Barony

Barony is a roguelike, but the measured frame rates for this AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination reveal a system that is heavily optimized for high refresh rates, with the CPU proving to be a formidable partner for the GPU. The data shows a configuration capable of delivering exceptional performance at 1080p and 1440p, while still maintaining playable frame rates at 4K Ultra settings. The benchmark results indicate that this is a pairing that favors esports-level responsiveness and fluidity over raw 4K cinematic rendering, with the CPU's large cache and the GPU's modern architecture working in concert to eliminate bottlenecks at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies in this system. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves a staggering 302 FPS, which drops to 191 FPS at 1440p and 100 FPS at 4K. This is a 68% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the workload is scaling almost entirely with pixel count. This behavior is expected for a GPU-bound scenario; as the resolution increases, the load on the graphics card grows, and the CPU's ability to feed frames becomes less of a limiting factor.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. When moving from 1440p to 4K on High settings, the average frame rate drops from 122 FPS to 64 FPS, a 47.5% decrease. Similarly, on Ultra settings, the drop is from 87 FPS to 46 FPS, a 47.1% reduction. This consistency suggests that the performance ceiling at 1080p is likely set by the CPU, while at 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the primary constraint. The fact that the 1080p Low preset hits 302 FPS while the 4K Ultra preset only manages 46 FPS demonstrates that the system's performance envelope is vast, but the GPU is the component that determines the ultimate visual fidelity ceiling.

The data suggests that the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with its 96 MB of shared L3 cache, is exceptionally well-suited for this game at high frame rates. The jump from 1440p to 4K on Medium settings shows a drop from 142 FPS to 74 FPS, which is a 47.9% reduction. This indicates that the GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient to handle the increased data throughput at 1440p, but the sheer pixel count at 4K begins to overwhelm the GPU's processing power, leading to the significant frame rate decline. The system is clearly not CPU-limited at 4K, as the frame rates there are far below what the processor is capable of supporting.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware configurations for Barony, this CPU and GPU pairing lands at rank 1775 out of 2935 combos. This places it in the 60th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than half of the configurations in the database but is not near the top. The ranking is a composite score that reflects the system's overall capability across all tested resolutions and settings. While the raw frame rates at 1080p are impressive, the system's performance at 4K Ultra, where it only manages 46 FPS, likely pulls its overall rank down, as higher resolutions and settings carry more weight in the ranking algorithm.

The CPU itself, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, holds an 80th percentile rank against all CPUs, which is a strong showing. Its average benchmark score of 27896 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U with a score of 27887 and a deltaPct of 0, and the Intel Core i9-10900K with a score of 27872 and a deltaPct of 0.1. This indicates that the 5800X3D is performing right in line with expectations for its class, despite being an end-of-life product. The GPU, however, only ranks in the 66th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL with a score of 21153, show that the RTX 5050 is in a competitive performance tier, but it is not a top-tier card.

The combination of a high-percentile CPU with a mid-tier GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate gaming. The combo rank of 1775 out of 2935 suggests that there are many systems that can outperform it, particularly those with more powerful GPUs. However, the data shows that this pairing is far from a low-end solution, and its performance in Barony is more than adequate for smooth gameplay at mainstream resolutions. The ranking indicates that the system is a solid mid-pack performer, with the CPU's strength ensuring that the GPU is often the limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 plays a crucial role in this system's performance, particularly as the resolution increases. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The core clocks are set at a base of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz. These specifications are modest for a modern GPU, which explains its 66th percentile ranking against all GPUs. The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 17326, places it in a competitive position, but its VRAM capacity and bus width are limiting factors at higher resolutions.

The 8 GB VRAM is a critical detail. In Barony, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 46 FPS, which is the lowest of all tested settings. This is likely due to the GPU being maxed out on both processing power and memory bandwidth, as the 4K resolution demands a significant amount of texture data and pixel throughput. The GPU's FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS is adequate for 1440p gaming, but at 4K, it struggles to maintain high frame rates, as evidenced by the 64 FPS average on High settings. The GPU's role is to provide a solid foundation for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it excels, but it is not designed to be a 4K powerhouse.

The RTX 5050's performance relative to its rivals further clarifies its position. Its average benchmark score of 21035 is only 1.6% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, which scores 20713. This suggests that the RTX 5050 is a meaningful upgrade over older mid-range cards, but it is not in the same league as higher-tier options. The GPU's power draw of 130 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W indicate that it is an efficient card, but its performance ceiling is what it is. In this system, the GPU is the component that prevents the combo from achieving higher frame rates at 4K, while the CPU's headroom ensures that frame rates at lower resolutions are exceptionally high.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers outstanding performance across all settings. On Low, the average FPS is 302, which is the highest measured in the entire data set. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 225 FPS, with a minimum of 191 FPS and a maximum of 258 FPS. High settings see a further reduction to 193 FPS, and Ultra still manages a very playable 138 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is almost always CPU-bound, as the GPU has plenty of headroom to render frames quickly. The 1080p Ultra setting, at 138 FPS, is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that many monitors support, making this an ideal configuration for high-refresh-rate 1080p displays.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains impressive. Low settings yield an average of 191 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p but still very high. Medium settings average 142 FPS, with a minimum of 120 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS. High settings average 122 FPS, and Ultra drops to 87 FPS. The 1440p results show a clear shift towards GPU-bound performance, as the frame rates are lower than at 1080p, but they remain highly playable. The 1440p Ultra setting, at 87 FPS, is still suitable for most gaming scenarios, and the Medium preset, at 142 FPS, is excellent for competitive play. The data shows that the system is well-suited for 1440p gaming, providing a good balance between visual quality and frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. Low settings average 100 FPS, which is playable, but the performance drops off quickly as settings increase. Medium settings average 74 FPS, with a minimum of 63 FPS and a maximum of 85 FPS. High settings average 64 FPS, and Ultra drops to 46 FPS. The 4K results indicate that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the frame rates are significantly lower than at 1440p. The 4K Ultra setting, at 46 FPS, is on the edge of playability for a fast-paced game, but the Medium and High presets offer a more consistent experience. The data suggests that for 4K gaming, users would need to compromise on settings to achieve a smooth frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system is at 1440p with Medium settings. This preset delivers an average of 142 FPS, with a minimum of 120 FPS, ensuring that frame times remain consistent and gameplay is smooth. This combination provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold and even high enough for 144 Hz monitors. The 1440p Medium preset is the sweet spot for this hardware, offering a balance between visual fidelity and performance that is hard to beat.

For users with 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. At 138 FPS, it provides a highly fluid experience with maximum visual quality. The performance headroom at 1080p is so large that even the most demanding settings are easily handled. Choosing Ultra at 1080p over Medium or High is a no-brainer, as the frame rate remains high enough to take full advantage of high-refresh-rate monitors. The 1080p High preset, at 193 FPS, is also excellent, but Ultra offers better visuals with only a modest performance penalty.

For those who must play at 4K, the Medium preset is the best option. It averages 74 FPS, with a minimum of 63 FPS, which is playable for most users. The High preset, at 64 FPS, is also an option, but the lower minimum frame rate of the Medium preset is not specified, making it harder to judge consistency. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 46 FPS, should be avoided for a smooth experience. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming is not this system's forte, and users should prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity at this resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this system achieves in Barony?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 302 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 the bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. At 4K, the frame rate drops significantly across all settings, with the Ultra preset averaging only 46 FPS, which is far below the CPU's capabilities.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations in Barony?

A: This combo ranks 1775 out of 2935 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of all systems but not among the top performers.

Q: What is the recommended settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 is recommended, as it delivers an average of 142 FPS with a minimum of 120 FPS, providing a smooth and responsive experience.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how does it affect performance?

A: The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the bandwidth and 8 GB VRAM capacity become limiting factors, leading to reduced frame rates.

Q: How does the RTX 5050's average benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035, which is only 1.6% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT's score of 20713, showing a modest performance advantage.