Barony

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a unique dataset for Barony, a roguelike title that is far more sensitive to CPU performance than the integrated-class GPU might suggest. This combination, measured directly, delivers a playable experience at 1080p but struggles to maintain frame rates as resolution scales upward, clearly illustrating where the bottleneck lies within this specific system.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a very clear and steep performance decline as resolution increases, a pattern that strongly implicates the Intel Arc B370 as the primary limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 144 FPS, which drops to 92 FPS at High settings and bottoms out at 66 FPS on Ultra. This progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 54% reduction in frame rate, indicating that even at the lowest resolution, graphical settings have a substantial impact on performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates take a significant hit. The Low setting average falls to 91 FPS, a 37% drop from the 1080p Low result. High settings at 1440p yield 58 FPS, and Ultra drops to 42 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at High settings represents a 37% performance loss, which is a considerable penalty that points directly at the GPU’s rendering capabilities.

The most dramatic decline occurs at 4K (3840x2160). Here, the Arc B370 is clearly overwhelmed. Low settings produce an average of just 47 FPS, which is unplayable for a fast-paced roguelike. High settings drop to 30 FPS, and Ultra falls to a mere 22 FPS. The jump from 1440p High (58 FPS) to 4K High (30 FPS) is a 48% reduction in performance. This trend is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario; the CPU is not the limiting factor at these higher resolutions because the GPU simply cannot process frames fast enough to keep up with the processor’s capabilities.

The data suggests that the transition from 1080p to 1440p is where the experience starts to degrade noticeably, while 4K is only viable on the lowest settings and even then, barely. The frame rate deltas between resolution steps are far larger than what would be seen if the CPU were the bottleneck. The pattern indicates that for this specific game, the Arc B370’s rendering pipeline is the wall that prevents higher resolutions from being playable. The 144 FPS at 1080p Low suggests the CPU can push well beyond that, but the GPU cannot maintain that throughput at higher pixel counts.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel’s 3 nm process. Its clock speeds are listed with a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is entirely "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system’s DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This shared memory setup is a critical factor in Barony, as the bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which can vary significantly based on the installed RAM. The GPU’s low percentile ranking, at just 5th percentile versus all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, underscore its entry-level positioning.

In Barony, the GPU’s role becomes the defining constraint at higher resolutions. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (22 FPS) and 4K High (30 FPS) are clear indicators that the Arc B370’s computational resources, including its 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, are insufficient for the pixel fill rate required at 3840x2160. The pixel rate is rated at 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate at 96.00 GTexel/s, but these are clearly not enough to sustain smooth gameplay at 4K. At 1080p, the GPU manages to deliver playable results, with Low settings hitting 144 FPS, but the performance curve suggests that the limits of its architecture are reached quickly as the workload increases.

The fact that performance drops from 144 FPS at 1080p Low to 66 FPS at 1080p Ultra shows that the GPU is sensitive to the visual fidelity settings. Barony’s graphical effects, likely including lighting and particle systems, tax the Arc B370’s limited execution units. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (with a score delta of -0.2%) and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (delta of -0.7%), are all older, low-power parts, which puts the Arc B370 in a performance class that is clearly not designed for high-end gaming. The data strongly suggests that while the GPU can handle the game at lower resolutions and settings, it is the primary reason why 4K performance collapses.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 3428 out of 3717 tested combos for Barony. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, a result that is heavily dragged down by the GPU’s performance. The high rank number indicates that the vast majority of other combinations, likely featuring discrete graphics cards, outperform this setup significantly.

The CPU itself is not the issue. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average benchmark score of 37018 and sits at the 85th percentile versus all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (with a delta of 0.2%), the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (delta of 0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (delta of -0.2%). These are all competitive processors, and the 5500X3D holds its own among them. The fact that this combo ranks so low is a direct consequence of pairing a strong mid-range CPU with a very weak integrated GPU.

The low combo rank confirms the imbalance of this pairing. In Barony, where the CPU is responsible for game logic and world generation, the 5500X3D would provide a solid foundation. However, the frame rate is ultimately capped by the GPU’s ability to render the scene. The data shows that in other scenarios, a more balanced system with a discrete GPU would likely achieve a much higher rank. The 3428th position out of 3717 is a clear warning that this configuration is not suitable for a smooth gaming experience at higher settings, despite the CPU’s competence.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 144 FPS, Medium settings average 107 FPS with a minimum of 91 and a maximum of 123, High settings average 92 FPS, and Ultra settings average 66 FPS. These are all playable frame rates, with Low providing a very smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 91 FPS, Medium settings average 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 78, High settings average 58 FPS, and Ultra settings average 42 FPS. The step from 1080p to 1440p at High settings represents a 37% reduction in average FPS, and at Ultra settings, the drop is 36%. While still technically playable at Low and Medium, the experience at High and Ultra starts to become less fluid.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles significantly. Low settings average 47 FPS, Medium settings average 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 41, High settings average 30 FPS, and Ultra settings average 22 FPS. Only the Low setting provides a frame rate that could be considered minimally acceptable, while all others fall below the 30 FPS threshold that is often considered the bare minimum for playability. The gap between 1440p and 4K is stark, with a 48% drop in performance from 1440p High (58 FPS) to 4K High (30 FPS).

The data also shows that the variance between minimum and maximum FPS, which is only provided for Medium settings, is relatively tight. At 1080p Medium, the range is 91 to 123 FPS, a 32 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range is 57 to 78 FPS, a 21 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range is 30 to 41 FPS, an 11 FPS spread. This tightening of the range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is consistently hitting its performance ceiling, with less fluctuation because it is constantly saturated.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and built on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It operates on the AMD Socket AM4 platform and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Its base clock is 3.00 GHz, and it boosts up to 4.00 GHz. A key feature is its large 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is likely beneficial for a game like Barony that may rely on procedural generation and complex state tracking.

In the context of Barony, the CPU’s role is to handle the game’s logic, AI, and world simulation. The benchmark scores for the 5500X3D show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Passmark multithread score of 20363 and a single-thread score of 2941. Its floating-point math score is 34511, and integer math is 60033. These figures suggest that the CPU is well-equipped to handle the computational demands of a roguelike, which often involves numerous simultaneous calculations for enemy behaviors and map generation.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this system. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 144 FPS, which is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame output for this title. However, at higher resolutions, the frame rate drops, which is a classic sign that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has the headroom to push more frames, but the Arc B370 cannot render them. The CPU’s 105 W TDP and active production status indicate it is a modern, capable part. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, has a very similar average score (36945 vs 37018), and the 5500X3D edges it out by 0.2%, confirming that it is a solid performer in its class.

The large L3 cache of 96 MB is a standout feature. While the fact pack does not provide game-specific cache benchmarks, it is reasonable to interpret that this cache size is a deliberate design choice to improve gaming performance, as it allows more of the game’s working set to reside on the CPU. The CPU’s performance in the Passmark physics test (2282) and data compression test (230392) further indicates its strength in handling complex, multi-threaded workloads. In summary, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a powerful processor that is being held back by the integrated GPU in this particular combination.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Barony?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 144 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is this CPU-GPU combo suitable for 4K gaming in Barony?

A: No. At 3840x2160 resolution, the average frame rates are 47 FPS on Low, 35 FPS on Medium, 30 FPS on High, and 22 FPS on Ultra. These results are generally too low for a smooth experience, with only the Low setting approaching playability.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500X3D compare to its nearest rival, the Ryzen 5 5600F?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average benchmark score of 37018, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F’s score of 36945. This indicates nearly identical performance between the two processors.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p High and 4K High settings?

A: The average frame rate drops from 92 FPS at 1920x1080 High to 30 FPS at 3840x2160 High. This represents a 67% reduction in performance when moving to 4K.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking compared to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile versus all GPUs, indicating that it performs better than only 5% of all GPUs in the database.

Q: Does the game performance scale linearly with resolution?

A: No. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe. For example, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 92 (1080p) to 58 (1440p) to 30 (4K), showing a non-linear degradation as the GPU becomes increasingly saturated.