Barony

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents an unusual combination: a strong modern desktop processor driving an integrated graphics solution. In Barony, a roguelike title, this pairing produces a clear split between playable and non-playable resolutions. The recorded data shows that 1080p is the primary target for this combo, while 1440p offers a viable experience with adjusted settings. 4K is effectively out of reach. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, ranking, and component roles based strictly on the database records.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no settings preset achieves the 60 FPS threshold. The highest recorded average is 53 FPS at Low settings, which falls short of the playable standard. The database reports no playable settings for this resolution, meaning the combo cannot maintain a smooth experience at 4K under any tested configuration.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High. The measured average at High is 64 FPS, which clears the threshold by a narrow margin. Low settings deliver 100 FPS, and Medium delivers 75 FPS, but High is the best visual quality option that remains playable. The verdict confirms High as the best settings choice with an average of 64 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra. The measured average at Ultra is 73 FPS, comfortably above the threshold. All four presets, Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, are listed as playable at this resolution. The verdict confirms Ultra as the best settings choice with an average of 73 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where the combo can run the game at maximum quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU and GPU combination at 3300 out of 3717 tested combos for Barony. This places the combo in the lower portion of the overall distribution, roughly in the 11th percentile of all tested configurations. The rank reflects the GPU's limited performance ceiling, as the CPU is a capable desktop part. The low ranking is primarily driven by the Arc B390's integrated nature, which restricts frame rates at higher resolutions.

For context, the CPU alone sits at the 77th percentile among all processors, indicating strong compute capability. The GPU, however, ranks at the 9th percentile among all graphics cards, which drags the combo down significantly. The mismatch between a high-percentile CPU and a low-percentile GPU explains why the combo only performs well at 1080p and struggles at higher resolutions. The recorded data shows that the combo's overall position is closer to the bottom of the field than the middle, meaning most other tested hardware pairs would outperform it in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full range of settings is playable. Low settings produce an average of 159 FPS, the highest recorded for this combo. Medium settings average 118 FPS with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS. High settings average 102 FPS. Ultra settings average 73 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra delivering roughly half the frame rate of Low.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop noticeably. Low settings average 100 FPS, Medium averages 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS, and High averages 64 FPS. Ultra falls below the playable threshold with an average of 46 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant: High loses 38 FPS, and Low loses 59 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p still clears 60 FPS, but its minimum of 64 FPS is close to the threshold.

At 3840x2160, all presets fail to reach 60 FPS. Low settings average 53 FPS, Medium averages 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 24 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep: High drops from 64 FPS to 34 FPS, a 47% reduction. Medium drops from 75 FPS to 39 FPS, a 48% reduction. Low drops from 100 FPS to 53 FPS, a 47% reduction. The consistent percentage drop across presets indicates a resolution-bound bottleneck, likely from the GPU's limited pixel throughput.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, provide context for what other processors would behave similarly. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS scores 25284, which is 0% different from the i5-13400F's average of 25292. The Intel Core 5 120 scores 25362, a 0.3% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D scores 25365, also a 0.3% difference. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H scores 25201, a 0.4% difference. These four processors are effectively equivalent in compute performance, so swapping the CPU for any of these would produce nearly identical frame rates in Barony, assuming the same GPU.

The GPU's nearest rivals tell a different story. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% below the Arc B390's score of 1482. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, a 1.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, a 2.7% difference. These are all low-end parts, and the Arc B390 outperforms them by a small margin. In practical terms, any of these GPUs would deliver similar frame rates in Barony, meaning the combo's performance is representative of a very low-tier graphics solution. The delta percentages are small enough that the gameplay experience would be essentially the same.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows that the GPU dominates the performance picture in Barony. The CPU is a strong part, scoring at the 77th percentile, while the GPU scores at the 9th percentile. When a system has such a large gap between CPU and GPU capability, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. This is evident in the frame rate scaling across resolutions.

At 1080p, the combo achieves 159 FPS on Low and 73 FPS on Ultra. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at these settings. At 1440p, the frame rates drop by roughly 40% across all presets. At 4K, they drop by another 50%. This consistent scaling pattern points to the GPU's pixel and texture throughput limits. The Arc B390 has a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, which are modest figures. As resolution increases, the GPU must process more pixels, and the recorded frame rates fall accordingly.

The CPU's role is more visible at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 159 FPS, which suggests the CPU can handle high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck. The i5-13400F has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22604 indicates strong threading performance. Barony, as a roguelike, likely uses fewer threads, but the CPU's single-core performance, a Geekbench single-core score of 1996, is sufficient for the game's logic. The CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution; the GPU is.

The scaling between presets at each resolution also supports this conclusion. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is 29 FPS, from 53 to 24. At 1440p, the difference is 54 FPS, from 100 to 46. At 1080p, the difference is 86 FPS, from 159 to 73. The larger spread at lower resolutions indicates that the GPU has more headroom to render additional effects, while at 4K, even Low settings push the GPU to its limits. The CPU's performance remains constant across these changes, confirming that the GPU dictates the playable settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Barony at 1080p?

A: Yes, all four tested presets, Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, are playable at 1920x1080. The average frame rates range from 159 FPS on Low to 73 FPS on Ultra, all above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p?

A: High is the best settings preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 64 FPS. Low and Medium also clear the threshold, but Ultra falls short with an average of 46 FPS.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combo?

A: No. The highest recorded average at 3840x2160 is 53 FPS on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. No settings preset is listed as playable at this resolution.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in the database benchmark. The closest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1463, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M at 1460, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 at 1443. The Arc B390 leads these by 1.3% to 2.7%.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS scores 25284, the Intel Core 5 120 scores 25362, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D scores 25365, and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H scores 25201. All are within 0.4% of the i5-13400F.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in Barony?

A: The combo ranks 3300 out of 3717 tested combinations. This places it in the lower portion of the field, reflecting the GPU's limited performance despite the CPU's strong showing.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B390 can run Barony, but only at specific resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers a fully playable experience across all presets, with Ultra averaging 73 FPS. This is the recommended target for the best visual quality. At 2560x1440, the combo remains playable on High, Low, and Medium settings, with High averaging 64 FPS. Ultra is not playable at this resolution, averaging 46 FPS. At 3840x2160, no settings preset reaches 60 FPS, with Low being the closest at 53 FPS.

The data indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming in Barony. The GPU's integrated nature limits performance at higher resolutions, and the CPU's strength cannot compensate for the graphics bottleneck. Users seeking a smooth 1440p experience should stick to High settings, while 4K is not a viable option. The combo's rank of 3300 out of 3717 reflects these limitations, but for a roguelike at 1080p, the performance is adequate. The verdict is clear: play at 1080p Ultra for the best experience, or 1440p High for a higher resolution with a still-playable frame rate.