Barony

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a distinctive performance profile in Barony, one that is heavily dictated by resolution and preset selection. The dataset shows a system capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but one that progressively succumbs to the graphical load as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all tested configurations, examines the respective roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides context for how this combo ranks among the thousands of others tested.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a clear and consistent trend: performance degrades sharply as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average FPS drops from 102 at 1080p to 64 at 1440p, and finally to 34 at 4K. This represents a significant 66.7% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at lower settings. With the Low preset, the average FPS goes from 159 at 1080p, down to 100 at 1440p, and then to 53 at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K here is a 47% decrease, while the jump from 1080p to 1440p is a 37% loss. This suggests that at lower graphical fidelity, the system is still trying to push a very high number of frames at 1080p, and the GPU's limitations become more apparent as the pixel workload increases.

The frame time consistency also degrades with resolution. At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the system maintains an average of 118 FPS with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS. This is a relatively tight band, suggesting stable performance. However, at 2560x1440 with the same Medium preset, the average drops to 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS. The variance is proportionally similar, but the absolute numbers are lower. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset yields an average of 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS, showing that the system is struggling to maintain a smooth experience at this resolution.

This scaling behavior points directly at the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The Intel Arc B390, with its "System Shared" memory and modest compute resources, is being saturated by the 4K workload. In contrast, the CPU's role appears more dominant at 1080p, where the GPU can produce frames quickly enough for the processor to become a limiting factor in certain scenarios.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The benchmark data shows it performs well in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and a single-core score of 1674. In the context of Barony, a roguelike title, the CPU's role is primarily to handle game logic, entity updates, and draw calls.

Given the game's genre and release date, it is unlikely to be heavily multi-threaded, meaning the i3-12100F's strong single-thread performance is likely the most relevant asset. The 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and Passmark single-thread score of 3444 suggest that the processor is capable of handling the game's simulation without becoming a persistent bottleneck. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache is also sufficient for a game of this scope.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint in most measured scenarios. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 159 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. If the CPU were severely limiting, we would expect to see a ceiling around a certain FPS regardless of resolution. However, we see a clear drop from 159 FPS at 1080p to 100 FPS at 1440p, which indicates that the GPU is the component being stressed as resolution increases.

The processor's 4 cores and 8 threads are adequate for this title. The benchmark results show that it sits in the 68th percentile compared to all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 13494 places it in a similar performance tier to the Intel Core i5-9500, which has a 0.3% delta in average score. This indicates that the CPU is a solid mid-range performer that is well-suited for gaming workloads like Barony.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Crucially, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a fundamental limitation that impacts its performance, particularly at high resolutions where memory bandwidth and capacity become critical.

The GPU's performance metrics are telling. It has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are older, low-end discrete graphics cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which has a 1.3% delta in average score, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM, which has a 2.5% delta. This context is crucial: the Arc B390 is positioned in the entry-level performance tier, far below modern discrete gaming GPUs.

In Barony, the GPU's role becomes the dominant factor as resolution increases. The measured FPS drops from 159 at 1080p Low to 53 at 4K Low, a 66.7% reduction. This is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited fill rate and memory bandwidth. At 4K, the GPU is simply unable to process the pixel data fast enough to maintain playable frame rates on higher presets, with Ultra settings yielding just 24 FPS.

The lack of dedicated VRAM is likely a contributing factor. With "System Shared" memory, the GPU must contend with the CPU for memory access, and the bandwidth is "System Dependent." This means that even if the GPU has enough compute power, it might be starved for data. The data shows that the system is firmly GPU-limited at 1440p and 4K, as reducing the quality preset from Ultra to Low produces a massive FPS gain (e.g., from 24 to 53 at 4K), which is a classic sign of a GPU that is overwhelmed by the graphical workload.

FAQ

Q: Why does the frame rate drop so significantly at 4K resolution?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU with "System Shared" memory and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The 4K resolution requires rendering four times as many pixels as 1080p, which overwhelms this entry-level GPU, leading to a substantial drop in average FPS across all settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the Arc B390 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 159 FPS. If the CPU were the main constraint, we would expect frame rates to remain similar across resolutions. However, the FPS falls to 100 at 1440p and 53 at 4K, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor as the resolution increases.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems in the database?

A: The combo ranks 2601 out of 2935 tested combinations in Barony. This puts it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, indicating that while it can handle the game, it does so at a much lower performance level than the vast majority of other hardware pairings.

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Barony with this hardware?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system consistently delivers high frame rates. At this resolution, the average FPS ranges from 73 on Ultra to 159 on Low, providing a smooth experience. At 1440p, the average FPS is playable but lower, while at 4K, it dips below 34 FPS on all but the Low preset.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B390 have enough memory for this game?

A: The GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is also "System Dependent." While this is sufficient for Barony at lower resolutions and settings, the lack of dedicated memory likely contributes to the severe performance drop at 4K, where data transfer demands are much higher.

Q: Why is the 3DMark score for this GPU so low?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This put it in the same performance tier as very old discrete graphics cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX. This low score is consistent with its integrated nature and "System Shared" memory configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2601 out of 2935 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the bottom 11.4% of all systems tested, a clear indication that this is a low-performance pairing for this game. The rank reflects the fundamental limitations of the integrated GPU, which holds back the otherwise capable CPU.

To contextualize the CPU's contribution, the i3-12100F alone has a percentile rank of 68 versus all CPUs. This suggests that the processor is a competent mid-range part. However, the GPU's percentile rank of 9 versus all GPUs is the primary driver of the low combo rank. The system's overall performance in Barony is therefore heavily constrained by the Arc B390, and the CPU's potential is largely unrealized in this specific configuration.

The nearest rivals for the GPU include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% delta). These are decades-old parts, highlighting just how limited the Arc B390 is. While the CPU is a modern part, the pairing results in a system that performs at a level far below what a dedicated graphics solution would offer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination.

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

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

| 1920x1080 | Low | 159 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 118 | 101 | 136 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 102 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 73 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 100 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 75 | 64 | 86 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 64 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 46 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 53 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 39 | 33 | 45 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 34 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 24 | - | - |

The data shows a consistent hierarchy: Low settings always produce the highest frame rate, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the most demanding. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 86 FPS, showing that the GPU has enough headroom to allow for significant quality improvements. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra narrows to 29 FPS, but the absolute numbers are so low that even the Low preset is not ideal for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the most balanced experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with the High preset. This configuration delivers an average of 102 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset offers a significant visual improvement over Low and Medium, while still maintaining a frame rate that is more than double the 4K Ultra result.

For players who prioritize maximum visual fidelity, the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 is the only viable option. It produces an average of 73 FPS, which is still playable, but the frame rate is notably lower than the High preset. At 1440p, the High preset yields 64 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 46 FPS, which may feel less responsive.

At 4K, the data suggests that the experience is heavily compromised. The Low preset is the only one that achieves an average above 50 FPS, hitting 53 FPS. However, this comes with a significant reduction in visual quality. The Medium and High presets at 4K produce averages of 39 and 34 FPS, respectively, which are likely to feel stuttery. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as the 24 FPS average is below the threshold for a consistent, playable experience.

Ultimately, the optimal settings for this hardware are 1080p with the High preset. This provides the best combination of visual quality and performance. If the user wants to push the resolution higher, they must be prepared to sacrifice visual fidelity, as the GPU simply does not have the capability to maintain high frame rates at 1440p or 4K with higher quality settings.