Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build’s measured results for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B580 combination reveal a system that is thoroughly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of delivering excellent frame rates at 1080p. The data positions this pairing at rank 1339 out of 1730 tested combos, placing it in the lower half of the database, but the specific FPS measurements show that this ranking is heavily influenced by demanding 4K Ultra settings rather than a fundamental lack of performance.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a 3000-series desktop processor built on the Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Matisse) using a 7 nm process at TSMC. It provides 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU’s 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support (51.2 GB/s bandwidth) are standard for its generation. In the context of Steamworld Build, a city builder, the processor’s multi-threaded capacity is relevant, as the genre often involves simulating many entities.

However, the benchmark data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most tested scenarios. At 1080p Low settings, the combination achieves 180.1 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. The jump from 1080p Low to 1080p High reduces the average to 103.4 FPS, a drop of 76.7 FPS. This significant decrease with higher graphical settings indicates that the graphics card, not the processor, is handling the increased workload. The Ryzen 7 3700X’s performance, as measured by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19087 and single-core score of 2694, is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at these frame rates.

The CPU sits at the 85th percentile when compared to all other processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12600 with an average score of 28654 (a 0.1% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT with an average score of 28591 (a 0.1% difference). This indicates that the 3700X is competitively positioned against these CPUs. For Steamworld Build, the processor’s 8-core/16-thread layout provides ample headroom, and the data shows that even at 1080p, where CPU load is typically highest, the frame rates are not bottlenecked by the processor.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy for settings presets. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 180.1 FPS, Medium drops to 142.9 FPS, High to 103.4 FPS, and Ultra to 71.1 FPS. All of these are playable, but the most balanced experience is at the High preset. It offers a substantial visual upgrade over Medium while staying well above the 60 FPS threshold, and it is only 32.3 FPS slower than Low, which is a reasonable trade-off for improved fidelity.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. The Low preset achieves 115.7 FPS, Medium hits 86.5 FPS, and High maintains 65.8 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 44.4 FPS, which is below the smoothness most players expect. For 1440p, the High preset is again the best choice, as it is the highest setting that still maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: High is the optimal preset for this combination across 1080p and 1440p, providing a 65.8 FPS average at 1440p and a 103.4 FPS average at 1080p.

The situation changes at 4K. Here, the High preset yields 33.6 FPS, which is not fluid. The Medium preset provides 49.2 FPS, and Low achieves 63.7 FPS. For 4K, the Low preset is the only one that delivers a frame rate consistently above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 49.2 FPS may be acceptable for a slower-paced city builder, but the data suggests that Low is the recommended setting for a consistently smooth 4K experience. The Ultra preset at 4K is the worst performer, with 24.4 FPS, making it unsuitable for play.

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

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 103.4 FPS at 1080p to 65.8 FPS at 1440p and then to 33.6 FPS at 4K. This represents a 67.5% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, at Low settings, the frame rate drops from 180.1 FPS at 1080p to 115.7 FPS at 1440p and then to 63.7 FPS at 4K, a 64.6% reduction.

These scaling patterns are typical of a GPU-bound scenario. As the resolution increases, the pixel count and shading workload rise, placing more strain on the graphics card while the CPU workload remains relatively constant. The fact that the 4K Low performance (63.7 FPS) is nearly identical to the 1440p High performance (65.8 FPS) further supports this. The GPU is working at a similar capacity in both cases, with the extra pixels at 4K being offset by the lower quality settings. The Intel Arc B580 is the component that determines the frame rate ceiling at higher resolutions, while the Ryzen 7 3700X has enough processing power to keep up.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B580 combination is ranked 1339 out of 1730 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places it in the lower 22.6% of all tested pairings. While this ranking might seem low, it is important to consider the context of the measurements. The combo’s rank is likely pulled down by its poor performance at 4K Ultra settings, where it achieves only 24.4 FPS. Many higher-ranked combos are likely equipped with more powerful GPUs that can handle 4K Ultra.

However, the combo’s performance is more respectable at lower resolutions. At 1080p, it delivers over 100 FPS on High and 180.1 FPS on Low, which are strong results. The ranking does not tell the whole story, as it aggregates all measured data points. The data shows that this combination is a competent 1080p and 1440p performer, but it is not designed for 4K gaming at high quality. The GPU’s position at the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3068, reinforces that it is a mid-range part.

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

The Intel Arc B580 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (codenamed Battlemage) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, with memory running at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). With 2560 shading units and 80 ROPs, the B580 is a substantial graphics processor.

The GPU’s 12 GB VRAM is a key asset for a city builder like Steamworld Build, which can have large, detailed scenes. The memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s is sufficient for the demands of the game. The B580’s benchmark scores, such as a Geekbench Vulkan score of 109672 and a Passmark G3D score of 15748, place it at the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, with an average score of 23181, which is only 0.7% higher than the B580’s average of 23021.

The GPU’s performance is directly reflected in the game’s FPS measurements. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 71.1 FPS, which drops to 44.4 FPS at 1440p and 24.4 FPS at 4K. This consistent drop-off is a function of the GPU’s pixel throughput and shading capabilities. The B580 is clearly the limiting component in this pairing, as the CPU has enough headroom to support higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 180.1 FPS result at 1080p Low.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low preset delivers an average of 180.1 FPS, Medium delivers 142.9 FPS, High delivers 103.4 FPS, and Ultra delivers 71.1 FPS. All settings are playable, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a solid frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are lower but still respectable: Low preset averages 115.7 FPS, Medium averages 86.5 FPS, High averages 65.8 FPS, and Ultra averages 44.4 FPS. The High preset is the highest quality option that remains above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly: Low preset averages 63.7 FPS, Medium averages 49.2 FPS, High averages 33.6 FPS, and Ultra averages 24.4 FPS. Only the Low preset provides a smooth experience at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 4K is the worst result in the entire dataset, highlighting the GPU’s limitations at this extreme resolution.

The delta between 1080p Low and 4K Low is 116.4 FPS, showing the massive cost of resolution scaling. Similarly, the delta between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra is 46.7 FPS.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The High preset is the best choice for 1440p, as it delivers an average of 65.8 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset dropping to 44.4 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K resolution in Steamworld Build?

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset, which averages 63.7 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 49.2 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets fall to 33.6 FPS and 24.4 FPS, respectively, which are not smooth experiences.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 3700X compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-12600?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 28631, while the Intel Core i5-12600 has a score of 28654. This represents a delta of -0.1%, making the two processors virtually identical in overall benchmark performance.

Q: What is the impact of switching from the Low preset to the Ultra preset at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 180.1 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 71.1 FPS. This is a drop of 109.0 FPS, demonstrating a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B580 a stronger performer than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060?

A: No. The Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has a score of 23181. The RTX 4060 is 0.7% faster according to the average scores.

Q: How many tested combinations does this CPU and GPU pairing rank above?

A: The combo is ranked 1339 out of 1730 total tested combos. This means it ranks above 391 other combinations in the database for Steamworld Build.