Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder that places a premium on steady simulation performance rather than raw graphical spectacle. This analysis examines the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B390, a combination that produces a clear performance hierarchy depending on resolution and settings. The measured data indicates a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics processor, with the CPU demonstrating it can handle the game's logic without becoming the primary bottleneck. The following sections break down the benchmark results, offering a methodical look at how this specific combo ranks, scales, and what settings deliver the most playable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B390 combination holds the 2573rd position out of 2924 tested combos in Steamworld Build. This places the pairing in the lower percentile of tested systems, which is a direct reflection of the GPU's limited capabilities in this title. The rank is not a measure of the CPU's potential, but rather the final outcome of the weakest link in the chain—the graphics solution.

To contextualize the GPU's performance, its average benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, based on average score, are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710. The Arc B390's score is 1.3% higher than the GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% higher than the GT 710. This data clearly positions the Arc B390 within a performance tier that is considered entry-level or legacy, and this is the primary driver for the combo's low ranking.

The CPU, by contrast, is a high-performing component. Its average benchmark score of 53620 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The i7-14700F is a direct rival to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which has an average score of 53288. The Intel chip is 0.6% faster than the Ryzen in this metric. It also compares favorably to server-class parts like the Intel Xeon 6505P (scoring 53701, a -0.2% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7313P (scoring 53206, a 0.8% delta for the Intel). The massive discrepancy between the CPU's high percentile ranking and the combo's low in-game rank underscores that the i7-14700F is not the limiting factor; the Arc B390 is the component that drags the entire system down in this specific workload.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process node. Its fundamental design, with a 300 MHz base clock and a 2500 MHz boost clock, is geared towards efficiency rather than high-end gaming. The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. Consequently, the memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," indicating that performance can vary based on the rest of the system.

The Arc B390's compute resources are modest, featuring 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 raster operation units (ROPs). It also includes 12 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The combination of shared memory and a low transistor budget relative to discrete solutions results in a GPU that is not designed for demanding 3D workloads. This is confirmed by its 9th percentile ranking and its proximity in benchmark scores to legacy NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 710.

In Steamworld Build, the GPU's role is to render the game's isometric world, including buildings, resources, and the little steam-driven workers. The data suggests that the Arc B390 struggles with this task, especially as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. The game's performance is directly tied to the GPU's ability to fill pixels and process textures, and the B390's limited ROPs and TMUs are insufficient for smooth gameplay at higher settings. The results show a clear pattern where the GPU's performance ceiling is hit early, causing severe frame rate drops that make the game nearly unplayable at 4K Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a sharp and predictable decline in performance as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound system. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS. Moving up to 1440p Low drops the average to 67 FPS, a reduction of approximately 37%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 35 FPS, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling is steep and demonstrates that the Arc B390 is quickly overwhelmed by the increase in pixel count.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 60 at 1080p, to 38 at 1440p, and down to 20 at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory: 81 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with averages of 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and a mere 14 FPS at 4K. The consistent halving of performance at each resolution step indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU is not being stressed by the higher resolutions; it is the graphics processor that is failing to keep up with the increased rendering load.

This behavior is definitive. A system limited by the CPU would show less variation in frame rates between 1080p and 4K, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's load increases. Here, the frame rate drops are dramatic, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck. The data strongly suggests that for a playable experience, the resolution must be kept low or the settings must be reduced significantly to compensate for the GPU's lack of raw power.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combination in Steamworld Build?

A: The combo ranks 2573rd out of 2924 tested combinations. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's limited performance, not the CPU.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Its average benchmark score of 1482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710. It is positioned in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating entry-level performance.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a strong performer?

A: Yes. The CPU has an average benchmark score of 53620, placing it in the 91st percentile. It is 0.6% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which is one of its nearest rivals.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck in this system for Steamworld Build?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is the clear bottleneck. The large FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 4K indicate the GPU is unable to handle the increased rendering load, while the CPU's high percentile ranking shows it is not the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best-case scenario for frame rate at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS. With High settings, it drops to 60 FPS, and with Ultra settings, it falls to 41 FPS.

Q: Are there any settings where 4K is playable?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 35 on Low settings. The Ultra preset only achieves 14 FPS, making it unplayable. Even the Low preset is below the threshold for a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section provides a detailed look at the exact measured average frame rates for the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B390 combination in Steamworld Build.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average FPS is 106. This is the highest frame rate achieved in the entire test suite, indicating that the game is playable and smooth at this setting.
• Medium: The average FPS is 81, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. This is a substantial drop from Low but remains a comfortable playable experience.
• High: The average FPS is 60. This is a solid frame rate, hitting the standard target for many displays.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 41. While playable, this setting shows the GPU is starting to struggle, as the frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average FPS is 67. This is a significant reduction from the 1080p Low result, showing the impact of the higher resolution.
• Medium: The average FPS is 51, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59. The frame rate is becoming less stable, and the experience is less smooth.
• High: The average FPS is 38. This is approaching the lower limit of playability for many users.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 26. This is a challenging experience, with visible stutter and a lack of fluidity.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average FPS is 35. The game is technically running but is not smooth. This is a marginal experience at best.
• Medium: The average FPS is 27, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31. The frame rate is consistently low, making the game feel sluggish.
• High: The average FPS is 20. This is below the threshold for playable frame rates.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 14. This is a slideshow and is not a viable setting for this combination.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a high-end desktop processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. It features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This substantial core count and high clock speed make it a powerhouse for multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its 91st percentile ranking. Its cache configuration includes 33 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps with data-heavy tasks.

In the context of Steamworld Build, the CPU's role is to manage the game's simulation logic, which includes citizen pathfinding, resource management, and the complex economic simulation. The benchmark results indicate that the i7-14700F is more than capable of handling these tasks. The frame rate in the game is not limited by the CPU, but by the GPU. This is evidenced by the fact that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU load is at its lowest, the frame rate is high, but it drops drastically as the GPU load increases. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be much more consistent across different resolutions.

The CPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which it slightly outperforms. This confirms that the i7-14700F is a top-tier processor. The data shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this specific game, and its performance is more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The bottleneck is unequivocally the graphics card, and any performance upgrade to this system would need to come from replacing the Intel Arc B390.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the Intel Arc B390's limitations are the primary factor in determining the best settings for Steamworld Build. The goal is to achieve a playable frame rate, which generally means staying above 30 FPS and ideally closer to 60 FPS.

For a 1080p display, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point. It provides an average of 81 FPS, which is a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Low preset offers the highest headroom at 106 FPS, which is useful for very large, late-game cities where the simulation load can increase. The High preset is also playable at 60 FPS, but users should be prepared for potential dips in complex scenes. The Ultra preset, with an average of 41 FPS, is playable but not ideal and may feel less responsive.

At 1440p, the options are more restricted. The Low preset, with an average of 67 FPS, is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset, at 51 FPS, is acceptable but shows more instability, as indicated by the 44 FPS minimum. The High and Ultra presets, at 38 and 26 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a good experience.

At 4K, the data shows that this combination is not suitable for playable frame rates. The Low preset, at 35 FPS, is the only option that approaches a minimum level of playability, but it will still feel choppy. All other presets are below 30 FPS and should be avoided. For this resolution, a much more powerful discrete GPU would be required.

In summary, the best experience for this combo is at 1080p with Medium or Low settings. Users with 1440p displays should stick to Low settings for the most consistent performance. The 4K resolution is not a viable option for this hardware pairing.