Barony

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks near the bottom of the tested combos for Barony, landing at position 2601 out of 2935. This places the combo in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations, indicating that while the game is playable at lower settings, the hardware combination is not competitive with the majority of systems tested. The data shows a clear performance ceiling that is primarily dictated by the GPU, which sits at the 9th percentile among all tested graphics cards. The CPU, in contrast, performs at the 71st percentile, creating a significant imbalance where the processor is substantially more capable than the graphics solution it is paired with.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2601 out of 2935 tested combinations places this system firmly in the lower quartile of performance for Barony. This ranking reflects the aggregate performance across all tested settings and resolutions, and the data indicates that the limiting factor is overwhelmingly the Intel Arc B390. The GPU's percentile rank of 9 against all tested GPUs is remarkably low, meaning that 91% of graphics cards tested in this database outperform it. This is the dominant constraint on the system's overall ranking.

Comparatively, the CPU's percentile rank of 71 against all tested CPUs shows that the Ryzen 5 4600G is a mid-to-upper tier processor. Its average benchmark score of 17507 places it in close competition with several other CPUs. The nearest rivals show a tight cluster: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE scores 17482 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core 7 150U scores 17395 (0.6% lower), the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE scores 17614 (0.6% higher), and the Intel Core i3-14100T scores 17648 (0.8% higher). These deltas are all within 1%, indicating that the CPU's performance is essentially on par with its immediate competitors, and it is not a source of significant bottlenecking in this configuration.

The practical implication of this rank is that the system will struggle to deliver high frame rates at demanding settings. The benchmark results confirm this, with the Ultra preset at 4K yielding only 24 FPS on average. The ranking also suggests that users of this combo are likely playing at lower resolutions or settings to achieve playable frame rates, which aligns with the measured FPS data that shows playable performance at 1080p Low and Medium settings. The system is not designed for high-refresh-rate gaming or maximum visual fidelity in Barony, but rather for basic playability at reduced quality.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its role in this combo is critical because it is the sole source of rendering, and its capabilities are severely limited. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and it features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

The GPU's benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1482, which places it at the 9th percentile. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end discrete GPUs: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 (1.3% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% higher). This comparison shows that the Arc B390 performs in the same range as these legacy entry-level cards, which underscores its limited rendering power.

In Barony, the GPU's limitations are apparent across all settings. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 159, which is playable, but the frame rates drop precipitously as settings increase. The GPU's shared memory architecture means that performance can be affected by system memory bandwidth, and the measured data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this combo. At 4K Ultra, the system only achieves 24 FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU's inability to handle the pixel throughput required at that resolution and quality level. The GPU's pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, but these theoretical figures do not translate into playable performance at high settings in this game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the system achieves an average of 159 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 100 FPS, a decrease of 37%. At 4K Low, the average further drops to 53 FPS, which is a 47% decrease from 1440p and a 67% decrease from 1080p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed by the increasing pixel count.

For the Medium preset, the pattern is similar. At 1080p, the average is 118 FPS, dropping to 75 FPS at 1440p and 39 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a 36% reduction, and from 1440p to 4K, a 48% reduction. This consistent ~35-50% drop per resolution step suggests that the GPU is the limiting component, as a CPU-bound scenario would show less variation across resolutions. The High preset shows 102 FPS at 1080p, 64 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K, with drops of 37% and 47% respectively.

The Ultra preset exhibits the most severe scaling. At 1080p, the average is 73 FPS, which drops to 46 FPS at 1440p (a 37% decrease) and 24 FPS at 4K (a 48% decrease from 1440p). The fact that the relative performance drops are nearly identical across all settings presets—roughly 37% from 1080p to 1440p and 47-48% from 1440p to 4K—strongly indicates that the scaling is resolution-bound rather than setting-bound. This is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, where the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions but the GPU cannot maintain frame rates as the pixel workload increases. The data shows that the Ryzen 5 4600G is not the bottleneck here; the Arc B390 is.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the most balanced experience for this combo is achieved at the Low preset across all resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system delivers an average of 159 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay and provides headroom for occasional dips. At 1440p Low, the average of 100 FPS is still highly playable and offers a good balance between visual clarity and performance. Even at 4K Low, the average of 53 FPS is acceptable for a game like Barony, which is a turn-based roguelike where precise frame timing is less critical than in fast-paced action titles.

The Medium preset is a viable alternative for users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, but it comes with notable compromises. At 1080p Medium, the average of 118 FPS is still excellent, but the minimum FPS of 101 indicates that the system can dip below the average, though it remains playable. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, which is still smooth. However, at 4K Medium, the average of 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS approaches the lower bounds of playability and may feel sluggish during busy scenes.

The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for this hardware. At 1080p High, the average of 102 FPS is playable, but the performance at higher resolutions is marginal: 64 FPS at 1440p and only 34 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the least viable, with 73 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is effectively unplayable, and even 1440p Ultra may cause noticeable stuttering. For the best experience, the data supports using the Low preset as the default, with Medium as an option for users who accept lower frame rates in exchange for better visuals. The measured data does not support High or Ultra as reasonable choices for this combo.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows its strongest performance. The Low preset delivers an average of 159 FPS. The Medium preset averages 118 FPS, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS. The High preset averages 102 FPS. The Ultra preset is the weakest at this resolution, with an average of 73 FPS. All 1080p settings except Ultra provide frame rates above 100 FPS, indicating that the system is capable of smooth performance at this resolution with lower settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are consistent across all presets. The Low preset averages 100 FPS. The Medium preset averages 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS. The High preset averages 64 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 46 FPS. At this resolution, the Low preset is the only one that maintains a triple-digit average, while Medium and High are playable but with lower headroom. The Ultra preset falls below 50 FPS, which may result in noticeable judder in a game like Barony.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations are fully exposed. The Low preset averages 53 FPS. The Medium preset averages 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. The High preset averages 34 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 24 FPS. At 4K, even the Low preset does not reach 60 FPS, and the Medium preset's minimum of 33 FPS indicates that the system will frequently drop below acceptable thresholds. The High and Ultra presets are largely unplayable at this resolution.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern: from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 37% for each preset. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is approximately 47-48%. This uniformity across settings confirms that the resolution is the primary determinant of performance, and the GPU is the limiting factor. The Medium preset at 1440p is the highest-quality setting that maintains a minimum FPS above 60, making it the ceiling for a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration that provides a significant frame rate buffer above 144 FPS, which would be suitable for high-refresh-rate displays.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Barony?

A: The combo ranks 2601 out of 2935 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest competitors?

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% faster than the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% faster than the GT 710 (1443). The GPU sits at the 9th percentile of all tested GPUs.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1080p?

A: The Low preset delivers the highest average frame rate at 159 FPS. The Medium preset averages 118 FPS, and the High preset averages 102 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 73 FPS, which is the lowest at this resolution.

Q: Is the system capable of 4K gaming in Barony?

A: At 4K, the Low preset averages 53 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset averages 39 FPS, the High preset averages 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 24 FPS. Only the Low preset approaches acceptable frame rates, while higher settings are not recommended.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 4600G has an average benchmark score of 17507. It is 0.1% slower than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (17482), 0.6% faster than the Intel Core 7 150U (17395), 0.6% slower than the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE (17614), and 0.8% slower than the Intel Core i3-14100T (17648). All rivals are within 1% of each other.

Q: What is the frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p at the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p averages 118 FPS, while at 1440p it averages 75 FPS. This represents a 36% decrease in average frame rate. The minimum FPS also drops from 101 at 1080p to 64 at 1440p.