Barony

# Barony Performance Analysis: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D + Intel Arc B390

The combination of AMD's 8-core Ryzen 7 5800X3D and Intel's Arc B390 integrated graphics produces a striking performance profile in Barony, a roguelike title from 2015. The measured frame rates reveal a system where the CPU's substantial processing power is repeatedly constrained by the GPU's integrated nature, yet the results remain playable across most settings. This pairing sits at rank 2601 out of 2935 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower 11th percentile of all configurations, which immediately signals that the graphics component is the primary bottleneck. The data tells a story of a processor that could push far higher frame rates if paired with a more capable discrete GPU, while the Arc B390's integrated design limits the overall experience to mid-range territory.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are dramatic and consistent across all settings, revealing a system where the GPU is decisively the limiting factor. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 102 FPS at 1920x1080 to 64 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 37% reduction), then further to 34 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 67% reduction from 1080p). This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the integrated Arc B390's rendering throughput cannot keep pace with the increasing pixel count.

Low settings show the most extreme resolution sensitivity, starting at 159 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 100 FPS at 1440p, and finally settling at 53 FPS at 4K. The 1440p to 4K transition alone represents a 47% performance loss, which is substantial and indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are severely taxed at higher resolutions. Medium settings follow a similar trajectory: 118 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 39 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings, which are the most demanding, begin at 73 FPS at 1080p, decline to 46 FPS at 1440p, and bottom out at 24 FPS at 4K.

The consistency of these drops across all four settings presets suggests that resolution scaling affects this combo uniformly, regardless of the graphical workload. When the CPU has ample headroom — as evidenced by the Ryzen 7 5800X3D's strong multi-threaded scores — the frame rate becomes purely a function of the GPU's ability to process geometry and pixels. The Arc B390's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs, combined with its 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, simply cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K, regardless of the quality preset. This is a textbook case of GPU-bound performance, where the CPU's 3DMark scores (7299 in 16-thread, 5906 in 8-thread) are irrelevant to the final frame rate at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2601 out of 2935 tested configurations places this pairing in the bottom 11.4% of all systems tested in Barony. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B390's integrated nature, as its average benchmark score of 1482 puts it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, 1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460, 1.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, 2.5% slower). These are all entry-level or legacy mobile/desktop parts, which contextualizes the Arc B390's performance class.

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D sits in the 80th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27896. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (27887, 0% difference), the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872, 0.1% slower), and the Intel Core i5-12600KF (27799, 0.3% slower). The CPU is clearly a high-performing part that competes with flagship desktop processors from previous generations. The massive gap between the CPU's 80th percentile ranking and the GPU's 9th percentile ranking creates an imbalanced system where the processor is vastly more capable than the graphics solution.

This disparity explains why the combo performs better at lower resolutions where the GPU's limitations are less exposed. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 159 FPS, which would be competitive with many mid-range configurations. However, at 4K Ultra, the 24 FPS average is barely playable, dragging the overall ranking down. The data suggests that this combo's ranking would improve substantially if paired with a discrete GPU, as the CPU's headroom is evident in the 1080p results where it can push frame rates well above 100 FPS even at High settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D brings substantial processing power to this pairing, with 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz, combined with a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache, make it exceptionally well-suited for gaming workloads. The 3D V-Cache technology, which provides this large L3 cache, is particularly beneficial for games that rely on frequent data access patterns. Barony, as a roguelike with procedurally generated content, likely benefits from the CPU's ability to quickly access large datasets.

The CPU's benchmark scores paint a picture of a processor with strong multi-threaded capabilities. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14317 and single-core score of 1452 indicate balanced performance across both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The Geekbench multi-core score of 11765 and single-core score of 2017 further confirm this. The PassMark multi-thread score of 28309 and single-thread score of 3234 show that the CPU can handle both parallel and sequential tasks efficiently.

In Barony, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the CPU can easily maintain frame delivery at 1080p, where the 159 FPS Low setting result indicates significant headroom. However, the CPU's 105 W TDP and DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are more than adequate for this game's requirements. The 3DMark scores — 7299 in 16-thread, 5906 in 8-thread, 3392 in 4-thread, and 884 in single-thread — demonstrate that the CPU scales well with thread count, which suggests it would not bottleneck even in CPU-intensive gaming scenarios.

The data implies that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is not the limiting factor in this combo for Barony. At 1080p, where the GPU has less work to do, the frame rates are high enough to suggest the CPU could support even higher FPS if the GPU were faster. The 3DMark single-thread score of 884, while not the highest, is sufficient for a roguelike title that likely does not demand extreme single-thread performance. The CPU's 80th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 9th percentile ranking conclusively shows that the processor is overqualified for the graphics solution it is paired with.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 159 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for any gaming scenario. Medium settings average 118 FPS, with a minimum of 101 FPS and maximum of 136 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery within a narrow band. High settings achieve 102 FPS average, which remains highly playable. Ultra settings drop to 73 FPS average, still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 1080p results show that the Arc B390 can handle this resolution well, with even the most demanding settings remaining playable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably but remains largely playable. Low settings average 100 FPS, a 37% drop from 1080p but still smooth. Medium settings average 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and maximum of 86 FPS, which is acceptable for most players. High settings average 64 FPS, right at the edge of smooth gameplay. Ultra settings fall to 46 FPS average, which begins to feel less fluid, particularly in fast-paced roguelike scenarios where quick reactions matter. The 1440p results suggest that players should stick to Medium or Low settings for the best experience at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the integrated GPU's limitations become fully apparent. Low settings average 53 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium settings average 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and maximum of 45 FPS, indicating noticeable frame drops during intense scenes. High settings average 34 FPS, which is borderline playable. Ultra settings average 24 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay and likely to feel stuttery. The 4K results demonstrate that this combo is not suitable for high-resolution gaming, regardless of settings.

The Medium settings measurements are the only ones with min/max data across all three resolutions, providing valuable insight into frame consistency. At 1080p Medium, the 101-136 FPS range shows excellent stability. At 1440p Medium, the 64-86 FPS range indicates good consistency with occasional dips. At 4K Medium, the 33-45 FPS range reveals significant frame time variance that could impact gameplay smoothness. This data suggests that Medium settings offer the most consistent experience across all resolutions, balancing visual quality with frame rate stability.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with 12 ray tracing cores. Its boost clock of 2500 MHz and base clock of 300 MHz indicate a wide dynamic range, allowing it to scale power consumption based on workload. The GPU's FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s place it in the entry-level performance class, as confirmed by its 9th percentile ranking.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This shared memory architecture is a significant limitation, as the memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and the bus width is "System Shared." In Barony, this likely impacts performance at higher resolutions where memory bandwidth becomes more critical. The 4K results, which show severe performance drops, may be partially attributable to the GPU's inability to efficiently access the large amounts of data required at high resolutions.

The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it just 1.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% above the GeForce GT 710. These are all legacy or entry-level parts, confirming the Arc B390's position at the bottom of the GPU performance hierarchy. The 80 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate this is designed for portable devices, which explains its modest performance characteristics. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility show that it supports modern APIs, but its raw processing power is insufficient for demanding gaming workloads.

In Barony, the GPU's role is clearly the primary bottleneck. The resolution scaling data shows that the GPU's performance degrades predictably as pixel count increases, with no evidence of CPU limitation at any resolution. The 1080p results, where the GPU achieves 159 FPS at Low settings, show that it can perform adequately at lower resolutions. However, the 4K results, where even Low settings only achieve 53 FPS, demonstrate that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for high-resolution gaming. The GPU's 24 ROPs are particularly limiting at 4K, as pixel throughput becomes a critical constraint.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of running Barony at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 102 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even Ultra settings achieve 73 FPS at this resolution.

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

A: The data indicates 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, as all settings presets achieve playable frame rates (73-159 FPS). At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium settings maintain acceptable performance, while 3840x2160 struggles across all settings.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446). These are all entry-level parts.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 5800X3D bottleneck the Arc B390 in this game?

A: The data shows the opposite — the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 80th percentile of all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 159 FPS, suggesting the CPU has significant headroom that the GPU cannot utilize.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 75 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 64 FPS and maximum of 86 FPS. This is playable, though the frame drops to 64 FPS may be noticeable in intense moments.

Q: Is the combo's overall ranking in Barony competitive?

A: The combo ranks 2601 out of 2935 tested configurations, placing it in the bottom 11.4% of all systems. This low ranking is due to the GPU's entry-level performance, not the CPU's capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for the optimal settings preset at each resolution. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, but High settings (102 FPS) offer the best balance of visual quality and performance. Ultra settings (73 FPS) provide the highest visual fidelity while remaining smooth, but the 29 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the visual improvement in a roguelike where gameplay clarity is important. Medium settings (118 FPS) are recommended for players who prioritize frame rate over visual detail, while Low settings (159 FPS) are only necessary for competitive play or very high refresh rate displays.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings (75 FPS) provide the best experience, as they maintain playable frame rates while offering reasonable visual quality. High settings (64 FPS) are borderline, and players sensitive to frame drops may prefer Medium. Low settings (100 FPS) are the best choice for those who want the smoothest experience at this resolution. Ultra settings (46 FPS) are not recommended, as the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, Low settings (53 FPS) are the only recommended option, and even these are borderline. Medium settings (39 FPS) and High settings (34 FPS) are below the playable threshold, while Ultra settings (24 FPS) should be avoided entirely. Players with 4K displays should either lower the resolution to 1440p or accept the compromised experience at 4K Low settings.

The Medium preset's min/max data across all resolutions provides additional insight into frame consistency. At 1080p Medium, the 101-136 FPS range shows excellent stability. At 1440p Medium, the 64-86 FPS range is acceptable. At 4K Medium, the 33-45 FPS range reveals significant variance that could impact gameplay. This suggests that Medium settings offer the most predictable performance across all resolutions, making it the safest choice for players who want consistent frame delivery. For the best overall experience, the data recommends 1080p with High settings as the sweet spot, offering strong visual quality with a 102 FPS average and no frame consistency concerns.