Barony

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 4 Raphael architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

For a roguelike title like Barony, the CPU's single-thread performance often dictates the ceiling for frame pacing. The Ryzen 7 7700 scores 1049 in 3DMark single-thread and 416 in Cinebench R15 single-core, with a PassMark single-thread score of 4063. These numbers place it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong per-core capability. The multi-threaded scores are equally robust: 3DMark 16-thread hits 8484, Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 29302, and PassMark multi-thread is 34470.

The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 263.4 FPS, which is far beyond typical display refresh rates. This suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions; the GPU still has headroom to render frames quickly. However, the gap between 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra is substantial—from 263.4 FPS down to 117.9 FPS—indicating that graphical settings, not CPU throughput, are the primary limiter once the resolution scales. The Ryzen 7 7700's 8 cores and 16 threads are sufficient for Barony's workload, as evidenced by the high frame rates even at 1440p, where the CPU still allows 167.8 FPS on Low settings.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 7700's average benchmark score of 40468 is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431) and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40262). It trails the Intel Core i9-13905H by 0.6% (40712) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T by 1.2% (39995). These deltas are minimal, confirming that the 7700 sits in a performance tier where single-thread and multi-thread workloads are handled with similar efficiency. For Barony, this means the CPU consistently feeds the GPU enough data to avoid stutters, even at high frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Barony?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the measured average FPS is 263.4, the highest across all tested configurations.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 7700 compare to its closest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700's average benchmark score is 40468, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H and 0.5% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, but 0.6% lower than the Intel Core i9-13905H.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 falls in the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16074.

Q: At which resolution does the frame rate drop below 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 37.1, which is below 60 FPS. At 2560x1440 Ultra, it climbs to 77.1 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU's multi-threaded performance vary significantly from its single-threaded results?

A: The data shows a large gap: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 29302 versus 4136 single-core, and PassMark multi-thread scores 34470 versus 4063 single-thread, indicating strong scaling across cores.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the CPU?

A: The launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is $329.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution-dependent scaling. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 263.4 FPS on Low, 194.1 on Medium, 169.8 on High, and 117.9 on Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440, the same settings yield 167.8 FPS (Low), 122.7 (Medium), 107.4 (High), and 77.1 (Ultra). At 3840x2160, the numbers drop further: 84.2 FPS on Low, 64.2 on Medium, 52.5 on High, and 37.1 on Ultra.

The frame rate decline from 1080p to 4K is steepest at Low settings, where the FPS falls from 263.4 to 84.2—a reduction of 179.2 FPS, or roughly 68%. At Ultra settings, the drop from 117.9 to 37.1 is 80.8 FPS, about 68.5%. This consistent percentage drop across settings indicates that the limiting component shifts decisively to the GPU as pixel count increases. The RTX 2060's 6 GB GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s bandwidth, become the constraining factor at 4K.

At 1080p, the high frame rates suggest the CPU is still capable of pushing more frames if the GPU could render faster; the Ryzen 7 7700's strong single-thread score (1049 in 3DMark single-thread) ensures no CPU-side bottleneck. However, at 4K, the GPU's pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s are overwhelmed, particularly on Ultra where the 37.1 FPS result confirms that the GPU is the primary limiter. The data implies that 1440p is the balanced sweet spot for this combo, offering 77.1 FPS on Ultra, which remains playable, while 4K requires Low settings to reach 84.2 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination ranks 1393 out of 1702 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the lower-middle tier of the database, reflecting the GPU's modest 58th percentile standing. The CPU's 91st percentile rank does not compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, but the combo still achieves playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

Compared to other combos, the RTX 2060's average benchmark score of 16074 is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996) and 1.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15786), but it is 1.7% lower than both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Radeon Pro 5700 (each at 16351). This suggests the GPU sits near the bottom of its performance class, and the combo's rank reflects that. The 1393rd position out of 1702 means that roughly 82% of tested combinations outperform it, but in absolute terms, the measured FPS at 1080p High (169.8) shows that the combo is still viable for smooth gameplay in Barony.

The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's 6 GB VRAM capacity, which can be a limitation in texture-heavy scenes at 4K. The CPU's high percentile does not move the needle much because Barony's frame rates at lower resolutions are already high, and the GPU becomes the bottleneck earlier. For users prioritizing 1080p gaming, this rank understates the experience; for 4K enthusiasts, it overstates it.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings tiers, providing a complete picture of performance:

1920x1080:

• Low: 263.4 FPS average
• Medium: 194.1 FPS average
• High: 169.8 FPS average
• Ultra: 117.9 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 167.8 FPS average
• Medium: 122.7 FPS average
• High: 107.4 FPS average
• Ultra: 77.1 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 84.2 FPS average
• Medium: 64.2 FPS average
• High: 52.5 FPS average
• Ultra: 37.1 FPS average

The data shows that at 1080p, all settings produce frame rates above 117 FPS, meaning the combo can drive high-refresh monitors even on Ultra. At 1440p, Ultra dips to 77.1 FPS, which is still above 60, but High and below remain well above that threshold. At 4K, only Low settings (84.2 FPS) and Medium (64.2 FPS) stay above 60; High and Ultra fall below, with Ultra hitting 37.1 FPS. The step from Medium to High at 4K costs 11.7 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra costs 15.4 FPS, showing diminishing returns at the highest preset.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience per the measured rows, the optimal preset depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 117.9 FPS, which is smooth for most displays, and the visual fidelity gain over High (169.8 FPS) is worth the frame rate reduction. At 2560x1440, High settings provide 107.4 FPS, striking a balance between quality and speed; Ultra at 77.1 FPS is still playable but the drop of 30.3 FPS may not justify the visual upgrade. At 3840x2160, Medium settings (64.2 FPS) are the highest preset that maintains above 60 FPS; Low (84.2 FPS) offers a safety margin for demanding scenes, while High (52.5 FPS) and Ultra (37.1 FPS) are best avoided unless frame rate is secondary.

The data indicates that Medium is the most consistent choice across all resolutions—it delivers 194.1 FPS at 1080p, 122.7 FPS at 1440p, and 64.2 FPS at 4K—always staying within a playable range. For users with a 60 Hz display at 4K, Medium is the recommended preset; for 1440p users with 120 Hz+ monitors, High is the sweet spot; for 1080p users, Ultra is the clear winner given the 117.9 FPS result.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory sits on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The card has a 160 W TDP and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In Barony, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 263.4 FPS, indicating the GPU can render frames quickly when pixel count is low. The RTX 2060's FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s are sufficient for this workload at lower settings. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate collapses to 37.1 FPS, revealing the GPU's memory bandwidth (336.0 GB/s) and 6 GB capacity as limiting factors. The texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s also becomes strained with high-resolution textures.

The GPU's 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it in the mid-range, and its average benchmark score of 16074 is close to its nearest rivals—within 1.8% of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 and 1.7% of the Radeon Pro 5700. This confirms that the RTX 2060 is a capable 1080p card, but its 6 GB VRAM is a bottleneck at 4K. The data shows that for Barony, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance at resolutions above 1080p, while the CPU's strength ensures no frame pacing issues at lower settings.