Barony

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a surprisingly strong performance in Barony, a roguelike where frame pacing and consistency matter more than raw graphical fidelity. The measured data shows this combination is capable of high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions, though it begins to strain at 4K with maximum settings. The benchmark results indicate a system that is well-balanced for this title, with the CPU providing adequate single-thread performance and the GPU scaling predictably with resolution and quality presets.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, running on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, with 9 MB of shared L3 cache. For a game like Barony, which is a roguelike with procedurally generated levels and complex game logic, the single-thread performance is often the limiting factor. The benchmark data shows a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 935 and a multi-core score of 6629, indicating that while the processor is not a modern powerhouse, it holds its own in tasks that rely on one or two threads.

In the context of Barony, the CPU's role is to handle the game's simulation, enemy AI, and world generation. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (245 avg) and 1080p High (156 avg) suggests that the i5-9400 is not a bottleneck at these settings, as the frame rates are exceptionally high. However, the data shows a significant drop from Low to Ultra at 1080p (245 to 112 avg), which implies that the GPU is taking on more work as the settings increase. The processor's 6 cores and 6 threads are sufficient for this title, as it likely does not utilize more than a few threads effectively. The processor's percentile rank of 47th among all CPUs places it in the mid-range, but its performance in this game is clearly adequate for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p and 1440p.

The nearest rivals to the i5-9400 include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core i7-10710U, which scores 0.3% higher. These deltas are minimal, indicating that the i5-9400 is in a tightly contested performance bracket. For Barony, the difference between these CPUs would be imperceptible, especially since the game is not heavily multi-threaded. The 2.90 GHz base clock and 4.10 GHz boost clock are reasonable, but the lack of hyper-threading means it falls behind modern 6-core/12-thread parts in heavily threaded scenarios. That said, the data shows that for this specific game, the CPU delivers enough performance to keep up with the GPU at all but the most demanding settings.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation) using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU has 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. This hardware configuration makes it a solid mid-range contender, as evidenced by its 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs. The 10 GB VRAM is generous for a game like Barony, which does not have demanding texture requirements, ensuring that memory capacity is never a limiting factor at any resolution tested.

The GPU's raw compute capability is reflected in its FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS and a Passmark G3D score of 14195. In Barony, the data shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p, the card delivers 245 FPS on Low, 182 FPS on Medium, 156 FPS on High, and 112 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate that the Arc B570 is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay at 1080p, even at the highest settings. At 1440p, the performance drops to 154 FPS on Low, 115 FPS on Medium, 99 FPS on High, and 71 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p Ultra result is still respectable, maintaining an average above 60 FPS.

The most demanding scenario is 4K (3840x2160), where the GPU shows its limits. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 81, which is playable, but at 4K High, it drops to 52 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 37 FPS. The 4K Medium setting records an average of 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. This suggests that the Arc B570 can handle 4K only at lower settings for a consistently smooth experience. The GPU's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which has an average score 0.1% higher, and the Intel Arc A750, which is 0.1% lower. These near-identical scores indicate that the B570 is a well-positioned card for its class, and its performance in Barony aligns with its synthetic benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in Barony?

A: The data does not show a significant CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 245 FPS, and at 1080p High, it reaches 156 FPS. These high frame rates suggest the CPU is providing enough throughput to feed the GPU adequately. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 37, indicating the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Q: Can this combo run Barony at 4K smoothly?

A: Based on the measured data, 4K is only viable at lower settings. The 4K Low preset produces an average of 81 FPS, while 4K Medium averages 60 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, stick to 4K Low or Medium. The 4K High (52 FPS) and 4K Ultra (37 FPS) results fall below the smooth-playability threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high refresh rates?

A: At 1080p, the system delivers 112 FPS on Ultra and 156 FPS on High, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or higher). At 1440p, the High preset yields 99 FPS, which is still good for 100Hz displays, while 1440p Ultra at 71 FPS is suitable for 60-75Hz monitors.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in this game?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.1% lower than the Intel Arc A750. In practical terms, these GPUs would perform nearly identically in Barony, with differences of only a few frames per second.

Q: Does the 10 GB VRAM on the Arc B570 make a difference in Barony?

A: Given the game's roguelike nature and modest texture requirements, the 10 GB VRAM is more than sufficient. The data shows no signs of VRAM-related stuttering or performance drops, even at 4K Ultra. The memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s is also ample for this title.

Q: What is the expected performance at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 115 FPS at 1440p Medium, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 132 FPS. This is a smooth experience for most users, and the minimum FPS indicates good frame pacing without major dips.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p users with a 144Hz monitor, the High preset offers an excellent balance, delivering 156 FPS on average. The Ultra preset at 112 FPS is also viable if visual fidelity is a priority, but the difference between High and Ultra is likely minimal in a roguelike with stylized graphics. For 1440p users, the High preset at 99 FPS is the sweet spot, providing a smooth experience on 100Hz displays. The Medium preset at 115 FPS is also a strong choice if you prefer higher frame rates over visual quality.

At 4K, the recommendations are more conservative. The Medium preset is the only option that maintains an average of 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS, which is borderline but playable. For a more stable experience, the Low preset at 81 FPS is the safer choice, though it sacrifices visual quality. The 4K High (52 FPS) and 4K Ultra (37 FPS) presets are not recommended for consistent gameplay, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can fully leverage the GPU's capabilities without hitting the performance wall seen at 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 + Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2344 out of 2935 tested combos in Barony. This puts it in the 20th percentile of all system configurations, which might seem low, but it is important to contextualize this ranking. The ranking includes all combinations of CPUs and GPUs, many of which are high-end parts. For a mid-range CPU paired with a mid-range GPU, this rank is expected. The data indicates that this combo is not a top-tier performer, but it delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, which is its target market.

The ranking reflects the system's overall capability in this specific game. The CPU's 47th percentile rank and the GPU's 65th percentile rank suggest that the GPU is the stronger component in this pairing. The gap between the two components is not severe enough to cause major bottlenecks, but the GPU does have more headroom for future upgrades. In terms of rival combos, the data does not provide specific rankings for other pairs, but the individual component rivals (e.g., RTX 3070 Mobile for the GPU) suggest that similar combos would land in the same general performance tier.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows its strongest performance. The Low preset delivers an average of 245 FPS, which is exceptionally high and likely limited by the CPU's single-thread performance rather than the GPU. The Medium preset averages 182 FPS, with a minimum of 155 FPS and a maximum of 209 FPS, indicating solid frame consistency. The High preset averages 156 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 112 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is roughly linear, with a 54% drop in performance at the highest settings, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows more GPU dependency. The Low preset averages 154 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. The Medium preset averages 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 132 FPS, providing a smooth experience. The High preset averages 99 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 71 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 54%, similar to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower, reflecting the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset averages 81 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS, making it the only 4K preset that hits the 60 FPS target on average. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 37 FPS. The performance scaling is more aggressive at 4K, with a 54% drop from Low to Ultra, but the absolute values are low enough that only the Low and Medium presets are recommended for regular play. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for less demanding titles or lower quality settings.