Barony

# Barony with AMD Ryzen 9 5900X + Intel Arc B390

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a notably GPU-limited experience in Barony, with the integrated graphics solution acting as the primary constraint across all tested resolutions. The combination ranks 2601st out of 2935 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower percentile of system configurations. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, frame rates drop proportionally, indicating that the Intel Arc B390's compute resources are the bottleneck regardless of the Ryzen 9 5900X's substantial processing capability. This analysis examines the measured FPS data across three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a detailed breakdown of how this particular hardware pairing performs in this roguelike title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 159 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average drops to 100 FPS, representing a 37% reduction. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average further declines to 53 FPS, which is 67% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern indicates that the Intel Arc B390's rendering pipeline becomes increasingly saturated as pixel count grows, with the GPU's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs struggling to maintain throughput at higher resolutions.

The High settings preset shows a similar but slightly less dramatic scaling curve. At 1080p High, the average is 102 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 64 FPS (a 37% reduction); and at 4K High, it falls to 34 FPS (a 67% reduction from 1080p). This consistent proportional drop across different quality presets suggests that resolution scaling is the dominant factor, rather than specific graphical features. The Medium preset, which includes min/max FPS data, shows the pattern clearly: 118 FPS average at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 39 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset follows the same trajectory: 73 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K.

The scaling behavior indicates that the system is firmly GPU-bound. A CPU-bound configuration would typically show less dramatic FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 4K, as the rendering workload shifts more heavily onto the graphics processor. Here, the 4K-to-1080p FPS ratio remains relatively consistent across all settings presets, ranging from roughly 0.33 to 0.34. This consistency points to the Intel Arc B390's fixed hardware resources—specifically its 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs—being the limiting factor, rather than any CPU-side bottleneck. The Ryzen 9 5900X, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, provides ample processing headroom that goes largely unused in this scenario.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process node. Its boost clock of 2500 MHz and base clock of 300 MHz define the operating envelope, with the GPU leveraging system shared memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This memory configuration means bandwidth is "System Dependent," which introduces variability based on the host system's RAM setup. In Barony, the GPU's role is clearly the dominant factor in determining achievable frame rates, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling across resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark profile is modest, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (scoring 1463, a 1.3% delta), the GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% delta), and the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% delta). These comparisons underscore the Arc B390's entry-level positioning, which directly translates to the measured performance in Barony. The GPU's 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate provide theoretical ceilings that the game's rendering demands quickly approach.

The absence of dedicated VRAM means the Arc B390 must share system memory bandwidth with the CPU, a factor that becomes more critical at higher resolutions where texture and buffer sizes increase. At 4K Ultra, the system manages only 24 FPS average, suggesting that memory bandwidth limitations compound the GPU's compute constraints. The 12 RT cores and DirectX 12 Ultimate support indicate modern feature compatibility, but in a roguelike title like Barony, these advanced features likely contribute less to performance than raw fill rate and memory throughput, both of which are limited on this integrated solution.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in raw benchmark performance?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its closest competitor, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower. The GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% lower), and the GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% lower). The Arc B390 sits just above these entry-level discrete GPUs, confirming its low-end positioning.

Q: What is the best playable settings preset at 1080p for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 159, followed by Medium at 118 FPS and High at 102 FPS. Ultra drops to 73 FPS. The Medium preset offers a balanced experience with a minimum FPS of 101 and maximum of 136, providing smooth gameplay while maintaining better visual quality than Low.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5900X CPU or the Intel Arc B390 GPU the bottleneck in Barony?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The frame rate drops consistently by roughly 37% from 1080p to 1440p and another 47-48% from 1440p to 4K across all settings presets. This resolution-bound behavior is characteristic of GPU limitation, not CPU limitation. The Ryzen 9 5900X's 12-core/24-thread configuration provides far more processing power than the Arc B390's 1536 shading units can utilize in this game.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Barony?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X + Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2601st out of 2935 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the lower portion of the distribution, consistent with the GPU's 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers recorded for this configuration?

A: Minimum FPS data is only available for the Medium settings preset. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum FPS is 101. At 2560x1440 Medium, it drops to 64, and at 3840x2160 Medium, it falls to 33. These figures highlight the increasing frame time variance at higher resolutions.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 5900X's CPU performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 9 5900X has an average benchmark score of 41376. Its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, scores 41263 (0.3% lower). The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H scores 41215 (0.4% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 scores 41208 (0.4% lower). The Intel Core i7-14650HX scores 41576, which is 0.5% higher than the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full settings spectrum shows a wide range of performance. The Low preset achieves the highest average at 159 FPS, with no min/max data recorded. Medium reduces the average to 118 FPS, with a minimum of 101 and maximum of 136 FPS. High settings produce 102 FPS average. Ultra settings drop to 73 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 54% reduction in frame rate at this resolution, indicating that each quality tier imposes meaningful additional rendering cost on the Arc B390.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance envelope compresses significantly. Low settings deliver 100 FPS average. Medium follows at 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 and maximum of 86 FPS. High settings yield 64 FPS average. Ultra settings fall to 46 FPS average. The Ultra-to-Low ratio at 1440p is 0.46, slightly better than the 0.46 ratio at 1080p (73/159), suggesting that the GPU's fixed overhead becomes relatively more significant at lower resolutions where total frame time is shorter.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become pronounced. Low settings manage 53 FPS average. Medium drops to 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 and maximum of 45 FPS. High settings produce 34 FPS average. Ultra settings bottom out at 24 FPS average. The 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is below the commonly cited 30 FPS playability threshold, while 4K Low at 53 FPS remains serviceable for less demanding play. The Medium preset at 4K, with its 33 FPS minimum, straddles the boundary between acceptable and marginal performance depending on sensitivity to frame drops.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all three resolutions, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p, the spread from min to max is 35 FPS (101 to 136). At 1440p, the spread narrows to 22 FPS (64 to 86). At 4K, the spread is 12 FPS (33 to 45). This narrowing pattern suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU operates closer to its sustained performance limit, with less headroom for burst rendering and consequently tighter frame pacing.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X provides substantial processing resources that remain largely underutilized in Barony with this GPU configuration. The CPU features 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide ample data throughput for game logic and asset streaming. In CPU-bound scenarios, this processor would deliver strong performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16262 and single-core score of 1527.

The Ryzen 9 5900X's benchmark profile places it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41376. Its nearest rivals—the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H at 41263 (0.3% lower), the Ultra 7 356H at 41215 (0.4% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 41208 (0.4% lower)—all cluster within half a percent of the Ryzen's score. The Intel Core i7-14650HX edges slightly ahead at 41576 (0.5% higher). This tight grouping indicates that the Ryzen 9 5900X delivers competitive CPU performance, but in this specific game and GPU pairing, that performance does not translate into higher frame rates.

The gap between CPU capability and observed FPS is stark. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work to do, the system achieves 159 FPS. The Ryzen 9 5900X's single-threaded performance, measured at 3469 in PassMark, is more than sufficient to drive Barony's game logic and AI calculations. The fact that frame rates scale almost entirely with resolution and settings—rather than showing CPU-related stalls or inconsistency—confirms that the processor is never the limiting factor. For users who might later upgrade the GPU, the Ryzen 9 5900X would provide a solid foundation, as its 12-core configuration and high boost clock are well-suited to modern game engines.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 offers the most balanced experience. It delivers 118 FPS average with a minimum of 101 and maximum of 136 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay with minimal frame drops. The 101 FPS minimum comfortably exceeds standard 60 FPS display refresh rates, providing headroom for demanding scenes. The High preset at 1080p, at 102 FPS average, also performs well but lacks the min/max data to confirm frame consistency. For users prioritizing maximum smoothness, Low at 159 FPS is the clear choice, though it sacrifices visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 75 FPS average with a 64 FPS minimum remains playable and is the recommended choice for users with 1440p displays. The High preset at 64 FPS average is also acceptable, though the lack of min/max data makes it harder to assess frame pacing reliability. Ultra at 46 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in perceptible stuttering in fast-paced roguelike gameplay. Low at 100 FPS provides the smoothest experience but significantly reduces visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the settings recommendations become more constrained. The Low preset at 53 FPS average is the only 4K option that exceeds 30 FPS with reasonable margin. Medium at 39 FPS average and 33 FPS minimum is borderline playable but may exhibit occasional drops below comfortable levels. High at 34 FPS and Ultra at 24 FPS are not recommended for sustained play, as they approach or fall below the minimum threshold for acceptable frame rates. For 4K users, Low settings provide the best balance of playability and visual quality, while Medium is acceptable for less demanding gameplay segments.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset demonstrates the most consistent performance characteristics, with documented minimum and maximum values that provide confidence in frame time behavior. The data suggests that Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot for this configuration, offering 118 FPS average with strong minimums. Users seeking higher visual fidelity can explore High at 1080p, but the Medium preset's complete data profile makes it the most reliable choice for a consistently smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X + Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2601st out of 2935 tested combos in Barony, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This low ranking is directly attributable to the Intel Arc B390's performance profile, which sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it alongside legacy entry-level discrete GPUs like the GT 520MX and GT 710, neither of which would be considered adequate for modern gaming at high resolutions.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU rankings is striking. The Ryzen 9 5900X ranks in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This 78-percentage-point gap means the system's overall performance in Barony is almost entirely dictated by the GPU's capabilities. The combo's rank of 2601 out of 2935 reflects this imbalance, as the CPU's substantial processing power cannot compensate for the GPU's rendering limitations in a graphics-intensive title.

In practical terms, this ranking means the configuration is better suited for older or less demanding games, or for use at lower resolutions and settings in Barony. The measured data shows that even at 1080p Low, the system achieves 159 FPS, which is respectable for the resolution. However, the dramatic performance drops at higher resolutions and settings presets—down to 24 FPS at 4K Ultra—illustrate the GPU's constraints. Users considering this combo for Barony should plan to play at 1080p with Medium or lower settings, or accept reduced frame rates at higher resolutions. The ranking also suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield the most significant performance improvement for this game, while the CPU would not need to be replaced to support a more capable graphics solution.