Barony

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D produces exceptionally high frame rates in Barony, a roguelike title that is not typically associated with demanding system requirements. The measured data reveals a combination that excels across all tested resolutions and settings, with the most telling insights emerging from how performance scales as resolution increases. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to determine where the bottleneck lies and how this specific hardware configuration delivers its results.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a clear and predictable pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the Low settings preset, average FPS drops from 724 at 1080p to 457 at 1440p, then further to 239 at 4K. This represents a reduction of approximately 37% when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and another 48% reduction when moving from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is consistent and indicates that the GPU becomes increasingly dominant as the pixel count rises, which is expected behavior for a modern graphics card.

Examining the High settings preset reveals a similar trend, with average FPS decreasing from 462 at 1080p to 292 at 1440p, and finally to 152 at 4K. The percentage drops are roughly 37% and 48% respectively, mirroring the Low settings scaling almost exactly. This consistency suggests that the game's rendering workload scales linearly with resolution, and that the RTX 5090 D is the primary limiting factor at all resolutions tested.

The Medium settings preset provides additional context with its min and max FPS readings. At 1080p Medium, the average is 538 FPS with a minimum of 458 and maximum of 619. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 340 FPS with a minimum of 289 and maximum of 391. At 4K Medium, the average is 178 FPS with a minimum of 151 and maximum of 204. The spread between min and max FPS remains relatively tight across all resolutions, indicating stable performance without significant frame time spikes.

The Ultra settings preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with average FPS falling from 331 at 1080p to 209 at 1440p, then to 109 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured in the entire dataset, yet still maintains an average above 100 FPS. This suggests that even at maximum settings and highest resolution, the combination of the Ryzen 7 9700X and RTX 5090 D never becomes CPU-bound in a way that would cause frame rates to collapse.

The limiting component analysis points clearly to the GPU. At 1080p, the CPU has more headroom to feed frames, as evidenced by the extremely high 724 FPS average at Low settings. As resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The RTX 5090 D, with its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, handles the additional pixel throughput capably, but the scaling shows that it is the component that determines the final FPS in this title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform and features a base clock of 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The CPU has a 65 W TDP, which is notably efficient for a desktop processor with this level of performance. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache.

In terms of benchmark performance, the Ryzen 7 9700X achieves an average benchmark score of 37943, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14901E with an average score of 37911 (0.1% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37904 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core 5 211E at 37829 (0.3% delta). These scores indicate that the 9700X is competitive with other high-end desktop and mobile processors, though the deltas are minimal, suggesting near-parity performance among these specific rivals.

For Barony, a roguelike game, the CPU workload is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck given the game's genre. Roguelikes typically involve procedural generation, pathfinding, and game logic that can be single-threaded, but the measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, the Ryzen 7 9700X can sustain 724 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU has ample single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 1280 and passmark_singlethread score of 4654.

The multi-threaded capability of the 9700X is also substantial, with a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 20485 and a 3dmark_max_threads score of 9771. These results suggest that even if Barony were to leverage multiple threads for simulation or AI calculations, the CPU would not become a limiting factor. The measured FPS at 1080p High (462 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (331 FPS) further confirm that the CPU can feed the GPU sufficiently at lower resolutions, with the frame rate drop from Low to Ultra being attributable to increased GPU workload rather than CPU limitations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the flagship graphics card in the GeForce 50-series, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a GB202 chip manufactured on a 5 nm process. It features 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units. The card has 170 ray tracing cores and 680 tensor cores, with a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. Memory is configured as 32 GB of GDDR7 on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s.

The GPU's performance metrics are substantial. It achieves an average benchmark score of 77712, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT with a score of 76904 (1.1% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT at 78940 (-1.6% delta), and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe variants at 79396 (-2.1% delta) and 79605 (-2.4% delta). Notably, the RTX 5090 D's score is slightly lower than some of these rivals, but the deltas are small and within 2.4% in either direction.

In Barony, the RTX 5090 D delivers frame rates that are exceptionally high. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 109, which is still well above typical display refresh rates. The GPU's memory capacity of 32 GB is more than sufficient for any resolution or texture load that Barony can present, and the bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s ensures that texture streaming and memory access are not bottlenecks.

The RTX 5090 D's performance in synthetic benchmarks aligns with its in-game results. Its 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 14326 and passmark_g3d score of 44065 indicate strong DirectX 12 and general 3D performance. The GPU also demonstrates excellent compute capabilities with a passmark_gpu_compute score of 28396 and geekbench_opencl score of 310674. These scores support the notion that the RTX 5090 D is more than capable of handling the rendering demands of a roguelike game at any resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of performance across all resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 724 FPS, Medium settings yield 538 FPS with a minimum of 458 and maximum of 619, High settings yield 462 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 331 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra being approximately 54% slower than Low at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show expected reductions. Low settings produce an average of 457 FPS, Medium settings produce 340 FPS with a minimum of 289 and maximum of 391, High settings produce 292 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 209 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings, with Ultra being approximately 37% slower at 1440p compared to 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5090 D continues to deliver playable frame rates. Low settings average 239 FPS, Medium settings average 178 FPS with a minimum of 151 and maximum of 204, High settings average 152 FPS, and Ultra settings average 109 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measurement below 150 FPS in the entire dataset, but at 109 FPS average, it remains smooth and responsive.

The Medium settings rows are the only ones that include min and max FPS data, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p, the range from 458 to 619 FPS represents a spread of 161 FPS, while at 1440p, the range is 289 to 391 FPS, a spread of 102 FPS. At 4K, the range narrows to 151 to 204 FPS, a spread of 53 FPS. This tightening of the frame rate range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is becoming more consistently loaded, reducing variance.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average FPS is 724, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

*Q: Does the RTX 5090 D maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra in Barony?*

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 109, which is well above the typical 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9700X compare to its nearest CPU rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700X has an average benchmark score of 37943, while its closest rival, the Intel Core i9-14901E, scores 37911, representing a 0.1% delta in favor of the 9700X.

Q: What is the frame rate range at 2560x1440 Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 340, with a minimum of 289 and a maximum of 391.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, as frame rates scale consistently with resolution, dropping from 724 FPS at 1080p Low to 239 FPS at 4K Low, while the CPU maintains high single-thread performance.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D rank among all GPUs based on average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings presets deliver frame rates above 300 FPS, with Ultra still achieving 331 FPS average. For players with high refresh rate monitors (240 Hz or above), the Low preset at 724 FPS provides the maximum headroom, but Medium at 538 FPS is a more balanced choice that likely offers better visual quality while still exceeding any common refresh rate.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 209 FPS average, which is sufficient for 144 Hz or even 165 Hz monitors. The High preset at 292 FPS offers additional margin for those with 240 Hz displays. For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance at 1440p, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot, as it maintains nearly 300 FPS while presumably providing a richer visual experience compared to Medium.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The Ultra preset at 109 FPS average is still playable and suitable for 60 Hz or 120 Hz displays. However, the High preset at 152 FPS provides a significant performance boost with only a modest reduction in settings. For 4K gaming, the High preset is recommended as it offers the best combination of visual quality and frame rate stability, keeping the average well above 144 FPS.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset provides the most consistent frame times, as evidenced by the min and max FPS data. The spread between minimum and maximum is tighter at Medium compared to other presets, which may result in a smoother overall experience even if the average FPS is lower than High or Ultra. For players who prioritize frame time consistency over raw average FPS, Medium settings are a viable choice.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks first overall in Barony among 2935 tested combinations. This top ranking is consistent with the exceptional performance measured across all resolution and settings combinations. The 9700X's position in the 86th percentile of CPUs and the RTX 5090 D's position in the 92nd percentile of GPUs combine to create a system that is well-matched for this title.

The rank of 1 out of 2935 indicates that no other tested combination achieves higher frame rates in Barony. This is notable given the game's roguelike genre, which is not typically associated with extreme hardware requirements. The data suggests that the combination of a high-performance 8-core CPU and a flagship GPU provides the best possible experience for this game, with even the most demanding configuration (4K Ultra) maintaining an average of 109 FPS.

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU individually provide context for this ranking. The Ryzen 7 9700X's closest competitor, the Intel Core i9-14901E, has a near-identical average benchmark score, but when paired with the RTX 5090 D, this specific combination achieves the top spot. Similarly, the RTX 5090 D's GPU rivals have scores within 2.4% of each other, but the measured in-game performance places this combination above all others.

The combination's dominance in Barony can be attributed to the balanced nature of the components. The CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures that it never becomes a bottleneck at lower resolutions, while the GPU's massive memory bandwidth and compute capabilities allow it to handle higher resolutions without significant frame rate drops. This synergy results in a system that delivers exceptional performance across the entire range of settings and resolutions tested.