Steamworld Build

Steamworld Build is a city builder, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a curious mix of results that depend heavily on where you set the resolution and visual quality. The data shows a system that can handle the game’s simulation layers with ease but is often held back by the graphics card at higher presets. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, explains how the components interact, and provides practical settings advice based strictly on the benchmark numbers.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It runs at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts up to 5.80 GHz. This is a desktop-class CPU with a 125 W TDP, designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads. Its benchmark scores are impressive: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. In PassMark’s multi-thread test, it scores 60860, and it lands in the 96th percentile versus all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market.

For a city builder like Steamworld Build, the CPU is critical. These games simulate thousands of agents, resource flows, and building states simultaneously, which can hammer the processor even when the graphics are simple. The Ultra 9 290K Plus is clearly more than capable of handling these simulation tasks. Its high single-core performance (a PassMark single-thread score of 4823) ensures that the game’s main logic thread runs smoothly, while its many cores provide ample headroom for background tasks and the engine’s multi-threaded systems.

However, the benchmark data for this specific combo suggests that the CPU is rarely the bottleneck in Steamworld Build. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 162 FPS, which is far beyond what any city builder needs for smooth play. Even at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate drops to 63 FPS, a drop of nearly 100 FPS from Low to Ultra. This massive scaling with settings indicates that the GPU, the Intel Arc B570, is the limiting factor in most configurations, not the CPU. The CPU’s job is to feed the GPU with data, and it does that without breaking a sweat, as evidenced by the absence of any CPU-bound performance plateau in the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the benchmark database for Steamworld Build, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the Intel Arc B570 ranks 2320 out of 2924 tested combos. This places it in the lower 21% of all tested systems, which is a surprisingly low position for a CPU with the 96th percentile performance. The ranking reveals that the pairing is heavily constrained by the graphics card, preventing the high-end CPU from translating its raw power into top-tier gaming frame rates.

To put this in perspective, the CPU’s nearest rivals are all high-end server or desktop chips. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is just 0.2% faster in average benchmark score, while the AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% slower. These deltas are tiny, indicating the CPU is performing exactly as expected. The problem is the GPU. The Intel Arc B570 sits in the 65th percentile versus all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% faster) and the Intel Arc A750 (0.1% faster). None of these are top-tier desktop cards, which explains why the combo rank is so low.

The data shows a clear mismatch. The CPU is a flagship-level part, but the GPU is a mid-range offering. In a game like Steamworld Build, where the simulation is CPU-intensive but the rendering is not overly demanding, this should be a solid pairing. Yet, the rank suggests otherwise. The bottleneck is the GPU’s raw pixel-pushing ability, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The combo rank of 2320 out of 2924 is a direct consequence of this imbalance, and it means that users looking for high-refresh-rate 4K gameplay will be disappointed, while those targeting 1080p might find the system more than adequate.

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

The measured FPS data for Steamworld Build shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. Starting at 1080p High, the system achieves 93 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 59 FPS, a reduction of 34%. At 4K High, the system only manages 31 FPS, which is a 67% drop from 1080p High. This scaling pattern is almost purely a function of the GPU’s pixel throughput, as the CPU’s workload does not scale with resolution in the same way.

The low settings tell a similar story. At 1080p Low, the system hits 162 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 103 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 55 FPS. This is a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which again points to the GPU being the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across resolutions, or at least smaller drops, because the CPU’s simulation work is independent of how many pixels are being drawn. The fact that frame rates drop so dramatically with each resolution step confirms that the Intel Arc B570’s rendering capabilities are what’s holding the system back.

This is particularly evident when comparing the 1080p and 1440p results. The gap between 1080p High (93 FPS) and 1440p High (59 FPS) is a 34% loss, which is substantial. The gap between 1440p High (59 FPS) and 4K High (31 FPS) is even larger at 47%. The GPU is struggling to keep up with the increasing pixel count, and its 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus with 380.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely a contributing factor at 4K, where memory capacity and bandwidth are more critical. The data clearly shows that for a smooth experience at 4K, users will need to rely on lower settings or accept sub-60 FPS frame rates.

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

The benchmark results provide a complete grid of measured average frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets. For 1920x1080, the system delivers 162 FPS on Low, 124 FPS on Medium, 93 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset also shows a minimum FPS of 106 and a maximum of 143, indicating some frame time variance but generally smooth performance. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot for this combo, with even the Ultra preset remaining playable.

At 2560x1440, the numbers drop significantly. The Low preset yields 103 FPS, Medium produces 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 and a maximum of 91, High drops to 59 FPS, and Ultra falls to 40 FPS. The transition from High to Ultra at 1440p is particularly steep, with a 19 FPS loss. This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces effects or rendering features that are disproportionately expensive for the Intel Arc B570.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates on most presets. The Low preset achieves 55 FPS, which is borderline playable for a city builder. Medium drops to 42 FPS with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48, High falls to 31 FPS, and Ultra is nearly unplayable at 21 FPS. The jump from Medium to High at 4K costs 11 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs another 10 FPS. This resolution is only viable for users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness and are willing to accept frame rates in the 30-40 FPS range.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus a good match for the Intel Arc B570 in Steamworld Build?

A: The data shows a significant bottleneck. The CPU is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, but the GPU is only in the 65th percentile. This results in a combo rank of 2320 out of 2924, indicating the GPU limits performance, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Steamworld Build with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the best choice. The system achieves 93 FPS on High and 63 FPS on Ultra, both of which are playable. At 1440p, High drops to 59 FPS, and at 4K, even Low is only 55 FPS, making 1080p the most consistent experience.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83807, which is a 0.2% difference. The AMD EPYC 4584PX scores 83090, which is 1.1% slower. The data shows the CPU is performing as expected for its class.

Q: How does the GPU’s performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, a 0.1% difference, and the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, which is 0.1% faster. The data indicates the GPU is a mid-range performer, not a high-end card.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Steamworld Build?

A: Only at lower settings. At 4K Low, it achieves 55 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Medium, it drops to 42 FPS, and at 4K High, it falls to 31 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it only produces 21 FPS. Users should expect to compromise on visual quality for 4K.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 162 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 63 FPS. This is a 99 FPS difference, which shows that the GPU is significantly impacted by the higher graphical demands of the Ultra preset.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to a clear set of recommendations for balancing performance and visual quality. For the best overall experience, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the recommended starting point. It delivers 93 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay in a city builder, and it should provide a visually rich experience without the performance penalty of Ultra. The data shows that the jump from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 30 FPS (from 93 to 63), which is a steep price for what is likely a marginal visual improvement.

If you prefer to maximize visual fidelity and can tolerate lower frame rates, the Ultra preset at 1080p is still playable at 63 FPS. However, the Medium preset at 1440p, which produces 79 FPS, offers a better balance of resolution and smoothness than High at 1440p (59 FPS). The data suggests that the Medium preset is often the sweet spot for this GPU, as it provides a significant resolution upgrade while maintaining reasonable frame rates.

For 4K gaming, the options are limited. The Low preset at 3840x2160 is the only one that breaks the 50 FPS barrier, achieving 55 FPS. The Medium preset at 42 FPS is tolerable for a slower-paced game like Steamworld Build, but the High and Ultra presets at 31 FPS and 21 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for consistent play. Given the data, the best strategy for 4K is to use the Low or Medium preset and accept the visual compromises, or stick to 1440p for a better overall experience. The benchmark results clearly show that the Intel Arc B570 is the limiting factor, and adjusting settings is more effective than trying to push the GPU beyond its capabilities.