Barony

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a six-core, twelve-thread processor from the 2000 series, built on the 12 nm Zen architecture. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Its benchmark percentile versus all CPUs is 77, and its average benchmark score is 19616. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 2600 is essentially a statistical tie with several modern parts: it is 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-1345U, 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 0.6% behind the Intel Core i5-11600KF, and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i7-10700F. This indicates that while the CPU is older, its six cores and twelve threads still deliver competitive multi-threaded performance for a game like Barony, which is a roguelike title that likely does not demand extreme core counts. The single-core performance, as reflected in Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1579, is more modest, but the game’s results suggest that the CPU is more than adequate for the workload, especially since the highest frame rates at lower resolutions are still extremely high.

The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s over dual-channel DDR4 is a potential bottleneck in theory, but in practice, the measured frame rates in Barony show that the processor keeps up with the GPU at 1080p, where the frame rate is at its peak. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the frame rate scales downward when the GPU becomes more stressed. The Ryzen 5 2600’s position in the 77th percentile of all CPUs means it outperforms a majority of processors, and its 12 threads provide enough parallel processing headroom for a roguelike that may have many entities on screen. The fact that it trades blows with the Intel Core i5-1345U and the Ryzen 5 7530U, which are much newer, suggests that the 2600 remains a viable part for this specific gaming scenario, particularly when paired with a high-end GPU like the RTX 3070.

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

The Ryzen 5 2600 provides six cores and twelve threads, which is a solid foundation for a game like Barony. The game’s roguelike nature often involves complex procedural generation and many simultaneous in-game systems, which can benefit from multiple threads. The base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz are moderate, but the benchmark results indicate that they are sufficient. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches an average of 388.8 FPS, which is an extraordinarily high frame rate that suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data quickly. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11186 and the Passmark multi-thread score of 13160 show that the processor’s aggregate throughput is competitive, sitting right next to the Intel Core i5-1345U (0.4% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (0.6% behind). This parity means that the CPU is not a weak link in this system.

The single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1579, is less impressive, but the game’s frame rates at lower resolutions show that this is not a hindrance. At 1440p Low, the average FPS is 246.2, and at 1080p Low, it is 388.8. If the CPU were severely limited by its single-core speed, these numbers would likely cap out at a lower value. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: as the resolution increases, the frame rate drops, which is a classic sign that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck rather than the CPU. The CPU’s 16 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB per-core L2 cache are modest, but they are adequate for a game of this genre. The Ryzen 5 2600’s percentile of 77 versus all CPUs reinforces that it is a mid-range performer, and in Barony, it does exactly what is required: it delivers high frame rates without being the constraining component, especially when the graphical load is lighter.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is an Ampere-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1725 MHz, and it has 5888 shading units. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 28238, with a percentile of 72 versus all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, which is 0.9% behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, which is 1% behind, showing that the RTX 3070 is a strong performer but not at the very top of the stack. In Barony, the GPU’s role becomes evident when examining the frame rate differences across settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 57.1, which is a demanding scenario for the 8 GB VRAM and the GPU’s compute capabilities. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the textures and effects at this resolution, but the raw pixel throughput is what causes the frame rate to dip.

The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is a key factor in how it handles high-resolution textures. At 4K High, the average FPS is 82.2, which is still playable, but it shows a significant drop from 1080p High at 248.6 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the CPU is likely not the bottleneck when the frame rate is lower. The RTX 3070’s 20.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is a theoretical measure, but the real-world data shows that it can handle Barony very well at lower settings, even at 4K, where Low settings yield 128.6 FPS. The GPU’s performance relative to its rivals—slightly ahead of the RX 6600 XT and GTX 980 Ti—indicates that it is a well-balanced card for this title, offering high frame rates at 1440p and playable frame rates at 4K, with the understanding that Ultra settings will stress it at the highest resolution.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of frame rate reduction as the resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 388.8 at 1080p to 246.2 at 1440p, and then to 128.6 at 4K. This represents a 36.7% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a 66.9% decrease from 1080p to 4K. Such a steep decline is a classic indicator that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU’s workload does not change significantly with resolution. The RTX 3070 is being pushed harder at higher resolutions, and its pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become the constraints. At Medium settings, the drop is similar: 289.5 FPS at 1080p, 178.6 at 1440p, and 97.8 at 4K. The frame rate at 4K Medium is still above 60 FPS, which is good, but the scaling shows that the GPU is working much harder.

At High settings, the pattern continues with 248.6 FPS at 1080p, 157.4 at 1440p, and 82.2 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 66.9%, which is nearly identical to the Low settings drop, suggesting that the GPU’s workload is scaling proportionally with the number of pixels. The most demanding scenario is Ultra settings, where the frame rate goes from 174.6 at 1080p to 114.2 at 1440p, and then to 57.1 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only one that falls below 60 FPS, indicating that the RTX 3070 is at its limit with maximum settings at 4K. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution, because if it were, the frame rates would not scale so dramatically with resolution. Instead, the GPU’s performance is what determines the playability, and the 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for most settings, but not for 4K Ultra.

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

Starting at 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 388.8, which is an extremely high number that leaves plenty of headroom for a high-refresh-rate monitor. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS is 289.5, which is still very fast. High settings produce 248.6 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 174.6 FPS. At 1080p, even the most demanding settings are well above the refresh rate of most monitors, making this resolution the sweet spot for competitive play or for maximizing frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a noticeable decrease. Low settings average 246.2 FPS, Medium settings average 178.6 FPS, High settings average 157.4 FPS, and Ultra settings average 114.2 FPS. All of these are above 60 FPS, and even the Ultra result is suitable for a 144 Hz monitor with some margin. The transition from 1080p to 1440p is where the GPU starts to feel the load, but the RTX 3070 handles it with ease.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop substantially. Low settings average 128.6 FPS, Medium settings average 97.8 FPS, High settings average 82.2 FPS, and Ultra settings average 57.1 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only one that dips below 60 FPS, making it the only scenario where the system might struggle to maintain smooth gameplay on a standard 60 Hz display. High settings at 4K are still playable, and Low settings are very smooth. The data shows that the RTX 3070 is capable of handling 4K, but users must be selective with settings to keep frame rates high.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 174.6, which is well above the refresh rate of most monitors.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 a bottleneck for the RTX 3070 in this game?

A: The data suggests no. The frame rates scale significantly with resolution, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 19616 is within 0.7% of its nearest rivals, showing it is not holding back the system.

*Q: Can this system run Barony at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 128.6, and with High settings it is 82.2. Only Ultra settings drop below 60 FPS, with an average of 57.1.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 28238, which is 0.9% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT’s score of 27985.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average FPS is 57.1, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking versus all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is in the 77th percentile versus all CPUs, indicating it outperforms 77% of processors in the benchmark database.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for the best experience. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 174.6 FPS, which is still very high and will fully utilize a 144 Hz monitor while providing the best visual fidelity. There is no need to compromise on settings at this resolution. At 1440p, the Ultra preset is also recommended, with an average of 114.2 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and suitable for most high-refresh-rate displays. If a user is targeting a consistent 144 FPS, then the High preset at 157.4 FPS is a better option, but the visual quality difference may not be worth it given the high frame rates available.

At 4K, the recommendation depends on the display’s refresh rate. For a 60 Hz monitor, the High preset is the best choice, as it averages 82.2 FPS, which is above 60 and provides a smooth experience with good visual quality. The Ultra preset at 57.1 FPS is just below 60, which may be acceptable for some users, but it risks occasional dips. For a 144 Hz 4K display, the Medium preset at 97.8 FPS or the Low preset at 128.6 FPS would be more appropriate, as they provide higher frame rates. The Low preset at 4K is the most responsive, but the visual trade-off is significant. The data shows that the RTX 3070 can handle 4K, but the Ultra preset is only for those who prioritize visuals over smoothness and are willing to accept a frame rate just under 60. For most users, the High preset at 4K offers the best balance of performance and visual quality.