Barony

Barony, a roguelike that originally launched in 2015, presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Arc B370 combination. The measured data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, particularly at higher resolutions. The CPU, a flagship gaming processor, provides a robust foundation, but the integrated-class GPU limits the overall experience. This analysis examines the benchmark results to understand the dynamic between the processor and graphics solution across various settings and resolutions.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a desktop processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The processor includes a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a significant asset for gaming performance. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability, scoring 23,230 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 18,696 in Geekbench multicore. Its single-thread performance is also notable, with a score of 2,080 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 2,964 in Geekbench single-core.

The CPU's performance percentile of 87 indicates it outperforms the vast majority of all tested processors. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight cluster. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 39,768, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450. It trails the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 by 0.7% and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 by 0.8%. These deltas are minimal, suggesting that in purely CPU-bound scenarios, the 9800X3D's performance is comparable to these other processors.

In the context of Barony, the CPU's role is likely to maintain a stable frame rate, particularly in scenes with many entities or complex calculations typical of roguelike games. The high L3 cache and fast clocks should help minimize frame hitches. However, the measured FPS data indicates that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 144 FPS, which is a high frame rate, but this is more likely a cap or a point where the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The CPU's robust single-thread performance, as indicated by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1,212, should be more than sufficient for this game's logic. The data suggests that the processor has ample headroom, and its performance is largely untapped due to the GPU's limitations. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration ensures that even if Barony were to utilize multiple threads for procedural generation or AI, the CPU would not be a source of frame drops.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake) and manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. A defining characteristic is its memory configuration: the VRAM size, type, and bus width are all "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 memory. Its memory bandwidth is also "System Dependent," which can be a significant bottleneck in graphics-intensive tasks. The GPU has 1,280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The GPU's benchmark presence is minimal, with only a single score from 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 at 1,184. This places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a very low-performance part. Its nearest rivals are older discrete graphics cards, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (with a delta of -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (with a delta of -0.5%). The AMD Radeon HD 7650M is 0.7% faster, and the AMD FirePro M2000 is 1.4% slower. These comparisons to decade-old hardware underscore the Arc B370's very limited graphics capability.

In Barony, the GPU's role is the primary determinant of frame rates. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: as resolution and settings increase, performance drops sharply. At 1080p Low, the system hits 144 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it falls to just 22 FPS. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is overwhelmed by pixel count and shader complexity. The system-shared memory setup is likely a contributing factor, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The 20 ROPs are a very low number, which limits the pixel fill rate and directly impacts performance at higher resolutions. The data strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B370 is the bottleneck in this configuration, preventing the powerful CPU from achieving its potential.

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

The resolution scaling of the measured FPS reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. Examining the High settings row, the frame rate drops from 92 FPS at 1920x1080 to 58 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 30 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 68% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is even more dramatic at Ultra settings, where the frame rate goes from 66 FPS at 1080p to 42 FPS at 1440p and 22 FPS at 4K, a 67% drop overall.

This pattern is a textbook indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions because the CPU's workload (game logic, draw calls) does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the frame rate plummets as the number of pixels increases, indicating that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated. The data implies that the Arc B370's performance is heavily dependent on resolution. For a game like Barony, which may have simple visuals, the GPU still struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, confirming its low-end positioning. The move from 1080p to 1440p at Medium settings sees a 60 FPS drop (from 107 to 67), and the subsequent move to 4K sees another 32 FPS drop (to 35). The consistent and significant frame rate declines with each resolution step make it clear that the GPU is the primary constraint, and the CPU's performance is not a factor in these scaling results.

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 acceptable frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset (92 FPS) offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, but Medium (107 FPS) provides a higher frame rate with only a marginal reduction in quality, making it a strong recommendation for smoother gameplay. The Low preset at 1080p achieves 144 FPS, which is excellent, but the visual compromise may not be necessary for a game like Barony. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 66 FPS, which is still playable, but the data suggests that the performance hit from Medium to Ultra is substantial (a 38% reduction), making Ultra less attractive.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset (91 FPS) is the only option that maintains a high refresh rate experience. The Medium preset (67 FPS) is acceptable for standard 60 Hz monitors, while High (58 FPS) and Ultra (42 FPS) are progressively less smooth. For a 1440p display, Medium is the recommended starting point, as it provides playable frame rates without the severe visual downgrade of Low. At 3840x2160, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset (47 FPS) is the only one that approaches a playable frame rate. Medium (35 FPS), High (30 FPS), and Ultra (22 FPS) all fall below the 60 FPS threshold and are generally not recommended for a smooth experience. For 4K, the data suggests that Low settings are necessary to achieve a reasonable frame rate, but even then, it's below 50 FPS. The best experience per the measured rows is at 1080p with Medium or High settings, where the system can deliver smooth and responsive gameplay without the GPU being overly stressed.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2,701 out of 2,935 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, indicating that this specific pairing delivers very poor performance relative to other systems in the database. The low rank is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B370, which is a very low-tier GPU. The CPU, while top-tier, cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in this game.

This ranking highlights a significant mismatch between the two components. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a high-end processor designed to pair with powerful discrete graphics cards. The Arc B370, being an IGP, holds back the entire system. The data shows that despite having a CPU that is in the 87th percentile, the overall combo is near the bottom of the rankings. This suggests that in Barony, the GPU is so weak that it negates the CPU's advantages entirely. The combo's rank is a clear indication that this is not a balanced system for gaming. The performance is limited by the weakest link, and in this case, the GPU is by far the weakest component. The 2,701 rank serves as a stark warning about the pairing of a high-end CPU with an entry-level integrated GPU.

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

The following table outlines the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset. The data shows a clear hierarchy of performance.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 144 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 107 | 91 | 123 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 92 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 66 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 91 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 67 | 57 | 78 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 58 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 42 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 47 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 35 | 30 | 41 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 30 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 22 | - | - |

At 1080p, the system performs best, with Low settings reaching 144 FPS and Medium at 107 FPS. The jump to 1440p reduces performance by approximately 37% at Low settings (from 144 to 91 FPS) and by 37% at Medium settings (from 107 to 67 FPS). The drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe, with Low settings falling to 47 FPS (a 48% reduction from 1440p) and Medium falling to 35 FPS (a 48% reduction). The Min and Max FPS data for Medium settings shows some variance, with a 32 FPS spread at 1080p (91 to 123), a 21 FPS spread at 1440p (57 to 78), and an 11 FPS spread at 4K (30 to 41). This indicates that frame pacing is more consistent at 4K, although the average frame rate is very low. The data confirms that the Arc B370 is unable to provide a high-refresh-rate experience at any resolution above 1080p with Medium settings or higher.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combination can achieve in Barony?

A: The maximum average FPS measured is 144, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 39,768. It is 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and 0.7% faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, but it is 0.7% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 0.8% slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 7700.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. Resolution scaling shows a significant FPS drop from 1080p to 4K (e.g., High settings drop from 92 FPS to 30 FPS), which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU's performance is sufficient, as it ranks in the 87th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What settings are recommended for a 1440p monitor?

A: For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 67 FPS. The Low preset offers a higher frame rate (91 FPS), but Medium provides a better visual balance while still being playable.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 2,701 out of 2,935 tested combos in Barony, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset achieves an average of 92 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 66 FPS. This represents a 28% reduction in average FPS when moving from High to Ultra.