Barony

Barony, a roguelike with a 2015 release date, is surprisingly demanding in its highest settings, but this combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Arc B580 shows a clear performance curve. The data indicates that the game's performance is heavily influenced by the graphics preset, with diminishing returns setting in at the Ultra setting. The measured frame rates across resolutions demonstrate that this hardware pairing is best utilized at the High and Medium presets, where the balance between visual fidelity and fluidity is optimal.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for the Intel Arc B580 paired with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. The High preset is the recommended choice for most users, as it delivers a playable experience at all tested resolutions. At 3840x2160, the High preset achieves an average of 58 FPS, which is just at the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset, with an average of 68 FPS at 4K, is also a viable option if a higher frame rate is desired, though the difference in visual quality is a trade-off the user must make.

The Ultra preset is the least efficient choice. At 3840x2160, it drops to an average of 42 FPS, which is a significant 27.6% decrease from the High preset's 58 FPS. This steep performance penalty is not justified by the marginal visual improvements typically found in roguelike titles. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset yields 80 FPS average, which is playable, but the High preset at 112 FPS and Medium at 130 FPS offer much more headroom. The data strongly suggests that the Ultra preset is a performance trap for this GPU in this game.

For the best experience, High is the sweet spot. It maintains a 58 FPS average at 4K, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 177 FPS at 1080p. This preset provides a stable foundation without pushing the GPU to its limits. If the user has a high-refresh-rate monitor at 1080p or 1440p, the Medium preset is an excellent alternative, providing 206 FPS and 130 FPS respectively, which are substantial increases over High. The Low preset offers the highest frame rates (277 FPS at 1080p) but sacrifices too much visual quality for a competitive edge in a single-player roguelike.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Arc B580 ranks 2789th out of 3717 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the lower 25th percentile of all hardware pairings tested for this game. This ranking is primarily a reflection of the GPU's performance ceiling, as the CPU is a top-tier component. The data shows that the Arc B580's average benchmark score of 23021 places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, which is a mid-range result. However, in this specific title, the combination's ranking suggests that other pairings with faster GPUs will achieve significantly higher frame rates.

The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's position relative to its rivals. The Intel Arc B580's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (with a delta of -0.2%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (with a delta of 0.6%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (with a delta of -0.7%). These scores are all very close, indicating that the Arc B580 is a competent competitor in its class. However, in Barony, the low ranking of 2789 suggests that the game is more sensitive to raw GPU throughput than to the specific architectural features of the Arc B580. The results indicate that while the CPU is more than capable, the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing, preventing the combination from achieving a higher rank.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the primary driver of the frame rates in this combination. Its specifications include 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a boost clock of 2670 MHz, which is a relatively high frequency. The data shows that the GPU's performance is consistent with its mid-range positioning, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. For instance, its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3068, and its Passmark G3D score is 15748, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's VRAM capacity of 12 GB is sufficient for the tested resolutions. At 3840x2160, the game's demands are high enough that the GPU's processing power, not the memory capacity, becomes the bottleneck. This is evidenced by the significant drop in frame rates when moving from Medium to Ultra at 4K. The average FPS falls from 68 to 42, a 38.2% reduction, which points to the GPU's shader and texture processing limits being exceeded, rather than a memory capacity issue. The high bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s helps to maintain performance at lower settings, but the Ultra preset's computational load is simply too great for the Arc B580's 2560 shading units to handle efficiently at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings.

At 1920x1080, the performance is excellent across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 277 FPS, which is exceptionally high. The Medium preset averages 206 FPS, with a minimum of 175 and a maximum of 237 FPS. The High preset averages 177 FPS, and even the demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 127 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the combination excels, providing frame rates that far exceed the refresh rates of standard monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limits. The Low preset averages a very high 175 FPS. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 and a maximum of 150 FPS. The High preset maintains a solid 112 FPS average. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 80 FPS, which is a notable step down from the other presets. This resolution is still the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming with the High or Medium presets.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. The Low preset averages 91 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset averages 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78 FPS. The High preset averages 58 FPS, which is just at the edge of smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset, however, falls to an average of 42 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience. This resolution is best paired with the Medium or High presets for a stable frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to ensure a high refresh rate experience?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, all presets achieve high average frame rates, with the lowest being 127 FPS on Ultra. At 2560x1440, the High preset still delivers 112 FPS, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 3840x2160, frame rates drop significantly, especially on Ultra at 42 FPS.

Q: Is the Ultra preset ever recommended for this combination?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the Ultra preset is not recommended. At 3840x2160, it delivers an average of 42 FPS, which is a 27.6% decrease from the High preset's 58 FPS. Even at 2560x1440, the Ultra preset's 80 FPS average is significantly lower than the High preset's 112 FPS.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP with a score of 23061 (a delta of -0.2%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 with a score of 22895 (a delta of 0.6%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 with a score of 23172 (a delta of -0.7%). These scores are all within 1% of each other.

Q: What is the minimum FPS I can expect at 2560x1440 on Medium settings?

A: The measured data for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 shows a minimum FPS of 111, with an average of 130 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS.

Q: Is the 12 GB of VRAM on the Arc B580 a limiting factor in this game?

A: The performance data suggests that the GPU's processing power, not its 12 GB VRAM capacity, is the primary bottleneck at higher settings. The significant frame rate drops when moving from Medium to Ultra at 3840x2160 indicate that the GPU's computational limits are reached, not its memory capacity.

Q: What is the ranking of this specific CPU and GPU combination in Barony?

A: This combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Arc B580 ranks 2789th out of 3717 tested combos for Barony.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a top-tier processor, and its role in this game is to ensure that it does not bottleneck the GPU. With 16 cores and 32 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it has substantial processing power. Its performance is confirmed by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42018 and a single-core score of 2259. This high level of performance is more than sufficient for Barony, which is not a CPU-intensive title. The CPU's 128 MB of L3 cache is also beneficial for ensuring consistent frame pacing.

The data indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor in these benchmark results. The frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which is a sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's performance percentile of 95% (versus all CPUs) and its average benchmark score of 75779 are far above what this game requires. The nearest CPU rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (with a delta of 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (with a delta of 0.1%), and the AMD EPYC 8224P (with a delta of 0.3%). These scores are all within 0.4% of the 9950X3D, confirming that it is at the top of its class. In the context of Barony, the CPU's high clock speeds and core count ensure that the Intel Arc B580 is the sole determinant of the final frame rate, allowing the GPU's performance to be measured in a clean environment. The 170W TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest that this CPU is designed for maximum performance, which it delivers without becoming a bottleneck in this specific title.