Barony

Barony, a roguelike with a 2015 release date, exhibits a distinct performance profile when paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B570. The measured data, which includes average frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets, indicates a system that is highly capable at standard monitor resolutions but begins to show its limits as pixel count and graphical fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results to clarify the role of each component in this specific configuration, providing a precise look at what users can expect from this hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate falls from 156 FPS at 1920x1080 to 99 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 57 FPS. The scaling to 3840x2160 is even more severe, with the average dropping to 52 FPS. This pattern illustrates that while the CPU has ample headroom at lower resolutions, the Intel Arc B570 becomes the primary limiting factor as the render workload increases.

The trend is consistent across all settings. With the Low preset, the system achieves 245 FPS at 1080p, which is an excellent result for high-refresh-rate displays. However, this falls to 154 FPS at 1440p and then to 81 FPS at 4K. This represents a 67% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, a substantial drop that underscores the immense pixel-pushing demand of 4K rendering. The data suggests that the Arc B570’s 10 GB of memory and 160-bit bus are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but are stretched thin by the 4K workload.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, with averages of 182 FPS at 1080p, 115 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K. Notably, the Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum frame rate data. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 51 FPS and the maximum is 69 FPS, indicating some variance but still a playable experience. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, sees the steepest decline, starting at 112 FPS at 1080p and plummeting to 71 FPS at 1440p and 37 FPS at 4K. This last figure is the lowest average recorded in the entire dataset, showing that Ultra settings at 4K are not a viable option for a smooth experience with this hardware.

The scaling behavior points to a system where the 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen 9 5900X is rarely the bottleneck. The frame rate differences between resolutions are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's rendering capabilities. For users targeting high refresh rates, 1080p is the sweet spot, while 1440p offers a good balance of visual quality and performance. The 4K results are functional but require a compromise on settings to maintain acceptable frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the central figure in this system's gaming performance. Its specifications, including a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, are directly relevant to the benchmark results. The GPU’s 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s, which is a critical factor in higher-resolution scenarios. The data shows that this memory configuration, while capable, is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings.

The GPU's compute capabilities, measured at 11.52 TFLOPS for FP32, are put to the test in Barony. The benchmark results show a clear scaling of performance that aligns with the GPU's architecture. For instance, the difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p is 133 FPS (245 vs. 112), which demonstrates the significant impact of the shading units, TMUs, and ROPs on the final output. The GPU's 2304 shading units and 80 ROPs are responsible for the pixel and texture processing, and their workload increases dramatically with higher settings.

The Arc B570's position in the market is reinforced by its benchmark scores. Its average benchmark score of 20556 places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which is 0.1% slower, and the Intel Arc A750, which is 0.1% faster. This close grouping indicates that the B570 is a competitive mid-range option. In this specific game, the data confirms that the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate, especially at higher resolutions where its memory bandwidth and compute throughput are fully utilized. The 4K Ultra result of 37 FPS is a clear indicator that the GPU is saturated, while the 1080p Low result of 245 FPS shows its capability when the load is lighter.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset offers an excellent balance with an average of 156 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is also viable, with an average of 112 FPS, but the 44 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the visual gains for all users. The Medium preset at 182 FPS is a solid choice for those prioritizing frame rate above all else.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice, delivering an average of 99 FPS. This provides a great balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Medium preset, with an average of 115 FPS, is also a strong option for users who want a higher frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset, at 71 FPS, is playable but might introduce noticeable dips in more demanding scenes. The Low preset, while hitting 154 FPS, does not take full advantage of the system's capabilities.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that the High preset is the most sensible choice, with an average of 52 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for a game like Barony, though not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset, at 60 FPS, is arguably the best experience at 4K, providing a more consistent frame rate than High with a minimal visual compromise. The Low preset, at 81 FPS, is the only way to get a high frame rate at this resolution, but it requires a significant reduction in graphical quality. The Ultra preset should be avoided, as its 37 FPS average is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The detailed performance data is as follows. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak capabilities. The Low preset yields an average of 245 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 182 FPS, with a minimum of 155 FPS and a maximum of 209 FPS. The High preset achieves 156 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 112 FPS. This shows a clear hierarchy where the system is never constrained at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. The Low preset averages 154 FPS. The Medium preset averages 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 132 FPS. The High preset delivers 99 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 71 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is noticeable, but all presets remain in a playable range.

At 3840x2160, the system's limits become apparent. The Low preset is the only one to break the 60 FPS barrier, averaging 81 FPS. The Medium preset averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 37 FPS. This data confirms that 4K gaming with this combo requires turning down settings to achieve a smooth experience. The minimum frame rates recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution (155 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K) provide a useful reference for the worst-case scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Barony, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B570 ranks at 2344 out of 2935 total combos. This places it in the 21st percentile of all configurations, meaning that a significant majority of tested systems deliver higher frame rates in this game. This ranking is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range position rather than a statement on the CPU's performance.

The ranking suggests that while this combo is perfectly capable of running Barony, it is not a top-tier performer. The system is likely outclassed by combinations featuring higher-end GPUs, which would allow for higher frame rates at the same settings and resolutions. The data indicates that the Arc B570 is the limiting factor in this pairing, as the Ryzen 9 5900X has the processing power to support much more powerful graphics cards. For users looking to maximize performance in Barony, upgrading the GPU would be the most effective path, given the current CPU's strength.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture. Its high multi-threading capabilities are evident in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16262 and a Geekbench multicore score of 14118. These strong synthetic results suggest that the CPU is more than capable of handling the logical threads required by Barony, a game that is not known for being heavily CPU-bound.

The CPU's performance in this specific game is best understood by examining the frame rates at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 245 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that many CPUs would struggle to feed. This indicates that the Ryzen 9 5900X's single-core performance, reflected in its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1527, is sufficient to keep up with the GPU's output. The boost clock of 4.80 GHz is a key factor here, ensuring that the game's primary thread is processed quickly.

The CPU's nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores include the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H and the Intel Core i7-14650HX, with the Ryzen 9 5900X being 0.3% faster than the former and 0.5% slower than the latter. This shows that while the CPU is a generation or two old, its performance remains competitive in synthetic tests. In the context of Barony, the data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck. The frame rates at 4K Ultra (37 FPS) are almost certainly limited by the GPU, not the CPU. The processor's 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide a solid foundation for the Arc B570 to operate at its full potential.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for maximum frame rate with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with the Low preset yields the highest average frame rate at 245 FPS, making it the best choice for maximum performance.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Barony?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K with the Medium preset, the system averages 60 FPS, and with the Low preset, it averages 81 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it only achieves 37 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its direct competitor, the Arc A750?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the Arc A750 is 0.1% faster than the Arc B570, indicating they are very closely matched in overall performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more of a limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU's strong multi-threaded and single-threaded scores support high frame rates at 1080p, but the frame rates drop significantly at 4K due to the GPU's rendering limits.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates recorded for the Medium preset?

A: At 1920x1080, the minimum was 155 FPS. At 2560x1440, it was 98 FPS. At 3840x2160, it was 51 FPS. These figures provide a baseline for the lowest performance you can expect during intense scenes.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all tested processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it offers better performance than a large majority of other processors in the database.