Barony

# Barony with Intel Core i7-14700F + Intel Arc B370

This pairing of a 20-core Intel Core i7-14700F with the integrated Intel Arc B370 graphics presents a striking imbalance in Barony, a roguelike that clearly favors GPU throughput over CPU headroom. Across the measured resolutions, the data reveals a system where the Arc B370's integrated nature becomes the decisive factor, with frame rates collapsing from a highly playable 144 FPS at 1080p Low to a barely functional 22 FPS at 4K Ultra. The combination ranks 2701st out of 2935 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of configurations for this title, a position that reflects the GPU's 5th percentile standing among all graphics processors rather than any deficiency in the processor itself.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate trajectory from 1080p to 4K tells a clear story of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p Low, the system delivers 144 FPS, but stepping up to 1440p Low drops that to 91 FPS — a 36.8% reduction for a 77.8% increase in pixel count. Moving to 4K Low yields 47 FPS, which is 67.4% below the 1080p figure despite the resolution increasing by a factor of four. This non-linear drop indicates that the Arc B370 is struggling with memory bandwidth and fill rate as pixel counts climb, rather than being constrained by the CPU's ability to feed it draw calls.

The scaling pattern across settings reinforces this interpretation. At High settings, the drop from 1080p (92 FPS) to 1440p (58 FPS) is 37%, and then to 4K (30 FPS) is another 48% reduction. The Medium preset shows a similar slope: 107 FPS at 1080p, 67 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K. What is telling is that the gap between Low and High at each resolution remains relatively consistent — roughly 52 FPS at 1080p, 33 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K — suggesting that the graphics settings are adding a nearly constant workload on top of the resolution-driven baseline. This implies the limiting component is the GPU's raw throughput, not any single bottleneck like texture memory or pixel fill.

The Ultra preset exposes the most severe scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 66 FPS, which is already a 54% drop from Low. At 1440p Ultra, it falls to 42 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it bottoms out at 22 FPS. The fact that 4K Ultra achieves less than one-sixth of the 1080p Low frame rate indicates that the Arc B370's 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs are being saturated by the combination of high resolution and maxed settings. The measured Medium row at 4K shows a minimum of 30 FPS and maximum of 41 FPS, while the average sits at 35 FPS — a narrow 11 FPS band that suggests the GPU is hitting a hard performance ceiling rather than experiencing variable CPU stalls.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F brings substantial compute resources to this pairing, with 20 cores and 28 threads running at a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost of 5.40 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,122 and single-core score of 4,958 place it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53,620. The nearest rivals in synthetic testing are the Intel Xeon 6505P at 53,701 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 at 53,469 (0.3% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X at 53,288 (0.6% behind), and the AMD EPYC 7313P at 53,206 (0.8% behind). This is a top-tier processor by any measure.

However, in Barony, the CPU appears almost entirely underutilized. The evidence lies in the frame rate scaling: if the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect similar FPS across resolutions at a given settings level. Instead, the data shows FPS dropping by roughly half or more from 1080p to 4K at every preset. The roguelike genre typically involves procedural generation and AI pathfinding, which can be single-thread heavy, but the i7-14700F's 5.40 GHz boost clock and strong single-core performance (Cinebench R23 single-core of 4,958, Geekbench single-core of 2,429) should handle those tasks with ease.

The PassMark results further indicate that this CPU has ample headroom for game logic. Its multi-thread score of 41,317 and integer math score of 155,808 suggest that even complex simulation workloads would not stress the processor. The physics score of 2,455 and floating-point math of 107,005 are strong, meaning any physics calculations in Barony would be processed quickly. The data implies that the i7-14700F is effectively idle in this configuration, waiting on the GPU to finish each frame. This is corroborated by the fact that the 1080p Low result of 144 FPS — likely near a display refresh ceiling — is the only point where the CPU might be approaching a meaningful role, and even then, it is more likely the GPU is simply fast enough at that low load to keep pace.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear performance limiter in this system. This integrated GPU, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture on a 3 nm process, has 1,280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its FP32 throughput is 6.144 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it draws from the same pool as the CPU, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This shared memory architecture is likely a primary contributor to the observed performance collapse at higher resolutions, as the GPU competes with the CPU for memory access.

The Arc B370's benchmark results are stark. Its only measured 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1,184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 at 1,186 (0.2% ahead), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 1,190 (0.5% ahead), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M at 1,192 (0.7% ahead), and the AMD FirePro M2000 at 1,168 (1.4% behind). These are all legacy or low-end mobile parts from over a decade ago, underscoring how far behind modern discrete GPUs the Arc B370 sits. The 25 W TDP and IGP slot width confirm this is an integrated solution, not a discrete card, and its "System Shared" memory means there is no dedicated VRAM to mitigate bandwidth constraints.

In Barony, the GPU's limitations manifest clearly. The 4K Ultra result of 22 FPS and 4K High of 30 FPS are both below playable thresholds, and even 1440p Ultra at 42 FPS is marginal. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are low by modern standards, and at 4K with Ultra settings, the 20 ROPs are simply overwhelmed. The fact that 1080p Low achieves 144 FPS while 1080p Ultra drops to 66 FPS — a 54% penalty — suggests that the shading units and TMUs are also stressed by the visual effects in Barony's roguelike presentation, which may include particle effects and dynamic lighting.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2,701 out of 2,935 tested configurations places this system in the bottom 8% for Barony. This is a poor position that aligns more closely with the GPU's 5th percentile standing than the CPU's 91st percentile. The data suggests that for this specific game, the Arc B370 is dragging the entire system down, with the i7-14700F's capabilities largely irrelevant to the final frame rates.

Comparing to the GPU's nearest rivals, the Arc B370's 3DMark score of 1,184 is within 2% of the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1,190) and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1,186). These are all clustered within a 24-point range, indicating that the Arc B370 performs at a level equivalent to mid-range graphics cards from roughly 2010. For a roguelike like Barony, which may not be heavily optimized for modern API features, this older-level performance means the game's visual settings need to be dialed back significantly to achieve smooth frame rates.

The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks — the Intel Xeon 6505P, Xeon Phi 7290, Ryzen 9 7900X, and EPYC 7313P — are all within 1% of the i7-14700F's average score. This tight clustering shows that the processor is competitive with server and high-end desktop parts, but none of that matters when the GPU cannot render frames fast enough. The combo rank of 2,701 out of 2,935 is a direct reflection of this GPU bottleneck, and the data indicates that swapping the Arc B370 for even a modest discrete GPU would dramatically improve the system's standing in Barony.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience for this combination depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 144 FPS, which is excellent for fast-paced roguelike gameplay, while Medium at 107 FPS is still very smooth and offers better visual quality. High at 92 FPS is also playable, but Ultra at 66 FPS introduces a noticeable step down in fluidity. For players seeking the best balance of visual fidelity and performance at 1080p, the Medium preset at 107 FPS with a minimum of 91 FPS is the recommended choice, as it stays well above the 60 FPS threshold while providing more detail than Low.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more constrained. Low at 91 FPS is the only preset that maintains a comfortable frame rate, with Medium at 67 FPS (minimum 57 FPS) being borderline acceptable for some players. High at 58 FPS and Ultra at 42 FPS are both below the ideal range. The data suggests that 1440p users should stick to Low or Medium, with the caveat that Medium's minimum FPS of 57 could dip into stutter territory during intense scenes. For 4K, none of the presets achieve a truly playable frame rate — Low at 47 FPS, Medium at 35 FPS, High at 30 FPS, and Ultra at 22 FPS — so the recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely with this GPU, or to accept significant visual compromises and play at Low if 4K is mandatory.

The measured Medium rows provide the most complete data, with minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the range is 91 to 123 FPS with a 107 FPS average, showing a 32 FPS variance that indicates some frame time inconsistency. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 57 to 78 FPS with a 67 FPS average, and at 4K Medium, it is 30 to 41 FPS with a 35 FPS average. This tightening range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is becoming more consistently saturated, which can make frame pacing feel more stable even if the average FPS is lower.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 144 FPS, which is the highest measured value across all configurations. Medium settings average 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 FPS and maximum of 123 FPS. High settings average 92 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 66 FPS. This represents a spread of 78 FPS between the lowest and highest presets, indicating that settings have a substantial impact on performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, all frame rates decrease by roughly 30-40% compared to 1080p. Low settings average 91 FPS, Medium averages 67 FPS (minimum 57, maximum 78), High averages 58 FPS, and Ultra averages 42 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 49 FPS, which is a smaller absolute difference than at 1080p but a similar relative drop. The Medium preset's minimum of 57 FPS is notable because it is the only measured minimum that falls below 60 FPS at a non-4K resolution, suggesting that 1440p is the edge of this GPU's comfortable operating range.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal across the board. Low settings average 47 FPS, Medium averages 35 FPS (minimum 30, maximum 41), High averages 30 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. The step from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing: Low drops from 91 to 47 FPS, Medium from 67 to 35 FPS, High from 58 to 30 FPS, and Ultra from 42 to 22 FPS. These halving drops indicate that the memory bandwidth constraint of the System Shared configuration is being hit hard at 4K, as the GPU cannot access data fast enough to maintain frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system in Barony?

A: The data shows that 1080p Low delivers the highest average FPS at 144, while 1080p Medium provides 107 FPS with a minimum of 91 FPS. For a balance of quality and performance, 1080p Medium is the recommended choice. At 1440p, only Low at 91 FPS is fully smooth, and at 4K, even Low at 47 FPS is below ideal playability.

Q: Why does the frame rate drop so dramatically from 1080p to 4K?

A: The Arc B370 uses System Shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." As resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, the pixel count quadruples, and the GPU's 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs become saturated. The data shows roughly 50% frame rate drops when moving from 1440p to 4K at every settings level, indicating a hard memory bandwidth ceiling.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-14700F compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53,620, placing it in the 91st percentile. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon 6505P at 53,701 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 at 53,469 (0.3% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X at 53,288 (0.6% behind), and the AMD EPYC 7313P at 53,206 (0.8% behind). All are within 1% of each other.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. Frame rates scale with resolution and settings in a way that is consistent with GPU saturation, not CPU limitation. The i7-14700F's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,122 and single-core score of 4,958 are far above what Barony would require, while the Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What kind of performance can I expect at 4K with this system?

A: At 3840x2160, the measured results are 47 FPS on Low, 35 FPS on Medium (minimum 30, maximum 41), 30 FPS on High, and 22 FPS on Ultra. None of these reach the 60 FPS threshold typically considered smooth, so 4K gaming is not recommended with the Arc B370 in Barony.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184 is 0.2% behind the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1,186), 0.5% behind the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1,190), 0.7% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1,192), and 1.4% ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1,168). These are all legacy parts, indicating the Arc B370's performance level is roughly a decade old.