Barony

Barony is a roguelike that punishes hesitation, and the measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination show a rig that keeps you decisively ahead of the action. The data indicates a system with immense headroom at nearly every setting, but the scaling patterns reveal a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution climbs. This pairing is far more nuanced than a simple "it runs fast" summary, with the CPU’s architecture and the GPU’s raw throughput interacting in ways that dictate the optimal way to play.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, but the data shows this is a sign of the GPU finally taking over the workload, not a weakness. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 477.6 FPS, a figure so high that it is obviously constrained by the CPU’s ability to feed the renderer. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 332.1 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 171.6 FPS. This is a classic pattern: at lower resolutions, the Ryzen 5 3600’s six cores are the limiting factor, while the RTX 4070 SUPER is effectively idle. The gap between 1080p and 1440p at Low is 145.5 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 160.5 FPS, showing that the GPU is beginning to feel the load but is still not saturated.

The Ultra preset tells a different story. At 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 240.3 FPS, which drops to 150.2 FPS at 1440p, and then to 78.8 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 37.5%, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is about 47.5%. This increasing rate of decline indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is now the primary bottleneck, as the higher pixel count and more demanding effects overwhelm its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 192-bit bus. The 4K Ultra result of 78.8 FPS is the only point where the system feels challenged, suggesting that for a smooth 4K experience, you must dial back the settings.

Benchmark results indicate that the transition from High to Ultra is the most punishing. At 4K, High yields 108.9 FPS, a solid number, but Ultra drops to 78.8 FPS—a 30.1 FPS penalty for the extra graphical fidelity. This scaling shows that the GPU’s architecture, with its 7168 shading units, handles the increased load at 1440p and below with ease, but the 4K Ultra preset is the breaking point. The data clearly shows that the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K, a healthy sign for a balanced system.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a Zen 2 part with 6 cores and 12 threads, clocked at a base of 3.60 GHz and a boost of 4.20 GHz. In a game like Barony, which is not heavily threaded, the single-core performance is paramount. The 3DMark single-thread score of 696 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2124 are modest by modern standards, but they are sufficient to drive the high frame rates seen at 1080p. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the CPU is the bottleneck, producing 477.6 FPS, which confirms its efficiency in this title despite its older architecture.

The 3DMark 2-thread score of 1361 and 4-thread score of 2579 suggest that Barony’s engine likely utilizes a few cores well, but the scaling from 4 to 8 threads (3844) is less dramatic, indicating diminishing returns. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a benefit for game data, but the lack of a vCache 3D variant means it cannot match the newer parts. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 3600’s average benchmark score of 18129 is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-11400 (18150, deltaPct -0.1) and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (18158, deltaPct -0.2). This parity in synthetic tests translates to a CPU that holds its own, but it is clear that the high frame rates at 1080p are more a result of the GPU’s sheer power than the CPU’s muscle.

The boost clock of 4.20 GHz is the key to its performance here. The measured FPS at 1080p High (333.4) versus 1080p Medium (388.3) shows a 54.9 FPS increase when lowering settings, which is a CPU-driven gain. This suggests that the Ryzen 5 3600’s core speed is the limiting factor in these scenarios, as the GPU is not being taxed. The PassMark single-thread score of 2562 confirms that this is not a top-tier single-core performer, but it is adequate for Barony’s requirements. The data implies that if you are playing at 1080p with a high refresh rate monitor, the CPU will cap your FPS, but it will do so at a level that is still far beyond playable.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Barony?

A: The data shows that 1440p is the sweet spot. At High settings, the combo delivers 209.8 FPS, which is a massive improvement over 4K’s 108.9 FPS and still far above 1080p’s 333.4 FPS, offering a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate headroom.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Barony?

A: Yes, but only with settings adjustments. At 4K High, the average FPS is 108.9, which is smooth. However, at 4K Ultra, it drops to 78.8 FPS, which is still playable but shows the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The benchmark results indicate the CPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 477.6 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it produces 240.3 FPS. The GPU is not being fully utilized at this resolution, as the CPU’s 6-core, 12-thread configuration is the limiting factor.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3600 compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600’s average benchmark score is 18129, which is statistically identical to the Intel Core i5-11400 at 18150, a deltaPct of -0.1. It is also effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 1600, which scores 18158, a deltaPct of -0.2.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: The penalty is significant. At 4K, High settings yield 108.9 FPS, while Ultra drops to 78.8 FPS, a 30.1 FPS loss. At 1440p, the difference is 59.6 FPS (209.8 vs 150.2), and at 1080p, it is 93.1 FPS (333.4 vs 240.3).

Q: Does the GPU have enough video memory for this game?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory. The measured data shows no signs of memory-related stutters or crashes, and the 4K Ultra preset, while demanding, still produces 78.8 FPS, indicating the memory capacity is sufficient for Barony.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this pairing is positioned surprisingly low. The combo rank in game is 330 out of 1702 combos, placing it in the top 19.4% of all tested configurations. This might seem modest for a system with such high raw FPS, but the rank reflects the fact that Barony is a light game, and many newer CPUs and GPUs can hit similar frame rates. The rank of 330 suggests that while this combo is excellent, there are 329 other tested combinations that outperform it, likely due to newer CPU architectures that can push even higher frame rates at 1080p.

The data shows that the combo’s performance is more impressive at higher resolutions. At 4K High, the 108.9 FPS result is strong, but the rank is dragged down by the sheer number of combos that can also achieve this level of performance. The RTX 4070 SUPER’s average benchmark score of 42576 places it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A6000, scores 42653 with a deltaPct of -0.2, showing that they are essentially equivalent in synthetic tests. This means the GPU is not holding the combo back; the rank is more a reflection of the CPU’s age.

The Ryzen 5 3600’s percentile rank of 76 out of all CPUs is respectable, but it is not a top-tier part. The fact that this combo ranks 330rd overall suggests that in a game like Barony, which favors high single-core clock speeds, the CPU’s 4.20 GHz boost clock is a limiting factor compared to newer parts. However, the measured FPS numbers are so high that the rank is almost academic; the system will not struggle in real-world usage. The data implies that if you are upgrading from a lower-end system, this combo is a massive step up, but if you are chasing the absolute top of the leaderboards, there are faster options.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to a simple rule: prioritize High settings. At 1080p, High settings give you 333.4 FPS, which is absurdly fast and will max out any monitor. Moving to Medium gives you 388.3 FPS, but the visual fidelity loss is not worth the extra 54.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p gives 240.3 FPS, which is still excellent, but the performance drop from High is 93.1 FPS, making High the clear choice for a balance of quality and speed.

At 1440p, the recommendation is also High. The 209.8 FPS average is more than enough for a high refresh rate panel, and it is a massive 59.6 FPS jump over Ultra’s 150.2 FPS. The Low preset gives 332.1 FPS, but it looks poor, and the Medium preset’s 248 FPS is close to High but with worse shadows and textures. The data suggests that High is the optimal preset for 1440p, as it offers a 60% improvement over Ultra while retaining most of the visual quality.

At 4K, the choice is more nuanced. High settings yield 108.9 FPS, which is smooth and playable. The Ultra preset drops to 78.8 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS, but the 30.1 FPS penalty is substantial. The Medium preset gives 128.9 FPS, which is a better option if you want to maximize frame rate, but High is the recommended setting because it offers the best visual experience without sacrificing the playability that Barony demands. The Low preset at 4K (171.6 FPS) is unnecessary, as the visual downgrade is too severe.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system is incredibly fast. With Low settings, the average FPS is 477.6. Medium settings produce 388.3 FPS. High settings yield 333.4 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 240.3 FPS. The scaling is linear, with each preset step costing roughly 45-55 FPS, indicating a CPU-limited scenario where the GPU has plenty of headroom.

At 2560x1440, the performance is still exceptional. Low settings average 332.1 FPS. Medium settings produce 248 FPS. High settings yield 209.8 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 150.2 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 84.1 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 38.2 FPS, showing that the GPU is starting to become more involved in the rendering process.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 171.6 FPS. Medium settings produce 128.9 FPS. High settings yield 108.9 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 78.8 FPS. The performance penalty from High to Ultra is 30.1 FPS, which is the largest relative drop in the dataset, confirming that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB memory and 192-bit bus are stressed at this resolution. All measured FPS values are averages, with no minimum or maximum frame data provided, so the consistency of these frame rates is unknown, but the averages themselves are uniformly high across the board.