Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder with a 2023 release, presents a unique challenge for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Arc B390 combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, particularly as resolution increases. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data to understand the performance profile, the role of each component, and what settings provide the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent decline as resolution scales from 1920x1080 up to 3840x2160. This scaling pattern is the single most telling aspect of this hardware pairing. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system delivers an average of 106 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 67 FPS, a significant reduction. At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields only 35 FPS on average.

This trend is not linear, but the percentage drops are steep. The shift from 1080p to 1440p represents a reduction of roughly 37% in frame rate, while the move from 1440p to 4K represents a further 48% reduction. The data indicates that the limiting component is the graphics processor. The Intel Arc B390, with its integrated graphics architecture, is simply overwhelmed by the pixel throughput required at higher resolutions. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is unlikely to be the bottleneck at these settings, especially given the nature of a city builder where simulation logic is often single-threaded but the rendering load is purely on the GPU.

The gap between settings widens at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 65 FPS (106 vs 41). At 1440p, that gap narrows to 41 FPS (67 vs 26). Finally, at 4K, the gap is just 21 FPS (35 vs 14). This compression of the settings range at 4K further confirms the GPU is the primary constraint; at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that even reducing graphical quality provides diminishing returns. The data suggests that for a smooth experience, 1080p is the practical ceiling for this combo, with 1440p being borderline and 4K only viable for static screenshots or very low-detail viewing.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the defining component in this system's performance. Its specifications paint a picture of a low-power, integrated solution. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with a TDP of 80 W. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. The memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

The benchmark results are stark. The GPU's average benchmark score is 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all legacy or entry-level parts, including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710. This context is crucial for interpreting the Steamworld Build results. The measured FPS in this game, while low at higher resolutions, actually shows the GPU performing consistently with its low-end classification.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is to handle all rendering tasks, from the isometric view of the mining operations to the UI elements. With only 24 ROPs, the pixel fill rate is limited to 60.00 GPixel/s, which explains the sharp drop at 4K where the pixel count is over four times that of 1080p. The shared memory architecture is also a potential bottleneck, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system can achieve 106 FPS, but this is likely near the theoretical maximum for this GPU in this title, given its limited texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The performance scaling across settings and resolutions aligns perfectly with a GPU that has limited raw compute and bandwidth.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system consistently achieves playable frame rates. At this resolution, the average FPS ranges from 41 on Ultra to 106 on Low, with Medium and High at 81 and 60 FPS respectively.

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

A: The data indicates that 4K is not viable for smooth gameplay. The average FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 14 on Ultra to 35 on Low. Even the Low preset's 35 FPS average is below the threshold for a comfortable experience in a city builder where you are constantly panning and zooming.

Q: How does the GPU's overall performance rank compared to other components?

A: The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 625 OEM, which are very old, low-end parts. This confirms the GPU is a major limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers an average of 67 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers an average of 26 FPS. This is a difference of 41 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality settings.

Q: Is the CPU likely to be a bottleneck in this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X has 8 cores and 16 threads and scores in the 79th percentile for all CPUs. Given the GPU's low benchmark scores, the data strongly suggests the GPU is the bottleneck, not the CPU. The CPU has enough processing power to feed the GPU in most scenarios.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values recorded for the Medium preset?

A: For the Medium preset, the minimum FPS recorded was 23 at 3840x2160, 44 at 2560x1440, and 69 at 1920x1080. These minimums highlight the frame time consistency at each resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Given the GPU's limitations, the goal is to find a balance between visual fidelity and a stable frame rate. The data provides clear guidance. For a target of 60 FPS, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the only viable option, delivering an average of 60 FPS. This should be the default recommendation for most users.

If a higher frame rate is desired for smoother camera movement, dropping to the Medium preset at 1080p provides an average of 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS, ensuring a consistently fluid experience. The Low preset at 1080p offers even more headroom at 106 FPS, but the visual downgrade may be too significant for a game that relies on clear visual feedback for its simulation elements.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only one that approaches a playable frame rate, with an average of 67 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 51 FPS, which is acceptable for a city builder but not ideal. The High preset at 1440p averages 38 FPS, which is likely too choppy for comfortable play. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it only manages 26 FPS at 1440p and 41 FPS at 1080p. For the best experience, the analysis points to the High preset at 1080p as the sweet spot, with the Medium preset at 1080p as a strong alternative for those who prioritize frame rate stability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for all tested configurations.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | High | 20 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 35 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 27 | 23 | 31 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 14 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 38 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 67 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 51 | 44 | 59 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 26 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 60 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 106 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 81 | 69 | 93 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 41 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, the system performs admirably, with all presets except Ultra achieving an average above 60 FPS. Moving to 1440p, only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS. At 4K, the system is clearly out of its depth, with no preset managing to stay above 35 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, showing a consistent frame pacing at 1080p (69-93 FPS) and 1440p (44-59 FPS), but a wider and lower range at 4K (23-31 FPS).

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is a capable desktop processor based on the Zen 3 architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB of L3 cache. The CPU's average benchmark score is 27578, which places it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12600K and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, showing it is a competitive mid-range part.

In Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is to handle the game's simulation logic, including resource management, pathfinding, and the AI of the miners and traders. While the CPU benchmark scores are strong, the measured FPS data indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. The performance scaling is almost entirely dependent on resolution and graphics settings, which is a hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario.

The single-thread performance is solid, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 921 and a cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 1499. This is important for city builders, which often have a single main simulation thread. The multi-threaded performance is also robust, with a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 13184, ensuring that background tasks and other threads do not interfere with the game. However, the data shows that even with this powerful CPU, the low-end GPU prevents the system from achieving high frame rates at resolutions above 1080p. The CPU is ready to deliver more frames, but the GPU cannot render them.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Steamworld Build, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2573 out of 2924 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested, which is consistent with the GPU's low benchmark percentile.

This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B390. The CPU is a high-performing part, ranking in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. The GPU, however, ranks in the 9th percentile. The combination of a strong CPU with a very weak GPU results in a system that is severely unbalanced for gaming. The data shows that while the CPU is capable of handling the game's simulation, the GPU cannot keep up with the rendering demands, especially at higher resolutions.

The combo's rank of 2573 reflects the fact that most other tested systems likely feature more powerful discrete graphics cards. The system's performance is a clear case of a bottleneck, where the GPU limits the overall experience. While the system can deliver playable frame rates at 1080p on Medium or High settings, it cannot compete with systems that have a more balanced CPU-GPU pairing. This ranking serves as a warning that the Intel Arc B390 is not suitable for gaming at higher resolutions or with demanding graphical settings, even when paired with a strong processor.