Barony

Barony is a roguelike that turns out to be surprisingly demanding on modern hardware, and the Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the Intel Arc B580 produces a fascinating set of results. This combination ranks in the 22nd percentile of all tested combos, placing it at rank 1326 out of 1702, which suggests that while this pairing is capable, it is far from the top of the charts in this specific title. The data reveals a system where the GPU often dictates performance at higher resolutions, but the CPU's strong multi-threaded capabilities keep frame rates competitive at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combo in Barony?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the strongest option, with frame rates ranging from 277 FPS at Low settings down to 124.2 FPS at Ultra. At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very playable, dropping to 81.6 FPS at Ultra, but 3840x2160 is the most demanding, with Ultra settings producing an average of 40.7 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B580's 12 GB VRAM impact performance?

A: The 12 GB GDDR6 memory with a 192-bit bus and 456.0 GB/s bandwidth provides ample headroom for Barony at all tested settings. The performance scaling suggests that VRAM capacity is not the limiting factor; instead, the GPU's raw compute power, rated at 13.67 TFLOPS, is what drives the frame rate differences between settings.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data does not suggest a CPU bottleneck. The i5-13400F's strong multi-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21279, allows it to keep up with the GPU, even at 1080p Low where the average frame rate hits 277 FPS. The 10 cores and 16 threads are sufficient for this roguelike's demands.

Q: How does this combo compare to a system with an RTX 4060?

A: The Arc B580's average benchmark score is 23021, which is only 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, which scores 23181. This indicates that in synthetic tests, the two GPUs are nearly identical, though in-game results for this specific title may vary.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the difference is substantial. The average frame rate at Low settings is 173.8 FPS, while at Ultra settings it drops to 81.6 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the higher visual fidelity.

Q: Should I enable Ultra settings for this game?

A: Only if you are playing at 1920x1080, where the average frame rate of 124.2 FPS remains smooth. At 2560x1440, Ultra still delivers a playable 81.6 FPS, but at 3840x2160, the 40.7 FPS average will likely be too choppy for most players.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture, is the primary driver of visual performance in Barony. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, running at an effective 19 Gbps, provides a 456.0 GB/s bandwidth that ensures texture streaming is not a problem at any resolution. The core clock is fixed at a 2670 MHz boost, which is consistent across the board, meaning the GPU's performance is directly tied to its 2560 shading units and 80 ROPs.

The data shows a clear GPU scaling pattern. At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed, with average frame rates dropping from 92.1 FPS at Low to just 40.7 FPS at Ultra. This is a 55.8% performance reduction from Low to Ultra, indicating that the GPU's compute resources are the limiting factor at this resolution. The B580's FP32 throughput of 13.67 TFLOPS is being pushed to its limits. At 2560x1440, the GPU has more breathing room, and the frame rates are more comfortable, with Ultra still producing a respectable 81.6 FPS. The GPU's percentile ranking of 66 puts it in the upper half of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 760M, has a nearly identical average score of 22999, suggesting that this Arc card is a solid mid-range performer for this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F provides the computational backbone for this system. With 10 cores and 16 threads, it is a capable multi-tasker, but in a game like Barony, the single-thread performance is often more critical. The CPU's boost clock of 4.60 GHz and its 3DMark single-thread score of 960 highlight its ability to handle game logic and physics calculations efficiently. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache also helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for frame pacing.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the GPU is less stressed, and the CPU's ability to feed it frames becomes crucial. The data shows that the system can achieve 277 FPS at Low settings, which confirms the i5-13400F's strong multi-threading, as it can handle the game's simulation threads without becoming a bottleneck. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21279 is indicative of its strength. When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-13400F is statistically tied with the Intel Core i7-13620H, which has a deltaPct of 0.1%, and it is only 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D. This means that in terms of overall CPU performance, this processor is in a very competitive tier, ensuring that it will not hold back the Arc B580 in most scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, this specific pairing of the i5-13400F and Arc B580 performs in the lower half of the field. With a rank of 1326 out of 1702 combos, it sits at the 22nd percentile, meaning that 78% of the other tested systems deliver higher average frame rates in Barony. This is a stark contrast to the individual component rankings, where the CPU is in the 82nd percentile and the GPU is in the 66th percentile. The discrepancy suggests that this game is particularly sensitive to the combination of CPU and GPU, and this pairing, while balanced, does not synergize as well as others.

The data indicates that this combo is not a top-tier performer for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors at higher resolutions. However, the relative weakness of the combo is not due to a single component being a slouch. The CPU's performance is on par with its rivals, and the GPU is only 0.7% behind an RTX 4060. The issue is likely that Barony's engine favors other architectures or combinations more heavily. For a builder looking at this data, it is clear that this combo is a mid-pack option, suitable for 1080p gaming but not for pushing 4K Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p High, the system achieves 177.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 110.9 FPS, a 37.5% decrease. Finally, at 4K High, the frame rate plummets to 56.4 FPS, a further 49.1% drop from 1440p. This pattern clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU's workload does not scale significantly with resolution, so the i5-13400F remains a constant, while the Arc B580's pixel-pushing capabilities are stretched thinner.

The scaling is more dramatic at Ultra settings. From 1080p Ultra (124.2 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (81.6 FPS) is a 34.3% drop, and from 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (40.7 FPS) is a 50.1% drop. The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings confirms that the GPU's fill rate and shading power are the primary constraints. The data suggests that to maintain a 60 FPS average, this combo is best used at 1440p with High settings or 1080p with Ultra settings. Pushing to 4K requires dropping to Low settings, which yields 92.1 FPS, to remain smooth.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its full potential. Low settings produce an outstanding 277 FPS average, making this combo ideal for high-refresh-rate esports-style play. Medium settings still deliver a very high 203.7 FPS, while High settings yield a solid 177.4 FPS. Ultra settings, while the most demanding, still produce a very playable 124.2 FPS. At this resolution, every settings preset is smooth and usable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limits. Low settings achieve 173.8 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings deliver 128.8 FPS, and High settings provide 110.9 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 81.6 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for most players. This resolution is the sweet spot for balancing visual quality and performance with this hardware.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings are the only way to get a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 92.1 FPS. Medium settings drop to 69.5 FPS, and High settings fall to 56.4 FPS, which is below the ideal target for fast-paced action. Ultra settings are not recommended for 4K, as the 40.7 FPS average will result in noticeable stuttering and a less responsive feel. The data clearly shows that 4K is only viable with Low or Medium settings for this particular combination.