Barony

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a remarkably strong performance profile in Barony, a 2015 roguelike that clearly favors high frame rates over visual fidelity. The measured data across three resolutions and four settings presets shows that this combination is capable of pushing well beyond standard display refresh rates, making the choice of settings more about consistency and power efficiency than achieving playable frame rates. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to determine the optimal configuration for this specific hardware pairing.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data for this combination in Barony reveals that even the most demanding preset, Ultra, produces frame rates that are more than adequate for smooth gameplay across all tested resolutions. The primary consideration, therefore, shifts from achieving playability to maximizing the balance between visual quality and frame rate headroom.

At 1920x1080, the data shows that all presets are viable, but the High settings preset is the optimal choice for most users. The measured average FPS at this resolution and preset is 246 avgFPS. This is a substantial frame rate that not only exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors but also provides a significant buffer to prevent drops below that threshold. While the Low preset yields a much higher 385 avgFPS, the visual compromise is unnecessary given the performance already available. The Ultra preset, with 176 avgFPS, is also perfectly playable, but the difference in visual quality between High and Ultra is often marginal in a game of this genre, while the frame rate cost is measurable. The Medium preset, at 287 avgFPS, sits between the two, but High offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the same logic applies. The High preset again emerges as the recommended setting, delivering a measured 155 avgFPS. This is still a very high frame rate, comfortably above the 144Hz mark that is common on 1440p monitors. The Ultra preset drops to 111 avgFPS, which is still playable but begins to approach the territory where frame time consistency might be more noticeable. The Low preset, at 243 avgFPS, remains an option for competitive play, but the performance is overkill. The Medium preset's 181 avgFPS is strong, but High's superior visual quality at a still-very-high frame rate is the better trade-off.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the RTX 3070 begins to show its limits, but the game's performance is still respectable. Here, the High preset, with a measured 81 avgFPS, is the clear winner. It provides a very smooth experience that is well-suited for 60Hz displays, and the frame rate is high enough to be utilized by many modern TVs and monitors with variable refresh rate support. The Medium preset, at 95 avgFPS, offers a slight performance advantage, but the drop in visual settings is noticeable. The Ultra preset, at 58 avgFPS, is technically playable but sits right on the edge of the ideal range for a 60Hz display, making it a less safe choice. The Low preset, at 127 avgFPS, reflects the game's engine but sacrifices too much in visual quality.

In summary, the High settings preset provides the best overall experience across all three resolutions. It offers a performance profile that is either excellent (1080p, 1440p) or very good (4K) while ensuring a higher level of visual quality than the Medium or Low presets. It is the most balanced choice for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the context of Barony, this specific hardware combination holds a strong position. The data provides a `comboRankInGame` of 1596 out of 3717 tested combinations. This places the Ryzen 9 5950X and RTX 3070 pairing in the 57th percentile of all tested systems for this game. This is a solid ranking, indicating that this configuration outperforms more than half of the other systems that have been benchmarked for Barony.

This ranking makes sense when considering the individual components. The CPU is a high-end part from its generation, with an `avgBenchmarkScore` of 51947, and its `percentileVsAllCpus` is 91. This means it is more powerful than 91% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. The GPU, while not a flagship, is still a capable performer, with an `avgBenchmarkScore` of 17208 and a `percentileVsAllGpus` of 61. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a solid mid-to-high-end GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for a game like Barony, which may be more sensitive to CPU performance than some modern AAA titles.

The ranking also suggests that the RTX 3070 is the limiting factor in this pairing for this particular game. The CPU's high percentile ranking (91) is significantly higher than the GPU's (61), and the combo's overall rank (57th percentile) is closer to the GPU's standing. This is a common scenario where the CPU has more headroom than the GPU, allowing the system to perform well but not at the absolute top tier. The data indicates that this is a well-matched combo for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with performance that is more than sufficient for a smooth experience, as evidenced by the measured FPS values.

FAQ

*Q: Can this hardware run Barony at 4K resolution with a 60Hz monitor?*

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with the High settings preset, the measured average FPS is 81, which is well above the 60 FPS target. Even the more demanding Ultra preset achieves an average of 58 FPS, which is close to the target.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use for a 144Hz 1440p monitor?

A: The High settings preset is the best choice for a 144Hz 1440p monitor. At 2560x1440, this preset achieves an average FPS of 155, which is sufficient to saturate a 144Hz display's refresh rate and provides a smooth experience.

*Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor when playing Barony with this configuration?*

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has a high performance percentile of 91 (`percentileVsAllCpus`), while the GPU has a lower percentile of 61 (`percentileVsAllGpus`). The combo's overall rank of 1596 out of 3717 is closer to the GPU's percentile, indicating that the graphics card is the primary constraint on frame rates.

Q: How much of a frame rate increase is there from using High settings over Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High settings preset achieves 246 avgFPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 176 avgFPS. This represents a significant performance gain of 70 FPS by choosing High over Ultra.

Q: Is it possible to achieve frame rates above 200 FPS at 1080p resolution?

A: Yes. The data shows that at 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 385 avgFPS and the Medium preset achieves 287 avgFPS. Even the High preset, with 246 avgFPS, achieves this goal.

*Q: Does this hardware combination rank in the top half of all tested systems for Barony?*

A: Yes. The `comboRankInGame` is 1596 out of 3717 combinations. This places the system in the upper half of all tested configurations for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination provides a clear picture of its performance scaling across different settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all presets. The Low settings preset achieves the highest average at 385 avgFPS. The Medium preset follows with 287 avgFPS, and the data includes a min/max range of 244 minFPS to 330 maxFPS, indicating some fluctuation but remaining consistently high. The High preset delivers 246 avgFPS, and the Ultra preset brings up the rear with 176 avgFPS. All of these values are far beyond what is required for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The Low preset again leads with 243 avgFPS. The Medium preset provides 181 avgFPS, with a min/max range of 154 minFPS to 208 maxFPS. The High preset delivers a very solid 155 avgFPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming. The Ultra preset, at 111 avgFPS, is the only one that drops below the 120 FPS mark at this resolution, but it is still highly playable.

At 3840x2160, the performance scaling becomes more apparent. The Low preset maintains a high frame rate with 127 avgFPS. The Medium preset delivers 95 avgFPS, with a min/max range of 80 minFPS to 109 maxFPS. The High preset achieves a very respectable 81 avgFPS, which is perfect for 60Hz displays and beyond. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 58 avgFPS, which is right at the edge of the 60 FPS threshold.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 3070 handles 1080p with ease, performs admirably at 1440p, and is capable of delivering a great 4K experience at High settings. The Ultra preset is the most taxing, but even it remains playable at 1440p and 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. This scaling is critical for understanding which component is the primary bottleneck in this system.

Comparing the High settings preset across resolutions, the performance drops are significant. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 246. Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 155, which is a reduction of about 37%. Moving further to 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 81, which is a reduction of about 48% from the 1440p figure and about 67% from the 1080p figure. This is a steep decline.

The same pattern is visible with the Medium preset. The average FPS goes from 287 at 1080p, to 181 at 1440p, and finally to 95 at 4K. The Low preset shows a similar trend, with averages of 385, 243, and 127 at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. Even the Ultra preset follows this pattern, with averages of 176, 111, and 58 across the three resolutions.

This scaling behavior is a strong indicator that the system is GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The significant drop in frame rates as the pixel count increases points directly to the graphics card struggling to fill more pixels. The CPU, with its high core count and 91st percentile ranking, is unlikely to be the bottleneck in a game like Barony, which is not known for being extremely CPU-intensive. The GPU's `percentileVsAllGpus` of 61 is much lower, suggesting it is the component that is being pushed to its limits. The performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load on the graphics card increases exponentially with resolution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a formidable processor that plays a crucial, though likely secondary, role in this game's performance. The CPU boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture and codenamed "Vermeer". Its base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This high core count and strong clock speeds make it a powerhouse for heavily threaded workloads, as evidenced by its benchmark scores like the 26017 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 11597 in 3DMark max threads.

In the context of Barony, a roguelike, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, AI, and other simulation tasks. The data suggests that the 5950X has more than enough headroom for this. Its `percentileVsAllCpus` of 91 indicates it outperforms the vast majority of CPUs on the market. Its `avgBenchmarkScore` of 51947 is also substantial. When looking at its nearest rivals, it trades blows with the Intel Core i9-13900F, which has a `deltaPct` of 0.4, meaning the 5950X is just 0.4% faster in this aggregate score.

Given the GPU's lower performance percentile, it is logical to conclude that the 5950X is not the primary bottleneck in this system. The CPU's immense processing power ensures that it will not hold back the RTX 3070, even at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is more likely to be a factor. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 385 avgFPS, a frame rate so high that it would likely be limited by the game's engine or other factors, but the CPU's 16 cores ensure it is not the limiting factor. The 5950X provides a stable and powerful foundation, allowing the GPU to dictate the final frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the primary driver of the visual output and the likely bottleneck in this pairing. This GPU is based on the Ampere architecture and the GA104 chip. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1725 MHz. These specifications make it a capable performer, but its `percentileVsAllGpus` of 61 shows it is a mid-to-high-end part, not a top-tier one.

The GPU's role in Barony is to render the game's graphics. The measured FPS data clearly shows its performance ceiling. At 4K with the Ultra preset, the average FPS drops to 58, indicating that the GPU is working hard to render the high pixel count with the most demanding settings. Even at 1080p, the difference between the Low preset (385 avgFPS) and the Ultra preset (176 avgFPS) highlights the GPU's workload. The Ultra preset's more complex shaders and effects place a significantly higher demand on the graphics card.

The GPU's benchmark scores, such as the 22214 in Passmark G3D, are respectable, but its `avgBenchmarkScore` of 17208 is significantly lower than the CPU's. When compared to its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT has a `deltaPct` of 0.7, meaning the RTX 3070 is 0.7% faster. This puts it in a competitive but not dominant position. The performance scaling data, with large FPS drops from 1080p to 4K, confirms that the RTX 3070 is the component that determines the final frame rates. Its 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for a game like Barony, but its raw rendering power is what limits the experience at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration, holding back the potential of the very powerful CPU.