Barony

Barony, a roguelike title from 2015, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling due to its dual-threaded gameplay and its rendering demands. The pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X with the AMD Radeon RX 570 produces a wide spectrum of performance across resolutions and settings, revealing a system where the graphics card becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. The data shows a configuration that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, particularly on higher presets. This analysis examines the measured FPS data, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and how this combination ranks among other tested systems.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for this combination show a classic pattern of scaling, where the performance cost of higher resolutions is substantial. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 138 FPS, which is an excellent result for a fast-paced roguelike. However, as resolution increases, the frame rate drops significantly. Moving to 1440p at Low settings yields 87 FPS, a 37% reduction, and at 4K with the same Low settings, the average falls to 46 FPS, representing a 67% decline from the 1080p figure. This steep drop indicates that the RX 570's rendering capabilities are being taxed heavily by the increase in pixel count.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced when examining the High settings preset. The system delivers 88 FPS at 1080p, which is very playable, but this drops to 56 FPS at 1440p and plummets to 29 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result is below the 30 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for acceptable performance, suggesting that the GPU is the limiting factor. The trend is consistent across all presets; the gap between 1080p and 4K performance is vast, underscoring that this is not a 4K-capable configuration for Barony.

The data also reveals how the GPU's limits are hit before the CPU's potential is fully utilized. At 1080p Low, the system can produce 138 FPS, but the Ryzen 9 5950X is far from being the bottleneck at that point. The benchmark results indicate that the frame rate is determined by the GPU's ability to process frames, not the CPU's ability to feed it data. The 4K Ultra preset, with an average of just 21 FPS, is the clearest example of this, as the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical fidelity. The 1440p Medium preset, which yields 65 FPS, represents a more balanced point where the GPU is still working hard but can maintain a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a powerhouse processor with 16 cores and 32 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture. Its high core count and thread count, along with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, are typically associated with heavy multi-threaded workloads. However, Barony, as a roguelike, often relies more heavily on single-thread performance for game logic and AI, though the game's engine can utilize multiple threads for rendering tasks. The benchmark data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration, as the frame rates are primarily dictated by the GPU, especially at higher resolutions.

The CPU's synthetic benchmarks are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 26017 and a single-core score of 1614. These numbers, alongside a 3DMark max threads score of 11597, indicate that the processor has ample headroom to handle the game's computational demands. In the measured FPS data, the CPU's role is more evident at lower resolutions where the GPU can render frames quickly. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 138 FPS, and at 1080p High, it reaches 88 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is capable of supporting high frame rates, but the GPU's performance ceiling prevents it from going higher.

The Ryzen 9 5950X's 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide a robust platform for gaming. The data shows that the CPU's performance is sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck in Barony, as the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with a GPU-limited scenario. The processor's percentile ranking of 91 vs all CPUs further confirms its high-end status, but in this specific game and resolution range, its role is to provide a stable foundation for the GPU to operate, rather than to drive frame rates higher. The 3DMark single-thread score of 944 and the Geekbench single-core score of 2083 suggest that the CPU's individual cores are fast enough for the game's logic, but the GPU's limitations become the defining factor.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570, with its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. This mid-range graphics card from the Polaris generation is the primary component determining the frame rates in this test. Its 2048 shading units and a boost clock of 1244 MHz allow it to handle 1080p gaming effectively, but its performance degrades rapidly as resolution increases. The measured data shows that at 1080p Low, the card can produce 138 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it falls to just 21 FPS, a clear indication of its limitations.

The VRAM capacity of 4 GB is a notable factor at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K with High settings, the average frame rate is 29 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it is 34 FPS, which are both below the typical target of 60 FPS. The 4K Ultra preset results in 21 FPS, which is not a playable experience. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the demands of 4K textures and pixel processing exceed what the card can deliver. The benchmark results, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 880, place the RX 570 in a performance tier that is well below the requirements for smooth 4K gaming.

The RX 570's performance relative to its peers is telling. Its average benchmark score of 28766 places it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, and it performs nearly identically to the AMD Radeon RX 470, with a deltaPct of -0.8. In Barony, this means the card is suitable for 1080p gaming on Medium to High settings, where it achieves 103 FPS and 88 FPS respectively. However, the 4K results show that the card is not designed for such high resolutions. The data indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, as the frame rates are consistently below what the CPU could potentially support. The card's 4 GB VRAM also becomes a constraint at 4K, likely causing texture swapping and reduced performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the Ryzen 9 5950X and the RX 570 ranks at 3545 out of 3717 combos for Barony. This places it in the lower percentile of systems, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance limitations. The CPU is a high-end part, but the GPU is a mid-range component from an older generation, and the combination's overall ranking reflects this imbalance. The data shows that the system is not competitive at higher resolutions, which drags down its ranking across all tested settings.

The ranking is a holistic measure that considers performance across all resolution and settings combinations. While the system excels at 1080p Low with 138 FPS, its performance at 4K is poor, with the best 4K result being 46 FPS on Low settings. This wide variance in performance means that the combo's overall standing is low, as many other systems can achieve more consistent frame rates across the board. The CPU's high benchmark scores, such as a Passmark multi-thread score of 45424, do not boost the ranking because the GPU's low scores, like a Geekbench OpenCL score of 32084, hold the system back.

The ranking of 3545 out of 3717 suggests that there are only 172 other tested combos that perform worse in Barony. This is a stark indicator that the RX 570 is the limiting factor, as the Ryzen 9 5950X is a top-tier CPU that would rank much higher with a more powerful GPU. The data implies that the system is built for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates, but it is ill-suited for 1440p or 4K gaming. The combination's low rank is a reflection of its inability to handle modern gaming resolutions effectively, making it a poor choice for users with high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K monitors.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At 1080p, the system achieves playable frame rates on all presets, with an average of 138 FPS on Low, 103 FPS on Medium, 88 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Barony?

A: No, the data shows it cannot handle 4K effectively. The best 4K result is 46 FPS on Low settings, while High, Medium, and Ultra presets yield 29 FPS, 34 FPS, and 21 FPS respectively, all of which are below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the RX 570 compare to its nearest rival, the RX 470?

A: The RX 570 has an average benchmark score of 28766, which is 0.8% lower than the RX 470's score of 28996. This indicates that the two cards perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5950X the bottleneck in this system?

A: No, the data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU has high benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 26017, and the frame rates drop significantly with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU limitation.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 138, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only setting where the system approaches high refresh rate territory.

Q: How does this combo's overall ranking in Barony compare to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 3545 out of 3717 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 5% of systems. This low ranking is due to the RX 570's performance limitations at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

For the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and AMD Radeon RX 570 combination, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. The data shows that at 1920x1080, the system is capable of excellent performance across all presets. The Low preset provides the highest average frame rate at 138 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or very high refresh rate monitors. However, for a better visual experience without sacrificing too much performance, the Medium preset is a strong choice, offering an average of 103 FPS with a minimum of 87 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience while improving visual fidelity over Low settings.

If the user prefers higher visual quality, the High preset at 1080p, with an average of 88 FPS, is still very playable and offers a significant upgrade in graphics. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 63 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action if the user prefers a higher frame rate. At 2560x1440, the options are more limited. The Low preset gives an average of 87 FPS, which is good, while Medium yields 65 FPS. The High preset at 1440p drops to 56 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal, and Ultra falls to 40 FPS, which may feel less smooth.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that the system is not suitable for gaming. The Low preset is the only playable option, with an average of 46 FPS, but this is still below the 60 FPS target. All other presets at 4K produce average frame rates below 35 FPS, which would result in a poor experience. Therefore, the recommendation is to play at 1080p for the best balance of performance and visuals. The Medium preset at 1080p offers the best overall experience, with an average of 103 FPS and good visual quality. For users who prioritize maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1080p is the best choice.