Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from late 2023, presents an interesting hardware challenge. The benchmark results for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveal a system where the graphical component is the ultimate arbiter of performance. The data shows a combination that ranks in the 12th percentile of all tested combos, indicating significant limitations that are clearly visible in the measured frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K in Steamworld Build causes a dramatic collapse in frame rates, which is a clear indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 60 at 1920x1080 to 38 at 2560x1440, and then plummets to a mere 20 at 3840x2160. This represents a 66.7% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, a steep curve that points directly at the Intel Arc B390 as the limiting component.

The scaling pattern holds across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 106 at 1080p to 67 at 1440p, and then to 35 at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar decline, with averages of 81, 51, and 27 FPS for the respective resolutions. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, sees averages of 41, 26, and 14 FPS. The consistent halving of performance at each step up in resolution suggests that the GPU is being saturated by the increased pixel count, with the CPU's role becoming negligible.

This behavior is typical of a system where the graphics card's fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for higher resolutions. The Intel Arc B390, with its system-shared memory and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, is clearly struggling. The data implies that for a smooth experience, users must stay at 1080p, as the 1440p and 4K results are below playable thresholds for most presets. The severe drop from 1080p to 1440p at High settings (a 36.7% decrease) is particularly telling, as it suggests that even a modest increase in resolution overwhelms the GPU.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture. Its benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32172 and a single-core score of 2253. The processor's percentile ranking of 92 versus all CPUs indicates that it is in the top tier of processing power. However, in Steamworld Build, this power appears to be largely untapped.

The game's performance scaling with resolution is a classic sign of a CPU that is not the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would be constant. Instead, we see FPS dropping significantly as resolution increases, which means the GPU is the constraining resource. The Ryzen 9 9900X's 64 MB of L3 cache and high clock speeds (4.40 GHz base, 5.60 GHz boost) are more than sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p, where the average FPS is at its highest.

The data suggests that the CPU is waiting on the GPU for most of the frame time. This is further supported by the fact that the Ryzen 9 9900X is in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This massive disparity in relative performance levels means that the GPU is the clear weak link. The game's genre, a city builder, often relies on single-thread performance for simulation logic. The Ryzen 9 9900X's strong single-core scores (e.g., 3010 in Geekbench) should be more than adequate, but the frame rate data shows that this strength is not being utilized to its full potential due to the GPU's limitations.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2573 out of 2924 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations, a poor showing that is directly attributable to the GPU. The CPU's high percentile ranking (92nd) is effectively negated by the GPU's low ranking (9th).

This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. A combo that averages 20 FPS at 4K High settings and 41 FPS at 1080p Ultra is not competitive with other tested systems. The GPU's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which are entry-level components from previous generations. The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482, which is only 1.3% higher than the GT 520MX's score. This puts the GPU in a performance tier that is fundamentally unsuited for modern gaming at higher resolutions.

The data indicates that this combo's rank is almost entirely determined by the GPU's performance. The Ryzen 9 9900X is a top-tier processor, but it is paired with a GPU that is in the 9th percentile. This is a mismatch that cannot be overcome by CPU power alone. The combo's rank of 2573 out of 2924 is a clear warning that this pairing will not provide a satisfying experience for most players, especially those with high-resolution displays.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 106 average FPS.
• Medium: 81 average FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93.
• High: 60 average FPS.
• Ultra: 41 average FPS.

These numbers show that 1080p is the only resolution where the game is playable at all settings. Even at Ultra, the average FPS of 41 is acceptable for a city builder, though it may dip in complex scenes. The Low preset provides a very smooth experience at 106 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades significantly:

• Low: 67 average FPS.
• Medium: 51 average FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59.
• High: 38 average FPS.
• Ultra: 26 average FPS.

The 1440p results show that only the Low preset provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset's average of 51 FPS is playable, but the minimum of 44 FPS could cause noticeable stutters. High and Ultra settings are below the 40 FPS threshold, which is often considered the minimum for enjoyable play in this genre.

At 3840x2160, the performance is severely limited:

• Low: 35 average FPS.
• Medium: 27 average FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31.
• High: 20 average FPS.
• Ultra: 14 average FPS.

The 4K results are uniformly poor. Even at Low settings, the average FPS of 35 is below the ideal 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset's 14 FPS average is essentially unplayable. The data shows that 4K is not a viable option for this combo, regardless of the settings chosen.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a boost clock of 2500 MHz and features 1536 shading units. However, its most defining characteristic is its memory configuration, which is "System Shared." This means the GPU relies on the system's main memory for its frame buffer, which is a severe bottleneck for gaming performance.

The GPU's benchmark scores confirm its low-end status. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 and GT 625 OEM, which are very old, low-powered cards. The GPU's FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, but this theoretical peak is not reflected in real-world gaming results.

The system-shared memory is a critical flaw for a game like Steamworld Build, which may require significant memory bandwidth for textures and game assets. The data shows that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at all resolutions. The FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are entirely consistent with a GPU that cannot handle the increased pixel fill rate and memory traffic. The GPU's TDP of 80 W and its "IGP" slot width indicate that it is designed for power efficiency, not performance. The benchmark results clearly show that this GPU is not suitable for gaming beyond 1080p with low to medium settings.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that offers playable frame rates across all settings, with averages ranging from 41 FPS on Ultra to 106 FPS on Low.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X the reason for the low frame rates?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 9900X has a 92nd percentile CPU ranking, but the GPU has a 9th percentile ranking. The FPS scaling with resolution indicates a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2573 out of 2924 tested combos in Steamworld Build, placing it in the bottom 12% of all configurations.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 67 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. This is a 61.2% decrease in average FPS.

Q: Can this system run the game at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but the performance is very poor. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 14 on Ultra to 35 on Low, which is below the ideal playable threshold for a city builder.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 a discrete graphics card?

A: No. The data lists it as an "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width of "IGP" and system-shared memory, meaning it is integrated into the system and shares memory with the CPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This setting provides an average FPS of 81, which is smooth for a city builder, with a minimum of 69 FPS ensuring that frame drops are unlikely to be disruptive. The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 60 FPS, is also a viable option if visual fidelity is preferred, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of performance and stability.

For users with a 1440p display, the Low preset is the only recommended option, as it is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 51 FPS and a minimum of 44, is playable but may exhibit occasional stutters in busy scenes. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended due to their sub-40 FPS averages.

The 4K resolution is not recommended for this combination. Even the Low preset at 4K only achieves an average of 35 FPS, which is below the standard for a playable experience. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 14 FPS, is effectively a slideshow. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is to play at 1080p with Medium settings for a stable and responsive game, or to use 1080p Low for the highest possible frame rates.