Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Intel Arc B570 presents a clear performance profile: it is a combination that scales predictably with resolution, where the GPU becomes the dominant constraint at 4K, while the CPU provides sufficient headroom at lower resolutions. The data indicates that the Arc B570 is the primary bottleneck in this pairing, especially at Ultra settings, but the Ryzen 7 5700G holds its own, placing this combo in the 20th percentile of all tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance drop as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the graphics card is the limiting factor. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 93 FPS. Moving to 1440p High reduces this to 59 FPS, a 37% decrease, and then to 4K High, the average falls to 31 FPS, a further 47% drop from the 1440p result. This pattern strongly indicates that the Intel Arc B570's rendering throughput is being saturated as pixel count rises.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p, the spread between Low (162 FPS) and Ultra (63 FPS) is 99 FPS, showing a wide range of performance headroom. At 1440p, the spread narrows to 63 FPS (Low at 103 FPS, Ultra at 40 FPS). By 4K, the spread compresses to just 34 FPS (Low at 55 FPS, Ultra at 21 FPS). This compression at higher resolutions is a classic sign that the GPU is hitting its limits; even dropping to Low settings cannot fully compensate for the sheer number of pixels the Arc B570 must process.

Looking at the Medium preset, which includes min and max FPS data, offers further insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the average is 124 FPS with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 143. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 and a maximum of 91. The 4K Medium result shows an average of 42 FPS with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48. The relative consistency of these ranges, even at 4K, suggests that while the frame rate is low, it is not stuttery or erratic; the bottleneck is sustained throughput rather than sudden spikes in rendering demand.

The data makes it clear that 4K Ultra is not a playable target for this hardware, with an average of just 21 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra at 4K is particularly punishing, a 32% performance loss from 31 FPS to 21 FPS, which is a larger relative drop than the 33% loss seen from High to Ultra at 1080p (93 FPS to 63 FPS). This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces effects that are disproportionately expensive at high pixel counts, likely related to shading or post-processing load on the GPU. For a smooth experience, this combo is best suited to 1080p or 1440p, where it can maintain playable frame rates across most presets.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2977 out of 3706 total combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 20% of all systems tested for this specific game, indicating that while it is functional, it is not a high-performance configuration for this title. The ranking reflects the GPU's mid-tier position in the overall market; the Arc B570 sits at the 65th percentile among all GPUs, meaning a significant portion of graphics cards tested are faster.

The combo's rank is more a reflection of the GPU's limitations than the CPU's. The Ryzen 7 5700G is a capable processor, scoring at the 79th percentile among all CPUs. However, in a city builder like Steamworld Build, where the visual complexity of a bustling metropolis can stress the graphics hardware, the GPU's performance ceiling is what ultimately determines the combo's standing. The 4K results, which are well below 60 FPS on all presets, drag down the overall ranking compared to systems equipped with higher-tier graphics cards.

When compared to the Arc B570's nearest rivals by average benchmark score, the deltaPct values are very small. It is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.4% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, while being 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750 and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon R9 M390X. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming terms, suggesting that the B570's performance in this game would be very similar to these other cards. The combo's rank, therefore, is not an outlier due to a specific driver issue or pairing problem, but rather a reflection of the GPU's general performance tier.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the clear performance bottleneck in this system. Its 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a constraint at 4K. The data supports this: at 4K, even the Low preset only achieves 55 FPS, indicating that the GPU's compute and memory subsystems are overwhelmed by the resolution. The fixed clocks of 2500 MHz for both base and boost mean the card operates at a consistent speed, and the measured FPS drops are directly attributable to the rendering load increasing with resolution.

The GPU's raw compute specifications, such as its 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 360.0 GTexel/s texture rate, are in line with its position in the market. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2649 and the Passmark G3D score of 14195 provide context for its overall capability. However, in Steamworld Build, the practical impact of these numbers is that the card can handle 1080p Ultra at 63 FPS, but drops to 21 FPS at 4K Ultra. This shows that the card's architectural efficiency is good, but it lacks the sheer horsepower needed for 4K gaming with high fidelity settings.

The 10 GB VRAM capacity is worth noting for a city builder. As a city grows and the screen fills with more detailed structures and characters, memory usage can increase. The fact that the card does not exhibit severe frame drops on the Medium preset (which has min FPS data) suggests that 10 GB is adequate for this game's needs at 1440p and below. The bottleneck at 4K is more likely related to the GPU's processing power than a VRAM overflow, given that even the Low preset at 4K, which would use less memory, still only achieves 55 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Steamworld Build at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but not at a playable frame rate for most users. The highest average FPS at 4K is 55 on Low settings, which drops to 31 on High and 21 on Ultra. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, this hardware is insufficient.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The benchmark data shows that 1440p is the sweet spot. At High settings, the combo achieves 59 FPS, and at Medium it reaches 79 FPS. While 1080p offers higher frame rates (93 FPS on High), 1440p provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest competitors?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the Arc B570 is virtually tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% faster) and the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (0.4% faster). It is 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750 and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon R9 M390X. These differences are too small to be noticed in gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in this game?

A: No. The Ryzen 7 5700G, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is a strong processor. The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12830.5, show it has ample headroom for this title.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth using?

A: Only at 1080p, where it achieves an average of 63 FPS. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 40 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 21 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra at 1440p results in a 32% performance penalty, which is a significant cost for the visual improvements.

Q: What is the expected frame rate on the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset provides the most consistent results with recorded min and max FPS. At 1080p, expect an average of 124 FPS (min 106, max 143). At 1440p, the average is 79 FPS (min 67, max 91). At 4K, the average drops to 42 FPS (min 35, max 48).

Settings Recommendations

For a target of 60 FPS or higher, the data shows that the High preset is the optimal choice at 1440p, delivering an average of 59 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and smooth gameplay. At 1080p, users have more freedom; the Ultra preset is playable at 63 FPS, but the High preset at 93 FPS offers a more comfortable margin for busy scenes. The Medium preset at 1440p is the most consistent option, with a 79 FPS average and a minimum of 67 FPS, ensuring that frame rates rarely dip below the smooth threshold.

At 4K, no preset provides a consistently playable experience. The Low preset, at 55 FPS, is the only option that approaches 60 FPS, but it likely sacrifices significant visual detail. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 42 FPS and a minimum of 35, is a borderline experience that might be acceptable for a slower-paced city builder, but it is not ideal. For the best experience, users should avoid 4K and stick to 1440p High or Medium, depending on their preference for visual fidelity over frame rate stability.

The Ultra preset is generally not recommended for this combo. At 1440p, it is 32% slower than High, and at 4K it is the worst performer at 21 FPS. The performance cost of the Ultra preset's additional effects does not justify the frame rate loss, especially when the High preset at 1440p already offers a strong visual experience at a near-60 FPS average. The Medium preset is a great fallback for those who prioritize consistent frame times, as evidenced by its documented min and max FPS values.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G plays a supporting role in this configuration, and its performance is more than adequate for Steamworld Build. The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture, provide substantial multi-threaded capability, which is reflected in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12830.5 and Geekbench multi-core score of 9950. This processing power ensures that the game's simulation and AI logic, which can be demanding in a city builder, do not become a bottleneck.

The CPU's single-thread performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1494 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1894. This is important for the game's main thread, which often handles the UI and input. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor; as resolution increases and FPS drops, the frame rate follows the GPU's performance curve, not the CPU's. The CPU's percentile ranking of 79 among all tested CPUs confirms that it is a strong performer.

The Ryzen 7 5700G's benchmark results place it in close competition with several other CPUs. It is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i9-9900K and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i5-14400T, while being 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 and 0.6% faster than the Intel Core i7-1370P. These negligible differences mean that swapping the 5700G for any of these rivals would have no measurable impact on the game's performance, further proving that the GPU is the sole determinant of the frame rates seen in the measured data.