Steamworld Build

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F paired with the Intel Arc B570 ranks in the 2320th position out of 2924 tested combinations for Steamworld Build. This places the combo in the lower third of the tested field, a position that reflects the pairing of a capable mid-range CPU with a GPU that is not designed for top-tier rasterization in this city-building title. The data suggests this is a functional 1080p combination, but the performance envelope narrows considerably as resolution and graphical demands increase.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2320 out of 2924 indicates that the majority of tested hardware pairings outperform this specific CPU-GPU duo in Steamworld Build. This is not a top-tier combination, nor is it an outlier at the bottom; it sits firmly in the lower percentile of results. The ranking suggests that while the Ryzen 5 7500F provides solid processing power, the Intel Arc B570’s performance in this game is the primary constraint, preventing the combo from climbing higher in the standings.

Benchmark results for the individual components place the CPU in the 77th percentile against all tested processors, while the GPU sits in the 65th percentile against all tested graphics cards. The CPU’s higher percentile ranking indicates that it is a more competitive part relative to its peers than the GPU is relative to its own field. This disparity is a key factor in the combo’s overall ranking; the system’s potential is held back by the graphics card in this specific workload. The data implies that swapping the GPU for a higher-performing model would yield a more substantial improvement in the game’s frame rates than upgrading the CPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base and boost clocks are both listed at 2500 MHz. In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role is significant, as the game’s visuals—ranging from detailed building models to the simulation’s various environmental effects—are heavily dependent on the graphics card’s ability to render and process frames.

The measured performance shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 21 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data indicates that the Arc B570’s 10 GB of VRAM and its compute capabilities are insufficient for the demands of the game at maximum settings and 4K resolution. Even at 1440p with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 40, which is playable but not ideal for a city builder where camera panning and zooming are frequent. The GPU’s performance in this title is consistent with its overall benchmark percentile ranking, which shows it is a mid-range part that excels at 1080p but struggles with more demanding configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 162 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 103 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36%. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls further to 55 FPS, a 47% drop from the 1440p result. This scaling shows that the GPU is working increasingly harder as pixel count rises, but the performance degradation is not linear, suggesting that the game’s engine and the GPU’s architecture are interacting in a way that amplifies the workload at higher resolutions.

The pattern is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 63 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 40 FPS, a 37% decrease. At 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 21 FPS, a 48% decrease from the 1440p result. The consistent drop of roughly a third to a half when moving up a resolution tier indicates that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck across all settings. The CPU’s performance, which is relatively strong, does not appear to be a limiting factor in these tests, as the frame rate declines are directly tied to the increasing graphical load on the Arc B570.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates are presented across three resolutions and four settings presets. For 1080p, the data shows an average of 162 FPS on Low, 124 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS), 93 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra. These figures indicate that the combo is well-suited for 1080p gaming, with even the Ultra preset providing a playable average frame rate. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, with Ultra delivering roughly 39% of the performance of Low, but the absolute numbers remain acceptable for most players.

At 1440p, the average frame rates are 103 FPS on Low, 79 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS), 59 FPS on High, and 40 FPS on Ultra. The drop from 1080p is noticeable, but the combo still manages to keep the game playable on the lower and medium presets. The High preset at 59 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay, while Ultra at 40 FPS may feel sluggish during intense moments of city expansion. At 4K, the performance becomes more constrained: 55 FPS on Low, 42 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS), 31 FPS on High, and 21 FPS on Ultra. The 4K results are only suitable for the Low preset, as anything above that falls below the 60 FPS threshold and dips into territory where the game’s frame pacing may become noticeable.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the only resolution where all settings presets deliver an average frame rate above 60 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low and Medium presets exceed 60 FPS, while at 4K, no preset reaches 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The frame rate scaling across resolutions indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. As resolution increases, the average FPS drops significantly, while the CPU’s strong benchmark scores (77th percentile) suggest it is not the limiting factor.

Q: Can this combo handle the Ultra preset at 1080p?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 63, which is above the playable threshold of 60 FPS. However, this is the lowest average among the 1080p presets, indicating it is the most demanding setting for the GPU.

Q: How does the GPU perform compared to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.1% lower than the Intel Arc A750. This places it in a similar performance tier as those competing parts.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the average FPS on Low is 103, while on Ultra it is 40. This represents a 63 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset nearly halves the performance of the Low preset.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: 4K gaming is only viable on the Low preset, which achieves an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset averages 42 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets fall to 31 and 21 FPS, respectively, which are not ideal for a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It has a 32 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. In Steamworld Build, the CPU’s role is to manage the game’s simulation logic, including the AI, resource management, and the various calculations required for city building.

The CPU’s benchmark results are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22799 and a single-core score of 3218. These scores, along with its 77th percentile ranking, suggest that the processor is more than capable of handling the game’s CPU-bound tasks. The measured frame rates show that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this combo; the performance is consistently limited by the GPU, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions. The Ryzen 5 7500F’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-11850H and the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, have average scores within 0.2% of this CPU, indicating that the processor’s performance is competitive within its category. For Steamworld Build, the CPU provides ample headroom, ensuring that the game’s simulation runs smoothly without stuttering, even when the GPU is struggling to maintain high frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the player’s resolution preference and tolerance for lower frame rates. For 1080p, the High preset offers a strong balance, with an average of 93 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a visual upgrade over the Medium preset, which averages 124 FPS but with less graphical fidelity. The Ultra preset at 63 FPS is also viable for players who prioritize visual quality over a higher frame rate, but the drop from High to Ultra is noticeable in performance.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 79 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 59 FPS is borderline, and players may experience occasional dips below 60 FPS, while the Ultra preset at 40 FPS is too low for a comfortable experience. At 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset at 42 FPS may be playable for some, but the data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo is best left to the lowest settings. In summary, the data indicates that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with high settings, while 1440p requires a medium preset, and 4K should only be attempted at low settings.