Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build places the Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B390 in a challenging position. The measured frame rates show a configuration that is heavily constrained by the graphics subsystem, particularly at higher resolutions and quality settings. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve playable frame rates, but struggles significantly as resolution and graphical demands increase.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data clearly indicates that the Low preset is the only reliable choice for a consistently playable experience, and even then, only at 1080p or 1440p. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS. This is the only settings/resolution combination that breaks the 100 FPS mark and provides significant headroom for the simulation-heavy gameplay typical of city builders, where frame time consistency is often more important than raw maximums. The 1440p Low preset, at 67 FPS average, is also viable and offers a sharper image for those willing to accept a lower frame rate.

Moving up to the Medium preset is possible at 1080p, where the average FPS is 81, with a measured minimum of 69 FPS. This suggests that for most of the game, the experience will be smooth. However, the drop from Low to Medium at 1080p is a 25 FPS reduction (106 to 81), indicating a significant performance cost for the visual upgrade. At 1440p Medium, the average falls to 51 FPS, which is on the lower edge of what many consider acceptable for a smooth experience, and the minimum of 44 FPS suggests there will be noticeable stutters during complex scenes with many buildings and workers.

The High preset is only really viable at 1080p, where it averages 60 FPS. This is a playable frame rate, but it leaves no headroom for dips. The data shows the cost of High over Medium at 1080p is another 21 FPS reduction (81 to 60). At 1440p High, the average drops to 38 FPS, which is generally considered too low for a smooth city-building experience. The Ultra preset is effectively unplayable across all resolutions, with averages of 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. These numbers suggest that Ultra is not a viable option for this hardware combination.

The optimal experience is a trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate. For the most consistent and responsive gameplay, 1080p Low is the best choice. For a better-looking game that remains largely playable, 1080p Medium is the recommended setting, as the 81 FPS average with a 69 FPS minimum provides a good balance for a game of this genre.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance, scoring 22,604 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7,314 in 3DMark's 16-thread test. Its single-thread performance is also competent, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,191.

For a city builder like Steamworld Build, the CPU is responsible for simulating the game's logic, including worker paths, resource distribution, and building operations. The benchmark data suggests that the i5-13400F has ample processing power for these tasks. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 106 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would be difficult to reach if the CPU were the primary bottleneck. The fact that performance degrades so sharply with increased resolution and graphical settings, while keeping the CPU workload relatively constant, points directly to the GPU as the limiting factor.

The CPU's performance relative to other processors places it in the 77th percentile, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, with the i5-13400F having a 0.4% higher average benchmark score than the latter. This indicates that the CPU's performance is more than sufficient for the game's logic. The data shows that the i5-13400F is not the constraint in this system; rather, its capabilities are being masked by the GPU's inability to render frames fast enough to fully utilize the CPU's potential.

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 base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." The GPU's compute capabilities are modest, with a FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, it scores 1,482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's performance is the primary determinant of the frame rates in this test. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: as the resolution increases, the average frame rate drops significantly, regardless of the settings preset. For example, on the Medium preset, the average FPS goes from 81 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p and further down to 27 at 4K. This is a classic sign of a GPU that is overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts, such as the GeForce GT 710 and GT 625 OEM. The Arc B390's 3DMark score is 2.7% higher than the GT 710, indicating a similar level of overall graphics processing power. This positions the Arc B390 as a GPU suited for light or older games, and the data confirms that Steamworld Build at high resolutions and settings is beyond its capabilities. The 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are simply insufficient to fill the screen with high-detail assets at 4K, resulting in the very low frame rates observed.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Steamworld Build at 4K resolution?

A: While it can technically run the game, the performance is not playable. At 4K with the High preset, the average FPS is 20, and with the Ultra preset, it drops to 14 FPS. Even on the Low preset, the average is only 35 FPS, which is below a smooth 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with the Low preset provides the best experience, achieving an average of 106 FPS. For improved visuals, the Medium preset at 1080p is also viable, with an average of 81 FPS and a minimum of 69 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F a bottleneck for this game?

A: No. The benchmark results indicate the opposite. The frame rates drop significantly when moving from 1080p to 1440p and 4K, a pattern typically associated with a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's strong multi-threaded benchmark scores, like 22,604 in Cinebench R23, suggest it has more than enough power for the game's simulation logic.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1,482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, indicating it is in the same performance tier as these older entry-level GPUs.

Q: Is the Ultra preset usable at any resolution?

A: No. The measured data shows that the Ultra preset results in an average of 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. These frame rates are too low for a smooth and responsive experience in a city builder.

Q: What does the "System Shared" memory for the GPU mean for performance?

A: It means the Arc B390 uses the system's main memory instead of dedicated VRAM. Its bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," meaning its memory performance relies on the speed of the system's RAM. This shared memory architecture can limit performance, especially at higher resolutions where more memory bandwidth is needed.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance penalty as resolution increases. At the Medium preset, the average frame rate drops from 81 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 1440p, a 37% reduction. The drop from 1440p to 4K is even more dramatic, with the average falling from 51 FPS to 27 FPS, a further 47% reduction. The pattern is similar for the High preset, with averages of 60 FPS at 1080p, 38 FPS at 1440p, and 20 FPS at 4K.

This scaling behavior is a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting component. The number of pixels rendered at 4K is roughly four times that of 1080p. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would be more consistent across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not scale with pixel count. The fact that performance nearly halves with each step up in resolution shows that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being exhausted. The 4K Low preset's 35 FPS average, compared to the 106 FPS at 1080p Low, underscores the GPU's inability to handle the increased pixel load.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the complete set of measured FPS results for this configuration in Steamworld Build.

At 3840x2160 (4K):

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

At 2560x1440 (1440p):

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

At 1920x1080 (1080p):

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

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B390 is ranked 3,293 out of 3,706 tested combos for Steamworld Build. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested, which is consistent with the low performance metrics of the GPU. The GPU's 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs is the dominant factor in this overall system ranking.

The CPU's performance is a bright spot, ranking in the 77th percentile among all CPUs. However, its high processing power is effectively neutralized by the GPU's inability to render frames quickly. The ranking of 3,293 out of 3,706 combos indicates that the vast majority of other tested hardware configurations will provide a better gaming experience in Steamworld Build. This data strongly suggests that while the CPU is well-suited for this genre of game, the integrated Arc B390 graphics solution is a severe limiting factor, making this combo a poor choice for playing the game beyond the lowest settings and resolution.