Barony

Barony is a roguelike, but the benchmark data measured for this CPU/GPU pairing shows frame rates that belong to a fast action game. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers exceptionally high performance across all tested resolutions, with the data clearly showing where each component's strengths and limits lie. The Ryzen 7 5700, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, provides a strong foundation, while the RTX 4080 SUPER's massive 16 GB frame buffer and high bandwidth ensure that visual quality settings have a predictable impact on performance. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to explain what these numbers mean for a builder considering this pairing.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is a Zen 3 architecture processor on the AM4 socket, running at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a 65 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20655 and a single-core score of 2916. Its average benchmark score of 27220 places it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 5700 is effectively tied in average score. It is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900K and 0.8% ahead of both the Intel Core i7-12700H and the Intel Core i7-1370P. It also leads the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 by 1.2%. This tells us that the 5700 is a very consistent performer, offering performance that is statistically identical to several other well-known chips.

For Barony specifically, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, but not irrelevant. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 599. This is a staggeringly high number that approaches the limits of common display refresh rates. The fact that the CPU can feed the GPU enough data to hit this frame rate indicates that its single-thread performance is more than adequate for this game's logic. The 3DMark single-thread score of 901 and the Passmark single-thread score of 3296 support this, showing strong per-core capability. In a roguelike, where the game state and entity logic often run on a single thread, this strong single-thread performance is crucial for maintaining high frame rates, especially when many objects are on screen.

The multi-threaded capabilities are less critical here, but the 16 threads ensure that any background tasks or streaming operations won't cause frame hitches. The 16 MB of L3 cache is also beneficial for keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 5700 will not be a bottleneck in this game, regardless of the resolution, as the frame rates scale predictably with GPU load.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing. It is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. Its boost clock is 2550 MHz, and it operates with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This is a high-end card, as evidenced by its 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53610.

In the nearest rival comparison, the RTX 4080 SUPER leads the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT by 0.2%, the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M by 0.4%, the AMD Radeon RX 7700S by 2.1%, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti by 2.9%. These are all within a narrow band, indicating that the 4080 SUPER is at the top of its class, though not definitively ahead of its closest competitors.

The GPU's role in Barony is clear from the FPS data. It is the primary driver of performance scaling. When settings are increased from Low to High at a given resolution, the frame rate drops, which is a classic sign of GPU load increasing. The massive 16 GB VRAM buffer is a significant advantage, as it allows the card to hold all textures and assets for the game without any memory pressure. This is likely why the game runs so smoothly at 4K Ultra, a setting that often cripples cards with less memory. The high bandwidth ensures that data can be fed to the GPU cores quickly, preventing stalls. The data shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER is not just capable of running Barony; it is capable of dominating it at any setting.

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

The measured FPS data clearly illustrates the shift in system bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p, the frame rates are astronomical, with the Low preset hitting 599 FPS. This suggests the system is not heavily limited by the GPU at this resolution. The CPU is likely doing more of the heavy lifting to generate the frames, but even so, it is not a bottleneck, as the frame rates are extremely high.

Moving to 1440p, we see a significant drop in performance across all settings. For example, the High preset drops from 378.8 FPS at 1080p to 239.6 FPS at 1440p, a 36.7% decrease. The Low preset drops from 599 FPS to 376.8 FPS, a 37.1% decrease. This substantial drop indicates that the GPU is now becoming the primary limiting factor. The increased pixel count requires the GPU to do more work, and we see the consequences in the frame rate.

At 4K, the GPU is firmly in charge. The High preset drops from 239.6 FPS at 1440p to 128.4 FPS at 4K, a 46.4% decrease. The Ultra preset shows the most significant scaling, dropping from 174.2 FPS at 1440p to 89.5 FPS at 4K. This is a clear indication that the RTX 4080 SUPER is being fully utilized at this resolution. The pattern is textbook: the higher the resolution, the more the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the less the CPU matters. The fact that the frame rate at 4K High (128.4 FPS) is still very high shows that the GPU is powerful enough to handle the resolution without issue, but the scaling confirms the GPU is the active bottleneck in this scenario.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU/GPU combo overkill for a roguelike like Barony?

A: The data suggests it is exceptionally powerful. At 1080p Low, the system averages 599 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. Even at 4K Ultra, it manages an average of 89.5 FPS. This pairing is designed for maximum performance, and Barony is clearly not a demanding title for it, as the high frame rates indicate plenty of headroom.

Q: What resolution gives the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p High seems to be a sweet spot. It delivers an average of 239.6 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while still offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p. This is a high frame rate that will easily support high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset?

A: You can, but the data shows a considerable cost. At 4K, the Ultra preset averages 89.5 FPS compared to 128.4 FPS on High, a drop of about 30%. At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 174.2 FPS, which is still fast. If you prioritize frame rate over the marginal visual differences, High is the more efficient choice.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its closest rival, the RTX 5070 Ti?

A: The benchmark data shows the RTX 4080 SUPER has an average score of 53610, which is 2.9% higher than the RTX 5070 Ti's average score of 52086. This indicates the 4080 SUPER is slightly faster overall in synthetic tests, and it is a mature, end-of-life product.

Q: Does the CPU's performance limit the system at any resolution?

A: The data indicates no. The CPU's performance is consistent, and the frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings. The bottleneck shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K, but the CPU is never a limiting factor, as it is able to deliver the necessary data to the GPU at all settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear guide for optimizing settings. At 1080p, the system is so powerful that the choice of settings is purely about preference. The Low preset at 599 FPS is unnecessary for most users; the Ultra preset at 272.4 FPS is still incredibly fast and will provide the best visual experience without any perceived performance cost.

At 1440p, the data suggests that High is the best overall preset. It delivers an average of 239.6 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many monitors. The Ultra preset at 174.2 FPS is also excellent, but it offers diminishing returns in visual fidelity for a 27% performance hit. For a competitive edge or maximum smoothness, High is the recommended choice.

At 4K, the decision becomes more critical. The Ultra preset averages 89.5 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The High preset averages 128.4 FPS, providing a much smoother experience. The Medium preset at 144 FPS is also viable. The recommendation is to use High for the best balance of performance and visual quality on a 4K display, as it provides a substantial frame rate advantage over Ultra while still looking great.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the average FPS measured for this system.

1920x1080

• Low: 599.0 FPS
• Medium: 443.7 FPS
• High: 378.8 FPS
• Ultra: 272.4 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 376.8 FPS
• Medium: 277.7 FPS
• High: 239.6 FPS
• Ultra: 174.2 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: 197.3 FPS
• Medium: 144.0 FPS
• High: 128.4 FPS
• Ultra: 89.5 FPS

This data shows a predictable and consistent pattern. The FPS scales down as resolution and settings increase. The gap between Low and Ultra presets narrows as resolution increases, going from a 326.6 FPS difference at 1080p to a 107.8 FPS difference at 4K. This indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The combination is ranked 141st out of 1702 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top 8.3% of all systems, which aligns with the high performance demonstrated in these measurements.