Barony

Barony is an older roguelike title, but the benchmark data for this specific combination of an Intel Core i7-12700KF processor with an Intel Arc B370 graphics solution tells a clear story about its capabilities at various resolutions and settings. The measured results indicate a system that is highly sensitive to resolution scaling, with performance ranging from a smooth high-refresh experience at 1080p to a marginal one at 4K. This analysis breaks down the raw numbers, contextualizes them against rival hardware, and provides practical settings advice based solely on the provided data.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo in Barony?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 144 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-12700KF compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700K?

A: The benchmark data shows the Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, while the Intel Core i7-12700K has an average score of 35287. The deltaPct is 0.2, meaning the i7-12700KF is 0.2% ahead of the i7-12700K in average score.

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average frame rate of 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 a discrete graphics card?

A: No, according to the data, the Intel Arc B370 has a slot width of "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor), a bus interface of "IGP", and its memory is listed as "System Shared". This indicates it is an integrated graphics solution, not a standalone discrete card.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo achieve a 4K experience above 30 FPS?

A: At 3840x2160 (4K) resolution, the combo only exceeds 30 FPS on average with Low settings, where it hits 47 FPS. The Medium settings average is 35 FPS, and High settings average 30 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for Barony?

A: The combo ranks 2701 out of 2935 total tested combinations for Barony, placing it in the lower percentile of systems tested for this game.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the graphics component in this pairing, and its specifications define the performance ceiling seen in the measured FPS data. The GPU is built on a 3 nm process node and uses the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a chip codenamed Panther Lake. Its clock speeds are a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is unique, as it uses "System Shared" memory, meaning the VRAM size, type, and bus width are all dependent on the system's main RAM rather than dedicated graphics memory. The memory bandwidth is similarly listed as "System Dependent". This architectural choice has direct implications for performance, especially at higher resolutions where memory throughput becomes more critical.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are modest. It has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 20 render output units (ROPs). The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 performance at 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1). These numbers, combined with its integrated nature, place it in a performance tier that is reflected in its benchmark scores. The GPU's single benchmark result is a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This score places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is a very low standing. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, deltaPct -0.2), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, deltaPct -0.5), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, deltaPct -0.7), and AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, deltaPct 1.4). These comparisons show the Arc B370 is performing in a league with much older, entry-level hardware.

The relationship between this GPU's capabilities and the game's results is clear. At 1920x1080, the GPU is able to push frame rates that are quite playable, especially at lower settings. The measured average FPS at 1080p ranges from 144 on Low to 66 on Ultra. This suggests that at this resolution, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but it has enough headroom to provide a good experience for a roguelike title. However, as the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The average FPS at 1440p ranges from 91 on Low to 42 on Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, indicating that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute power are being strained. At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal. The average FPS at 4K ranges from 47 on Low to 22 on Ultra. The 4K results clearly show the GPU's limitations, as it struggles to maintain fluid frame rates even on the lowest settings. The data indicates that the Arc B370 is best suited for 1080p gaming, with playable performance available at 1440p only on lower presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a desktop processor from the Core 12th Gen series, based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has 12 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The processor has a 25 MB shared L3 cache, with 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 80 KB of L1 cache per core. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The CPU's TDP is 125 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. This is a powerful processor for a desktop system, and its benchmark scores reflect that. Its average benchmark score is 35365, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13700T (avg score 35403, deltaPct -0.1), Intel Core i5-13600T (avg score 35305, deltaPct 0.2), Intel Core 5 213PE (avg score 35428, deltaPct -0.2), and the Intel Core i7-12700K (avg score 35287, deltaPct 0.2). The data shows the i7-12700KF is essentially on par with these other high-end desktop and mobile processors.

The CPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong. For example, it scores 28838 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 4071 in Cinebench R23 single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 14367 in multicore and 2255 in single-core. The 3DMark scores show its multi-threaded capability: 9282 in the 16-thread test, 7211 in the 8-thread test, 4011 in the 4-thread test, 2065 in the 2-thread test, and 9983 in the max-threads test. The single-thread score in 3DMark is 1043. These scores indicate a CPU that is more than capable of handling the demands of a game like Barony. The game, being a roguelike, is typically not as dependent on a high core count as it is on single-thread performance, but the i7-12700KF excels in both areas.

In the context of the measured FPS for Barony, the CPU's role is likely secondary to the GPU, but it provides a solid foundation. The high single-thread performance ensures that the game's logic and physics calculations are not a bottleneck. The strong multi-threaded performance also means that any background tasks or game engine threads that can utilize multiple cores will be handled efficiently. The measured FPS data shows performance scaling that is more characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p, the frame rate drops from 144 FPS on Low to 66 FPS on Ultra. This 78 FPS difference is a result of increased GPU load, not CPU load. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller frame rate difference across settings at a fixed resolution. The data suggests that the i7-12700KF is providing enough processing power to allow the Arc B370 to be the limiting factor in almost all scenarios. The combo's performance is therefore dictated by the GPU, while the CPU's role is to ensure it is never starved of data.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The numbers are presented as average FPS, with some rows also providing minimum and maximum FPS. It is important to note that many rows only have the average FPS listed, with null values for min and max.

At 1920x1080, the performance is at its best. With Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 144 FPS. This is the highest average frame rate recorded for this system. With Medium settings, the average drops to 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 FPS and a maximum of 123 FPS. High settings produce an average of 92 FPS. Ultra settings yield an average of 66 FPS. This shows a clear progression of performance scaling with settings, from a very fluid 144 FPS at Low to a still-playable 66 FPS at Ultra. The minimum FPS of 91 at Medium settings indicates that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance decreases noticeably. Low settings produce an average of 91 FPS. Medium settings average 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. High settings average 58 FPS. Ultra settings drop to an average of 42 FPS. At this resolution, the system is still capable of providing a good experience on lower settings, but the high preset falls below the 60 FPS mark. The minimum FPS of 57 at Medium settings shows that there can be dips below 60 FPS, which might be noticeable in fast-paced action.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes the main concern. Low settings produce an average of 47 FPS. Medium settings average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS. High settings average 30 FPS. Ultra settings average 22 FPS. The data shows that at 4K, the combo is only able to provide a smooth experience at Low settings, and even then, it is just under the 60 FPS mark. Medium and High settings are at the edge of playability, with averages around 30-35 FPS. Ultra settings are not recommended, as the average of 22 FPS is too low for a comfortable gaming experience.

The data reveals a consistent pattern. At 1080p, the system is capable of high refresh rate gaming. At 1440p, it is a solid 60 FPS class system on medium settings. At 4K, it is only suitable for low settings. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a roughly 30-40% drop in average FPS across all settings. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows an even larger drop, with average FPS roughly halved. This is typical of a GPU that is limited by its memory bandwidth and compute resources, which is consistent with the Arc B370's "System Shared" memory configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of all tested hardware combinations for Barony, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2701 out of 2935 combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. This rank is a strong indicator of the overall performance level. The CPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, but the GPU is a major limiting factor, ranking in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution.

The rank of 2701 is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance. While the i7-12700KF is more than capable of feeding any modern GPU, the Arc B370's integrated nature and low compute power hold the system back. The data shows that in Barony, this combo is outclassed by 2700 other combinations. This suggests that for the vast majority of users, there are better options available. The CPU's potential is largely wasted in this configuration, as it is never the limiting factor in the game's performance. The system's performance is essentially that of the integrated GPU, and the powerful CPU does little to boost the frame rates.

The comparison to the GPU's nearest rivals further illustrates this point. The Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184, which is nearly identical to the scores of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). These are all much older, lower-performing GPUs. The fact that the Arc B370 is in the same performance tier as these legacy parts explains its low rank in the combo list. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking does not compensate for the GPU's 5th percentile ranking, resulting in a system that is overall in the lower quartile for gaming performance in Barony. The data suggests that this combo is not well-balanced for gaming, with the CPU being severely overqualified for the GPU's capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. The goal is to find the settings preset that provides the best balance between visual quality and a smooth, playable experience.

For 1920x1080, the data supports using High settings as the best overall choice. The average FPS at High is 92, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. While Low settings offer a higher average of 144 FPS, the jump from Low to High only costs 52 FPS, and the visual improvement is significant. Medium settings at 107 FPS are also a good choice if you prefer a higher frame rate, but High settings offer a better visual experience while still maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. Ultra settings are also playable, with an average of 66 FPS, but the performance drop from High to Ultra is 26 FPS, which may not be worth the marginal visual gains in a game like Barony. For 1080p, High is the recommended preset.

At 2560x1440, the choice is more constrained. The data shows that Medium settings provide an average of 67 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. This is the highest settings preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS. Low settings at 91 FPS are smoother, but the visual quality is lower. High settings drop to 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stutters. Ultra settings at 42 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience. Therefore, the best experience at 1440p is achieved with Medium settings. It provides a good balance of visual fidelity and performance, with an average FPS of 67 and a minimum of 57, indicating that it should remain mostly smooth.

For 3840x2160, the options are very limited. The data shows that only Low settings provide an average above 30 FPS, with a result of 47 FPS. Medium settings average 35 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. High settings average 30 FPS, which is the bare minimum for a playable frame rate. Ultra settings are not viable, with an average of 22 FPS. For 4K, Low settings are the clear recommendation. While the visual quality is reduced, it is the only way to achieve a frame rate that is consistently above the 30 FPS threshold. If you have a 4K display and are willing to accept lower visual settings, this is the only way to play. Otherwise, it is advisable to lower the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

In summary, the data suggests that the ideal settings preset for this combo is High at 1080p, Medium at 1440p, and Low at 4K. These presets provide the best balance of performance and visual quality based on the measured average and minimum FPS values. Pushing settings higher than these recommendations will result in frame rates that are too low for a comfortable experience, especially at higher resolutions.