Barony

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves the top position for Barony, ranking 1st out of 2,935 tested combinations. This places the combo at the absolute pinnacle of the database for this title, indicating that no other hardware pairing in the current dataset delivers higher average frame rates. The percentile data reinforces this dominance, with the CPU sitting in the 94th percentile and the GPU in the 92nd percentile among all tested parts, respectively. The combination of a top-tier processor and a flagship graphics card produces a system that is not merely capable but decisively ahead of the field in this roguelike.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 1 out of 2,935 is a definitive statement. It means that for Barony, this specific configuration outperforms all other CPU and GPU pairings that have been benchmarked. This is not a marginal victory; the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings are extraordinarily high, often exceeding what many high-refresh-rate monitors can display. The data shows a system that is effectively unconstrained by hardware limitations at any of the tested settings.

This ranking is supported by the individual component strengths. The Ryzen 7 9700F, with an average benchmark score of 69,996, is positioned just 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700KF. This places it in a tightly contested group of high-end processors where performance differences are minimal. The RTX 5090 D, with an average benchmark score of 77,712, sits 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. While these GPU rival deltas appear small, the context of Barony's low graphical demands means the CPU's strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4,691, becomes a critical factor in achieving the highest frame rates.

The rank signifies that for players seeking the absolute maximum performance in Barony, this is the benchmark reference point. Every other combination in the database falls short of the frame rates achieved here. The data suggests that the bottleneck in most other systems is either the CPU's ability to feed the GPU or the GPU's raw throughput, but this pairing alleviates both potential constraints, resulting in an uncontested first-place finish.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a monstrous piece of hardware, and its role in Barony is to provide an overwhelming amount of graphical headroom. The card is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. This vast memory pool and bandwidth are far beyond what a game like Barony requires, but they ensure that texture streaming and memory-intensive operations are never a limiting factor. The GPU's core configuration includes 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs, allowing for immense parallel processing power.

Clock speeds are substantial, with a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. The memory operates at an effective speed of 28 Gbps. These specifications translate to a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s. For a game with the visual complexity of Barony, these figures are extreme. The benchmark results confirm this; even at 4K Ultra settings, the combination still produces an average of 109 FPS, a figure that many systems cannot achieve at 1080p in more demanding titles.

The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 44,065, places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database, while close in average score, do not change the fact that this card provides an exceptional level of performance. The RTX 5090 D's role is to make the GPU a non-issue; the frame rates are so high that it is clear the card is not being fully utilized at lower resolutions. The data shows that the GPU only begins to be challenged at the 4K resolution, where the frame rate drops from the stratospheric numbers seen at 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the user's display refresh rate and resolution preference. At 1080p, every setting from Low to Ultra produces average FPS well above 300. The Ultra preset yields an average of 331 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 724 FPS. For a standard 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as it provides the maximum visual fidelity without dropping below 331 FPS on average.

Moving to 1440p, the Ultra preset still delivers an average of 209 FPS. This is more than sufficient for even the highest refresh rate monitors currently available. The High preset at this resolution produces 292 FPS, but the visual upgrade from High to Ultra is generally worth the performance trade-off. The data shows that the Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 340 FPS, offers no advantage for most users since Ultra already far exceeds display capabilities.

At 4K, the decision becomes more nuanced. The Ultra preset averages 109 FPS, which is ideal for a 120Hz display. The High preset increases this to 152 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Ultra in a roguelike can be noticeable in terms of shadow quality and texture filtering. The Medium preset offers 178 FPS with a measured minimum of 151 FPS. For users with a 144Hz 4K monitor, the High preset is the recommended starting point, as it provides a significant FPS boost over Ultra while remaining above the 144 FPS target. The Low preset at 4K, averaging 239 FPS, is only necessary for competitive play where every frame counts, but it sacrifices the visual atmosphere of the game. The data suggests that the High preset at 4K strikes the best balance between visual quality and the high frame rates this hardware is capable of producing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are astronomical. The Low preset delivers an average of 724 FPS. The Medium preset averages 538 FPS, with a minimum of 458 and a maximum of 619 FPS. The High preset averages 462 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 331 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, as the GPU is capable of rendering frames far faster than the game logic can process them.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally high but begins to show the GPU's influence. The Low preset averages 457 FPS. The Medium preset averages 340 FPS, with a minimum of 289 and a maximum of 391 FPS. The High preset averages 292 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 209 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is not linear; the frame rates drop by approximately 37% at the Low preset (from 724 to 457 FPS) and by approximately 37% at the Ultra preset (from 331 to 209 FPS). This consistent drop of over a third suggests that while the GPU is becoming more involved, the CPU is still a significant factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload increases dramatically. The Low preset averages 239 FPS. The Medium preset averages 178 FPS, with a minimum of 151 and a maximum of 204 FPS. The High preset averages 152 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 109 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K shows a more pronounced performance hit, with the Low preset dropping by 48% (from 457 to 239 FPS) and the Ultra preset dropping by 48% (from 209 to 109 FPS). This indicates that at 4K, the system is becoming more balanced, with the GPU now having a substantial impact on the final frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K provides insight into the system's bottleneck. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS across all settings drops by roughly 37%. This is a significant decrease, but the absolute frame rates remain so high that the system is still likely limited by the CPU's single-thread performance. The Ryzen 7 9700F has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which is strong, but Barony's game logic and draw call submission can only be processed so quickly.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K tells a different story. The average FPS drops by approximately 48% across all settings. This larger drop indicates that the GPU is now becoming the primary limiting component. The RTX 5090 D is powerful, but rendering at 4K requires significantly more pixel throughput. The data shows that the GPU's utilization is increasing, as evidenced by the larger performance penalty for the resolution increase. The fact that the Low preset at 4K (239 FPS) is still higher than the Ultra preset at 1440p (209 FPS) shows that the GPU has enormous headroom, but the scaling pattern clearly identifies the GPU as the component that determines the final frame rate at higher resolutions.

The overall trend shows a system that is CPU-bound at 1080p and gradually transitions to a more GPU-bound state as resolution increases. At 4K, the balance is much closer, but the GPU still has enough power to maintain triple-digit frame rates even on the Ultra preset. The 48% drop from 1440p to 4K suggests that the RTX 5090 D, despite its 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, is being tasked with a substantial amount of work at 4K, whereas the CPU is no longer the primary constraint at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Barony?

A: The data shows that all tested resolutions produce playable frame rates. For maximum visual quality, 4K Ultra averages 109 FPS. For maximum frame rates, 1080p Low averages 724 FPS. The optimal choice depends on the display's refresh rate and resolution.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9700F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69,996. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-14700KF. This indicates a near-identical performance level among these processors.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D the top GPU in the database?

A: The RTX 5090 D is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 77,712. It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, showing it is among the top-tier but not the absolute highest-scoring GPU in the database.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset?

A: The measured minimum FPS for the Medium preset is 458 FPS at 1080p, 289 FPS at 1440p, and 151 FPS at 4K. These figures ensure that even the most demanding scenes in Barony will not drop below these thresholds.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the combo achieves an average of 109 FPS. This is suitable for a 100Hz or 120Hz 4K display.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to the Ultra preset at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 724 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 331 FPS. The Low preset is approximately 119% faster, but the Ultra preset still provides a very high frame rate.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a critical component in achieving this record-breaking performance. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it provides a strong foundation for gaming. The CPU's base clock is 3.80 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.50 GHz. This high boost clock is essential for Barony, which likely relies on a limited number of threads for its core simulation. The single-thread performance is a key metric, and the 9700F scores 4,691 in the Passmark single-thread benchmark.

The CPU's memory bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5 support. This ensures that the CPU can quickly access game data and feed the GPU without creating a bottleneck. The large 32 MB of shared L3 cache is also beneficial for keeping frequently accessed data close to the cores. The 9700F's position in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69,996, confirms its high-end status.

Its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core i7-14700KF, are within a 0.2% performance delta, meaning the choice between them is unlikely to cause a significant difference in Barony. However, the data indicates that the 9700F's ability to achieve such high frame rates at 1080p is a direct result of its strong single-threaded performance. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (724 FPS) reflects the CPU's capability to process the game's logic at an incredibly high rate. As the resolution increases, the CPU's role diminishes, but it remains powerful enough to avoid becoming a limiting factor even at 4K, where the GPU takes on the primary workload. The CPU's robust specifications ensure that it can keep pace with the RTX 5090 D, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential without waiting for instructions.