Barony

Barony, a roguelike title from 2015, exhibits a distinct performance profile when paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B390. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor, particularly at higher resolutions, while the processor's capabilities remain largely underutilized. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on how the components interact across different settings and resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a clear and pronounced drop as resolution increases, indicating that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 159 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average falls to 100 FPS, a reduction of 59 FPS or roughly 37%. The most significant drop occurs when moving to 4K, where the average plummets to 53 FPS, which is 47 FPS lower than the 1440p result and a 66% reduction from the 1080p baseline.

This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p, the rendering load is relatively light, allowing the system to push a high frame rate. However, as the pixel count increases to 1440p and then to 4K, the demand on the GPU's shading units, texture mapping units, and raster output pipelines grows exponentially. The Arc B390's hardware, which includes 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, is simply overwhelmed by the increased workload. The data suggests that while the CPU is capable of feeding frames at 1080p, it is not the bottleneck; the GPU's performance ceiling is reached and then surpassed as resolution climbs.

The pattern holds across all settings. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 102 at 1080p to 64 at 1440p, and then to 34 at 4K. This consistent decline, regardless of the quality preset, reinforces the idea that the resolution scaling is the dominant factor. The difference between the 1080p and 4K scores at High settings is a 68 FPS drop, which is a massive performance penalty. This indicates that for smoother 4K gameplay, users would need to significantly reduce other graphical demands, as the raw resolution is already pushing the GPU to its limits.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process. Its role in this system is central to the performance outcomes, as its capabilities directly dictate the playability across different resolutions. The GPU's core clocks are listed as a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. The benchmark results suggest that the boost clock is not sustained under heavy load, as the frame rates at 4K are quite low, pointing to thermal or power constraints typical of an IGP.

The memory configuration for this GPU is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which means the performance is tied to the speed and configuration of the Ryzen 7 3700X's dual-channel memory, which has a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. In a roguelike game like Barony, which may require frequent asset loading and procedural generation, this shared memory setup can become a bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the memory footprint for framebuffers increases.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are modest, with an FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in that benchmark include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, which are both very old, low-end mobile parts. This context is crucial: the Arc B390 is not a high-performance part. The data indicates that in Barony, the GPU is the limiting factor, and its performance is best described as adequate for lower resolutions or reduced settings.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3300 out of 3717 tested combos for Barony. This places it in the lower 11th percentile of all systems tested. The ranking indicates that while the CPU is a solid mid-range performer, the GPU severely hampers the overall gaming experience, dragging the combo down in the rankings.

The CPU's standalone data provides a stark contrast. The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260 and sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. It is closely matched with rivals like the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and Intel Core i5-13450HX, with performance deltas of 0.1% and -0.2%, respectively. This shows the processor is a robust and capable component. However, the GPU sits in the 9th percentile, with performance closest to a NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. The pairing of a high-percentile CPU with a low-percentile GPU creates a significant imbalance, which is reflected in the poor combo ranking. The CPU has the potential to drive much higher frame rates, but the GPU cannot keep up, especially at higher resolutions.

This data clearly shows that the system's overall performance is bottlenecked by the GPU. The combo rank of 3300 out of 3717 is a direct consequence of the graphics processor's limitations. In a game like Barony, which is not known for being graphically demanding, the CPU would likely be able to handle the game logic and physics without issue, but the GPU is unable to render the frames fast enough to take advantage of that headroom.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo delivers consistently high frame rates. At Low settings, it averages 159 FPS, and even at Ultra, it maintains 73 FPS. At 1440p, the average FPS drops to between 46 and 100 depending on settings, while 4K only yields between 24 and 53 FPS.

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

A: According to the 3DMark Steel Nomad benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446). It is also 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M (1460).

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390?

A: No. The benchmark results indicate the opposite. The CPU has a high average benchmark score and is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is only in the 9th percentile. The frame rate drops with resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers for this combo?

A: The data only includes minimum FPS values for the Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 101 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it is 64 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it is 33 FPS.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the 1080p average is 102 FPS, while the 4K average is 34 FPS. This means the 1080p result is exactly three times faster than the 4K result.

Q: What is the CPU's performance relative to the Intel Core i5-13450HX?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i5-13450HX's score of 34333. The deltaPct is -0.2, indicating the Intel part is slightly faster in synthetic tests.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a target of 60 FPS or higher, the only viable options are at 1080p. At this resolution, the High preset delivers an average of 102 FPS, providing a smooth experience with good visual quality. The Medium preset offers a higher average of 118 FPS, which could be beneficial for those seeking maximum fluidity. The Low preset yields 159 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play or on high-refresh-rate displays. The Ultra preset is also playable, with an average of 73 FPS, making it a viable choice for maximum visual fidelity at 1080p.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset is the only one that consistently provides a highly smooth experience, with an average of 100 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 75 FPS, is still playable but may experience dips to 64 FPS. The High preset drops to 64 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay, and the Ultra preset falls to 46 FPS, which is not ideal for a game requiring quick reactions. For 1440p, the Low or Medium presets are the most pragmatic choices.

At 4K, none of the presets provide a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset averages 53 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal. The Medium preset averages 39 FPS, and the High preset drops to 34 FPS. The Ultra preset is not playable, with an average of 24 FPS. Given the data, 4K gaming with this combo is only possible at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate may be too low for some players. The data strongly suggests that 1080p is the intended resolution for this hardware configuration.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It has a 32 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory. Its synthetic benchmark scores are robust, with a Geekbench multicore score of 8899 and a Passmark multithread score of 22458. These numbers indicate a capable processor for modern workloads.

In the context of Barony, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, procedural generation, and AI calculations. The high thread count and solid multicore performance suggest that the Ryzen 7 3700X would handle these tasks with ease. The frame rate data supports this, as the performance scaling is directly tied to resolution and graphics settings, not to the CPU's capabilities. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions at the same settings, but that is not the case.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals shows it is a well-balanced part. It is only 0.1% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and 0.5% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H. This places it in a competitive position within its performance class. However, in this specific system, its potential is unrealized because the Intel Arc B390 cannot translate the CPU's processing power into high frame rates at higher resolutions. The CPU is effectively waiting on the GPU to render each frame. The data indicates that the Ryzen 7 3700X is more than sufficient for this game, and the overall system performance is not limited by the processor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B390 combination in Barony.

1080p:

• Low: 159 FPS average.
• Medium: 118 FPS average, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS.
• High: 102 FPS average.
• Ultra: 73 FPS average.

1440p:

• Low: 100 FPS average.
• Medium: 75 FPS average, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS.
• High: 64 FPS average.
• Ultra: 46 FPS average.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 53 FPS average.
• Medium: 39 FPS average, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS.
• High: 34 FPS average.
• Ultra: 24 FPS average.

The data shows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, the system is capable of delivering high frame rates across all settings, from a very playable 73 FPS at Ultra to a high 159 FPS at Low. At 1440p, the performance drops significantly, with only the Low and Medium presets maintaining an average above 60 FPS. At 4K, the system struggles, with no preset achieving an average above 60 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is also consistent, with Ultra being roughly half the speed of Low at each resolution. This suggests that the game's Ultra preset places a significant load on the GPU, which is disproportionate to the visual gains. This breakdown provides a complete picture of the system's capabilities and limitations.