Barony

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers a fascinating, if lopsided, performance profile in Barony. The data shows a CPU that is more than capable of handling the game's logic, paired with an integrated GPU that struggles to keep pace at higher resolutions. This combination occupies a niche position in the benchmark database, ranking 2701 out of 2935 tested combos. The result is a system that can offer a playable experience at 1080p with settings adjustments, but one that is clearly limited by its graphics solution rather than its processor.

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

The Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and can boost up to 4.70 GHz, which provides substantial headroom for the single-threaded tasks that often dominate roguelike game logic. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache, ensuring that frequently accessed game data is kept close to the cores. As a 65 W TDP part on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, it is a mainstream desktop component, and the chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Benchmark results for the i5-14400F place it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong overall processing power. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 21645, while the single-core score is 3055. In Geekbench, it achieves 11268 multi-core and 2058 single-core. The PassMark multithread score of 25470 and single-thread score of 3701 further corroborate its capability. Compared to its nearest rivals, the processor's average benchmark score of 32279 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233, 0.1% delta), the Intel Core i9-11900 (32226, 0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (32354, -0.2% delta). This places the i5-14400F in a performance class where its processing power is more than sufficient for a game like Barony, which is not known for requiring extreme CPU throughput.

In this specific game, the CPU's role is largely to ensure that frame times remain stable and that the game's simulation runs without becoming a bottleneck. Given that the measured FPS numbers drop significantly as resolution increases, it is clear that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 144 FPS, while at 4K with Ultra settings, it falls to 22 FPS. This pattern—where performance scales inversely with resolution and graphical load—suggests the processor is idle much of the time, waiting on the GPU to render frames. The i5-14400F's high single-core boost clock of 4.70 GHz is particularly beneficial for maintaining consistent frame pacing in a game that likely has a primary game thread. The data indicates that the CPU is well ahead of the GPU in this pairing, acting as a solid foundation that will not hold back the system in less graphically demanding scenarios.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It is part of the Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) generation. Its clock speeds are a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz. The most critical specification for this analysis is its memory configuration: it uses "System Shared" memory, with a bus width and bandwidth that are also "System Shared" or "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system's main memory (DDR4 or DDR5 in this case), which impacts performance differently than a dedicated VRAM solution. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 20 raster output units (ROPs), along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, with an FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS. The TDP is listed at 25 W, and it is an IGP with no power connectors.

The benchmark data for this GPU is sparse, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This score places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, which is a very low ranking. Its nearest rivals, according to the data, are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7% delta), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4% delta). This comparison is stark; the Arc B370 is performing in the same league as graphics cards that are well over a decade old. This provides a clear quantitative picture of the GPU's limited absolute performance, even if it supports modern APIs like DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In the context of Barony, the GPU role is the primary bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows a clear ceiling imposed by the graphics solution. At 1080p, the GPU can manage 144 FPS on Low, but this drops to 92 FPS on High and 66 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the average FPS on Low is 91, and on Ultra it falls to 42. At 4K, the GPU is overwhelmed, with only 47 FPS on Low and 22 FPS on Ultra. The shared memory architecture means that the GPU's performance is also tied to the system's memory speed and bandwidth, which can introduce variability. The data suggests that while the GPU has modern feature support, its raw render output is too low for demanding resolutions. The 20 ROPs and 6.144 TFLOPS of compute power are simply insufficient for high-fidelity rendering at higher pixel counts, making the Arc B370 the definitive limiting factor in this system's Barony performance.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F a good match for the Intel Arc B370 in this game?

A: The data indicates a significant imbalance. The CPU is in the 83rd percentile, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The CPU is far more capable than the GPU, meaning the i5-14400F will not bottleneck the system, but the Arc B370 will limit the overall performance, especially at higher resolutions.

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can achieve a consistently high frame rate. At 1080p, it reaches 144 FPS on Low and 92 FPS on High, whereas at 1440p, the High preset drops to 58 FPS, and at 4K, it falls below 30 FPS on all presets.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, has a score of 1186, putting them within a 0.2% performance delta. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a 0.7% delta, while the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, a 1.4% delta in favor of the Arc B370.

Q: Can this system run Barony at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that 4K performance is very poor. On the High preset, the average FPS is 30, which is borderline. On the Ultra preset, it drops to 22 FPS. Only the Low preset at 4K achieves a playable-looking 47 FPS, but this is likely with significant visual compromises.

Q: What is the CPU's performance percentile compared to other processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has a percentile rank of 83, meaning it performs better than 83% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. This is a strong showing and confirms that the processor is not a weak point in this configuration.

Q: Does the GPU have its own dedicated video memory?

A: No, the Intel Arc B370 uses "System Shared" memory. This means it relies on the system's main RAM for graphics data, with its bandwidth being "System Dependent." This architecture can be a performance handicap compared to a dedicated GPU with its own VRAM.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2701 out of 2935 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the bottom portion of the database, specifically in the 8th percentile of all combinations. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's poor performance relative to other graphics cards. The CPU's high percentile (83rd) does little to boost the combo's standing because the game's frame rate is so heavily dependent on the graphics processor.

The data shows that this combo is outclassed by a vast majority of other tested systems. The ranking suggests that for a game like Barony, which is not graphically demanding by modern standards, the Arc B370's integrated solution is a severe handicap. While the CPU is a high-performing part that could easily drive a much more powerful discrete GPU, the system's overall capability is dragged down by the graphics solution. Users looking at this ranking should understand that they are getting a system where the processor is overqualified for the task, and the GPU is underqualified. This pairing is a classic case of a CPU bottleneck in reverse—a GPU bottleneck. The result is a system that, on paper, has a powerful brain but weak hands, and the combo rank reflects this imbalance accurately.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best results. The Low preset achieves an average of 144 FPS. The Medium preset averages 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 FPS and a maximum of 123 FPS. The High preset averages 92 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 66 FPS. This resolution is the only one where the system can consistently push past 60 FPS on higher settings, making it the target for a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 91 FPS. The Medium preset averages 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. The High preset averages 58 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 42 FPS. This resolution is playable on Medium, but users will see frame rates dip below 60 FPS on High and Ultra, indicating the GPU is starting to struggle with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. The Low preset averages 47 FPS. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS. The High preset averages 30 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 22 FPS. This resolution is not well-suited for this combo, as even the Low preset only manages to stay just under 50 FPS, and the higher settings become unplayable. The data clearly shows a linear decline in performance as resolution increases, confirming that the GPU is the primary constraint in this pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is found at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the High preset delivers an average of 92 FPS, which is a smooth and responsive frame rate for a roguelike game. This is the recommended balance between visual quality and performance. While the Ultra preset offers higher fidelity at 66 FPS, the drop from 92 to 66 FPS represents a significant loss of smoothness for a modest visual gain. For players who prioritize maximum frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 144 FPS, which is excellent for fast-paced gameplay, but the visual downgrade may be too steep for some.

At 2560x1440, the data suggests using the Medium preset, which averages 67 FPS. This is the only preset at this resolution that consistently stays above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 58 FPS is close but may result in noticeable stutters in busy scenes. The Low preset at 91 FPS is also viable if visual fidelity is not a priority. However, the Medium preset offers a better balance of detail and performance at this resolution.

The 3840x2160 resolution should be avoided for a quality experience. Even the Low preset only averages 47 FPS, and the Medium preset dips to a 30 FPS minimum. The High and Ultra presets fall to 30 FPS and 22 FPS respectively, which are not comfortable for gameplay. Based on these numbers, the best experience is unequivocally at 1080p with the High preset, which offers a strong frame rate without sacrificing too much visual detail. If a higher resolution is mandatory, 1440p with Medium settings is the only acceptable alternative.