Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places a unique load on hardware, blending simulation logic with demanding rendering. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370, a combination that produces a stark contrast between a top-tier CPU and an entry-level integrated GPU. The data reveals a system where the graphics processor is the definitive bottleneck, capping frame rates across all tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is severe and consistent, pointing exclusively to the GPU as the limiting factor. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 55 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 35 FPS, a 36% reduction. At 4K, the average frame rate collapses to 18 FPS, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p result and a 49% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a system where the graphics processor is saturated; the CPU has ample headroom, but the renderer cannot keep up with the increasing pixel count.

The trend is even more pronounced at the lower settings presets. At Low settings, the system produces 95 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K. The performance penalty for moving from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, and from 1440p to 4K is 48%. These near-linear declines in frame rate with resolution indicate that the Intel Arc B370's fillrate and shading capabilities are exhausted. The data suggests that the CPU is not contributing to the frame rate bottleneck at any resolution; instead, the GPU's limited pixel throughput and texture rate are the dominant constraints. Even at 1080p, the scaling to 4K shows a massive 66% performance loss, confirming that the renderer is the primary chokepoint.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution with specifications that explain its performance ceiling. Its boost clock is listed at 2400 MHz, and it has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. The GPU's memory is system shared, meaning its bandwidth is system dependent. The measured 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it is among the slowest renderers in the database. This is further emphasized by its nearest rivals, which include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, both of which are significantly older parts.

The GPU's texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s are modest figures that directly impact Steamworld Build's rendering of its detailed environments. The game's visuals, which include complex structures and terrain, require substantial texture and pixel throughput. The data shows that at 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 12, a figure that is effectively unplayable. The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is a low figure for modern gaming, and the benchmark results confirm that it is insufficient for high-resolution or high-detail gaming. The performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is a 63% reduction in frame rate (from 32 FPS to 12 FPS), demonstrating how quickly the GPU's resources are exhausted as visual fidelity increases.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a high-end desktop processor with 16 cores and 32 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture. Its base clock is 4.30 GHz with a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, and it has a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache. This CPU is ranked in the 95th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 75779. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285, are within a 0.4% performance delta, showing that the 9950X3D is at the top of the CPU hierarchy.

In this specific game, however, the CPU's immense power is largely irrelevant to the frame rate. The measured FPS data shows that the system is heavily GPU-bound. For instance, at 1080p Low, the CPU is likely able to feed frames to the GPU as fast as it can render them, but the GPU can only produce 95 FPS. The CPU's multi-core performance, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42018, is more than sufficient for the simulation and AI tasks in a city builder like Steamworld Build. The single-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 score of 2259, is also strong. The bottleneck is never the processor; it is always the graphics solution. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 16374 and the max-thread score of 17184 demonstrate the CPU's capability to handle heavy workloads, but these capabilities do not translate into higher frame rates here due to the GPU constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 3419 out of 3706 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's poor performance. This ranking is particularly notable given that the CPU is a top-tier part. The pairing creates a massive imbalance: a processor that is in the 95th percentile is held back by a GPU that is in the 5th percentile.

Other combinations with more balanced components would likely achieve much higher rankings. The data implies that the performance of this combo is almost entirely dictated by the Arc B370's capabilities. The CPU's high average benchmark score of 75779 does not help the game's frame rate. The rank of 3419 confirms the fact that in gaming, particularly at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance. This system would be a poor choice for anyone looking to play Steamworld Build at playable frame rates, as even the most powerful processor cannot compensate for a graphics solution that is this limited.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination.

1080p:

• Low: 95 FPS
• Medium: 73 FPS (min 62, max 84)
• High: 55 FPS
• Ultra: 37 FPS

1440p:

• Low: 61 FPS
• Medium: 46 FPS (min 39, max 53)
• High: 35 FPS
• Ultra: 23 FPS

4K (2160p):

• Low: 32 FPS
• Medium: 25 FPS (min 21, max 28)
• High: 18 FPS
• Ultra: 12 FPS

The data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy. At 1080p, the system can achieve a playable 95 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 73 FPS on Medium and 55 FPS on High. The Ultra preset yields 37 FPS, which is borderline. At 1440p, the frame rates become more problematic, with only the Low preset exceeding 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets produce 35 FPS and 23 FPS respectively, making them difficult to play. At 4K, every preset results in frame rates below 35 FPS, with Ultra being virtually unplayable at 12 FPS. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset shows that even the average frame rates can dip lower, with a 1080p min of 62 FPS and a 1440p min of 39 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination is found at 1080p with the Low settings preset, which delivers an average of 95 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth frame rate suitable for a city builder, where camera panning and map interaction require responsive performance. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers a good experience with an average of 73 FPS, but the jump to High results in a significant drop to 55 FPS.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, producing 61 FPS. However, this is a marginal result, and the system is clearly not suited for this resolution. The 4K resolution is not recommended for any settings preset, as even Low yields only 32 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable play. The data indicates that for the best balance of visual quality and performance, users should prioritize 1080p and lower the graphics settings before considering a higher resolution. The Ultra preset is the least desirable option, as it produces the lowest frame rates at all resolutions, including a 37 FPS average at 1080p, which is not a smooth experience for this genre.

FAQ

Q: Is this combination good for playing Steamworld Build at 4K?

A: No. The measured data shows average frame rates at 4K ranging from 12 FPS on Ultra to 32 FPS on Low. These are all below playable thresholds, indicating the GPU is not capable of rendering the game at this resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The Low preset at 1080p yields the highest average of 95 FPS. The Medium preset also performs well with an average of 73 FPS, but for the smoothest experience, Low is the best choice.

Q: How does the CPU's performance affect the gaming result?

A: The CPU is a high-performance part in the 95th percentile, but it is not the limiting factor. The frame rates are consistently low across all tests, indicating that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU's power is not translated into higher FPS in this game.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems in this game?

A: It ranks 3419 out of 3706 total combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. This low ranking is due to the GPU's weak performance, despite the powerful CPU.

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

A: At 1440p, the Low preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, while the Ultra preset only achieves 23 FPS. This is a 62% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest settings.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated memory for gaming?

A: No. The Intel Arc B370 uses system shared memory, meaning its memory size and bandwidth are system dependent and not dedicated to the graphics processor. This contributes to its limited performance in gaming.