Barony

Barony is a roguelike that, on this hardware, delivers exceptional frame rates across every resolution and preset tested, with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti combination ranking in the top 15% of all tested configurations. The data indicates a system overwhelmingly capable of pushing this 2015 title far beyond the typical high-refresh-rate thresholds, with the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K still averaging 85.8 FPS.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture and codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, and the benchmark results show this CPU has a strong single-thread performance foundation, scoring 882 in 3dmark_single_thread and 3256 in passmark_single_thread. These figures are critical for a game like Barony, where the simulation of dungeon elements and entity logic often hinges on single-core responsiveness.

The processor’s multi-threaded capabilities are robust as well, with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 5659 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 18309, ensuring that background tasks or additional game threads do not become a bottleneck. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide ample data throughput for game assets. The Ryzen 5 5600’s average benchmark score of 21765 places it at the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival being the Intel Xeon D-1746TER, which it edges out by 0.6%. While the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions, the data suggests that at 1080p, the processor’s headroom is what allows the GPU to reach its maximum output, as evidenced by the 550.2 FPS average on Low settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the dominant force in this pairing, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. With a boost clock of 2610 MHz and 7680 shading units, the GPU is designed for high-throughput rendering. Its benchmark scores reflect this, with a Geekbench OpenCL score of 205028 and a Passmark G3D score of 31624, placing it at the 85th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rival in its class is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which is just 0.6% ahead, indicating the 4070 Ti is performing at the top of its expected range.

The GPU’s role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 85.8, showing the rendering load scales significantly with pixel count. The 12 GB VRAM buffer is more than sufficient for Barony, which is not a texture-heavy title, but the GPU’s raw compute power is what drives the high frame rates. The transition from 1080p to 1440p sees a significant performance shift, but the GPU still maintains frame rates above 157 FPS even on the most demanding Ultra preset at 1440p, proving its capability to handle high refresh rates at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal balance between visual fidelity and performance is achieved with the High preset at 1440p. This setting yields an average of 222.9 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor. While the Ultra preset at 1440p still delivers a very playable 157.9 FPS, the visual difference between High and Ultra in a game with Barony’s art style is often negligible, making High the more efficient choice. For users targeting 4K, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it provides 117.1 FPS, which is a smooth experience, whereas Ultra drops to 85.8 FPS. The Low preset at 4K offers 183 FPS, but it sacrifices visual quality for performance that is likely unnecessary given the High preset's already high frame rate. The Medium preset serves as a middle ground, but the High preset consistently offers a better frame rate per visual step.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ranks 249th out of 1702 tested combos in Barony, placing it in the top 14.6% of all configurations. This is a strong result, indicating that this pairing is well-balanced for this specific game, even though it is not at the absolute top tier. The high rank is primarily driven by the GPU’s exceptional performance, as the CPU’s 79th percentile standing is respectable but not class-leading. The data shows that the system does not suffer from a significant bottleneck; the GPU is able to stretch its legs at lower resolutions, and the CPU keeps up with the demands of the game logic. This rank suggests that while there are faster combos, this setup is firmly in the upper echelon of performance for Barony, offering a premium experience without being the absolute fastest.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Barony at 4K resolution with high settings?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 117.1 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings, which is well above the standard 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for maximum frame rate?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 550.2 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded in the data.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1080p and 4K on Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 251 at 1080p Ultra to 85.8 at 4K Ultra. This represents a significant reduction of 165.2 FPS, or roughly 65.8% lower performance as resolution increases.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. For example, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate is 85.8 FPS, while at 1080p Low, it reaches 550.2 FPS. The large gap suggests the CPU can handle the game's logic, but the GPU's rendering workload at 4K limits the final output.

Q: Is this a good combo for high-refresh-rate gaming (144Hz or 240Hz)?

A: Yes, it is excellent. The system exceeds 144 FPS on High settings at both 1080p (349.4 FPS) and 1440p (222.9 FPS). It also surpasses 240 FPS on Medium settings at 1080p (407.5 FPS) and 1440p (255.5 FPS), making it suitable for very demanding monitors.

Q: How does this combo compare to other systems tested?

A: This specific pairing ranks 249th out of 1702 tested combinations, placing it in the top 15% of all configurations tested for Barony.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for this hardware combination across all tested settings and resolutions.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | ------: |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 183.0 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 133.6 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 117.1 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 85.8 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 348.2 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 255.5 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 222.9 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 157.9 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 550.2 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 407.5 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 349.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 251.0 |

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is steep and highlights the GPU's workload. Moving from 1080p High (349.4 FPS) to 1440p High (222.9 FPS) results in a 36.2% drop in frame rate. The transition from 1440p High to 4K High (117.1 FPS) is even more severe, showing a 47.5% decrease. This demonstrates that while the RTX 4070 Ti is powerful, the jump in pixel count from 1440p to 4K (roughly 2.25 times more pixels) demands significantly more from the GPU. At 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high, suggesting that the CPU and GPU are working in tandem without a major bottleneck. However, the linear drop in performance as resolution climbs indicates a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher settings. The data shows that the system is best utilized at 1440p or 1080p for maximum frame rates, while 4K is still a viable option for high-quality gaming, just with lower, albeit still smooth, performance.