Barony

Barony, a roguelike from 2015, proves unexpectedly demanding at high resolutions when paired with the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B580. The measured frame rates reveal a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, offering a clear picture of where its strengths and bottlenecks lie. This analysis breaks down the performance data to understand the dynamic between this 10th Gen Intel CPU and Intel's Battlemage GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and tells a clear story about the limiting component in this system. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 274.6 at 1920x1080 to 92 at 3840x2160, a reduction of nearly 67%. This massive decline indicates that the Intel Arc B580’s rendering workload is scaling dramatically with pixel count, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The data suggests that at 1080p, the GPU is effortlessly pushing frames, while the CPU is likely providing the ceiling for performance.

Moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 at High settings, the average FPS drops from 113.5 to 56.3, a 50% reduction. This halving of performance with a 2.25x increase in pixel count points directly to the GPU as the primary constraint at 4K. The Intel Core i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears to have enough headroom at these higher resolutions, as the workload shifts overwhelmingly to the graphics card. The scaling is not perfectly linear, but it is steep enough to confirm that the B580 is the workhorse here.

The pattern holds across all settings. At Ultra, the drop from 124.5 FPS at 1080p to 45.2 FPS at 4K represents a 64% performance loss. This consistent behavior across quality presets reinforces the conclusion that the limiting factor is the GPU’s fillrate and shading capacity as resolution increases. The CPU, while not idle, is not the primary barrier to higher frame rates at 4K, as its workload is relatively consistent regardless of resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B580 combination ranks 1324 out of 1702 tested combos for Barony. This places it in the lower half of the database, which is an interesting result given the high frame rates measured at 1080p. This ranking suggests that while the combo can achieve playable, even high, frame rates at lower resolutions, its overall performance relative to other systems is tempered by its 4K capabilities, where it falls short of the 60 FPS target at higher settings.

The rank of 1324 out of 1702 implies that a significant portion of other tested combinations deliver better performance in this specific title. This could be due to the game’s engine favoring other architectures or simply because many other combos in the database are more powerful. However, this ranking is specific to Barony and does not necessarily reflect performance in other games. The data shows that the combo is not a top-tier performer for this roguelike, but it is far from the bottom, indicating a mid-pack standing.

This position is likely influenced by the CPU’s benchmark percentile of 73, which is respectable, and the GPU’s percentile of 66. When combined, they don't create a synergistic leap in performance for this particular title. The 4K performance is the likely culprit for the low rank, as the FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is only 45.2, which is below the smooth 60 FPS threshold many users prefer.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the undeniable driver of frame rates in this configuration. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a 456.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is sufficient for the textures and data demands of a game like Barony. The GPU’s performance is evident in the scaling patterns, where its rendering capabilities are the primary factor as resolution increases. The 2560 shading units and 80 ROPs are responsible for the pixel throughput, and the data shows they are being heavily utilized at higher resolutions.

The clock speeds, with a base and boost of 2670 MHz, are consistent, and the GPU’s 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is what handles the graphical calculations. The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly half when moving from 1440p to 4K on the same settings highlights that the GPU is reaching its limits. For instance, at Medium settings, the FPS drops from 128.9 at 2560x1440 to 67.8 at 3840x2160, a 47% reduction. This is a clear sign of the B580’s rendering capacity being saturated.

The GPU’s 190 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest it is a power-hungry component, but this is a spec detail rather than a performance indicator. In this game, the B580’s role is to provide the raw graphical power, and the benchmark results show it does so effectively up to 1440p, but it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding presets. The data indicates that the B580 is the component to adjust settings for when targeting higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for playing Barony with this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At High settings, it achieves an average of 113.5 FPS, which is smooth and well above the 60 FPS threshold, while 4K at High drops to 56.3 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Barony?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At Low settings, it achieves 92 FPS at 3840x2160, which is playable. However, at Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 45.2, which may feel less fluid. The data suggests 4K is feasible only on lower presets.

Q: How does the CPU benchmark compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14168. This is 0.4% higher than the AMD EPYC 7552, but 0.8% lower than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C and 1.1% lower than the Intel Core i5-8500.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS increases from 124.5 on Ultra to 274.6 on Low. This represents a 120% performance uplift when dropping to the lowest preset.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more important for this game's performance?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. At 1080p, the CPU may be more of a factor, but the scaling strongly points to the GPU.

Q: What is the frame rate at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B580 combination delivers an average of 128.9 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to 2560x1440 as the sweet spot for this combo. At this resolution, the High preset delivers an excellent average of 113.5 FPS, providing a smooth and visually detailed experience. Dropping to Medium only increases performance to 128.9 FPS, which is a smaller gain than the visual quality loss from High to Medium. Therefore, High at 1440p is the recommended target.

At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, but Ultra is the only one that dips below 150 FPS. While 124.5 FPS is still very smooth, the High preset at 175.6 FPS offers a significant performance headroom with only a minor visual sacrifice. For competitive play or high refresh rate monitors, Low at 1080p provides a massive 274.6 FPS, maximizing responsiveness above all else.

For 4K gaming, the choice is more constrained. The Low preset is the only one that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, with an average of 92. If a higher visual quality is desired, the Medium preset at 67.8 FPS is the only other option that maintains a playable frame rate. High and Ultra at 4K fall below 60 FPS, making them less ideal for a consistently smooth experience. The measured data clearly suggests that 1440p High is the optimal balance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides the processing foundation for this system. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, are sufficient to feed the Arc B580 in most scenarios. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10297 and a single-core score of 1453, indicate a capable processor for gaming. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache helps with game logic and asset streaming.

In the context of Barony, the CPU's role seems to be secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions. The resolution scaling data shows that the frame rate drops are primarily due to the GPU's workload. The CPU is not the limiting factor at 4K, as the performance decline is consistent with what would be expected from a GPU bottleneck. However, at 1080p, the CPU may play a more significant role, as the lower resolution places less strain on the GPU, potentially allowing the CPU to become the constraining component.

The i5-10400F's performance is close to its rivals, with a 0.4% lead over the AMD EPYC 7552 and a 1.1% gap behind the Intel Core i5-8500 in average benchmark score. This puts it in a competitive position for its generation. The data suggests that while the CPU is not the star of the show in this game, it is a solid partner that does not hold back the GPU at higher resolutions, allowing the B580 to be the primary driver of performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across all settings.

At 1920x1080, the results are:

• Low: 274.6 FPS
• Medium: 205.3 FPS
• High: 175.6 FPS
• Ultra: 124.5 FPS

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 174 FPS
• Medium: 128.9 FPS
• High: 113.5 FPS
• Ultra: 78.8 FPS

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 92 FPS
• Medium: 67.8 FPS
• High: 56.3 FPS
• Ultra: 45.2 FPS

These numbers show a consistent hierarchy. The 1080p results are all exceptionally high, indicating that the system is well-suited for 1080p gaming. The 1440p results show a noticeable drop but remain high for all but the Ultra preset, which is still above 60 FPS. The 4K results are the most demanding, with only Low and Medium presets achieving averages above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding scenario, resulting in the lowest average of 45.2 FPS. This data confirms that the combo is most comfortable at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring significant settings compromises for a smooth experience.