Barony

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X brings a 12-core, 24-thread configuration based on the Zen 3 architecture to this test. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz are the primary drivers for single-threaded responsiveness, which is critical for the logic-heavy simulation of a roguelike. The CPU’s benchmark results reinforce this, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4680 and a multi-core score of 33150, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs tested. In the context of Barony, the high multi-threaded throughput (demonstrated by the 3DMark max threads score of 10075) ensures that the game’s procedural generation and entity updates are processed without bottlenecking the frame output. The 64 MB of L3 cache further aids in keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency during intense gameplay moments.

The relationship between the CPU and the game’s results is evident in the frame rates achieved. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 468.6 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is providing ample headroom for the GPU to render frames as quickly as possible. The 5900X’s performance in synthetic tests, such as the Passmark multi-thread score of 39002, indicates a processing capability that far exceeds the demands of a title like Barony, which is not known for complex physics or AI. Consequently, the data implies that the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in any of the measured scenarios, even at high refresh rates.

FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 5900X compare to its closest rivals in overall CPU performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 5900X has an average benchmark score of 39453. This places it 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4245P, which scores 39383, and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700F, which scores 39095. Conversely, it trails the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS by 0.7% (score 39747) and the Intel Core i7-13700 by 1% (score 39857).

Q: What is the significance of the CPU's 90th percentile ranking?

A: The 90th percentile ranking means that the Ryzen 9 5900X outperforms 90% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. This high placement confirms its status as a top-tier processor for gaming workloads, suggesting that in Barony, it provides more than enough computational power to avoid bottlenecking the GPU.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 considered a high-performing GPU relative to other graphics cards?

A: Yes, the RTX 4070 sits in the 81st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37283. This indicates it is a strong performer, though its closest rivals show mixed results. For instance, it is 2.5% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5300M (score 36371), but it is 2.2% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (score 38135).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the measured average FPS drops from 298 on Low settings to 137 on Ultra settings. This represents a significant 54% reduction in frame rate as graphical fidelity increases.

Q: How does the GPU's memory bandwidth compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 4070 features a 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. The data for its nearest rivals focuses on their average benchmark scores rather than their memory specs, so a direct comparison of bandwidth is not possible from the given facts.

Q: At what resolution does the system achieve its highest frame rate?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 468.6 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The lowest is 68.4 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 468.6 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 1440p, this figure drops to 298 FPS, and at 4K, it falls further to 155.4 FPS. This scaling suggests that as resolution increases, the demand on the GPU’s rendering pipeline grows, which directly impacts the final frame output.

Looking at the High preset, the frame rate drops from 299.2 FPS at 1080p to 190.8 FPS at 1440p, and then to 99.1 FPS at 4K. The consistent reduction in FPS with each step up in resolution indicates that the limiting component shifts from the CPU to the GPU. At 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4680) is able to feed the GPU adequately, but at 4K, the GPU’s workload becomes more dominant. The RTX 4070’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are being fully utilized at higher resolutions, but the data shows that even this capable GPU cannot maintain the same frame rates as the resolution increases.

The drop from 1080p to 4K on Ultra settings is particularly telling, moving from 213.7 FPS to 68.4 FPS. This 68% reduction highlights the heavy toll that 4K Ultra settings take on the GPU. The data implies that while the CPU is more than capable for Barony, the GPU is the component that determines the upper limits of performance at higher resolutions and settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a clear picture of how different presets impact performance, and the optimal choice depends on the user’s display and preference for frame rate versus visual quality. For users with a 4K display, the High preset offers a balanced experience, delivering 99.1 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the Ultra preset, which drops to 68.4 FPS, while the Medium preset provides 118 FPS. The Low preset at 4K yields 155.4 FPS, but it comes at the cost of visual fidelity. Given that Barony is a roguelike where clarity of the game world is important, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot for 4K, providing a smooth experience without sacrificing too much detail.

At 1440p, the High preset achieves 190.8 FPS, which is well above the threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset still manages a respectable 137 FPS, making it a viable option for users who prioritize visual quality. The Medium preset offers 220.8 FPS, which could be beneficial for competitive play, but the difference between High and Ultra is more about visual polish than performance. For 1080p users, even the Ultra preset produces 213.7 FPS, meaning any of the presets will provide a smooth experience. The data suggests that for most users, the High preset provides the best combination of visual quality and frame rate across all resolutions, as it consistently offers a high FPS while maintaining a reasonable level of graphical detail.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 achieves a rank of 426 out of 1702 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the top 25% of all system configurations. While this is a solid result, it is not at the very top of the leaderboard, which suggests that there are other combinations that yield higher frame rates in this specific game.

The rank of 426 indicates that the system is well-balanced but not necessarily optimized for Barony’s specific workload. The CPU’s performance is in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 81st percentile of all GPUs, yet the combo rank is lower than either of these individual percentiles. This discrepancy suggests that the game’s performance is influenced by factors beyond just raw component power, such as driver optimization or specific engine characteristics. The data implies that while this combo is very capable, there are other pairings that can extract more performance from Barony, likely by having a slightly stronger GPU or a more favorable CPU-GPU balance for this title’s requirements.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system’s performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 468.6 FPS on Low, 347.1 FPS on Medium, 299.2 FPS on High, and 213.7 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show a steady decline as settings are increased, with the most significant drop occurring between Low and Medium, a 26% decrease.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. The system records 298 FPS on Low, 220.8 FPS on Medium, 190.8 FPS on High, and 137 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra at this resolution is 54%, which is more pronounced than at 1080p, indicating the GPU is beginning to feel the pressure of higher resolution rendering. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are 155.4 FPS on Low, 118 FPS on Medium, 99.1 FPS on High, and 68.4 FPS on Ultra. The Ultra setting at 4K is the only scenario where the system dips below 70 FPS, suggesting that this preset is the most demanding configuration tested.

The data also shows the impact of resolution changes. For instance, the High preset moves from 299.2 FPS at 1080p to 190.8 FPS at 1440p, a 36% drop, and then to 99.1 FPS at 4K, another 48% drop. This pattern confirms that the game becomes increasingly GPU-bound as resolution increases, with the RTX 4070’s capabilities being the defining factor in the final frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, with its Ada Lovelace architecture and 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, plays a critical role in the frame rates observed. Its boost clock of 2475 MHz and 5888 shading units provide substantial raw compute power, as evidenced by its FP32 performance of 29.15 TFLOPS. The GPU’s memory bus of 192 bits and bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s are sufficient for the textures and effects used in Barony, even at 4K resolution.

The GPU’s benchmark results, such as a Passmark G3D score of 26927, place it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. However, its nearest rivals show that it is not the fastest card on the market. For example, it trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile by 2.2% in average benchmark score, yet it is 2.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5300M. In the context of Barony, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 68.4 FPS, which is a 68% reduction from the 1080p Ultra result of 213.7 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at these high settings, as the CPU has ample headroom to process the game logic.

The RTX 4070’s 12 GB of VRAM is another key factor. While Barony is not a VRAM-intensive title, the memory capacity ensures that there is no stuttering or texture loading issues at any tested resolution. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support also means it is well-equipped for modern rendering techniques, though the game’s roguelike nature may not fully utilize these features. Overall, the data shows that the GPU is the dominant component in determining performance at higher resolutions and settings, while the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures that frame rates remain high at 1080p.