Barony

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a notable split in capability for running Barony. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated graphics solution from a mobile-focused line. The measured data shows this combination is capable of smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 4K across all tested presets. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, compares the hardware to its nearest rivals, and provides clear guidance on which settings to use for the best experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places the Intel Core i7-14700F in the 91st percentile among all tested CPUs, indicating a very strong processor. Its average benchmark score of 53,620 is closely matched by several rivals. The nearest competitor is the Intel Xeon 6505P, which scores 53,701, a difference of only 0.2% in favor of the Xeon. This effectively puts the two processors at parity for general compute workloads. The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 scores 53,469, which is 0.3% lower than the i7-14700F, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X trails by 0.6% with a score of 53,288. The AMD EPYC 7313P completes the group, scoring 53,206, which is 0.8% behind. For any application that relies on multi-threaded performance, these four processors would deliver nearly indistinguishable results, meaning a system with any of them would behave similarly in CPU-bound tasks.

The Intel Arc B390 tells a different story. This GPU scores just 1,482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. That is a very low ranking, and its nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1,463, which is 1.3% below the Arc B390. The GeForce 800M scores 1,460, a 1.5% deficit. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1,446, trailing by 2.5%, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1,443, which is 2.7% lower. The data shows that the Arc B390 performs in the same class as these legacy entry-level GPUs. It is not a discrete gaming card; it is an integrated graphics processor with a modest performance envelope. Users coming from any of these rival GPUs would see a similar frame rate profile in Barony, with the Arc B390 holding a slight edge over all of them.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of CPU and GPU for Barony at 3,300 out of 3,717 tested combos. That places it in the lower 11% of all system configurations tested for this game. This rank is heavily influenced by the GPU, because the CPU is far more capable than the graphics component. A rank this low suggests that while the system can run Barony, it does so near the bottom of the performance distribution. The game is a roguelike, which is not typically demanding on hardware, but the Arc B390’s low compute throughput, 7.680 TFLOPS FP32, and its position in the 9th GPU percentile, cap the overall experience. Many other systems, even those with older mid-range discrete GPUs, would outperform this combo. The data indicates that this pairing is not well balanced for gaming; the CPU’s 91st percentile standing is undermined by the GPU’s 9th percentile standing, resulting in a combined rank that reflects the weaker link.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. At 1920x1080, the system performs best. On Low settings, the average frame rate is 159 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings produce an average of 118 FPS, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS. High settings yield 102 FPS on average. Ultra settings still clear the threshold, with an average of 73 FPS. At this resolution, every preset is playable, and even the most demanding setting maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop, but playability remains for most presets. Low settings average 100 FPS. Medium settings average 75 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS. High settings average 64 FPS, which is just above the threshold. Ultra settings fall to 46 FPS on average, which is below the playable threshold. The data shows that at 1440p, the system can handle Low, Medium, and High presets, but Ultra is too demanding.

At 3840x2160, the performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. High settings average 34 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 24 FPS. None of the presets at 4K reach 60 FPS, and the best average, 53 FPS on Low, still falls short. The recorded data does not include minimum or maximum values for most 4K entries, but the averages are consistently below the playable mark.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Barony? Yes, but only at specific resolutions and settings. The verdict data from the database is clear. At 1920x1080, all four presets are marked as playable, meaning they achieve an average of at least 60 FPS. The best settings at this resolution are Ultra, with an average FPS of 73. At 2560x1440, three presets are playable: High, Low, and Medium. The best settings here are High, with an average FPS of 64. At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. The database lists an empty array for playable settings, and the best settings field is null, because no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The verdict is that this system is suitable for 1080p gaming at any preset, and for 1440p gaming if the user avoids Ultra settings. For 4K, the system is not capable of delivering a smooth experience, regardless of how low the graphics settings are set. The Arc B390 does not have enough rendering power for that resolution in this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals the distinct roles of the CPU and GPU at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the CPU’s strength is evident. The i7-14700F, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The frame rates are high, ranging from 73 FPS on Ultra to 159 FPS on Low. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a drop of 86 FPS, from 159 to 73, which is a 54% reduction. This suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor even at 1080p, as increasing graphical load reduces performance proportionally. However, the CPU is never a bottleneck, as even the lowest frame rate, 73 FPS on Ultra, is well above the threshold.

At 2560x1440, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced. The frame rate on Low settings is 100 FPS, which drops to 64 FPS on High, a 36% reduction. The jump from High to Ultra is severe, from 64 FPS down to 46 FPS, a 28% drop. This indicates that the GPU is struggling with the higher pixel count and the added shading work. The CPU is still not the limiting factor, as the multi-threaded performance of the i7-14700F is far beyond what this game requires. The data shows that the GPU is responsible for the frame rate differences between settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant constraint. Even on Low settings, the average FPS is only 53, which is below the playable threshold. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a drop from 53 to 24 FPS, a 55% reduction. The CPU’s performance is irrelevant at this point, because the Arc B390 simply cannot render the frames fast enough. The integrated GPU, with its shared system memory and low pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s, is overwhelmed. The data confirms that for this game, the GPU determines the outcome at 4K, while the CPU’s capability goes unused.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Barony at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 73, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest setting that maintains 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 64 FPS. Medium settings average 75 FPS, and Low settings average 100 FPS. Ultra settings fall below the threshold at 46 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 53 on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra settings all produce lower averages.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1,463, which is 1.3% lower. The GeForce 800M scores 1,460, the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1,446, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1,443.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor, as frame rates drop from 159 FPS on Low to 73 FPS on Ultra. The CPU is never a bottleneck, given its high multi-threaded performance.

Q: What is the combined rank of this system for Barony?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3,300 out of 3,717 tested combos for this game.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average FPS of 73. This is the recommended setting for full visual quality, as it provides a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. Lower presets offer higher frame rates, but Ultra is the best balance of fidelity and performance.

For 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average FPS of 64. This setting is playable, but it is close to the threshold. Medium settings provide a safer margin at 75 FPS, but High is the highest preset that meets the criteria.

For 3840x2160, there is no preset that achieves 60 FPS. The best average is 53 FPS on Low settings, which is below the threshold. As such, there are no recommended settings for 4K, as every preset results in a sub-60 FPS experience. Users with this hardware should stick to 1440p or 1080p for smooth gameplay. The data is clear: this system is not suited for 4K in Barony.