Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Arc B370 combination in a challenging position. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings presets indicate a system that is fundamentally constrained by its graphics subsystem, yet the data reveals a complex interplay between the CPU’s high compute potential and the GPU’s limited throughput. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on what the numbers mean for playability and system balance.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases, a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 95 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 61 FPS, a reduction of 34 FPS. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 32 FPS. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, at High settings, the transition from 1080p (55 FPS) to 1440p (35 FPS) represents a 36% drop, and the subsequent move to 4K (18 FPS) is another 49% drop. The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count, which is the signature of a system where the GPU’s pixel and texture processing capabilities are the limiting factor.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The Ryzen 7 9700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, has ample headroom for a city builder. The 3DMark scores support this, showing a max-thread score of 9771 and a single-thread score of 1280. The GPU, however, is an integrated part of the Panther Lake platform, operating as an IGP. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating very low absolute performance. The resolution scaling data confirms that the Arc B370’s fillrate and shading capacity are saturated even at 1080p, and the situation worsens predictably as the render target grows.

The fact that the frame rate drops from 95 FPS at 1080p Low to 18 FPS at 4K High shows that the GPU is working at its absolute limit. There is no scenario in the data where the CPU appears to be holding back performance, as the frame rate scales inversely with the number of pixels. This points to a system where upgrading the GPU would yield significant gains, while the CPU’s performance is largely irrelevant to the final frame rate in this specific test.

FAQ

Q: What is the best performance this combo can achieve in Steamworld Build?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 95 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the data that approaches high-refresh-rate territory.

Q: Is this combination capable of 4K gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: The data indicates that 4K is not viable for smooth gameplay. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 12, and at 4K High, it is 18. Even at 4K Low, the average is only 32 FPS, which is below the standard 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370’s average benchmark score is 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, a difference of -0.2%. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, putting the Arc B370 0.7% behind it. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which the Arc B370 leads by 1.4%.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 95 on Low to 37 on Ultra. This is a reduction of 58 FPS, or approximately 61%, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual fidelity.

Q: Does the CPU’s performance have a significant impact on the results?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700X has a high average benchmark score of 37943, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. However, the frame rates are consistently low across all resolutions, suggesting the GPU is the primary limiter. The CPU’s headroom is not being utilized effectively because the GPU cannot render frames fast enough.

Q: What is the ranking of this specific CPU and GPU combo in Steamworld Build?

A: The combo is ranked 2683 out of 2924 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 9% of all tested systems for this game, confirming its status as a low-performance configuration in this specific title.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this hardware pairing at rank 2683 out of 2924 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This is a low ranking, indicating that the vast majority of other system configurations tested in this database achieve higher frame rates. The combo’s performance is largely dictated by the GPU, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This low GPU percentile is the primary driver of the poor overall ranking.

In contrast, the CPU is a high performer. The Ryzen 7 9700X is in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37943. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14901E (scoring 37911, a 0.1% difference) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (scoring 37904, a 0.1% difference). This shows that the CPU is on par with some of the strongest processors available. However, this strength does not translate into high frame rates in Steamworld Build. The system’s rank is a direct consequence of the mismatch between the powerful CPU and the weak integrated GPU. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor; the GPU’s low performance caps the entire system’s output, relegating it to the bottom 8.2% of all tested combos.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of the system’s capabilities across different resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the results are:

• Low: 95 FPS average.
• Medium: 73 FPS average, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS.
• High: 55 FPS average.
• Ultra: 37 FPS average.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 61 FPS average.
• Medium: 46 FPS average, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS.
• High: 35 FPS average.
• Ultra: 23 FPS average.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 32 FPS average.
• Medium: 25 FPS average, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS.
• High: 18 FPS average.
• Ultra: 12 FPS average.

The data shows that the Medium preset provides the only frame pacing information, with a consistent spread between minimum and maximum FPS. At 1080p Medium, the range is 62-84 FPS, suggesting some variability but generally playable conditions. At 1440p Medium, the range is 39-53 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 21-28 FPS. The lack of min/max data for other presets makes it difficult to assess frame time consistency, but the averages alone indicate a challenging experience at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this combo’s performance. It is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel’s 3 nm process. Its specifications are modest: 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a TDP of just 25 W. The memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth is system-dependent and not a fixed figure.

The GPU’s benchmark results are stark. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, indicating that the GPU is only suitable for light workloads. The nearest rivals are all older, low-end graphics solutions, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (scoring 1190) and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (scoring 1192). The Arc B370 is essentially performing at the level of a graphics card from over a decade ago.

In Steamworld Build, this GPU’s limitations are fully exposed. The game’s rendering requirements, even at Low settings, push the GPU to its limits. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions. The VRAM is system-shared, which means the GPU draws from the same memory pool as the CPU. While the Ryzen 7 9700X supports DDR5 memory, the bandwidth is system-dependent, and the shared nature of the memory can lead to contention. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply insufficient for smooth gameplay at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the sub-60 FPS averages at 1440p and above.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For a 60 FPS target, the only viable option is 1080p Low, which achieves 95 FPS. This provides the most headroom and ensures a smooth experience. If a player wants to increase visual quality at 1080p, the Medium preset is the next step, offering 73 FPS average. This is still above 60 FPS and provides better visual fidelity. The High preset at 1080p drops to 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but may be acceptable for a city builder where precise timing is less critical. The Ultra preset at 1080p, at 37 FPS, is not recommended for a smooth experience.

At 1440p, the data shows that the Low preset is the only one that comes close to 60 FPS, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset at 46 FPS is playable but with noticeable slowdowns. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, with averages of 35 FPS and 23 FPS respectively, are not recommended for any kind of fluid gameplay.

At 4K, the data indicates that no settings preset provides a playable experience. The best result is 32 FPS on Low, which is a slideshow compared to standard expectations. The Medium preset at 25 FPS and High at 18 FPS are even worse. The Ultra preset at 12 FPS is effectively unplayable.

The data suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1080p with the Medium preset. This offers a balance of visual quality and performance, with an average FPS of 73 and a minimum of 62, ensuring that the frame rate rarely dips below the 60 FPS target.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a high-end desktop processor that plays a secondary role in this combo’s performance in Steamworld Build. It is a Zen 5 architecture chip, codenamed Granite Ridge, built on TSMC’s 4 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It has a 65 W TDP and supports DDR5 memory, with a dual-channel memory bus providing 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

The CPU’s benchmark scores are robust. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 20485, and its single-core score is 2211. Its Geekbench multicore score is 17906, and its single-core score is 3023. The PassMark multithread score is 37161, and the single-thread score is 4654. These scores place the CPU in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a top-tier performer. Its average benchmark score of 37943 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14901E (37911) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37904).

However, in Steamworld Build, the CPU’s power is largely untapped. The game is not demanding on the CPU, and the GPU is the bottleneck. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would have the most influence, the frame rate is 95 FPS. This is likely below the CPU’s maximum potential, but the GPU cannot render frames fast enough to keep up. The CPU’s 32 MB of L3 cache and high clock speeds are irrelevant when the GPU is waiting for rendering work. The data indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this specific test, as the frame rates are consistently low regardless of resolution, which is a characteristic of a GPU-bound system. The CPU is simply waiting for the GPU to finish its work, leaving its performance headroom unused.