Barony

Barony, a roguelike from 2015, exhibits a fascinating performance profile when paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by graphics settings and resolution, with the CPU providing a robust foundation while the GPU's capabilities define the upper limits of visual fidelity. The benchmark results indicate a system that can deliver exceptionally high frame rates at lower settings, but which requires careful tuning to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the shifting bottleneck between the processor and the graphics card. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 285.6 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is doing the heavy lifting, as the GPU is not overly taxed. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average FPS falls to 180.4, a reduction of approximately 37%. This significant decline indicates that the GPU is starting to become more of a limiting factor, though the frame rate remains exceptionally high.

The scaling becomes more dramatic when pushing to 3840x2160. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS drops to 94.4, which is a 67% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep curve demonstrates that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB of VRAM and 256-bit memory interface are being saturated by the higher pixel count. The trend is consistent across all settings; for instance, High settings see a drop from 181.5 FPS at 1080p to 114.5 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 61.5 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that while the Ryzen 9 9900X has ample headroom, the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, particularly at 4K where even Medium settings yield only 67.5 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, built on the Turing architecture with a TU106 chip, plays a decisive role in this configuration's gaming performance. With a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, the card's compute capabilities are reflected in its benchmark scores, including a Passmark G3D score of 16462 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011. These numbers place the GPU at the 63rd percentile among all GPUs, positioning it as a mid-range performer that is showing its age against newer hardware.

The GPU's memory configuration is particularly relevant to the Barony results. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at 4K. The benchmark results confirm this, as the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens significantly at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (285.6 FPS) and Ultra (130.2 FPS) is 155.4 FPS, while at 4K, the same settings spread is only 48.3 FPS (94.4 vs 46.1). This compression at 4K suggests that the GPU's raw throughput, not just its memory bandwidth, is being maxed out. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (with a deltaPct of 0.5) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (deltaPct of 0.3), show that the 2060 SUPER is closely matched with these cards, reinforcing its position as a capable but not top-tier solution.

Settings Recommendations

For the optimal balance between visual quality and performance, the measured data points to the High preset as the most sensible choice for most users. At 1920x1080, High settings deliver an average of 181.5 FPS, which is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate monitors while still providing a significant visual upgrade over Low settings. At 2560x1440, the High preset produces 114.5 FPS, which remains well above the 60 FPS threshold for a fluid experience, making it the recommended setting for 1440p displays.

The Medium preset offers a viable alternative for those seeking higher frame rates, particularly at 1440p where it achieves 132.8 FPS. However, the jump from Medium to High at 1440p only costs 18.3 FPS, making High the superior choice for the visual fidelity gained. At 4K, the situation is more nuanced. The High preset yields 61.5 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target, but the Ultra preset drops to 46.1 FPS, which is likely to feel stuttery. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset at 67.5 FPS is the most practical option, as it provides a playable frame rate while maintaining acceptable visual quality. The Low preset at 4K (94.4 FPS) is not recommended unless the user prioritizes frame rate above all else, as the graphical sacrifices are substantial.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured results provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high, starting at 285.6 FPS on Low, dropping to 216.1 FPS on Medium, 181.5 FPS on High, and finally 130.2 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate that the system is primarily CPU-bound at this resolution, as even the most demanding settings fail to push the GPU to its limits.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain impressive but begin to show the GPU's influence. The Low preset delivers 180.4 FPS, while Medium, High, and Ultra produce 132.8 FPS, 114.5 FPS, and 85.4 FPS, respectively. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is a 52.7% drop, which is more pronounced than the 54.4% drop seen at 1080p, indicating the GPU's growing role.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The measured averages are 94.4 FPS on Low, 67.5 FPS on Medium, 61.5 FPS on High, and 46.1 FPS on Ultra. The performance cliff between Low and Ultra is stark, with a 51.1% reduction in frame rate. This data shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is simply not powerful enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with this CPU, and users should consider lowering their resolution or settings to achieve a better experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of tested hardware combinations for Barony, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER holds a rank of 1239 out of 1702 combos. This places the configuration in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU's relatively modest standing in the performance hierarchy. The CPU itself is a strong performer, ranking in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, but the GPU's 63rd percentile ranking drags the overall combo down.

The CPU's benchmark data, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 46438 and a Geekbench multicore score of 19827, showcases its processing power, but this does not translate to top-tier gaming results when paired with a mid-range GPU. The nearest rivals to the CPU, including the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D with a deltaPct of -0.4% and the Intel Core i7-14700F with a deltaPct of 0.7%, show that the 9900X is competitive in the CPU market. However, the GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with a deltaPct of 0.5%, are also closely matched, indicating that the 2060 SUPER is at the edge of its performance class.

The combo's rank of 1239 out of 1702 suggests that for Barony, this system is not a top-tier choice, but it is by no means inadequate. The data shows that the configuration can deliver excellent frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with appropriate settings, making it a viable option for gamers who prioritize resolution over ultimate visual fidelity. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates on demanding presets, but with Medium settings, it remains playable. Overall, this rank reflects a balanced but not exceptional system that is best suited for 1440p gaming or 1080p high-refresh-rate scenarios.