Barony

# Barony CPU/GPU Performance Analysis

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers a playable but modest experience in Barony, with performance varying dramatically based on resolution and quality settings. This combination ranks 2701st out of 2935 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower percentile of systems. The CPU is a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 part based on the Phoenix architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 4nm process, while the GPU is an integrated graphics solution from Intel's Arc Graphics-M family built on the Xe3-LPG architecture at 3nm. The measured frame rates show a system that can handle 1080p gaming well but struggles at higher resolutions, particularly with demanding quality presets.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 8400F provides 6 physical cores and 12 threads, running at a base clock of 4.20 GHz and boosting to 4.70 GHz. This processor uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform with dual-channel DDR5 memory support and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. With a 65W TDP, this is a power-efficient desktop processor that excels in multithreaded workloads. In 3DMark benchmarks, the CPU scores 6091 with 16 threads, 5275 with 8 threads, and 951 in single-thread tests. Cinebench R23 results show 20851 in multicore and 2943 in single-core performance. The PassMark multithread score reaches 24389, with a single-thread score of 3685.

The CPU's percentile ranking against all CPUs is 77, indicating it outperforms a substantial majority of processors. Its average benchmark score of 25005 places it in close competition with several rivals: the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F scores 24964 (a 0.2% difference), the Intel Core i7-11850H scores 24935 (0.3% difference), the Intel Core i7-13620H scores 24911 (0.4% difference), and the AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25103 (-0.4% difference). This clustering shows the 8400F sits squarely in a competitive performance band where no single processor holds a significant advantage.

In the context of Barony, a roguelike game, the CPU's role is less demanding than in modern AAA titles. The 6-core configuration with 12 threads provides ample processing headroom for game logic, enemy AI, and procedural generation typical of the roguelike genre. The strong single-thread performance, evidenced by the 951 3DMark single-thread score and 3685 PassMark single-thread score, is particularly relevant for games that rely on a primary game thread. The 4.70 GHz boost clock ensures responsive gameplay even in complex scenes with numerous entities. The processor's 77th percentile standing suggests it will not be the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, allowing the GPU to be the primary determinant of frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The GPU features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output pipelines. It includes 10 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance reaches 6.144 TFLOPS. With a 25W TDP and no power connectors, this is an energy-efficient integrated solution that uses system shared memory, making its bandwidth system-dependent.

The GPU's benchmark presence is minimal, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This places the Arc B370 at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, indicating it performs below the vast majority of discrete graphics cards. The nearest rivals in this performance tier include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (scoring 1186, a -0.2% difference), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (scoring 1190, a -0.5% difference), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (scoring 1192, a -0.7% difference), and AMD FirePro M2000 (scoring 1168, a 1.4% difference). These comparisons reveal that the Arc B370's performance aligns with older, entry-level GPUs from over a decade ago.

For Barony, the GPU's role is critical at higher resolutions. The 2400 MHz boost clock provides reasonable compute capability, but the system shared memory configuration means bandwidth is not dedicated and can become a bottleneck. The 1280 shading units are modest for modern gaming, and the 20 ROPs limit pixel throughput, which becomes evident at 4K resolution. The GPU's 5th percentile ranking means it is significantly below average, and this is reflected in the measured frame rates. While the GPU supports modern APIs including ray tracing, the low overall performance suggests these features would be impractical in demanding scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves 92 FPS, which drops to 58 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 30 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 37% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 67% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The Low settings preset shows even more dramatic scaling: 144 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K, representing a 37% drop to 1440p and a 67% drop to 4K. This consistent proportional decrease across settings suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's pixel processing demands increase quadratically with resolution.

The Medium settings provide the most complete data with minimum and maximum frame rates. At 1080p Medium, the system averages 107 FPS with a range of 91 to 123 FPS. At 1440p Medium, this drops to 67 FPS average with a range of 57 to 78 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 35 FPS with a range of 30 to 41 FPS. The minimum frame rates at 4K Medium (30 FPS) approach the edge of playability, indicating that even the medium preset struggles to maintain smooth performance at the highest resolution. The Ultra preset shows the steepest decline, with 66 FPS at 1080p, 42 FPS at 1440p, and only 22 FPS at 4K.

The scaling pattern indicates that at 1080p, the system can provide a smooth gaming experience, but at 4K, only the Low preset (47 FPS) approaches playable frame rates. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at 4K spans from 47 FPS down to 22 FPS, demonstrating that quality settings have a substantial impact on performance. The data suggests that the GPU's limited pixel throughput and memory bandwidth become increasingly problematic as resolution increases, while the CPU's capabilities remain sufficient throughout.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system in Barony?

A: Based on the measured frame rates, 1920x1080 provides the most playable experience, with all presets achieving at least 66 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium presets exceed 60 FPS, while at 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS, with the best being Low at 47 FPS.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25005, placing it within a 1% margin of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (24964, 0.2% higher), Intel Core i7-11850H (24935, 0.3% higher), Intel Core i7-13620H (24911, 0.4% higher), and AMD EPYC 9474F (25103, 0.4% lower). These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 suitable for 4K gaming in Barony?

A: The data indicates 4K performance is limited. At 4K Ultra, the system averages 22 FPS, which is not playable. At 4K High, it reaches 30 FPS, and at 4K Medium, 35 FPS. Only at 4K Low does it achieve 47 FPS, which is marginal for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 144 FPS while Ultra averages 66 FPS, representing a 78 FPS difference or roughly 54% lower performance at Ultra. This shows that quality settings significantly impact frame rates even at the most favorable resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 2701st out of 2935 tested combos in Barony, placing it in the bottom portion of the ranking. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's 5th percentile performance, despite the CPU's respectable 77th percentile standing.

Q: Does the Medium preset provide a balanced experience at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 Medium, the system averages 67 FPS with a range of 57 to 78 FPS. This provides a playable experience above 60 FPS on average, though minimum frame rates can dip below 60, making it a borderline choice for smooth performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the system shows its strongest performance across all settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 144 FPS, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. Medium settings reduce this to 107 FPS average, with minimum and maximum readings of 91 and 123 FPS respectively, indicating consistent frame pacing. High settings deliver 92 FPS average, still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings drop to 66 FPS average, which remains playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440 resolution, performance scales down noticeably. Low settings produce 91 FPS average, still comfortable for most displays. Medium settings average 67 FPS, with a range of 57 to 78 FPS, meaning occasional dips below 60 FPS may occur during intense moments. High settings reach 58 FPS average, falling just below the ideal 60 FPS mark. Ultra settings drop to 42 FPS average, which is playable but noticeably less smooth, particularly in fast-paced roguelike gameplay where quick reactions matter.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings achieve 47 FPS average, which is the only preset above 40 FPS at this resolution. Medium settings average 35 FPS, with a range of 30 to 41 FPS, indicating that performance can dip to the edge of playability during heavy scenes. High settings reach only 30 FPS average, which is marginal for a roguelike where timing and precision are important. Ultra settings drop to 22 FPS average, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive at this quality level.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution from 1080p to 1440p to 4K reduces performance by roughly one-third to one-half, while each step up in quality from Low to Medium to High to Ultra also reduces performance substantially. The combined effect of resolution and quality settings means that users must balance their preferences carefully to achieve their desired frame rate target.

Settings Recommendations

For 1920x1080 displays, the Ultra preset at 66 FPS average provides the best visual experience while maintaining playable performance. Users who prioritize frame rate stability over visual fidelity can opt for High at 92 FPS or Medium at 107 FPS, both of which offer ample headroom above 60 FPS. The Low preset at 144 FPS is ideal for competitive play or high refresh rate displays, though it sacrifices visual quality.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the Medium preset at 67 FPS average offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, though the 57 FPS minimum means occasional dips below 60. The High preset at 58 FPS is also viable for users who prefer better visuals and can tolerate slightly lower average frame rates. Low at 91 FPS provides the smoothest experience, while Ultra at 42 FPS is only recommended for users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness.

For 3840x2160 displays, the Low preset at 47 FPS is the only reasonable choice for playable performance. Medium at 35 FPS may be acceptable for turn-based or slower-paced gameplay, but the 30 FPS minimum is borderline. High at 30 FPS and Ultra at 22 FPS are not recommended for active gameplay, as the frame rates are too low for the responsive controls required in a roguelike. Users with 4K displays should consider running the game at a lower resolution if they want higher quality settings.

Overall, the recommended configuration depends on the user's display and performance priorities. For the majority of users, 1080p High or Medium provides the best experience, with 92 FPS and 107 FPS averages respectively. At 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot. At 4K, Low is the only playable option, and users may prefer to reduce resolution for better visual quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F with Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2701st out of 2935 tested combos in Barony, placing this system in the bottom 8% of all configurations tested. This low ranking is primarily attributable to the GPU's performance characteristics. The Intel Arc B370 sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, meaning 95% of tested graphics solutions outperform it. In contrast, the Ryzen 5 8400F ranks at the 77th percentile among CPUs, showing that the processor is well above average while the graphics solution is far below.

The disparity between CPU and GPU performance creates an imbalanced system where the GPU is almost certainly the bottleneck in most gaming scenarios. The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20851 and single-core score of 2943, demonstrate ample processing capability for Barony's requirements. The GPU's single 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 places it in the same performance tier as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770, which are legacy parts from over a decade ago.

This ranking context is important for understanding the system's capabilities. While the CPU is competitive with modern processors, the GPU holds the system back significantly. The measured frame rates confirm this analysis, showing that the system can achieve 144 FPS at 1080p Low but only 22 FPS at 4K Ultra. Users considering this combination should understand that the GPU will limit performance in demanding scenarios, and the system is best suited for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings. The ranking of 2701 out of 2935 accurately reflects this system's position as a low-tier gaming configuration for Barony, suitable for casual play at moderate resolutions but not for high-end gaming experiences.