Barony

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Intel Arc B580 combination delivers a compelling performance profile in Barony, a roguelike title from 2015. Benchmark data reveals that while the CPU provides exceptional headroom for high-refresh-rate gaming, the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions and quality presets. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, examining the distinct roles of each component and how they interact in this specific title.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, specifically the Granite Ridge codename. It operates with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, backed by a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache. This processor, released in January 2025, sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs tested on this database, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors available.

Benchmark scores for the CPU paint a clear picture of its capabilities. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 47,737 points in multicore and 6,739 in single-core tests. PassMark multithread score reaches 56,154, with a single-thread score of 4,646. The 3DMark suite shows a 16-thread score of 12,490 and a max-threads score of 13,795, while single-thread performance registers at 1,269. These numbers suggest a processor with formidable multi-threaded throughput and strong single-core speed.

The nearest rivals for this CPU, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which scores 55,093 (a delta of -0.6% relative to the 9900X3D), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K at 54,053 (delta of 1.3%). The Intel Xeon 6505P scores 53,701 (delta of 2%), and the Intel Core i7-14700F scores 53,620 (delta of 2.1%). This means the 9900X3D's average benchmark score of 54,762 is essentially neck-and-neck with these rivals, with differences of only a few percentage points.

In Barony, the CPU's role appears to be that of an enabler rather than a bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the measured average FPS reaches 277, which is a very high frame rate that demands strong single-thread performance for game logic and draw calls. The 9900X3D’s single-core score of 1,269 in 3DMark and 6,739 in Cinebench R23 provides the necessary headroom to maintain such high frame rates. The 128 MB L3 cache likely helps with keeping game data close to the cores, reducing latency in a game that may have many procedurally generated elements typical of roguelikes.

The data implies that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU is far from being the limiting factor. The gap between the 9900X3D and its nearest rivals is minimal in synthetic benchmarks, but the measured FPS in Barony suggests the CPU's architecture is well-suited for this type of game. The high boost clock of 5.50 GHz and the large cache are the key attributes that allow the processor to feed frames to the GPU without creating a bottleneck. The CPU’s performance percentile of 91 places it in the top tier, and the benchmark results confirm that it has ample resources for a game like Barony, which may not be heavily multithreaded but benefits from fast single-core response.

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

The Intel Arc B580 is the graphics card in this combination, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and the BMG-G21 chip, part of the Battlemage generation. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, with memory running at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). It has 2,560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, along with 20 ray tracing cores.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Arc B580 achieves a PassMark G3D score of 15,748 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 109,672. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3,068. The GPU sits in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23,021. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (score 23,061, delta -0.2%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (score 22,895, delta 0.6%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (score 23,172, delta -0.7%). These deltas are all within 1%, meaning the Arc B580 performs almost identically to these older and newer high-end cards in aggregate benchmarks.

The GPU's role in Barony becomes increasingly critical as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p Low, the GPU produces 277 FPS on average, but at 4K Ultra, that number drops to 42 FPS. This scaling indicates that the Arc B580 is the primary limiter at higher loads. The 12 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for Barony, as the game is not known for requiring massive texture memory, but the GPU's raw compute power of 13.67 TFLOPS FP32 and its pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s determine how quickly it can fill the screen at higher resolutions.

The data suggests that the Arc B580 is a mid-range performer that handles 1080p and 1440p gaming well but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding settings. The 68th percentile ranking places it above average, but it is not in the top tier of graphics cards. The performance deltas to its rivals are negligible, so in Barony, the measured FPS is more dependent on the specific game's optimization for the Xe2-HPG architecture rather than raw benchmark dominance. The GPU's 20 ray tracing cores are present, but Barony is a roguelike that likely does not utilize ray tracing, so that feature has minimal impact on these results.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of scaling that points to the GPU as the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 277. Moving to 1440p Low, the FPS drops to 175, a reduction of 102 FPS (a 36.8% decrease). At 4K Low, the FPS falls to 91, which is a 67.1% drop from 1080p. This steep decline suggests that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the increasing pixel count.

For Medium settings, the pattern is similar: 1080p yields 206 FPS, 1440p yields 130 FPS, and 4K yields 68 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 138 FPS, or a 67% reduction. High settings show 177 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 58 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result is a 67.2% drop from the 1080p High result. Ultra settings are the most demanding: 127 FPS at 1080p, 80 FPS at 1440p, and 42 FPS at 4K, representing a 66.9% drop from 1080p to 4K.

The consistency of the percentage drop (around 67%) across all settings suggests that the limiting component is resolution-dependent, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, because the CPU workload would not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the proportional decrease in FPS with pixel count indicates that the Arc B580's fill rate and shading capacity are being saturated.

The data implies that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, where the CPU's power can be fully utilized. At 277 FPS on Low, the CPU is likely still not maxed out, but the GPU is producing frames fast enough to saturate a high-refresh-rate monitor. At 1440p, the FPS remains playable for most settings, but the GPU is clearly doing more work. At 4K, the FPS drops to levels that may not be ideal for fast-paced action, particularly on Ultra where the average is 42 FPS. This scaling behavior quantifies the GPU's role as the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the CPU's abundant headroom is evident in the high frame rates at 1080p.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Barony?*

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the highest frame rates, with an average of 277 FPS on Low and 127 FPS on Ultra. At 1440p, the average FPS ranges from 175 on Low to 80 on Ultra. At 4K, the average FPS drops to 91 on Low and 42 on Ultra. The 1080p results are the most favorable for high refresh rates.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in terms of synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23,021. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, scores 23,061, which is a 0.2% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22,895 (0.6% difference), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 scores 23,172 (a -0.7% difference). These scores are all within a narrow band, indicating near-identical aggregate performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent drop of about 67% across all settings. This proportional decline with resolution indicates the GPU is the limiting component. For example, at High settings, the FPS drops from 177 at 1080p to 58 at 4K, which is a 67.2% decrease.

*Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking, and what does that mean for Barony performance?*

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Its high single-thread score of 6,739 in Cinebench R23 and boost clock of 5.50 GHz contribute to its ability to support high frame rates. The measured 277 FPS at 1080p Low suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck in this game.

Q: How much faster is the 9900X3D compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF?

A: The average benchmark score for the 9900X3D is 54,762, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 55,093. The delta is -0.6%, meaning the 9900X3D is actually 0.6% slower than the 245KF in aggregate benchmarks. The difference is minimal.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS values recorded for Medium settings?

A: For Medium settings, the measured FPS data includes min and max values. At 1080p, the average is 206 FPS, with a minimum of 175 and a maximum of 237. At 1440p, the average is 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 and a maximum of 150. At 4K, the average is 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Intel Arc B580 has a combo rank of 2194 out of 2935 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the 74.8th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it outperforms roughly three-quarters of the systems tested. This ranking is notable given the GPU's 68th percentile ranking and the CPU's 91st percentile ranking.

The discrepancy between the CPU's high ranking and the GPU's mid-range ranking suggests that the combo's overall position is dragged down by the GPU's limitations. The CPU is clearly capable of much higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 277 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU's performance ceiling at higher resolutions and settings prevents the combo from ranking higher. The rank of 2194 indicates that many other combinations, likely with more powerful GPUs, achieve better overall performance in this game.

The data shows that the combo's ranking is not a reflection of a balanced system but rather a pairing of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range GPU. The CPU's exceptional headroom means that it will not be the limiting factor in most scenarios, but the GPU will cap the maximum FPS achievable. This is a common situation where a user might prioritize CPU performance for other tasks or future GPU upgrades, but for Barony specifically, the GPU is the constraining element. The ranking versus the 2,935 tested combos highlights that while this system is above average, it is not in the top tier for this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 177 FPS, which is more than sufficient for most monitors. The Ultra preset drops to 127 FPS, which is still playable but with diminishing visual returns for the performance cost. The Medium preset at 206 FPS is a good middle ground for those seeking very high refresh rates. The Low preset at 277 FPS is only necessary for extreme refresh-rate displays, as it offers minimal visual benefit in a roguelike where readability of items and enemies is important.

For 1440p, the High preset at 112 FPS is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 130 FPS offers a slight performance boost, while the Ultra preset at 80 FPS may be acceptable for slower-paced play. The Low preset at 175 FPS is overkill for most 1440p monitors, which typically have refresh rates of 144Hz or 165Hz. The data suggests that 1440p High is the recommended choice, as it stays above the 100 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, the situation is more constrained. The High preset at 58 FPS is near the edge of playability, while the Medium preset at 68 FPS is slightly better. The Ultra preset at 42 FPS may be too low for a game that requires quick reactions. The Low preset at 91 FPS is the most playable option at 4K, but it sacrifices significant visual fidelity. The data indicates that 4K gaming with this combo is best suited for Medium or Low settings, depending on the user's tolerance for frame rate versus visual quality. Given that Barony is a roguelike with potentially dense visual information, prioritizing a stable frame rate above 60 FPS is advisable, making 1440p High the best overall experience across all tested configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all tested configurations. Each resolution and settings combination has an average FPS, with some also including minimum and maximum values.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: Average FPS 277, no min or max recorded.
• Medium: Average FPS 206, with a minimum of 175 and a maximum of 237.
• High: Average FPS 177, no min or max recorded.
• Ultra: Average FPS 127, no min or max recorded.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: Average FPS 175, no min or max recorded.
• Medium: Average FPS 130, with a minimum of 111 and a maximum of 150.
• High: Average FPS 112, no min or max recorded.
• Ultra: Average FPS 80, no min or max recorded.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: Average FPS 91, no min or max recorded.
• Medium: Average FPS 68, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78.
• High: Average FPS 58, no min or max recorded.
• Ultra: Average FPS 42, no min or max recorded.

The Medium settings are the only ones with min and max data, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate varies between 175 and 237, a range of 62 FPS around the average of 206. At 1440p Medium, the range is from 111 to 150, a 39 FPS spread around the 130 average. At 4K Medium, the range is from 58 to 78, a 20 FPS spread around the 68 average. This data suggests that frame time consistency improves at higher resolutions, likely because the GPU is the bottleneck and operates more steadily under full load.

The 4K Ultra result of 42 FPS is the lowest recorded, indicating that this setting is the most demanding for the combo. The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a clear performance hierarchy, with Ultra costing roughly 54% of the FPS compared to Low at 1080p (127 vs 277), 54% at 1440p (80 vs 175), and 54% at 4K (42 vs 91). This consistent ratio across resolutions further confirms that the GPU's workload scales predictably with settings. The data overall shows a capable mid-range system that excels at 1080p and 1440p but requires careful settings management at 4K.