Barony

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a surprisingly robust experience in Barony, a roguelike that clearly favors high frame rates. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions but capable of exceptional performance at 1080p, making it a versatile option for both competitive and immersive play. This analysis breaks down the measured results, examining the role of each component and providing actionable settings recommendations based solely on the provided benchmark data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a desktop processor built on the Zen 4 architecture, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 4.50 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and it supports DDR5 memory on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19088 and a single-core score of 1987, while its Passmark multithread score reaches 35686. The processor’s average benchmark score is 35909, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs tested, indicating it is a high-performing part.

In the context of Barony, the CPU’s role appears to be one of a capable enabler rather than a bottleneck. The game’s measured FPS data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 245 FPS. This high frame rate, which is well beyond typical 144Hz monitors, strongly implies that the Ryzen 7 7700X has ample headroom to feed the GPU. The processor’s single-thread performance, highlighted by a Geekbench single-core score of 2289, is likely crucial for the game’s logic and physics, ensuring that frame pacing remains consistent even when the GPU is not the limiting factor. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1090 and the 2-thread score of 2112 suggest that the CPU’s per-core performance is robust, which is often more critical for game engines than raw multi-core throughput.

The nearest rivals to this CPU, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, Intel Core 7 250H, and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350. The 7700X leads these parts by a slim margin, with deltaPct values of 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.5% respectively. While these differences are small in synthetic workloads, they suggest that the 7700X is a top-tier part in its class. For Barony, this means the CPU is unlikely to be the source of any performance dips observed in the measured data. The data indicates that even at lower resolutions where the GPU workload is reduced, the CPU maintains high frame rates, showcasing its ability to handle the game’s demands without introducing a bottleneck.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B570 is a discrete GPU based on the Xe2-HPG architecture and is part of the Battlemage generation. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, and its 2304 shading units deliver a theoretical FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS. With a 150 W TDP, it is a mainstream part that sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score of 20556.

In Barony, the GPU is the primary driver of performance, especially at higher resolutions. The measured FPS shows a clear scaling pattern: at 4K (3840x2160), the average FPS drops significantly across all settings compared to 1080p. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 156 at 1080p to 52 at 4K. This substantial decrease indicates that the Arc B570’s rendering capabilities are heavily taxed at 4K. The GPU’s 10 GB VRAM appears sufficient for the game, as no out-of-memory issues are indicated in the data; the performance degradation is more attributable to the raw compute and fill rate limits of the GPU at higher pixel counts.

The Arc B570’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, Intel Arc A750, and AMD Radeon R9 M390X. The performance delta between these parts is minimal, with the Arc B570 trailing the RTX 3070 Mobile by just 0.1% and leading the Arc A750 by 0.1%. This suggests that the Arc B570 is positioned competitively in the mid-range segment. For Barony, this GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, where the highest settings (Ultra) yield only 37 FPS, but it is more than capable at 1080p, where even Ultra settings achieve a playable 112 FPS. The data shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with resolution, making it a balanced choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this system in Barony?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 245 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K resolution with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 37, which is the lowest measured performance in the dataset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The average FPS at High settings is 99, which is a 36.5% drop from the 156 FPS at 1080p, indicating the GPU’s workload is increasing faster than the CPU’s ability to compensate.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 245 on Low settings to 112 on Ultra settings, a decrease of 133 FPS or 54.3%.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in the measured scenarios?

A: Yes, the only scenario where the average FPS falls below 60 is at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, where the average is 37 FPS. The 4K Medium setting also has a minimum FPS of 51.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested combinations?

A: This specific combination of AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2344 out of 2935 tested combos in Barony.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system’s performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system excels, delivering high frame rates across all presets. The Low setting produces an average of 245 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Moving up to Medium, the average drops to 182 FPS, with a minimum of 155 FPS and a maximum of 209 FPS. The High setting yields 156 FPS, while the Ultra setting still manages a very respectable 112 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors, even with demanding graphics presets.

At 2560x1440, the system continues to perform well but shows a noticeable drop in frame rates. The Low setting averages 154 FPS, which is still very high. The Medium setting averages 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 132 FPS. The High setting averages 99 FPS, and the Ultra setting drops to 71 FPS. These results suggest that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combination, as it maintains high frame rates on most settings while offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the system’s performance becomes more constrained. The Low setting averages 81 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium setting averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. The High setting drops to 52 FPS, and the Ultra setting falls to 37 FPS. This data shows that 4K gaming is possible with this combo, but only at lower settings for a smooth experience. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is stark, with a 44 FPS difference, highlighting the GPU’s limitations at this high resolution.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The scaling of FPS from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 156 at 1080p to 99 at 1440p, a 36.5% decrease. When moving to 4K, the FPS further drops to 52, which is a 47.5% decrease from the 1440p figure. This progressive decline is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, as the number of pixels being rendered increases significantly.

For Low settings, the trend is similar, with 245 FPS at 1080p, 154 FPS at 1440p, and 81 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 37.1% from 1080p to 1440p, and 47.4% from 1440p to 4K. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B570’s rendering pipeline is the limiting factor. The CPU’s role appears to be secondary, as the frame rates scale almost perfectly with the resolution’s pixel count.

The data at Ultra settings further confirms this. The FPS drops from 112 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p (a 36.6% decrease) and then to 37 at 4K (a 47.9% decrease). This uniform scaling implies that the system is not hitting a CPU-related wall at any resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would not scale as linearly with resolution. Therefore, the analysis points to the GPU as the primary constraint on performance, especially at higher resolutions where the pixel fill rate demand exceeds the Arc B570’s capabilities.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset provides the best visual experience while still maintaining a high average of 112 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and is also suitable for 144Hz monitors. If a player prioritizes maximum frame rates for competitive play, the Low preset at 245 FPS is the clear choice, but the visual compromise is significant.

At 1440p, the High preset offers a good balance, averaging 99 FPS. This is a solid frame rate for most gamers and provides a substantial visual upgrade over Low settings. The Medium preset, with an average of 115 FPS, is also a viable option for those who want a higher refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 71 FPS is still playable, but the drop below 100 FPS may be noticeable to some. The data suggests that High is the best compromise between visual fidelity and performance at this resolution.

For 4K gaming, the choices are more constrained. The Medium preset, with an average of 60 FPS, is the only setting that consistently hits the 60 FPS target. However, its minimum FPS of 51 indicates that there may be occasional dips. The Low preset, averaging 81 FPS, provides a more stable experience and is recommended for those who prioritize smoothness over visual quality. The High and Ultra presets, at 52 FPS and 37 FPS respectively, are not ideal for a consistent experience. Therefore, the data recommends using Low settings at 4K for the best overall experience, or Medium if a player can tolerate occasional frame drops.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of all tested hardware combinations for Barony, the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2344 out of 2935 combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, which is an interesting result given the high frame rates achieved at 1080p and 1440p. The rank suggests that while this combo performs well in absolute terms, there are many other systems that achieve higher average FPS, likely due to more powerful GPUs.

The rank of 2344, which is in the 20th percentile of combos (calculated as 2344/2935), might seem at odds with the measured FPS data. However, this rank likely reflects performance across all tested scenarios, potentially including more demanding games or higher resolutions where the Arc B570’s limitations are more pronounced. In Barony specifically, the combo’s performance is respectable, but the rank indicates that it is not a top-tier setup. The CPU’s high percentile rank (85th) suggests it can support a more powerful GPU, making this combo a potential bottleneck for the CPU’s full potential in other titles. In Barony, the GPU is the limiting factor, and the rank reflects that this mid-range GPU cannot compete with higher-end models that would push the system higher in the rankings. The data implies that for users seeking higher rankings, a GPU upgrade would be the most impactful change.