Barony

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers extraordinary frame rates in Barony, a roguelike where the data suggests the GPU is rarely the bottleneck. The combination of an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture with a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache provides a formidable foundation, while the RTX 5090’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth ensures that even the most demanding settings are handled with ease. The measured results reveal a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet surprisingly CPU-limited at 1080p, creating a fascinating dynamic for analysis.

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

The Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore result of 22366 and a single-core score of 3157, place it in the 82nd percentile among all CPUs. The processor’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core i7-1360P, which trails by a mere 0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, which is 0.3% behind. This indicates that the 5700X3D is competitively positioned, though its true strength in gaming often comes from its large L3 cache.

In Barony, the CPU’s impact is most evident at 1080p resolution, where the frame rates are incredibly high but show the smallest relative gains from GPU upgrades. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 552.2 FPS, while High settings yield 441.9 FPS. The fact that the 1080p Low result is only 25% higher than the 1080p High result, despite the significant reduction in graphical load, suggests that the CPU is beginning to cap performance. The 16 threads are likely sufficient for the game’s logic, but the single-thread performance, as evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 1922, becomes a limiting factor when the GPU is this powerful.

The data implies that the 5700X3D’s 96 MB of shared L3 cache is more beneficial than its raw clock speeds for this roguelike genre, which often involves procedural generation and complex entity management. This cache configuration helps maintain stable minimum frame rates, even if the average FPS is constrained by the CPU at lower resolutions. The processor’s performance in the 3DMark 16-thread test (6764) versus its single-thread score (804) further illustrates that while it is a capable multi-threaded part, its per-core efficiency is modest compared to newer architectures.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a flagship graphics card built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus. Its boost clock of 2407 MHz and memory clock of 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective) contribute to a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s, which is critical for high-resolution textures. The GPU’s benchmark scores are dominant, with a Passmark G3D score of 39650 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14411, placing it in the 94th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, is only 0.1% ahead, indicating that this card is at the very top of the performance stack.

In Barony, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly pronounced as resolution scales. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 102, which is a 67% reduction from the 4K Low result of 225.4 FPS. This dramatic falloff at 4K Ultra highlights that the RTX 5090 is being fully utilized, with the 32 GB VRAM likely absorbing large texture sets without issue. The 4K High result of 146.5 FPS is still exceptionally playable, but the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K (123 FPS difference) shows that the GPU’s shading units and RT cores are the primary drivers of performance at this resolution.

The GPU’s raw compute power, measured at 104.8 TFLOPS FP32, ensures that Barony’s visual effects, including lighting and particle systems, are rendered with ease. However, the data suggests that the RTX 5090 is overkill for this game at 1080p, where the CPU becomes the bottleneck. The 552.2 FPS at 1080p Low is likely near the engine’s logical limit, and the GPU’s performance headroom is not fully exploited until the resolution is increased to 4K.

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

The measured FPS rows provide clear guidance on the optimal settings for this combination. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver frame rates well above 300 FPS, with Low at 552.2 FPS, Medium at 497.5 FPS, High at 441.9 FPS, and Ultra at 313.5 FPS. Given that the CPU is likely the limiting factor here, the recommendation is to use Ultra settings, as the 313.5 FPS result still far exceeds any display’s refresh rate, and the visual fidelity gains are substantial. The 76% performance drop from Low to Ultra is acceptable when the absolute FPS remains so high.

At 2560x1440, the data shows a similar pattern. Ultra settings yield 200.2 FPS, which is still exceptional, while Low reaches 435.9 FPS. The medium preset at 322.8 FPS and High at 278.6 FPS both offer a balanced experience. For a 1440p monitor with a 240 Hz refresh rate, High settings would be the best choice, as 278.6 FPS exceeds that threshold, and the visual quality is superior to Medium. Ultra at 200.2 FPS is also viable for 144 Hz displays.

At 3840x2160, the choice becomes more nuanced. Ultra settings drop to 102 FPS, which is still playable but may not satisfy users with high-refresh 4K displays. High settings at 146.5 FPS provide the best balance for 4K, offering a 44% performance increase over Ultra while maintaining most visual features. Medium at 171.7 FPS is a good alternative for those prioritizing frame rate over detail. Low at 225.4 FPS is unnecessary unless targeting extreme refresh rates, as the visual compromise is significant. The data suggests that High at 4K is the sweet spot for this combination.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 49th out of 1702 combos in Barony. This places it in the top 2.9% of all tested systems, which is remarkable given that the CPU is not the absolute fastest available. The rank reflects the overall balance of the system, where the RTX 5090’s immense power compensates for the CPU’s mid-range position among desktop processors.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 82 and the GPU’s percentile rank of 94 indicate that the GPU is the stronger component, which aligns with the resolution scaling data. At 4K, the combo’s performance is likely closer to the top of the rankings, as the GPU takes over the workload. However, at 1080p, the CPU may hold the system back relative to combos using newer processors with higher single-thread scores. The 49th rank suggests that while this is a top-tier setup, there are 48 other combinations that achieve even higher average FPS, likely due to superior CPU performance in CPU-bound scenarios.

This ranking also implies that the system is well-suited for 1440p and 4K gaming, where the GPU’s dominance is more impactful. For users with a 1080p monitor, the data suggests that they are not fully utilizing the RTX 5090’s capabilities, as the CPU becomes the limiting factor. The combo’s position in the top 50 out of 1702 confirms the RTX 5090’s sheer power, even when paired with a processor that is not at the very top of the charts.

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

Analyzing the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals critical insights into the system’s bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 441.9 at 1080p to 278.6 at 1440p, a 37% reduction, and then to 146.5 at 4K, a 67% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound system, where the rendering load increases quadratically with resolution. The fact that the 4K High result is less than half of the 1080p High result confirms that the RTX 5090 is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions.

However, the Low settings tell a different story. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 552.2 FPS, which drops to 435.9 at 1440p (a 21% reduction) and then to 225.4 at 4K (a 59% reduction from 1080p). The smaller drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings suggests that the CPU is still a significant factor at 1080p, as the GPU is not being fully stressed. The 4K Low result, while lower, still shows a substantial reduction, indicating that the GPU becomes more involved even at low graphical settings due to the sheer pixel count.

The data implies that at 1080p, the system is CPU-bound, as evidenced by the relatively small FPS difference between Low and Medium (552.2 vs 497.5). At 4K, the system is clearly GPU-bound, with a much larger spread between settings (225.4 Low vs 102 Ultra). This transition point appears to be around 1440p, where the balance shifts from CPU to GPU dominance. For users seeking maximum frame rates, 1080p Low is the top result, but for a balanced experience, 1440p or 4K with High settings is recommended.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Barony?

A: The highest average FPS is 552.2, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 5700X3D compare to its nearest rival in CPU benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D’s average benchmark score is 24673, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-1360P and 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is in the 94th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84306.

Q: At 4K Ultra settings, what is the average FPS?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 102.

Q: Is the system more CPU-bound or GPU-bound at 1440p?

A: The data suggests a transition point around 1440p, where the system shifts from CPU-bound at 1080p to GPU-bound at 4K. At 1440p, the FPS differences between settings are moderate, indicating a balanced load.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations in Barony?

A: This combo ranks 49th out of 1702 tested combinations, placing it in the top 2.9%.

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

The following table presents the exact measured average FPS values for each resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|------------|----------|-------------|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 552.2 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 497.5 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 441.9 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 313.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 435.9 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 322.8 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 278.6 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 200.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 225.4 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 171.7 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 146.5 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 102 |

The data reveals a consistent pattern: at every resolution, Low settings provide the highest FPS, while Ultra provides the lowest. The performance gap between Low and Ultra widens with resolution, from a 76% difference at 1080p to a 121% difference at 4K. This reinforces the conclusion that the GPU becomes the dominant factor as resolution increases, while the CPU’s influence is most pronounced at 1080p. For this combination, the measured results indicate that users should prioritize High settings at 4K for the optimal balance of visual quality and frame rate, while 1440p Ultra is a viable option for high-refresh monitors.