Steamworld Build

The Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B370 pairing in Steamworld Build presents a striking imbalance between processor capability and graphics throughput. The CPU is a high-end 13th Gen desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated mobile-class solution, resulting in gameplay that is overwhelmingly constrained by the graphics subsystem. The data reveals a combination that can manage the game's logic and simulation elements with ease but struggles to render frames at acceptable rates, particularly at higher resolutions and quality settings.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a substantial piece of silicon, built on the Raptor Lake architecture and manufactured on a 10 nm process. It features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This configuration is designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads, which is relevant for a city builder like Steamworld Build, where the simulation of thousands of individual agents, resource flows, and building operations can place a significant demand on the processor. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help keep frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency.

In general-purpose benchmarks, the i7-13700K performs as expected for a desktop flagship of its generation. It scores 30,745 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,116 points in the single-core test. Its Passmark multithread score is 45,887, with a single-thread score of 4,333. These figures place the CPU in the 89th percentile of all processors tested. The data shows it is nearly identical in average benchmark score to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, with a delta of -0.2%, and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX by 0.5%. This indicates that the processor has ample headroom for the computational tasks in Steamworld Build.

However, the measured FPS data in this game does not reflect the CPU's potential. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 95, which is likely high enough to avoid being the primary bottleneck. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 61 FPS, a 34 FPS reduction that is far too steep to be caused by the CPU alone, as its workload remains relatively constant across resolutions. The CPU is responsible for the game's simulation tick rate, which is resolution-independent. The fact that performance scales so dramatically with resolution and settings points directly to the GPU as the limiting component. The i7-13700K is providing the necessary data to the graphics card, but the graphics card is unable to process it quickly enough to produce higher frame rates.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is a different story entirely. It is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the main system RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. Its bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," and its base clock is a modest 300 MHz, boosting to 2400 MHz. This is a low-power, integrated solution with a TDP of just 25 W, designed for efficiency in portable devices, not for high-end desktop gaming.

Its benchmark results are underwhelming. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 1,184 points, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, with delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively. This places the Arc B370's raw rendering power on par with graphics cards from well over a decade ago. While it supports modern APIs like DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, its physical capabilities are severely limited.

In Steamworld Build, this GPU limitation is the central bottleneck. The game's 3D world, while not visually demanding by modern standards, still requires the GPU to fill pixels, process textures, and handle shading. The Arc B370's 1,280 shading units and 20 ROPs are simply insufficient for this task at higher resolutions. The data shows that even at 1080p Low settings, the average FPS is only 95, which is far from a high-refresh-rate experience. As the graphical load increases, the GPU's limitations become more pronounced, leading to the significant FPS drops observed across the resolution and settings matrix.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions is the clearest indicator that the GPU is the sole bottleneck in this combination. The data shows a consistent and dramatic decline in performance as resolution increases, which is a classic symptom of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU's workload remains constant regardless of resolution, so the FPS drop can only be attributed to the increased pixel count that the GPU must render.

At Ultra settings, the performance is unplayable at every resolution. The average FPS starts at 37 at 1080p and plummets to 23 at 1440p and a mere 12 at 4K. This represents a 67.6% performance loss when moving from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 55 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p and 18 at 4K. Even at Low settings, which should minimize the GPU's workload, the drop is steep: 95 FPS at 1080p falls to 61 FPS at 1440p and 32 FPS at 4K.

The scaling pattern is revealing. The transition from 1080p to 1440p (which requires roughly 1.78 times more pixels) results in a 35.8% FPS drop at Low settings. The transition from 1440p to 4K (which requires 2.25 times more pixels) results in a 47.5% FPS drop at Low settings. This is not linear scaling, which would be expected if the GPU were the only factor. The non-linear drop suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth, which is system-dependent, is also being saturated, further crippling performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat across these resolutions, as the simulation speed would be the limiting factor. The data clearly shows that the Arc B370 is overwhelmed, and the i7-13700K is left waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the comprehensive database of tested hardware combinations for Steamworld Build, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B370 ranks near the absolute bottom. The combo ranks 2,683rd out of 2,924 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8.2% of all systems. This low ranking is entirely attributable to the GPU's poor performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part.

To put this in perspective, the i7-13700K itself is a powerful processor that ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. However, when paired with the Arc B370, the overall gaming performance is dragged down to a level that is comparable to systems with much older and weaker processors. The data implies that a mid-range CPU paired with a dedicated entry-level GPU would likely perform significantly better in this game than this high-end CPU paired with the integrated Arc B370. The rank reflects the entire system's capability, and in this case, the GPU is a severe liability. This is a clear example of a bottleneck, where a high-performing component is almost completely neutralized by a low-performing one. The system's potential is defined by its weakest link, and that is unequivocally the Intel Arc B370 graphics processor.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance. Every setting and resolution combination was tested, and the results are uniformly poor outside of the lowest settings at 1080p.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system is effectively unusable for gameplay. The results are as follows: Ultra settings produce an average of 12 FPS. High settings yield an average of 18 FPS. Medium settings provide an average of 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS. Low settings are the only option that breaks past 30 FPS, averaging 32 FPS. None of these averages reach a smooth 60 FPS, and even the Low setting average is below the standard for acceptable playability.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves but remains choppy. Ultra settings average 23 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS. Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. Low settings are the first to cross the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 61 FPS. While this is technically playable, it is on the edge of what most users would consider a smooth experience.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system finally shows some capability. Ultra settings average 37 FPS, which is still not ideal. High settings average 55 FPS. Medium settings average 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS, providing a mostly smooth experience. Low settings are the best performer, averaging 95 FPS, which should be fluid in a city builder. The Medium setting at 1080p appears to be the sweet spot for playability, offering a stable average above 60 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: Technically, yes, but the experience is poor. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 32. At Medium, it drops to 25 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 12 FPS. None of these settings provide a smooth, consistent frame rate for a city builder.

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

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can consistently maintain playable frame rates. At 1080p, the system averages 95 FPS on Low and 73 FPS on Medium, which are both acceptable.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K holding back the Intel Arc B370?

A: No. The CPU is not the limiting factor. The i7-13700K is a high-performance processor that scores in the 89th percentile. The GPU, which ranks in the 5th percentile, is the bottleneck. The performance drop across resolutions is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in raw performance?

A: The Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1,184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1,186, a delta of -0.2%. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1,192, a delta of -0.7%. This shows the Arc B370's performance is nearly identical to these much older, low-end parts.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 46, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. This is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU's multi-threading performance relevant for this game?

A: The CPU is likely sufficient for the game's simulation logic. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 30,745 points, showing strong multi-threaded capability. However, because the GPU is so weak, the CPU's performance does not translate into higher frame rates in the benchmark data.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the only way to achieve a consistently playable experience with this combo is to use the Low settings preset at 1920x1080 resolution. This configuration yields an average of 95 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for a city builder. While the Low preset will reduce visual fidelity, it is the only option that fully utilizes the system's limited graphics capabilities without causing frame rate drops.

If a player wishes to improve visual quality, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the next viable option, averaging 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 FPS. This should still provide a decent experience, but the minimum FPS is close to the edge of what is considered smooth. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 61 FPS, but this is a marginal result. All other settings and resolution combinations produce average FPS values well below 60, which will likely result in noticeable stuttering and an unresponsive feel. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it yields an average of 37 FPS at 1080p and is unplayable at higher resolutions. For this hardware combination, prioritizing frame rate over graphical detail is essential for a functional gaming experience.