Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build, a city builder from late 2023, presents a specific challenge for the Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B370. The measured data shows this combination ranks 2683rd out of 2924 tested combos, placing it in the bottom tier of systems for this title. The benchmark results indicate a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, yet the CPU’s capabilities are sufficient to expose those GPU limits clearly across most settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to explain where the bottleneck lies and what settings offer the most playable experience.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and has a 65 W TDP. The processor’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is typical for a mainstream desktop part, and its benchmark scores reflect a solid mid-range performer. For instance, it scores 12,380 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,680 in single-core, while its Geekbench scores are 9,472 multi-core and 1,964 single-core. The processor’s average benchmark score is 19,039, which places it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs tested.

In the context of Steamworld Build, a city builder that often relies on single-thread performance for game logic and simulation updates, the 12400F’s single-core capabilities are relevant. Its 3DMark single-thread score is 909, and its Passmark single-thread score is 3,481. These numbers suggest that the CPU can handle the per-frame calculations required by the game without becoming the primary limiting factor at most resolutions. The multi-threaded performance, evidenced by a 3DMark max-threads score of 5,912 and a Passmark multithread score of 19,433, provides headroom for background tasks or more complex simulation states. However, the measured FPS data shows that the system’s performance drops dramatically with increased graphical load, which points to the GPU as the dominant constraint.

When comparing the 12400F to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is essentially on par with the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which has an average score of 19,047 and a deltaPct of 0. The Intel Core 3 201E is slightly ahead at 19,056 with a -0.1% delta, while the Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18,982 with a 0.3% delta, and the AMD EPYC 7773X also scores 18,979 with a 0.3% delta. These near-identical scores indicate that the 12400F’s processing power is not an outlier for its class, meaning any performance deficiency in the game is unlikely to be attributed to the CPU being unusually weak relative to its peers.

Given that the highest measured average FPS in this dataset is 95 at 1080p Low, and the CPU is capable of much higher frame rates in synthetic tests, it becomes evident that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this pairing. The game’s demands on the processor are being met, and the frame rate is being dictated by what the graphics card can deliver. The 12400F’s role in this combo is to provide a stable foundation, which it does, but it cannot compensate for the GPU’s limitations in a graphically intensive city builder where camera movements and zoom levels can stress the renderer.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It features 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its base clock is 300 MHz, with a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Critically, its memory is listed as “System Shared,” meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and instead uses the system’s main memory. The memory bandwidth is also “System Dependent,” which implies performance will vary based on the host system’s RAM configuration. The GPU’s TDP is just 25 W, and it is listed with a slot width of “IGP,” confirming it is not a discrete card.

The benchmark data for this GPU is sparse, with only one result: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,184. This score places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is extremely low. Its average benchmark score is also 1,184. The nearest rivals for this GPU are all older or low-end parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1,186 (deltaPct -0.2), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1,190 (deltaPct -0.5), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1,192 (deltaPct -0.7), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1,168 (deltaPct 1.4). This comparison confirms that the Arc B370’s raw graphics performance is in the same league as legacy integrated solutions from over a decade ago.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s role is paramount because the game’s isometric view and detailed textures require constant pixel shading and memory bandwidth. The measured FPS data shows that the Arc B370 struggles to maintain playable frame rates even at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 95, which is acceptable, but this drops to 55 at High settings and 37 at Ultra. This steep scaling indicates that the GPU’s computational resources are quickly exhausted as graphical fidelity increases. The lack of dedicated VRAM means the GPU must share system memory, which can lead to additional performance penalties when the game needs to access large textures, especially at higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K.

The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to just 12, which is essentially unplayable. Even at 4K Low, the average is only 32 FPS, indicating that the GPU is severely overburdened. This performance profile is consistent with a GPU that has very low fill rates and memory bandwidth. The pixel rate is listed as 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, but these theoretical figures are not translating into real-world performance in this game. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, which is low by modern standards but not negligible; however, the bottleneck appears to be in memory throughput and the shared memory architecture.

Therefore, the Arc B370 is the primary limiting factor in this combo. The CPU is waiting on the GPU to produce frames, and the GPU’s modest capabilities dictate the overall experience. The 25 W TDP also suggests that this is a power-efficient part designed for portability rather than high-performance gaming, which aligns with its integrated nature.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides clear evidence of the GPU bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 95. When moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 61, a reduction of 34 FPS or roughly 35.8%. At 4K Low, the average is 32 FPS, which is a 66.3% drop from the 1080p Low score. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-limited scenario, where increasing the pixel count directly increases the workload on the rasterizer and pixel shaders.

For Medium settings, the scaling is similar. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 73, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 46, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. This represents a 37% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 1440p. At 4K Medium, the average is 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28, which is a 65.8% drop from 1080p Medium. The consistent percentage drops across different settings indicate that the GPU’s fill rate is the limiting factor, rather than CPU processing.

High settings show the same trend. The average at 1080p High is 55 FPS, dropping to 35 at 1440p High (a 36.4% reduction) and further to 18 at 4K High (a 67.3% reduction from 1080p). Ultra settings are the most demanding, with 1080p Ultra averaging 37 FPS, 1440p Ultra averaging 23 FPS (a 37.8% drop), and 4K Ultra averaging just 12 FPS (a 67.6% drop from 1080p).

The percentage drops from 1080p to 4K are remarkably consistent, hovering around 66-67% for all settings. This consistency strongly suggests that the frame rate is being limited by the GPU’s pixel processing capabilities, which scale linearly with resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to be relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload would not increase significantly with higher pixel counts. Instead, the FPS falls off a cliff as resolution increases, confirming that the Arc B370 cannot keep up with the demands of higher resolutions in Steamworld Build.

Furthermore, the data shows that even at 1080p, the GPU is not providing high frame rates at higher settings. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 61% reduction in average FPS (from 95 to 37). This indicates that the GPU’s shader cores are also a limiting factor, not just memory bandwidth. The game’s visual effects, such as lighting and shadows, likely require more shading operations, which the Arc B370’s 1,280 shading units struggle to execute in real time.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2683rd out of 2924 tested combinations in Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 8.2% of all systems tested for this game. The ranking is a direct reflection of the measured FPS data, which shows that this combo cannot achieve playable frame rates at higher resolutions or settings. The rank of 2683 means there are 2,682 other combos that perform better, and only 241 combos that perform worse.

This low ranking is primarily attributable to the GPU’s poor performance. The CPU, while not a top-tier part, is not the reason for the low rank. The 12400F’s average benchmark score of 19,039 and its 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs suggest it is a competent processor. However, when paired with a GPU that sits in the 5th percentile, the overall combo is dragged down to the bottom of the pile. The data shows that the GPU’s nearest rivals are all legacy parts from over a decade ago, which explains why this combo struggles so much in a modern city builder.

The rank also implies that for users looking to play Steamworld Build, this combo would require significant compromises in terms of resolution and graphical settings to achieve a stable frame rate. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 95, which is playable, but the experience degrades rapidly with any increase in settings. The combo’s rank is a clear verdict: it is not suited for this game beyond the most basic settings.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo’s performance in Steamworld Build. The data is organized by resolution and settings, with average FPS and, where available, minimum and maximum FPS values.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low settings: average 95 FPS, no min/max data.
• Medium settings: average 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 and maximum of 84.
• High settings: average 55 FPS, no min/max data.
• Ultra settings: average 37 FPS, no min/max data.

At 2560x1440:

• Low settings: average 61 FPS, no min/max data.
• Medium settings: average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and maximum of 53.
• High settings: average 35 FPS, no min/max data.
• Ultra settings: average 23 FPS, no min/max data.

At 3840x2160:

• Low settings: average 32 FPS, no min/max data.
• Medium settings: average 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and maximum of 28.
• High settings: average 18 FPS, no min/max data.
• Ultra settings: average 12 FPS, no min/max data.

The data shows a clear pattern: at every resolution, the FPS drops by roughly half when moving from Low to Ultra settings. For example, at 1080p, the Low average is 95, and the Ultra average is 37, which is a 61% reduction. At 1440p, the Low average is 61, and the Ultra average is 23, a 62% reduction. At 4K, the Low average is 32, and the Ultra average is 12, a 62.5% reduction. This consistency suggests that the graphical settings have a proportional impact on the GPU’s workload.

The minimum and maximum FPS data for Medium settings at each resolution shows some variance. At 1080p Medium, the range is 62 to 84 FPS, which is a 22 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range is 39 to 53, an 14 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range is 21 to 28, a 7 FPS spread. This tightening of the range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is more consistently saturated, leaving less headroom for variability.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is at 1080p with Low settings, which yields an average of 95 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches high refresh rates, and it should provide a smooth experience for a city builder where camera movement can be frequent. The Low preset at 1080p is the only measured setting that exceeds 60 FPS, making it the clear choice for playability.

If a user prefers higher graphical fidelity and is willing to accept a lower frame rate, 1080p Medium offers an average of 73 FPS, which is still playable. The minimum of 62 FPS suggests that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate will not drop below the 60 FPS threshold, providing a consistent experience. This is the highest settings level that maintains an average above 60 FPS.

For those who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, 1080p High offers an average of 55 FPS. This is below 60, but it may be acceptable for a slower-paced game like Steamworld Build. However, the lack of minimum FPS data means there is a risk of stuttering during intense moments. The 1080p Ultra preset, with an average of 37 FPS, is not recommended as it falls below the threshold for smooth gameplay and is likely to feel sluggish.

At 1440p, the only preset that achieves an average above 60 FPS is Low, with 61 FPS. This is borderline, and the lack of minimum data means it could dip below 60. The 1440p Medium preset averages 46 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast camera pans. The 1440p High and Ultra presets, with averages of 35 and 23 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a comfortable experience.

At 4K, no preset is playable. The best average is 32 FPS at Low settings, which is below the 30 FPS threshold that is often considered the absolute minimum for playability. The 4K Medium preset averages 25 FPS, and the 4K High and Ultra presets average 18 and 12 FPS respectively, making them unplayable.

Therefore, the data supports a clear recommendation: use 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset for the best balance of performance and playability. If the user has a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only viable option, but the experience will be less consistent. The Medium preset at 1080p is the best alternative for those who want improved visuals without sacrificing a stable frame rate, as its minimum FPS of 62 ensures it stays above 60. All other settings and resolutions are either below 60 FPS on average or risk significant dips, making them less desirable for this particular hardware combination.