Barony

Barony, a roguelike with a 2015 release date, is not typically the first title that comes to mind for a flagship hardware stress test. However, the measured data for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination reveals a fascinating performance profile that scales dramatically with resolution and settings. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing delivers exceptional frame rates across the board, but the relationship between the CPU and GPU shifts significantly as the workload changes. At 1080p, the system is clearly CPU-bound, while at 4K, the GPU assumes the dominant role, creating a dynamic that informs every recommendation that follows.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking observation from the data is the sheer magnitude of the frame rate drop when moving from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 315 FPS at 1920x1080 to 104 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 67% reduction in performance. This steep decline is the signature of a system that is heavily CPU-limited at lower resolutions, where the GPU has ample headroom but the processor's single-thread performance becomes the bottleneck. The fact that the Ryzen 9 8945HX still manages to push over 300 FPS at 1080p High indicates that its single-core capabilities are formidable, but the scaling pattern reveals that the GPU is not being fully utilized until the resolution increases.

The scaling behavior becomes even more pronounced when examining the Low settings preset. The 1080p Low result of 493 FPS is an extraordinary figure, but this drops to 311 FPS at 1440p and 163 FPS at 4K. This pattern—a 34% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, followed by a 48% reduction from 1440p to 4K—suggests that while the CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p, the GPU begins to take over as the resolution climbs. The 4K Low result of 163 FPS still represents a highly playable experience, but it is clear that the RTX 5090's immense shading power is being progressively engaged.

When comparing the resolution scaling across all presets, a consistent trend emerges. The Medium preset shows average FPS of 366 at 1080p, 231 at 1440p, and 121 at 4K. The Ultra preset follows a similar trajectory: 226 FPS at 1080p, 142 FPS at 1440p, and 74 FPS at 4K. In every case, the 1440p result is roughly 60-65% of the 1080p figure, while the 4K result is roughly 33-45% of the 1080p figure. This consistent scaling profile indicates that Barony's rendering engine scales predictably with pixel count, and the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K.

The data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this hardware combination. At this resolution, the frame rates remain exceptionally high—ranging from 142 FPS at Ultra to 311 FPS at Low—while the visual quality benefits from the increased pixel density. The 4K results are still impressive, but the performance penalty is substantial, particularly at Ultra settings where the average frame rate dips to 74 FPS. This indicates that for players prioritizing maximum frame rates, 1440p is the optimal resolution, while 4K is viable for those who prefer visual fidelity over raw speed.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. In Barony, a game that does not typically scale well with high core counts, the CPU's single-thread performance is expected to be the primary factor. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6030 and the Passmark single-thread score of 3907 both indicate strong single-thread capability. This is corroborated by the 1080p Low result of 493 FPS, which is a figure that would be impossible if the CPU were struggling to feed the GPU.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are also impressive, as evidenced by the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and the Passmark multi-thread score of 51405. However, these scores are unlikely to have a direct impact on Barony's performance, as the game's roguelike nature typically involves limited simultaneous entity processing. The benchmark results support this interpretation: the frame rate scaling from 1080p Low to 1080p Ultra (493 FPS to 226 FPS) shows a 54% reduction, which is far more attributable to GPU workload than CPU limitations.

The Ryzen 9 8945HX's position in the broader CPU landscape is notable. Its average benchmark score of 76212 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which scores 76155 (a 0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which scores 75779 (a 0.6% difference). These are essentially statistical ties, indicating that the 8945HX is at the absolute top of the mobile CPU hierarchy. In Barony, this translates to the CPU being a non-issue at any resolution, as even the most demanding 1080p scenarios are handled with considerable headroom.

The measured FPS data suggests that the CPU's role is most critical at 1080p, where the GPU is not the limiting factor. The fact that the system achieves 493 FPS at Low settings and 315 FPS at High settings at 1080p indicates that the CPU's single-thread performance is more than sufficient for Barony's requirements. At higher resolutions, the CPU's influence diminishes, and the frame rates become increasingly GPU-bound. This is a classic pattern for a high-end CPU paired with a flagship GPU, and the data confirms that the 8945HX is not a bottleneck in any scenario.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a monster of a GPU, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its boost clock of 2407 MHz and 21760 shading units provide immense compute throughput, as reflected in its Passmark G3D score of 39650 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 18355. In Barony, the GPU's role becomes increasingly pronounced as resolution and settings increase, and the data shows a clear progression from CPU-bound at 1080p Low to GPU-bound at 4K Ultra.

The 4K results provide the clearest evidence of the GPU's influence. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 74 FPS, which is a substantial drop from the 226 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This 67% reduction is consistent with the GPU being the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, placing an enormous load on the rasterization and shading units. The RTX 5090's 32 GB of VRAM is unlikely to be a limiting factor in Barony, as the game's visual complexity is modest by modern standards, but the raw compute required to render at 4K is significant.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals is interesting. Its average benchmark score of 79842 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (score 79605, a 0.3% difference) and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (score 78940, a 1.1% difference). These are all within a narrow band, suggesting that the RTX 5090's raw compute is comparable to these data-center and high-end mobile parts. In Barony, the practical impact is that the GPU can handle even the most demanding 4K Ultra settings, albeit at frame rates that may not suit competitive play.

The scaling from Medium to High to Ultra at 4K provides insight into the GPU's workload. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 121, which drops to 104 at High and 74 at Ultra. This represents a 39% reduction from Medium to Ultra, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional visual effects are disproportionately expensive. The Low preset at 4K achieves 163 FPS, which is 2.2 times the Ultra result, highlighting the significant performance cost of the higher-quality settings. This data suggests that the GPU is the dominant factor at 4K, and players must choose between visual fidelity and frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the player's resolution and performance priorities. At 1080p, the system is so powerful that even the Ultra preset, which yields an average of 226 FPS, is well above any playable threshold. The data suggests that 1080p Ultra is the best choice for this resolution, as the frame rate remains exceptionally high while delivering the full visual experience. The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 366 FPS, is only 62% faster than Ultra but sacrifices visual quality, making it a poor trade-off for most players.

At 1440p, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot. The average of 199 FPS is comfortably above 144 FPS, which is typically considered the threshold for high-refresh-rate gaming, and the visual quality is significantly better than Medium (231 FPS) or Low (311 FPS). The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 142 FPS, is still playable but represents a 29% performance penalty compared to High. For players with 144Hz displays, High is the recommended preset, as it provides a substantial FPS buffer while maintaining high visual fidelity.

At 4K, the recommendations become more nuanced. The Ultra preset, with an average of 74 FPS, is playable on a 60Hz display but will not fully utilize a 120Hz or 144Hz panel. The High preset, with an average of 104 FPS, is a better choice for high-refresh-rate 4K displays, as it provides a 41% performance boost over Ultra with only a modest reduction in visual quality. The Medium preset, at 121 FPS, is the best option for players who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual difference from High is noticeable. The Low preset, at 163 FPS, is not recommended for 4K, as it sacrifices too much visual quality for a frame rate that exceeds most displays' refresh rates.

Overall, the data indicates that the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, it achieves 315 FPS; at 1440p, 199 FPS; and at 4K, 104 FPS. This consistency makes High the default recommendation, with Ultra reserved for players with lower refresh rates or those who prioritize visuals, and Medium/Low for competitive players seeking maximum frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Barony at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes, the 4K Ultra preset achieves an average of 74 FPS, which is playable on a 60Hz display. However, for higher refresh rates, the High preset at 104 FPS is recommended.

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

A: The High preset at 1440p, with an average of 199 FPS, is the best choice. It provides a substantial FPS buffer above 144 FPS while maintaining high visual quality.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the 493 FPS Low result. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, with the 4K Ultra result of 74 FPS being significantly lower than lower resolutions.

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

A: The Low preset at 1080p achieves 493 FPS, which is 2.18 times faster than the Ultra preset's 226 FPS. This is a substantial difference, but both are well above playable thresholds.

Q: Does the RTX 5090's 32 GB of VRAM matter for Barony?

A: The benchmark data does not indicate any VRAM-related limitations, as the game's visual complexity is modest. The 32 GB capacity is more than sufficient for Barony at any resolution and settings.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of overall performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (76155) and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (75779). These differences are negligible in practice.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Barony with the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is presented below, organized by resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 493 FPS
• Medium: Average 366 FPS, with a minimum of 312 FPS and a maximum of 421 FPS
• High: Average 315 FPS
• Ultra: Average 226 FPS

At 1080p, the system demonstrates extreme performance, with all presets exceeding 226 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 54% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the CPU is the primary limiting factor at this resolution.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 311 FPS
• Medium: Average 231 FPS, with a minimum of 197 FPS and a maximum of 266 FPS
• High: Average 199 FPS
• Ultra: Average 142 FPS

The 1440p results show a more balanced workload between CPU and GPU. The frame rates remain exceptionally high, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 142 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 54%, similar to 1080p, but the absolute values are lower due to the increased pixel count.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 163 FPS
• Medium: Average 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 139 FPS
• High: Average 104 FPS
• Ultra: Average 74 FPS

At 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant factor, with the Ultra preset dropping to 74 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 55%, consistent with other resolutions, but the higher pixel count significantly reduces the absolute frame rates. The Medium preset's minimum of 103 FPS indicates that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains playable performance.

The data across all resolutions and settings reveals a consistent pattern: the system is capable of delivering high frame rates at any configuration, with the primary trade-off being between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 1440p (199 FPS) and the High preset at 4K (104 FPS) represent the best balance for most players, while the Ultra presets are viable for those with lower refresh rate displays.