Barony

# Barony with AMD Ryzen 5 5600 + Intel Arc B390

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a peculiar performance profile in Barony, one that sharply favors lower resolutions and modest settings. Across the 12 measured configurations, the combo averages 73.9 FPS, but the spread is dramatic: from a playable 159 FPS at 1080p Low down to a slideshow-like 24 FPS at 4K Ultra. The data indicates a system that is fundamentally constrained by the GPU, which sits in the 9th percentile of all tested graphics cards, while the CPU—a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 part in the 74th percentile—has ample headroom. This is a pairing where the processor is never the bottleneck; the integrated-class Arc B390, with its 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs, simply runs out of pixel-pushing capability as resolution climbs.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lives. At High settings, the combo delivers 102 FPS at 1920x1080, falls to 64 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 37.3% reduction), and bottoms out at 34 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 46.9% drop from 1440p). Scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings results in a 66.7% performance loss, which is far steeper than what a CPU-bound configuration would exhibit. The Ryzen 5 5600, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18309, is not the limiting factor; the Arc B390's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate simply cannot feed enough frames at higher pixel counts.

The pattern repeats across all settings. At Low, the combo goes from 159 FPS at 1080p to 100 FPS at 1440p (a 37.1% drop), then to 53 FPS at 4K (a 47.0% drop from 1440p). At Medium, the figures are 118, 75, and 39 FPS respectively, with the 1080p-to-1440p loss at 36.4% and the 1440p-to-4K loss at 48.0%. Even at Ultra, where the GPU is most stressed, the scaling remains consistent: 73 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p (37.0% drop), and 24 FPS at 4K (47.8% drop from 1440p). The uniformity of these percentage drops—hovering around 37% for the first step and 47% for the second—indicates a purely GPU-bound scenario where the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are never the constraint.

What the resolution scaling reveals is that the Arc B390 behaves like a part designed for 1080p gaming, and nothing more. The 4K results are uniformly poor: even at Low settings, 53 FPS is marginal for a roguelike, and at Ultra, 24 FPS is effectively unplayable. The 1440p results are mixed—playable at Low (100 FPS) and Medium (75 FPS), but borderline at High (64 FPS) and Ultra (46 FPS). The 1080p results, however, show a capable 1080p experience across all settings, with even Ultra hitting 73 FPS. The data suggests that users should treat 1080p as the native resolution for this combo, with 1440p viable only at reduced settings.

FAQ

Q: How does the Arc B390's performance compare to its nearest rivals in 3DMark Steel Nomad?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% ahead of the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710 (1443). These are extremely close margins, indicating the B390 competes with decade-old entry-level discrete GPUs, not modern gaming hardware.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600 a strong match for this game's CPU demands?

A: Yes. The CPU sits in the 74th percentile of all tested processors, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18309 and a single-core score of 2584. In Barony, a roguelike that rarely stresses more than a few threads, the 6-core/12-thread configuration with a 4.40 GHz boost clock provides far more capability than the GPU can utilize, as evidenced by the consistent FPS drops that track resolution, not CPU load.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings remain playable. At 1080p, even Ultra hits 73 FPS, while Low reaches 159 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (100 FPS) and Medium (75 FPS) exceed 60 FPS, and at 4K, no setting reaches 60 FPS, with the best case being Low at 53 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Barony?

A: The combo ranks 3300 out of 3717 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11.2% of all systems. This low ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU, which is in the 9th percentile of all graphics cards, while the CPU is in the 74th percentile.

Q: Does the Arc B390 support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This means it can run the latest rendering features, though its raw compute (7.680 TFLOPS FP32) limits practical performance in demanding titles like Barony at high resolutions.

Q: What is the FPS variation at Medium settings across resolutions?

A: At Medium settings, the combo shows measurable frame time variance. At 1080p, it averages 118 FPS with a range of 101 to 136 FPS. At 1440p, the average drops to 75 FPS with a range of 64 to 86 FPS. At 4K, the average is 39 FPS with a range of 33 to 45 FPS. The variance scales proportionally with the average, suggesting consistent frame pacing rather than stutter issues.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 3300 out of 3717 tested combinations places it firmly in the lower quartile of systems tested in Barony. This ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations—the Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 1482. In contrast, the Ryzen 5 5600 is in the 74th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20468. The disparity between these two percentile rankings explains why the combo performs so poorly relative to other systems: the CPU is doing its job, but the GPU is holding the entire configuration back.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all NVIDIA parts from a bygone era: the GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710. The B390's 1482 score edges out the GT 710 (1443) by 2.7%, but this is hardly a meaningful victory—these are all parts that would struggle with modern gaming at any resolution above 720p. The CPU, meanwhile, competes with far more modern parts: the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (20454, 0.1% faster), AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (20425, 0.2% faster), and AMD EPYC 9454P (20422, 0.2% faster). This contrast underscores a fundamental mismatch: a mid-range 2022 desktop CPU paired with what is effectively an integrated mobile GPU.

The rank of 3300 means that 417 other tested combos perform worse, but it also means 3300 perform better. For a roguelike like Barony, which is not graphically demanding, this rank is particularly disappointing because the game's simple visuals should not require a high-end GPU. The data suggests that the Arc B390's System Shared memory and System Dependent bandwidth are likely contributing factors—the GPU has no dedicated VRAM, relying instead on shared system memory, which severely limits texture and geometry throughput at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its only consistently playable results across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 159 FPS, which is more than enough for smooth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 118 FPS (with a min of 101 and max of 136), still excellent. High settings yield 102 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 73 FPS. All four settings at 1080p exceed the 60 FPS threshold, making this the only resolution where the user has full freedom to choose any preset.

At 2560x1440, performance becomes more selective. Low settings still deliver a strong 100 FPS, and Medium hits a respectable 75 FPS (min 64, max 86). High settings fall to 64 FPS, which is borderline for users who prefer a 60 FPS floor. Ultra settings drop to 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may cause noticeable judder in fast-paced roguelike combat. The data indicates that 1440p is only viable at Low or Medium settings for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles across the board. Low settings average 53 FPS, which is technically playable but below the 60 FPS standard. Medium settings average 39 FPS (min 33, max 45), High settings drop to 34 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 24 FPS. None of the 4K configurations reach 60 FPS, and even the best case—Low at 53 FPS—leaves little margin for frame drops during intense gameplay moments. The 4K results confirm that this combo is not designed for UHD gaming.

The settings scaling within each resolution is also telling. At 1080p, going from Low to Ultra costs 86 FPS (a 54.1% reduction). At 1440p, the same settings change costs 54 FPS (a 54.0% reduction). At 4K, it costs 29 FPS (a 54.7% reduction). This consistent ~54% penalty from Low to Ultra across all resolutions suggests that the GPU's shading units and ROPs are the limiting factor, as the relative cost of higher settings does not change with resolution.

Settings Recommendations

For users targeting a 60 FPS experience, the data clearly points to 1920x1080 as the only resolution that supports Ultra settings, delivering 73 FPS. At 1440p, the highest playable setting is Medium at 75 FPS, while High at 64 FPS is borderline and Ultra at 46 FPS falls short. At 4K, no setting achieves 60 FPS, so users should avoid this resolution entirely unless they are willing to accept sub-60 frame rates.

The optimal experience, balancing visual quality and performance, is 1080p with High settings, which yields 102 FPS—well above the 60 FPS target and only 16 FPS below the Medium preset's 118 FPS. For users who prioritize frame rate above all else, 1080p Low at 159 FPS is the fastest configuration, ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset at 1080p (118 FPS) offers a good middle ground, with a measured min of 101 FPS ensuring that even the heaviest scenes stay above 100 FPS.

At 1440p, the Medium preset (75 FPS) is the recommended choice, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS with a min of 64 FPS. The High preset at 64 FPS is acceptable for users who do not mind occasional dips, but the Ultra preset at 46 FPS should be avoided. For 4K, the data suggests that the Low preset at 53 FPS is the only viable option, and even then, users should expect frame rates to fluctuate in busy roguelike scenes. The lack of min FPS data for 4K Low makes it difficult to assess worst-case performance, but the 53 FPS average leaves little headroom.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture (codename Vermeer), built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 32 MB shared L3 cache and 512 KB L2 cache per core. Its 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier make it a versatile desktop part, and its benchmark scores reflect a strong mid-range performer: Cinebench R23 multi-core at 18309, single-core at 2584, and Geekbench multi-core at 9158.

In Barony, the CPU's role is minimal, as the game's roguelike nature typically involves simple geometry, limited draw calls, and modest physics. The measured data supports this: FPS scales almost entirely with resolution and settings, not with CPU load. The consistency of the resolution scaling percentages (~37% from 1080p to 1440p, ~47% from 1440p to 4K) across all settings indicates that the GPU is the sole bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences at lower resolutions, where the CPU has to feed more frames per second—but the 1080p results show the GPU still dictating performance even at 159 FPS.

The CPU's 74th percentile ranking, relative to the GPU's 9th percentile, highlights that this combo is severely GPU-limited. The Ryzen 5 5600's 4,150 million transistors and 74 mm² die size are irrelevant to Barony's performance; what matters is that the CPU can easily feed the Arc B390 at any resolution. The 3DMark thread scaling scores—5641 for 16 threads, 4798 for 8 threads, 3313 for 4 threads, and 882 for single-thread—show that the CPU scales well with multi-threaded workloads, but Barony likely does not utilize all 12 threads. The single-thread score of 882 and Cinebench R15 single-core score of 260 indicate that the CPU's per-core performance is sufficient for the game's logic and AI, which are typically single-thread-bound in roguelikes.

The conclusion is straightforward: the Ryzen 5 5600 is not a limiting factor in this combo. Its 6 cores, 12 threads, and 4.40 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom for Barony, and the performance ceiling is entirely determined by the Intel Arc B390's 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Users considering this combo for Barony should focus their optimization efforts on the GPU side—lowering resolution and settings—rather than worrying about CPU bottlenecks. The CPU is a modern, capable part that will serve well in other, more CPU-intensive titles, but in Barony, it is waiting on a GPU that cannot keep up.