Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places unique demands on a system, blending simulation logic with real-time rendering. This analysis examines the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the Intel Arc B390, using measured data to determine how each component contributes to performance across resolutions and settings. The benchmark results reveal a configuration where the graphics solution is the primary constraint, with the processor providing ample headroom.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and can boost up to 4.80 GHz, with a 105W TDP. This is a high-end desktop part from the 5000 series, released in late 2020, and it remains competitive in the current landscape. Its benchmark scores place it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance. In synthetic tests, it achieves a 3DMark max-thread score of 10075 and a single-thread score of 941, showcasing both parallel and single-core strength. Cinebench R23 results of 16262 multi-core and 1527 single-core reinforce this profile.

For a city builder like Steamworld Build, the CPU is responsible for simulating the city's economy, pathfinding for workers, and managing the various production chains. These tasks are typically multi-threaded, and the 5900X's 12 cores and 24 threads are well-suited for this workload. The measured frame rates in this game show that the CPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 106, which is a high frame rate that would stress a weaker processor. The fact that the frame rate scales down as resolution increases, from 106 at 1080p to 35 at 4K, indicates that the processor is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as pixel count grows.

The processor's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 941, is also crucial for game logic that may be single-threaded, such as the main simulation tick or UI updates. With a PassMark single-thread score of 3469, the 5900X ensures that these serial tasks do not create a bottleneck. The data suggests that at all tested settings, the CPU has significant headroom. Even at 1080p Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 41, the CPU is likely not saturated; the reduction is more likely attributable to the GPU's inability to handle the increased visual complexity. This is a classic sign of a balanced system where the CPU is over-provisioned for the GPU, which is a favorable position for maintaining smooth minimum frame rates in complex city-building scenarios where simulation load can spike.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, part of the Panther Lake generation. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory (DDR4 for this platform) rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which implies that performance is heavily influenced by the speed and configuration of the system RAM. This is a critical detail, as it means the GPU's performance can vary based on the rest of the system.

The Arc B390 has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 raster output units (ROPs). It also includes 12 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical peak performance is 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, with a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a low score, indicating that the Arc B390 is a very entry-level graphics solution, comparable to much older discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which has a score of 1443 and a deltaPct of 2.7. The nearest rivals all have scores within a 1.3 to 2.7 percent range, confirming that the Arc B390 sits at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is to render the game world, handle the visual effects, and manage the draw calls for the numerous buildings and characters on screen. The low 3DMark score and the 9th percentile ranking for all GPUs suggest that this component will struggle with modern games, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data confirms this. At 1080p Low, the Arc B390 manages an average of 106 FPS, which is playable. However, at 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 41 FPS, showing that the GPU is overwhelmed by the increased graphical load. The fact that the GPU has no dedicated VRAM and relies on system memory is a significant disadvantage, as it creates contention for memory bandwidth between the CPU and GPU. This is likely a major factor in the performance degradation at higher settings, where the need for texture storage and memory bandwidth increases exponentially.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales with resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 106. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 67 FPS, a reduction of roughly 37%. At 4K Low, the average is 35 FPS, which is a further drop of about 48% from 1440p. This pattern indicates a severe scaling penalty as resolution increases.

Looking at High settings, the trend continues. The average FPS at 1080p is 60, dropping to 38 at 1440p (a 37% reduction), and then to 20 at 4K (a 47% reduction from 1440p). This consistent percentage drop across settings suggests that the frame rate is being limited by the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The Arc B390's low pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and its reliance on system memory bandwidth are the primary culprits. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels to be shaded and the amount of texture data to be accessed grows, which directly challenges the GPU's limited resources.

The scaling pattern clearly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's performance does not degrade with resolution; its workload remains relatively constant regardless of whether rendering at 1080p or 4K. Since the frame rates drop so dramatically with resolution, it is evident that the Arc B390 is the bottleneck. The system's performance is not scalable, meaning that reducing resolution is the only way to achieve higher frame rates, as the CPU has more than enough headroom to support the GPU at lower resolutions. The 4K results are particularly telling, with the average FPS falling to 14 at Ultra settings, which is an unplayable slideshow. This confirms that this combination is not viable for 4K gaming without significant compromises to settings.

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

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X a good match for the Intel Arc B390 in this game?

A: The data shows a significant imbalance. The CPU is a high-end part (87th percentile), while the GPU is entry-level (9th percentile). Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, as frame rates are heavily influenced by resolution and settings, while the CPU has ample headroom. The pairing works, but the CPU's potential is largely untapped.

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that consistently provides playable frame rates. At 1080p Low, the average is 106 FPS, and at High it is 60 FPS. At 1440p, the frame rates drop significantly (67 FPS on Low, 38 FPS on High), and at 4K, they become largely unplayable (35 FPS on Low, 20 FPS on High). Therefore, 1080p is the recommended target.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1482. Its closest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% slower). It is also 2.7% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). These are all very low-end parts, indicating the Arc B390 is at the bottom of the performance hierarchy.

Q: Does the CPU's performance vary significantly between single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks?

A: Yes, but both are strong. The 5900X scores 941 in 3DMark single-thread and 10075 in max-thread tests. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1527 single-core and 16262 multi-core. This indicates it is highly capable of handling both the simulation-heavy, multi-threaded aspects of a city builder and any single-threaded game logic or UI rendering.

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

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 106. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 41. This represents a 61% reduction in frame rate, highlighting the significant impact of graphical settings on the GPU's performance. The step from Low to Medium (81 FPS) and Medium to High (60 FPS) shows a steady decline, with the largest single drop occurring from High to Ultra.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390's lack of dedicated VRAM a problem for this game?

A: The GPU's memory is listed as "System Shared" with "System Dependent" bandwidth. The data suggests this is a limiting factor. The severe frame rate drops at higher resolutions and settings are consistent with a GPU that must compete with the CPU for system memory bandwidth, which is insufficient for the demands of larger textures and higher pixel counts.

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

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

1920x1080

• Low: Average FPS 106
• Medium: Average FPS 81 (Minimum FPS 69, Maximum FPS 93)
• High: Average FPS 60
• Ultra: Average FPS 41

2560x1440

• Low: Average FPS 67
• Medium: Average FPS 51 (Minimum FPS 44, Maximum FPS 59)
• High: Average FPS 38
• Ultra: Average FPS 26

3840x2160

• Low: Average FPS 35
• Medium: Average FPS 27 (Minimum FPS 23, Maximum FPS 31)
• High: Average FPS 20
• Ultra: Average FPS 14

The data shows a consistent, steep decline in performance with each step up in resolution and settings. At 1080p, the system can handle all presets, though Ultra dips below the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p, only Low and Medium settings maintain an average above 40 FPS. At 4K, all settings result in an average FPS below 35, which is not a smooth experience. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows that the frame rate can dip further, with a 23 FPS minimum at 4K, indicating potential for stuttering in complex scenes.

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

For this combination of AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B390, the goal is to find a balance between visual fidelity and a playable frame rate. A consistent 60 FPS is a common target for smooth gameplay.

At 1080p, the data shows that the High preset achieves an average of 60 FPS. This is the optimal choice for a balanced experience, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (81 FPS) and Low (106 FPS) while still maintaining a playable frame rate. The Medium preset offers a higher frame rate (81 FPS) and could be chosen for a more competitive or fluid feel, but High represents the best visual quality without dropping below the 60 FPS average. The Ultra preset, at 41 FPS, is not recommended due to the substantial performance hit for what is likely a marginal visual improvement over High.

At 1440p, the options are more limited. The Low preset (67 FPS) is the only one that provides a comfortable average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset, at 51 FPS, is playable but may not be smooth enough for all users. The High (38 FPS) and Ultra (26 FPS) presets are not recommended as they fall below the threshold for a fluid experience. For 1440p, it is recommended to stick with Low settings to prioritize frame rate over visual quality.

At 4K, none of the settings provide a playable experience. The best result is 35 FPS on Low, which is still below the 60 FPS target. This system is not suitable for 4K gaming in Steamworld Build. If 4K is a requirement, a more powerful dedicated GPU is necessary. The best overall experience is clearly at 1080p with the High preset, which delivers a solid 60 FPS average and represents the sweet spot for this hardware configuration.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2573 out of 2924 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a lower-performing setup for this game.

This ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's low performance. The CPU is in the 87th percentile, but the GPU is in the 9th percentile. The low rank is a direct consequence of the GPU being a severe bottleneck. While the CPU is powerful, it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. The system's overall performance is determined by its weakest link, and in this case, that is unequivocally the Intel Arc B390.

The benchmark results show that this combo is only viable at 1080p. The ranking reflects this, as many other combinations with more balanced or higher-performing GPUs will achieve better frame rates. The 2573rd rank out of 2924 combos is a clear indicator that this is not a recommended configuration for a game like Steamworld Build, which requires more graphical horsepower to run smoothly at higher resolutions and settings. The data suggests that users with this system should stick to 1080p and adjust settings to Low or High to get the best experience, understanding that the overall performance ceiling is low due to the GPU.