Steamworld Build

# Steamworld Build with AMD Ryzen 7 3700X + Intel Arc B570

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a playable but not exceptional experience in Steamworld Build, ranking 2320th out of 2924 tested combos. This places the combination in the bottom 21% of all tested configurations, suggesting that while the game runs, it does so with notable compromises at higher settings and resolutions. The data reveals a system that is capable at lower presets but struggles to maintain fluid frame rates when visual fidelity is pushed, making preset and resolution selection critical for a satisfactory experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process. With a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, this CPU provides solid multi-threaded performance for a city builder genre that often relies heavily on simulation logic and entity management. The processor's 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth ensure that memory-bound tasks in Steamworld Build, such as population tracking and resource distribution, have adequate headroom.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 2092 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 points in single-core, while Geekbench results show 8899 multi-core and 1593 single-core. PassMark multi-thread performance reaches 22458, with a single-thread score of 2656. These figures indicate a processor that is competitive with modern mid-range offerings, as evidenced by its nearest rivals: the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 34222 (0.1% lower), the AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220 (0.1% lower), and the Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333 (0.2% higher). The 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests that the 3700X is not a bottleneck for most gaming workloads, though its older Zen 2 architecture may show limitations in highly threaded simulation scenarios.

For Steamworld Build specifically, the CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads provide sufficient parallel processing for the game's underlying simulation systems. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 162 FPS, which is well above playable thresholds and indicates that the CPU is not limiting performance at lower graphics loads. However, the 65W TDP and 7 nm process node suggest that thermal management is not a concern, allowing sustained performance during long play sessions. The absence of integrated graphics means the system relies entirely on the discrete GPU, which is the primary driver of frame rate differences across settings.

The CPU's PassMark data encryption score of 18900 and extended instructions score of 19241 indicate robust computational capability, but these are not directly relevant to gaming performance. More telling is the floating point math score of 39005 and integer math score of 66399, which reflect the processor's ability to handle the complex calculations inherent in city building games. The data implies that the Ryzen 7 3700X provides a stable foundation for Steamworld Build, though its age relative to the game's 2023 release date means it may not fully leverage newer instruction sets that could improve simulation efficiency.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570, based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation), is the primary determinant of visual performance in this combo. Featuring 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus with 380.0 GB/s bandwidth, the GPU has ample memory capacity for Steamworld Build's texture-heavy environments. The base and boost clocks are both 2500 MHz, with memory operating at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The GPU's 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 render output units provide the raw throughput needed for rendering the game's detailed cityscapes.

Synthetic GPU benchmarks show a PassMark G3D score of 14195, with DirectX 11 scoring 118 and DirectX 12 scoring 72. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test yields 2649 points, while Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores reach 83514 and 96844 respectively. These results place the Arc B570 in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% higher at 20534) and the Intel Arc A750 (0.1% lower at 20582). The GPU's 11.52 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 200.0 GPixel/s pixel rate suggest it can handle modern games at 1080p and 1440p with appropriate settings.

For Steamworld Build, the GPU's role becomes evident when examining frame rates across resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 162 FPS, but this drops to 93 FPS at High and 63 FPS at Ultra. The 4K results are more telling: 55 FPS at Low, 42 FPS at Medium, 31 FPS at High, and 21 FPS at Ultra. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, particularly when texture quality and shadow complexity increase. The 10 GB VRAM capacity may also become a constraint at 4K Ultra settings, potentially causing texture streaming issues that affect frame pacing.

The GPU's 18 ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate suggest future-proofing, but Steamworld Build's visual style may not heavily utilize these features. The 150W TDP and dual-slot design require a 450W power supply, which is reasonable for a mid-range system. The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface provides sufficient bandwidth for the GPU's memory architecture, though it may limit performance in bandwidth-sensitive scenarios compared to x16 implementations.

FAQ

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with High settings in Steamworld Build?

A: The measured data shows an average of 93 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, though not as high as the 162 FPS achieved at Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570 capable of running Steamworld Build at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the combo achieves 55 FPS at Low, 42 FPS at Medium, 31 FPS at High, and 21 FPS at Ultra settings. Only the Low preset provides a consistently playable experience at 4K, while Medium is borderline acceptable.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 3700X compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 34260 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals: the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 34222 (0.1% lower), the AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220 (0.1% lower), and the Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333 (0.2% higher).

Q: What is the best settings preset for a balance of visual quality and performance?

A: At 1080p, Medium settings deliver 124 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS and maximum of 143 FPS, offering a good balance. At 1440p, Medium achieves 79 FPS with minimum 67 FPS and maximum 91 FPS, which is also acceptable.

Q: Does the combination rank well among all tested systems for Steamworld Build?

A: No, the combo ranks 2320th out of 2924 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 21% of systems. This suggests that while playable, the performance is below what most other configurations achieve.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured minimum FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 67 FPS, with an average of 79 FPS and maximum of 91 FPS. This indicates that even during demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X + Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2320th out of 2924 tested combos for Steamworld Build, placing it in the bottom 21% of all configurations. This ranking is notably lower than what the individual component percentiles would suggest, as the CPU ranks in the 84th percentile and the GPU in the 65th percentile among their respective categories. The discrepancy implies that either the game is particularly demanding on this hardware combination or that other factors, such as driver optimization or memory bandwidth, are limiting performance.

The low ranking becomes more understandable when examining the measured FPS data. While 1080p Low achieves 162 FPS and 1080p Medium reaches 124 FPS, the performance drops significantly at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the combo only manages 21 FPS, which is far below playable thresholds. This pattern suggests that the GPU's 160-bit memory bus and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth may be insufficient for the game's texture-heavy rendering at high resolutions, causing the system to fall behind other configurations with similar CPU performance but more capable GPUs.

Relative to the CPU's nearest rivals, which all score within 0.5% of the Ryzen 7 3700X in average benchmarks, the GPU appears to be the differentiating factor. The Arc B570's nearest rival, the Intel Arc A750, scores 20582 (0.1% higher), indicating that the GPU is competitive with other mid-range options. However, in the context of Steamworld Build's specific rendering requirements, the combination's overall ranking suggests that the game may favor different hardware architectures or that driver maturity for the Battlemage generation is still developing.

The data implies that users with this combo should expect performance in the lower quartile of all systems, which is acceptable for casual play at lower settings but may disappoint those seeking high-fidelity experiences. The ranking also suggests that upgrading either component could yield significant improvements, though the specific bottleneck varies by resolution and settings as detailed in the resolution scaling section.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce an average of 162 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth for a city builder. Medium settings achieve 124 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS and maximum of 143 FPS, providing a stable experience above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings drop to 93 FPS, still acceptable for most players, while Ultra settings yield 63 FPS, which is right at the edge of what most consider smooth gameplay.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance decreases noticeably. Low settings achieve 103 FPS, which remains very playable. Medium settings produce 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS and maximum of 91 FPS, offering a good balance of visual quality and smoothness. High settings drop to 59 FPS, which is slightly below the 60 FPS target and may result in occasional stutters during busy scenes. Ultra settings fall to 40 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that requires frequent camera movements and zoom operations.

At 3840x2160, the limitations of this combo become apparent. Low settings achieve 55 FPS, which is playable but requires visual compromises. Medium settings produce 42 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS and maximum of 48 FPS, indicating inconsistent frame pacing that may be noticeable during gameplay. High settings drop to 31 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. Ultra settings achieve only 21 FPS, making the game essentially unplayable at this configuration.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: each settings tier costs approximately 25-30% of the previous tier's average FPS at the same resolution. This suggests that the GPU's rendering pipeline is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU's performance remains constant across resolution changes. The minimum FPS values at Medium settings (106 FPS at 1080p, 67 FPS at 1440p, 35 FPS at 4K) indicate that frame drops are more severe at higher resolutions, further confirming the GPU as the limiting component.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for most users. At 1080p, Medium achieves 124 FPS average with a minimum of 106 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even during demanding scenes. At 1440p, Medium produces 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, which remains above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a noticeably better visual experience than Low settings. The inclusion of minimum and maximum FPS data for Medium settings (106-143 FPS at 1080p, 67-91 FPS at 1440p) indicates stable performance without major frame time spikes.

For users prioritizing maximum frame rates, Low settings at 1080p delivers 162 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or for those who prefer absolute smoothness over visual fidelity. However, the visual downgrade may be significant for a city builder where aesthetics and readability are important. At 1440p Low, the 103 FPS average is still excellent and may be preferable to Medium if the user values frame rate consistency over visual effects.

The High preset is only recommended at 1080p, where it achieves 93 FPS. At 1440p, High drops to 59 FPS, which is borderline and may result in noticeable stutters during heavy simulation loads. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as even at 1080p it only achieves 63 FPS, and the visual improvements over High are typically marginal in city builders. At 4K, only Low settings are viable, with 55 FPS, while Medium at 42 FPS may be acceptable for users who prioritize visual quality and can tolerate occasional frame drops.

The data suggests that the optimal experience for this combo is either 1080p Medium or 1440p Medium, depending on the user's monitor resolution and preference for visual detail. Both configurations maintain frame rates above 60 FPS with acceptable minimums, providing a smooth gameplay experience without requiring significant visual compromises.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important information about the system's bottleneck characteristics. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 162 at 1080p to 103 at 1440p (a 36% reduction) and further to 55 at 4K (a 66% reduction from 1080p). This scaling pattern is consistent with that of a GPU-limited scenario, where increasing pixel count directly impacts rendering workload.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 124 FPS at 1080p drops to 79 FPS at 1440p (36% reduction) and 42 FPS at 4K (66% reduction). The consistency of these percentages across settings suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors, rather than CPU simulation overhead. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see diminishing FPS differences as resolution increases, since the CPU's workload is largely resolution-independent.

The High settings show a slightly different pattern: 93 FPS at 1080p drops to 59 FPS at 1440p (37% reduction) and 31 FPS at 4K (67% reduction). The Ultra settings follow suit with 63 FPS at 1080p, 40 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. The consistent percentage drops across all settings strongly indicate that the GPU is the sole performance limiter at higher resolutions, with the CPU providing adequate headroom even at 1080p where frame rates are highest.

This analysis implies that users with this combo who wish to play at 4K should either accept Low settings at 55 FPS or consider reducing the resolution to 1440p with Medium settings for a better visual experience. The GPU's 10 GB VRAM and 160-bit memory bus appear sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the bandwidth constraints become apparent at 4K, particularly when texture sizes increase with higher preset levels. The data suggests that the Intel Arc B570 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K playable only at reduced settings.