Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from late 2023, presents a unique challenge for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Arc B370 combination. The benchmark data shows a system that is severely constrained by its graphics processor, resulting in a combo rank of 3419 out of 3706 tested configurations. This places the pairing in the bottom 8% of all combos, indicating that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the integrated GPU is a significant bottleneck for this title, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured data places this specific configuration at rank 3419 out of 3706 tested combos. This is a low position, placing the system in the 92nd percentile from the bottom. The primary reason for this low ranking is the Intel Arc B370's performance ceiling. The GPU's average benchmark score is 1184, and its percentile versus all GPUs is a mere 5. This is among the lowest-performing graphics solutions in the database, making it the definitive limiting factor in this pairing.

The contrast between the CPU and GPU is stark. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits in the 87th percentile versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 39768. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and AMD Ryzen 7 7700, are within a 0.8% performance delta, showing the CPU is a high-end part. However, the GPU's nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which are over a decade old. This indicates that the CPU is providing a massive amount of untapped potential that the GPU simply cannot utilize in a graphically demanding game like Steamworld Build.

The ranking suggests that for this specific game, the combination is not balanced. The data indicates that the frame rate is almost entirely dictated by the GPU's capabilities. The CPU's robust multi-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23230, is largely irrelevant when the GPU is unable to render frames quickly enough. The result is a system that, despite having a powerful processor, delivers a subpar gaming experience in this title, especially when compared to the broader landscape of tested hardware combos.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Steamworld Build?

A: The combination ranks 3419 out of 3706 tested combos, placing it in the bottom percentile of systems for this game.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or the Intel Arc B370 the primary bottleneck?

A: The benchmark data clearly indicates the Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck. The GPU's percentile rank is 5, while the CPU's is 87, showing a massive disparity in their relative performance classes.

Q: What kind of performance can I expect at 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: At 1080p High settings, the measured average frame rate is 55 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that achieves a playable frame rate above 60 FPS only at Low settings, which yields 95 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its performance is very close to that of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which has a score of 1186, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 1190.

Q: Is this system capable of running the game at 4K resolution?

A: While it can run the game at 3840x2160, the performance is very poor. Even at Low settings, it only achieves an average of 32 FPS, and at Medium settings, it drops to 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU's high benchmark score translate to high frame rates in this game?

A: No. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's strong benchmark scores, such as its 23230 multi-core Cinebench R23 result, do not translate into high frame rates because the Intel Arc B370 limits the rendering output. The system is heavily GPU-bound.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 55 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 High settings, the average drops to 35 FPS, a 36% reduction in performance. At 3840x2160 High settings, the average plummets to 18 FPS, which is a 67% reduction from the 1080p result.

This steep decline with resolution is a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component. The GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient to handle the increased pixel count at higher resolutions. The data shows that the system is not CPU-limited at any resolution, as the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has ample headroom. The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is almost entirely a function of the GPU's workload increasing.

For instance, at Low settings, the scaling is 95 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35.8%, and from 1080p to 4K it is 66.3%. These consistent, large percentage drops across different settings presets reinforce the conclusion that the rendering pipeline is saturated. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D does this with ease, but the Arc B370 cannot process the frames fast enough to keep up, especially when the resolution demands more from its 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the game is most playable. The Low preset yields an average of 95 FPS, which is the highest frame rate measured in the entire dataset. The Medium preset delivers a solid 73 FPS average with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 55 FPS, while the Ultra preset brings the average down to 37 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance takes a significant hit. The Low preset still manages an average of 61 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of 23 FPS, which is on the edge of playability.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset is the only one that approaches 30 FPS, with an average of 32 FPS. The Medium preset averages 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS. High settings average 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset is essentially unplayable at an average of 12 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: the system can handle 1080p gaming at medium to high settings, but it is not suitable for 1440p at high quality or 4K gaming at any quality setting.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a flagship processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Its cache configuration is substantial, with 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is often beneficial for gaming. The CPU's benchmark scores are excellent, including a multi-core score of 23230 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 2080 in the same test.

However, in Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is diminished due to the GPU bottleneck. The data shows that the frame rate is consistent with a GPU-limited scenario. The city builder genre, while complex in logic, often relies on single-thread performance. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's single-core score of 2080 in Cinebench R23 is strong, but it is not the deciding factor here. The CPU is never the limiting component, as the frame rates are too low to be caused by processor constraints.

The 3DMark benchmarks for the CPU, such as a 16-thread score of 10081 and a max-thread score of 10067, demonstrate its high multi-threading capability. This would be an asset in a game that scales well with many cores, but Steamworld Build's frame rate does not reflect this. The game's performance is instead capped by the Intel Arc B370's ability to render frames. The CPU is ready to deliver high frame rates, but the GPU cannot keep pace, making the Ryzen 7 9800X3D a powerful but underutilized component in this specific configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the user's target resolution and performance preference. For a smooth experience at 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best choice. It provides a strong average of 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS, ensuring consistent gameplay without dropping below 60 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset is also viable, with an average of 55 FPS, but it may result in occasional dips below the 60 FPS threshold.

For users with a 2560x1440 monitor, the Low preset is the only option that provides a consistently playable frame rate, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset, at 46 FPS, is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, and the minimum of 39 FPS could be noticeable. For a more visually detailed experience, the High preset's 35 FPS average might be acceptable for a city builder, but it is not recommended for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that the game is not playable at any setting. The Low preset's 32 FPS average is below the standard for smooth gameplay, and the Medium preset's 25 FPS average is even lower. Attempting to play at 4K will result in a subpar experience. Therefore, the recommendation is to stick to 1080p with Medium settings for the best overall experience, or 1440p with Low settings if a higher resolution is preferred. The data indicates that the Ultra preset is not worth the significant performance cost at any resolution, as the visual fidelity increase does not justify the frame rate drop.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth is system-dependent, which is a significant limitation. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. Its benchmark score is 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's role in Steamworld Build is the primary limiting factor. Its low ROP and TMU counts, combined with shared memory, severely restrict its ability to render the game at high resolutions and settings. The FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is low by modern standards, and the data shows this directly. The measured frame rates at 4K are consistently below 35 FPS even on Low settings, confirming that the GPU is overwhelmed.

Comparing it to its nearest rivals, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, shows it is in a performance class with legacy hardware from over a decade ago. This puts its capabilities into perspective. The GPU is simply not designed for demanding 3D workloads like those found in modern city builders. While the CPU is a top-tier part, the Arc B370 holds the entire system back, resulting in the low combo rank. The data suggests that to improve performance in Steamworld Build, a discrete graphics card is required, as the integrated GPU's performance ceiling is the definitive barrier.