th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The steep FPS drop from 1080p to 4K (95 FPS to 32 FPS on Low) confirms the GPU is the bottleneck.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: No. The best 4K result is 32 FPS on Low settings, and the Ultra preset averages just 12 FPS. The 4K Medium average of 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 FPS is below the threshold for acceptable playability.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12, which is virtually identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190). It is 1.4% ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168).

Q: What does the 1080p Medium frame time data show?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 73, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. This indicates a relatively stable frame delivery with no severe dips, making it the most consistent playable setting above Low.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 3419 out of 3706 tested combos in Steamworld Build, which places it in the bottom 8% of all systems measured. This ranking is almost entirely driven by the GPU, which sits at the 5th percentile against all GPUs, while the CPU sits at a much healthier 75th percentile against all CPUs. The disconnect between the CPU's strong synthetic standing and the GPU's weak one is the defining characteristic of this pairing.

In practical terms, this rank means the system is outclassed by the vast majority of tested configurations. The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks — the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U, Intel Core i7-11700, and AMD EPYC 9554P — all have average scores within 0.6% of the 5600X, yet any of those CPUs paired with a more capable GPU would likely rank significantly higher in this game. The GPU's nearest rivals, which are all over a decade old, highlight how far behind the Arc B370 is in raw rendering power.

The rank of 3419 out of 3706 suggests that only 287 tested combos perform worse than this one, which aligns with the GPU's bottom-feeder status. For a city builder like Steamworld Build, where smooth frame pacing is important for managing a growing settlement, this rank indicates the system is only suitable for low-detail play at modest resolutions. The data shows no scenario where this combo delivers a high-end experience, and the ranking reflects that reality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following are the exact measured average FPS values for each resolution and settings combination, with minimum and maximum values where provided:

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 95 FPS average
• Medium: 73 FPS average (minimum 62, maximum 84)
• High: 55 FPS average
• Ultra: 37 FPS average

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 61 FPS average
• Medium: 46 FPS average (minimum 39, maximum 53)
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 23 FPS average

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 32 FPS average
• Medium: 25 FPS average (minimum 21, maximum 28)
• High: 18 FPS average
• Ultra: 12 FPS average

The data shows a clear tiered structure. At 1080p, the system can achieve playable frame rates on Low and Medium settings, with the 95 FPS Low result being the only excellent score. The 1080p High and Ultra presets drop below 60 FPS, indicating that even at the lowest resolution, the GPU struggles with higher quality settings. At 1440p, only the Low preset achieves a 60 FPS average, while all other settings fall below 50 FPS. At 4K, every preset averages below 35 FPS, making the resolution impractical for this combo.

The Medium preset data is the only one with minimum and maximum values, and it shows a consistent pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the range is 62-84 FPS, a spread of 22 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 39-53 FPS, a spread of 14 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 21-28 FPS, a spread of just 7 FPS. This tightening of the frame time variance at higher resolutions further confirms the GPU is operating at its absolute limit, with less headroom to produce varied frame rates. The 4K Medium minimum of 21 FPS is particularly telling, as it shows the system can dip to very low levels even on a moderate settings preset.