Steamworld Build

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination that struggles significantly in Steamworld Build, delivering playable frame rates only at 1080p with reduced settings. The data shows a clear bottleneck: this combo ranks 2573rd out of 2924 tested configurations, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems. This is not a hardware pairing for smooth city-building; it is a setup that demands careful settings management to achieve acceptable performance.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1151 platform. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz can boost up to 4.10 GHz under load, which is relevant for a city builder like Steamworld Build where simulation logic and entity updates can stress multiple cores simultaneously. The processor has a 9 MB shared L3 cache and accesses memory via a dual-channel DDR4 interface with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-9400 demonstrates modest capabilities that align with its 47th percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6629 and single-core score of 935 indicate a processor that is competent for everyday tasks but not exceptional for heavily threaded workloads. The Geekbench multicore score of 5141 and single-core score of 1389 reinforce this picture. When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-9400 sits in a tight cluster: it is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (avg score 2259) and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i3-10305 (avg score 2264). It is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i7-10710U (avg score 2248) and 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (avg score 2246). These delta percentages are tiny, meaning the CPU is essentially performance-neutral within its peer group.

For Steamworld Build specifically, the 6-core/6-thread configuration without hyper-threading means the CPU must handle all game logic threads with physical cores only. The measured frame rates suggest that at lower resolutions like 1080p, the CPU can keep up with the GPU adequately at Low and Medium settings, but at higher resolutions or Ultra settings, the system becomes severely constrained. The data does not isolate CPU vs GPU bottleneck directly, but the pattern — where frame rates drop dramatically from Low to Ultra at every resolution — indicates that the combination of this CPU and the integrated-class GPU cannot sustain high graphical loads. The processor’s 65W TDP and end-of-life production status suggest it was designed for mainstream desktop builds circa 2018, and its performance envelope is now considered entry-level.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) built on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a 3 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Critically, its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM; instead, it borrows from system memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. It delivers a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS.

The Arc B390’s benchmark presence is minimal, with a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, which is exceptionally low. Its nearest rivals in the database are all legacy NVIDIA parts: it is 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX (avg score 1463), 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M (avg score 1460), 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (avg score 1446), and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710 (avg score 1443). These deltas are all positive but small, confirming that the Arc B390 is positioned at the very bottom of the GPU performance hierarchy. The 80W TDP and IGP form factor mean it relies entirely on the host system’s memory and cooling, with no dedicated power connectors or display outputs beyond what the portable device provides.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU’s lack of dedicated VRAM becomes a limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate collapses to 14 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is just 41 FPS, indicating that the GPU’s shared memory bandwidth and limited shader throughput cannot handle the game’s visual demands. The system-shared memory architecture means that as resolution increases, the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, exacerbating performance drops. The Arc B390’s 2500 MHz boost clock helps at lower settings, but the 300 MHz base clock suggests significant thermal or power throttling potential in sustained loads. For a city builder where camera panning and zooming can quickly populate the screen with objects, this GPU is only viable for Low or Medium presets at 1080p.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy of playability across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 106 FPS, which is excellent for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 81 FPS average with a minimum of 69 FPS and maximum of 93 FPS, which is still very playable and offers better visual quality. The High preset at 1080p drops to 60 FPS average, which is acceptable but near the threshold where frame pacing issues might become noticeable in a simulation game. The Ultra preset at 1080p falls to 41 FPS average, which is marginal and likely to cause stutter during heavy city expansion.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset provides 67 FPS average, which is playable but a significant drop from 1080p Low. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 51 FPS with a minimum of 44 FPS and maximum of 59 FPS, which is borderline acceptable for a city builder where absolute smoothness is less critical than strategy games. The High preset at 1440p drops to 38 FPS average, which is below the 40 FPS threshold for comfortable play. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages just 26 FPS, which is not recommended.

At 3840x2160, all presets are problematic. The Low preset averages 35 FPS, which is barely playable but with likely dips. The Medium preset averages 27 FPS with a minimum of 23 FPS and maximum of 31 FPS, which is too low for consistent interaction. The High preset averages 20 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 14 FPS, both unplayable.

The data strongly suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, offering an 81 FPS average with a comfortable minimum of 69 FPS. This balances visual fidelity with performance, avoiding the 106 FPS of Low (which sacrifices too much detail) and the 60 FPS of High (which is still acceptable but leaves less headroom). For users with 1440p monitors, the Low preset at 67 FPS is the only viable option, but the Medium preset at 51 FPS is acceptable if users tolerate occasional dips. 4K gaming is not feasible with this combo, as even the best 4K result (Low at 35 FPS) fails to maintain smoothness.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B390 achieves a rank of 2573 out of 2924 tested configurations in Steamworld Build. This places it in the 12th percentile of all combos, meaning roughly 88% of tested systems outperform it. This is a poor result, reflecting the GPU’s 9th percentile standing and the CPU’s mid-range 47th percentile position. The rank indicates that the GPU is the primary drag on performance, as the CPU alone would not justify such a low standing.

In practical terms, this rank means the combo is suited only for low-demand scenarios. The measured FPS data corroborates this: the only settings that achieve above 60 FPS average are 1080p Low (106 FPS) and 1080p Medium (81 FPS). At 1440p and above, the combo falls below 70 FPS even at Low settings. The rank of 2573 out of 2924 suggests that most other tested combinations, including those with older discrete GPUs, deliver better performance. The nearest GPU rivals (GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, GT 710) are all ancient parts, yet they score similarly in synthetic benchmarks, indicating that the Arc B390 is not competitive even against hardware from over a decade ago. For Steamworld Build, this combo is only recommended for users who prioritize resolution scaling down to 1080p and are willing to accept Medium preset as the ceiling.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware in Steamworld Build?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with the Medium preset provides an average of 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and maximum of 93 FPS. This is the highest settings level that maintains an average above 75 FPS, making it the optimal balance of quality and performance.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 67 FPS, while Medium drops to 51 FPS. These are technically playable, but the High preset at 38 FPS and Ultra at 26 FPS are not recommended. Users should stick to Low or Medium at 1440p.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with the Intel Arc B390 and i5-9400?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best average is 35 FPS on Low settings, with Medium at 27 FPS, High at 20 FPS, and Ultra at 14 FPS. None of these achieve a stable 30 FPS, so 4K is not viable for this game with this combo.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. It is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259) and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i3-10305 (2264). It is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248) and 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246).

Q: What is the GPU’s synthetic benchmark standing relative to other cards?

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it at the 9th percentile. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% faster than the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% faster than the GT 710 (1443).

Q: Does the combo’s rank in this game indicate a CPU or GPU bottleneck?

A: The combo ranks 2573rd out of 2924, and the GPU’s 9th percentile benchmark score is far lower than the CPU’s 47th percentile. This suggests the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU is mid-range while the GPU is near-bottom-tier.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are as follows: Low preset delivers 106 FPS average. Medium preset delivers 81 FPS average, with a minimum of 69 FPS and maximum of 93 FPS. High preset delivers 60 FPS average. Ultra preset delivers 41 FPS average. This resolution is the only one where the combo can achieve high refresh rates, with Low and Medium both exceeding 80 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the measured average frame rates are: Low preset delivers 67 FPS average. Medium preset delivers 51 FPS average, with a minimum of 44 FPS and maximum of 59 FPS. High preset delivers 38 FPS average. Ultra preset delivers 26 FPS average. The drop from 1080p is substantial, with Low losing 39 FPS and Medium losing 30 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates are: Low preset delivers 35 FPS average. Medium preset delivers 27 FPS average, with a minimum of 23 FPS and maximum of 31 FPS. High preset delivers 20 FPS average. Ultra preset delivers 14 FPS average. None of these presets reach a playable 30 FPS threshold, and the Ultra preset is effectively a slideshow.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern: across all resolutions, the difference between Low and Ultra is roughly 65-70% of the Low value. For example, at 1080p, Ultra (41 FPS) is 61% of Low (106 FPS); at 1440p, Ultra (26 FPS) is 39% of Low (67 FPS); at 4K, Ultra (14 FPS) is 40% of Low (35 FPS). This indicates that the GPU’s limited fill rate and memory bandwidth become more pronounced as resolution increases, making higher settings exponentially more demanding. The Medium preset consistently provides the best minimum frame rate headroom, as evidenced by the 69 FPS minimum at 1080p and 44 FPS minimum at 1440p, compared to the unmeasured minimums at other presets. Users should prioritize Medium at 1080p for the most stable experience, or Low at 1440p if they need higher resolution.