Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build with the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 presents a stark contrast in component capabilities. The data shows a CPU that ranks in the 85th percentile among all processors, paired with a GPU that rests in the 5th percentile. This combination results in a system where the central processor is vastly overpowered relative to the graphics solution, and benchmark results confirm that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and graphical settings. The measured frame rates indicate that while the CPU can easily handle the game's logic, the Arc B370 struggles to keep up with rendering demands, making settings and resolution choices critical for a playable experience.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, a 10 nm process, and features a 12-core, 20-thread configuration. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.00 GHz. This processing power is substantial, as evidenced by its synthetic benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28838 and a Geekbench multicore score of 14367. The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration further contribute to its strong performance profile.

In the context of Steamworld Build, a city builder genre game, the CPU's role is typically to manage the simulation, AI, and pathfinding for the numerous entities on the map. The benchmark data for this specific combo shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 95 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate in the dataset. This indicates that the CPU is fully capable of feeding the GPU with data, and the performance ceiling is not being hit by processor limitations. The i7-12700KF's high single-thread performance, with a 3dmark single-thread score of 1043 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3984, ensures that even the primary game thread, which is often the most demanding for simulation games, is handled with ease.

The CPU's standing among its rivals reinforces its capability. The nearestRivals list shows the Intel Core i7-13700T with an average score of 35403, which is a deltaPct of -0.1 relative to the i7-12700KF's average benchmark score of 35365. Similarly, the Intel Core i5-13600T and Intel Core 5 213PE are within 0.2% of the i7-12700KF's score. This grouping indicates that the i7-12700KF performs at a level comparable to other high-end desktop and mobile processors, and its 85th percentile ranking across all CPUs confirms that it is a top-tier performer. Therefore, in this gaming scenario, the CPU's robust architecture and high clock speeds are more than sufficient, and they allow the system to push the GPU to its limits without introducing a processor-side bottleneck.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is the stark contrast to the CPU. This integrated graphics solution, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process, is designed for low power consumption with a TDP of 25 W. Its performance is limited by its specifications, including a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Crucially, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM for both capacity and bandwidth, which is "System Dependent." This is a fundamental limitation for a graphics card, as dedicated VRAM bandwidth is typically essential for high-resolution textures and complex scenes.

The GPU's benchmark results are consistent with its low-tier positioning. Its only recorded benchmark, 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12, yields a score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The nearestRivals for this GPU are all older, lower-end cards, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, with scores of 1186 and 1192, respectively. This comparison underscores that the Arc B370's raw graphics processing power is minimal, and it is not in the same league as dedicated desktop gaming GPUs.

The impact of this GPU limitation is clearly visible in the measured FPS data for Steamworld Build. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to a mere 12 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 95 FPS, but this is the absolute ceiling for this GPU. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution and settings increase, the frame rate plummets, demonstrating that the GPU is the primary performance bottleneck. The system's reliance on shared memory for the GPU, rather than a dedicated pool, further compounds this issue, making it difficult for the Arc B370 to handle high-bandwidth tasks like rendering a detailed city at high resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF strong enough for Steamworld Build?

A: Yes. The data indicates the CPU is not the bottleneck. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28838 and a 85th percentile ranking, show it has ample power for the game's simulation and logic, allowing the system to reach its highest frame rate of 95 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

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

A: Technically, yes, but the experience is poor. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 18, and it drops further to 12 FPS on Ultra. Even on Low settings at 4K, the average is only 32 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the frame rates are consistently playable across all settings. At this resolution, the average FPS ranges from 37 on Ultra to 95 on Low, offering the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 performs at a level comparable to very old, low-end cards. Its benchmark score of 1184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192), which are its nearest rivals. This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Will increasing the graphical settings have a significant impact on frame rate?

A: Yes, the impact is severe. For example, at 2560x1440, moving from Low (61 FPS) to High (35 FPS) drops the average frame rate by 26 FPS. At 1920x1080, the jump from Low (95 FPS) to Ultra (37 FPS) represents a 58 FPS decrease, showing that the GPU struggles to handle higher graphical workloads.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF a better performer than the Intel Core i7-13700T?

A: They are effectively equal in overall performance. The i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, while the i7-13700T has a score of 35403. The deltaPct is -0.1, meaning the i7-13700T is marginally faster by 0.1%, but this difference is negligible in real-world terms.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination is found at 1920x1080 resolution. The data shows that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting factor, and any increase in resolution taxes it heavily. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 95 FPS, which provides the most fluid gameplay. However, for a better visual experience without a significant performance hit, Medium settings at 1920x1080 are recommended, offering an average of 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 FPS, ensuring a stable frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to High settings at 1920x1080 drops the average to 55 FPS, which is still playable but less smooth. The data suggests that Ultra settings at any resolution are not viable, with the lowest average of 12 FPS at 4K. For users with a 2560x1440 monitor, the only playable option is Low settings, which yields an average of 61 FPS. High and Medium settings at this resolution fall to 35 and 46 FPS, respectively, which are likely to feel choppy. The 3840x2160 resolution is not recommended for this GPU, as all settings result in average frame rates below 32 FPS. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is to select 1920x1080 and prioritize Medium settings for a balance of visual fidelity and performance, or Low settings for the highest possible frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 has a measured comboRankInGame of 2683 out of 2924 tested combinations. This places the system in the bottom 8% of all tested hardware configurations for Steamworld Build. This low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's weak performance, which drags down the overall capability of the system despite the CPU's high standing. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking is negated by the GPU's 5th percentile ranking, resulting in a system that is heavily unbalanced.

The data confirms that this pairing is not well-suited for this game's performance demands. While the CPU is more than capable of handling the simulation, the GPU creates a hard performance ceiling. The combo's rank of 2683 out of 2924 indicates that almost all other tested combinations, likely those with more powerful dedicated graphics cards, will provide a better experience. Even a modest upgrade in GPU performance would drastically improve the system's ranking, as the CPU would not need to be changed. The benchmark results show that the system's performance is almost entirely dependent on the GPU, and the CPU's power is left largely unused in this scenario.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how this system performs across various settings and resolutions. The results show a clear and consistent trend: performance degrades significantly as both resolution and graphical settings are increased.

At 1920x1080, the system performs at its best. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 95 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84 FPS. High settings produce an average of 55 FPS. The most demanding setting, Ultra, results in an average of 37 FPS. This is the only resolution where all settings, including Ultra, can be considered playable.

At 2560x1440, the impact of the GPU's limitations becomes more apparent. Low settings yield an average of 61 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53 FPS. High settings drop the average to 35 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to an average of 23 FPS. This resolution is only recommended for Low or possibly Medium settings if a lower frame rate is acceptable.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 32 FPS, which is below the standard smoothness threshold. Medium settings average 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28 FPS. High settings average 18 FPS, and Ultra settings average a mere 12 FPS. This resolution is not suitable for this hardware configuration, as the GPU cannot handle the pixel count and graphical load. The data clearly shows that 1920x1080 is the only viable resolution for a consistently playable experience, with the 1080p Medium preset offering the best compromise between visual quality and performance.