Barony

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a highly specific performance profile in Barony, one that is defined more by the integrated graphics solution than the processor. The data shows a configuration that is playable at lower resolutions and settings but quickly becomes constrained as graphical demands increase. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, settings behavior, and the distinct roles of the CPU and GPU in shaping the final results.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) built on the Xe3-LPG architecture, using a 3 nm process from Intel. Its clock speeds are set at a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz, which are the only frequency figures provided. Critically, the GPU has no dedicated VRAM; its memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," meaning the game relies entirely on the host system’s main memory.

This architectural choice has a direct bearing on Barony's results. Without dedicated video memory, the GPU competes with the CPU for system memory bandwidth. The compute capabilities of the Arc B390 are modest, with 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. It also features 12 ray tracing cores, but the game’s measured performance does not suggest these are heavily leveraged. The GPU’s raw throughput figures—7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS for FP16 (2:1)—are the only performance metrics beyond the single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482.

The benchmark data indicates that the Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. The GPU’s percentile ranking against all other GPUs is 9, placing it in the lower tier of tested hardware. Its nearest rivals in the database are all NVIDIA parts from older generations, including the GeForce GT 520MX (average score 1463, deltaPct 1.3) and the GeForce GT 710 (average score 1443, deltaPct 2.7). This proximity in scores confirms that the Arc B390 operates in the entry-level segment, where the lack of dedicated memory and relatively low pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s limit its ability to handle high-resolution textures and complex pixel shading loads. In Barony, a roguelike that can still present dense scenes, this translates to a GPU that is often overburdened as settings and resolution rise.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete grid of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The results show a clear, predictable scaling pattern.

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the configuration performs best. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 159. Moving to Medium settings yields an average of 118 FPS, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 136. High settings produce an average of 102 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, drops the average to 73 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo approaches high-refresh-rate territory, but only at lower presets.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings produce an average of 100 FPS, which is a 59 FPS decrease from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 75 FPS (min 64, max 86), while High settings average 64 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to an average of 46 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p represents a significant step down, but the frame rates remain within a playable range for many users.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the configuration struggles. The highest average FPS is 53, achieved at Low settings. Medium settings yield 39 FPS (min 33, max 45). High settings drop to 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces only 24 FPS. The 4K results are consistently below the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution unsuitable for smooth gameplay with this hardware combination. The data shows that the Arc B390 does not have the fill rate or memory bandwidth to support 4K rendering, even in a less demanding title like Barony.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based strictly on the measured rows, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. The data suggests a trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate that is typical for entry-level hardware.

For 1080p, the Medium preset appears to be the best balance. It delivers an average of 118 FPS with a minimum of 101 FPS, ensuring that the frame rate rarely dips below the 100 FPS mark. This is a significant jump from the 102 FPS average of High settings, and it avoids the frame rate variability seen at the top end. While Low settings offer 159 FPS, the visual quality loss is not necessary to achieve a smooth experience. The Ultra preset, at 73 FPS, still hits the 60 FPS target, but the 45 FPS difference between Medium and Ultra suggests a steep performance cost for the extra detail.

For 1440p, the Low preset is the only one that maintains a high frame rate, averaging 100 FPS. Medium drops to 75 FPS, which is still smooth, but Low is recommended if the goal is to maximize responsiveness. High settings, at 64 FPS, are borderline, while Ultra at 46 FPS falls below the 60 FPS target and is not recommended for action-oriented play.

For 4K, the data shows no preset is fully adequate. Low settings provide the best result at 53 FPS, which is close to 60 but not consistently over it. Medium (39 FPS), High (34 FPS), and Ultra (24 FPS) are all too slow for a good experience. The recommendation for 4K is to either lower the resolution or accept a sub-60 FPS experience, as the hardware is clearly not designed for this workload.

The overarching recommendation from the data is to prioritize Medium settings at 1080p, as this is the only combination that offers both high average FPS and a high minimum FPS. For any resolution above 1080p, users should expect to lower settings to Low to maintain playable frame rates.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and reveals the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 159 at 1080p to 100 at 1440p and then to 53 at 4K. This represents a 33% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a 47% decrease from 1440p to 4K. The pattern is similar for other presets: Medium drops from 118 to 75 to 39, and High drops from 102 to 64 to 34.

These decreases are not linear. The performance loss accelerates as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a pixel-bound workload. The GPU’s pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and its 24 ROPs are the primary constraints here. As the number of pixels quadruples from 1080p to 4K, the GPU must process far more fragments, and the system-shared memory bandwidth becomes a severe bottleneck. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor; if it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions because the CPU workload would be similar. Instead, the sharp decline points directly to the Intel Arc B390’s inability to keep up with the increased pixel throughput demands at higher resolutions.

The fact that the 4K Low setting (53 FPS) is significantly lower than the 1080p Ultra setting (73 FPS) further emphasizes this point. Even with the lowest graphical details, the sheer pixel count overwhelms the GPU. This scaling pattern confirms that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is far more capable than the GPU; the processor is waiting on the graphics chip to finish rendering, not the other way around.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2601 out of 2935 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which is consistent with the GPU’s low percentile ranking of 9. The combo rank is a direct reflection of the GPU’s limitations; the CPU’s high performance does not compensate for the graphics bottleneck.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the database are all low-end NVIDIA parts, including the GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% ahead), the GeForce 800M (1.5% ahead), the GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% ahead), and the GeForce GT 710 (2.7% ahead). These deltas are small, meaning the Arc B390 is essentially in the same performance class as these older, entry-level GPUs. The combo rank of 2601 suggests that most other tested systems deliver better results in Barony, likely because they pair mid-range or high-end discrete graphics cards with their CPUs.

It is important to note that the combo rank is specific to this game. A different title with lower GPU demands might see this combo rank higher, but the data for Barony clearly shows that this configuration is at the low end of the performance spectrum. The CPU, which ranks in the 94th percentile against all CPUs, is not the reason for this low combo rank; the GPU is the sole constraint.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Barony?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 159, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming at a consistent 60 FPS?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 53 at Low settings. All other presets at 4K fall below 40 FPS, with Ultra settings producing only 24 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower. The GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% lower with a score of 1443.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 33 at 3840x2160. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 64, and at 1920x1080, the minimum is 101.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Arc B390’s low percentile rank (9) and the sharp FPS drop with increasing resolution indicate that the graphics chip is the bottleneck, not the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2601 out of 2935 tested combinations in Barony.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake architecture and manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It features 20 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor has a substantial cache hierarchy, including 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

In benchmark tests, the 265K performs strongly. It scores 35850 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2020 in single-core. Its Geekbench scores are 23085 multi-core and 2713 single-core. The CPU’s average benchmark score is 70879, which places it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6511P (average score 71051, deltaPct -0.2) and the Intel Core i7-14700KF (average score 70163, deltaPct 1).

The CPU’s role in Barony is to handle game logic, physics, and AI, which it does with ease. The data shows that the 265K is far more powerful than necessary for this title. The Passmark physics score is 3731, and the integer math score is 143242, indicating strong general-purpose compute capability. However, the measured FPS in Barony is not limited by these CPU metrics. The fact that FPS scales so dramatically with resolution and settings—while the CPU workload stays relatively constant—proves that the processor is idle waiting for the Arc B390.

The 265K’s 20 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient for a roguelike like Barony, which is unlikely to be optimized for massive thread counts. The high boost clock of 5.50 GHz helps with single-threaded performance, which is often more important for game logic. Yet, all this CPU power is effectively wasted in this configuration because the GPU cannot deliver frames fast enough to utilize it. The data suggests that pairing the 265K with a more capable discrete GPU would yield significantly higher FPS in Barony, as the current bottleneck is entirely on the graphics side.