Barony

Barony is a roguelike that, on paper, should not be demanding. However, the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveals a configuration that struggles significantly, particularly as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across the three tested resolutions and four quality presets, explaining the bottleneck and what it means for playability.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a stark and predictable pattern: performance collapses as resolution scales up. At 1080p, the configuration manages playable frame rates, but the transition to 1440p and then 4K exposes a severe GPU limitation. The measured average FPS at 1080p High is 102, which drops to 64 at 1440p High, and then plummets to 34 at 4K High. This represents a 37% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47% drop from 1440p to 4K. This is a classic sign of a pixel-bound scenario, where the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting factor.

The scaling behavior is even more telling when examining the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 159 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Low yields 100 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 53 FPS. The gap between 1080p and 4K at Low settings is over 66%. This indicates that even when the render load is minimized, the GPU's raw throughput is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The game's complexity and the CPU's capability are not the issue here; the Arc B390 is simply overwhelmed by the pixel count.

The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The Ryzen 7 5700G, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is a capable processor, as evidenced by its benchmark scores (e.g., 12,830.5 in Cinebench R23 multicore). However, the Arc B390's performance percentile is a mere 9, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1,482. This puts it in a class with legacy NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 710 and GT 625 OEM, which are not designed for modern gaming at high resolutions. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU can feed the GPU enough frames, but at 1440p and 4K, the GPU's fillrate and shading power become the hard ceiling.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Barony at 4K?

A: Technically, yes, but not comfortably. The measured average FPS at 4K are 53 (Low), 39 (Medium), 34 (High), and 24 (Ultra). While the Low preset is playable, the Medium, High, and Ultra presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold, and Ultra dips to 24 FPS, which is not a smooth experience for a game requiring quick reactions.

Q: What is the best resolution for this setup?

A: The data clearly indicates 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, the system achieves a 118 FPS average on Medium and 102 FPS on High. These are the only settings where the frame rate consistently stays above 60 FPS, providing a fluid and responsive experience.

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

A: According to the benchmark data, the Arc B390's average score is 1,482. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1,463), 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M (1,460), 2.5% faster than the GT 625 OEM (1,446), and 2.7% faster than the GT 710 (1,443). This places it in a performance tier that is fundamentally unsuited for high-resolution gaming.

Q: Is there a significant performance difference between the Medium and High presets?

A: Yes, but the impact varies by resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 16 FPS (118 vs 102). At 1440p, it is 11 FPS (75 vs 64). At 4K, the difference narrows to 5 FPS (39 vs 34). This suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that the visual quality improvements of the High preset have a diminishing performance cost relative to the base load.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is sufficient. The Ryzen 7 5700G has a high multithreaded score and is in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. At 1080p Low, the system hits 159 FPS, which is a high frame rate. However, given the GPU's low performance percentile, it is more likely the GPU is still the primary limiter even at 1080p, preventing the system from reaching even higher frame rates that the CPU could potentially support.

Q: What is the role of the CPU's integrated graphics in this test?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700G includes a Radeon Vega 8 iGPU, but this test uses the Intel Arc B390. The Arc B390 is a discrete-class GPU solution with its own 80W TDP and 2,500 MHz boost clock. The data measures the performance of the system with the Arc B390 active, not the integrated Vega 8.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the single most critical component in this configuration's gaming performance, and its limitations define the entire experience. The GPU's data sheet reveals why it struggles. It is built on a 3 nm process with a 2,500 MHz boost clock and 1,536 shading units. It also features 12 ray tracing cores. On paper, these are not terrible specs, but the benchmark results tell a different story. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a very low standing.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," which means there is no dedicated VRAM. This is a significant handicap. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," implying that performance is tied to the system's DDR4 memory bandwidth, which is 51.2 GB/s for the CPU. This shared memory architecture is a massive bottleneck for a game, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access, and the bandwidth is far lower than what a dedicated graphics card with its own VRAM would offer.

The measured FPS data confirms this. At 1080p, the GPU can manage an average of 159 FPS on Low, but this drops to 73 FPS on Ultra. At 1440p, the spread is from 100 FPS (Low) down to 46 FPS (Ultra). At 4K, the spread is from 53 FPS (Low) down to 24 FPS (Ultra). This consistent drop across all presets as resolution increases is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The GPU is not just the bottleneck; it is the sole determinant of frame rate in this pairing, as the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's logic and draw calls.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance. At 1920x1080, the system is playable across all settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 159 FPS, which is excellent. Medium averages 118 FPS with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 136. High averages 102 FPS. Ultra is the only setting that dips below the 100 FPS mark, averaging 73 FPS. All 1080p results are above the 60 FPS threshold, making this the only resolution where the system can be considered fully capable for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset is still playable, averaging 100 FPS. Medium averages 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 and a maximum of 86. High averages 64 FPS, which is just barely at the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra, however, falls to an average of 46 FPS, which is not ideal for a game requiring precision. The data shows that 1440p is only viable on Low or Medium settings if a consistent 60+ FPS experience is desired.

At 3840x2160, the system is heavily constrained. The Low preset averages 53 FPS, which is below 60. Medium averages 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 45. High averages 34 FPS. Ultra is nearly unplayable, averaging just 24 FPS. None of the 4K settings reach the 60 FPS target, and even the Low preset's 53 FPS average would be noticeable in fast-paced situations. This resolution is not recommended for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,601 out of 2,935 tested combos for Barony. This places it in the bottom 11% of all configurations tested, which is a very poor showing. This rank is a direct result of the GPU's low performance. The CPU is not the problem; it is a solid processor with a high average benchmark score of 27,051, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-9900K (27,097) and slightly higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 (26,936). The CPU's percentile rank of 79 reflects its relative strength.

The GPU, however, drags the entire combo down. Its average score of 1,482 is the weakest link. The data shows that this combo is essentially a powerful CPU paired with a very weak GPU, resulting in a system that is only capable of playing older or less demanding games at 1080p. In the context of Barony, a roguelike that can be CPU-intensive, the CPU is ready to handle the task, but the GPU fails to render the frames fast enough, especially at higher resolutions. This rank is a clear warning to any user considering this pairing for gaming purposes.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This setting provides an average of 118 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. The minimum FPS of 101 ensures that there are no significant dips during gameplay. While the High preset offers better visuals at 102 FPS, the Medium preset provides a more substantial performance buffer, making it the safer choice for maintaining a high frame rate in all situations.

If the user prioritizes visual fidelity over raw frame rate, the High preset at 1080p is a viable alternative, as it still averages 102 FPS. However, the Ultra preset at 1080p should be avoided if a high refresh rate monitor is in use, as the 73 FPS average is lower and may be less stable. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only setting that consistently delivers over 60 FPS, averaging 100 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 75 FPS, which is playable but might have occasional dips. 4K is not recommended, as all presets fail to reach 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset's 24 FPS average would be a poor experience. The recommendation is clear: stick to 1080p, and use the Medium preset for the best balance of performance and visual quality.