Barony

# Barony — AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 produces a widely variable experience in Barony, depending entirely on resolution and quality preset. At 1080p, this combination delivers extremely high frame rates, with the Low preset reaching 261 FPS average, while at 4K Ultra, performance drops to just 39 FPS average. The data reveals a system where the RTX 2060 becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen 9 9900X3D provides ample headroom for the game's CPU demands at lower resolutions. This combo ranks 2308th out of 2935 tested combinations in Barony, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database, which reflects the GPU's age relative to modern parts rather than any deficiency in the processor.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance gradient as resolution increases, which is typical for a game like Barony where pixel throughput becomes the dominant cost. At 1080p with the High preset, the system averages 167 FPS. Moving to 1440p at High, the average drops to 105 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 55 FPS, which is 67% below the 1080p High figure. This scaling pattern strongly indicates that the RTX 2060's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU-side workload in Barony is not heavy enough to constrain performance at 1080p.

The Low preset scaling tells a similar story but with higher absolute numbers. At 1080p Low, the system hits 261 FPS average. At 1440p Low, it drops to 165 FPS, a 37% decline. At 4K Low, the average is 86 FPS, which is 67% lower than the 1080p Low result. The consistency of these percentage drops across presets suggests that resolution scaling is nearly linear for this GPU in Barony, with the pixel count increase from 1080p to 1440p (1.78x) and 1440p to 4K (2.25x) directly translating into proportional FPS losses. The fact that even Low settings at 4K cannot maintain the 1440p Low frame rate confirms that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the binding constraints.

The Medium preset data includes minimum and maximum FPS values, which provide insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the average is 194 FPS with a minimum of 165 FPS and maximum of 224 FPS, indicating a relatively tight distribution. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 123 FPS with a min of 104 and max of 141 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 64 FPS with a min of 55 and max of 74 FPS. The spread between min and max remains proportionally similar across resolutions, suggesting that the frame pacing issues are consistent rather than resolution-dependent, which points to the GPU's consistent behavior rather than CPU-induced stutters.

The Ultra preset shows the most severe resolution penalty. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 120 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 76 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to 39 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 39 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold typically associated with smooth gameplay, making this combination unsuitable for maximum quality at 4K. The scaling from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra represents a 67.5% performance loss, which is consistent with the other presets, reinforcing that the RTX 2060's computational throughput is the primary limiter across all quality levels.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process. Its base clock is 4.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, and it features a substantial 128 MB L3 cache. In Barony, a roguelike that does not typically demand extreme multi-threaded performance, this processor provides far more computational headroom than the GPU can utilize at most settings. The CPU's benchmark results confirm its strength: Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and single-core score of 6739, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4646 and a Passmark multithread score of 56154.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 91 among all tested CPUs indicates it outperforms the vast majority of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF with a score of 55093 (deltaPct of -0.6, meaning the Ryzen is 0.6% lower), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K at 54053 (deltaPct of 1.3, meaning the Ryzen is 1.3% higher), and the Intel Xeon 6505P at 53701 (deltaPct of 2.0). These small deltas show that the 9900X3D is competitive with, but not dramatically superior to, these alternatives in synthetic benchmarks.

In the context of Barony's measured FPS, the CPU's role is most evident at 1080p Low, where the system achieves 261 FPS average. At this resolution and setting, the GPU is not heavily taxed, allowing the CPU to drive frame rates to levels that exceed typical display refresh rates. The fact that 1080p Low reaches 261 FPS while 1080p High reaches 167 FPS suggests that even at 1080p, the GPU begins to become a limiting factor as settings increase, because the CPU could likely push higher frame rates if the GPU could keep up. The CPU's 24 threads are more than sufficient for Barony, which is unlikely to scale beyond a few threads given its roguelike nature.

The CPU's 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and dual-channel DDR5 support provide adequate data throughput for the game, though Barony's procedural dungeon generation may benefit from the large 128 MB L3 cache, which can reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data structures. The processor's 3DMark scores further illustrate its capability: 12490 in the 16-thread test, 9002 in the 8-thread test, and 2512 in the 2-thread test. These results indicate strong scaling from 2 to 16 threads, though Barony is unlikely to utilize more than a few cores effectively.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip, manufactured on TSMC's 12 nm process. It features 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, with 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's FP32 throughput is 6.451 TFLOPS, with a texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s.

The RTX 2060's measured performance in Barony is the defining factor for this combo's results. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS of 194 indicates the GPU can handle the game's demands at high frame rates, but the 4K Ultra result of 39 FPS shows its limitations at higher pixel counts. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM is a potential constraint at 4K, particularly with higher quality settings that may require more texture memory, though Barony's relatively simple graphics likely keep VRAM usage below this threshold. The GPU's percentile ranking of 58 among all GPUs places it near the middle of the database, and its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 at 15283 (deltaPct of 0.0), the AMD Radeon 680M at 15270 (deltaPct of 0.1), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM at 15199 (deltaPct of 0.6). These near-identical scores indicate that the RTX 2060's synthetic performance is closely matched by these other GPUs.

The GPU's 12 nm process node and 445 mm² die size, containing 10,800 million transistors, reflect its 2019-era design. Its power consumption of 160 W TDP and suggested 450 W PSU are moderate, but the GPU's end-of-life production status means it is no longer a current product. In Barony, the GPU's role becomes increasingly significant as resolution increases, with the FPS drops from 1080p to 4K being nearly identical across all presets (approximately 67% reduction). This consistent scaling suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary bottlenecks at 4K, while at 1080p, the GPU is still the main limiter at higher settings but allows the CPU to shine at Low settings.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1440p provides the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1440p High, the system averages 105 FPS, which is smooth, while 4K High drops to 55 FPS, which may feel less fluid. At 1080p, frame rates are very high (167 FPS at High), but the visual fidelity increase from 1440p is generally worth the frame rate trade-off.

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

A: At 4K with Low settings, the system averages 86 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 64 FPS, and at 4K High, it falls to 55 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average is 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, 4K is only viable at Low or Medium settings.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score is 15290, which is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 at 15283 (deltaPct of 0.0) and the AMD Radeon 680M at 15270 (deltaPct of 0.1). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199 with a deltaPct of 0.6, meaning the RTX 2060 is 0.6% higher.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X3D overkill for this game?

A: The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4646, are far beyond what Barony requires. The CPU's percentile ranking of 91 indicates it is in the top tier of processors, while the GPU's percentile of 58 is more modest. The data suggests the CPU provides significant headroom that is unused at higher resolutions, where the GPU limits performance.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 261 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 120 FPS, representing a 141 FPS difference. The Medium preset averages 194 FPS, and the High preset averages 167 FPS. This shows that Ultra settings cost more than half of the Low settings frame rate at 1080p.

Q: How does this combo rank in the database for Barony?

A: This combination ranks 2308th out of 2935 tested combos in Barony, placing it in the 21st percentile of tested systems. This relatively low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's age and performance level, as the CPU is a high-end part that is not the limiting factor in most scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

For players seeking the best experience with this combo, the Medium preset appears to offer the most balanced trade-off between visual quality and frame rate. At 1080p Medium, the system averages 194 FPS with a minimum of 165 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. At 1440p Medium, the average is 123 FPS with a minimum of 104 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS, which is borderline but acceptable for slower-paced roguelike gameplay.

The High preset is also a strong choice, particularly at 1440p where it averages 105 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 1440p is significant, with Ultra averaging 76 FPS, a 29 FPS reduction. Given that Barony's roguelike gameplay does not typically require the highest visual fidelity, the High preset provides a better frame rate margin for sudden action sequences. At 1080p, High averages 167 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any display, while Ultra at 120 FPS is still very smooth but may not justify the visual upgrade.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for players with 1080p displays who prioritize maximum visual quality over frame rate. At 1080p Ultra, the 120 FPS average is acceptable, but at 1440p Ultra, the 76 FPS average is less stable. At 4K Ultra, the 39 FPS average is not recommended for a smooth experience. The Low preset is not recommended for most players, as it sacrifices too much visual quality, but it can be used to achieve extremely high frame rates (261 FPS at 1080p) for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured FPS data shows the following averages: Low preset achieves 261 FPS, Medium achieves 194 FPS with a minimum of 165 FPS and maximum of 224 FPS, High achieves 167 FPS, and Ultra achieves 120 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 141 FPS drop, with each step up in quality costing approximately 30-40 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 165 FPS indicates that even in the most demanding moments, the system maintains fluid performance.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 165 FPS, Medium at 123 FPS with a minimum of 104 FPS and maximum of 141 FPS, High at 105 FPS, and Ultra at 76 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent reduction across all presets, with the Low preset dropping from 261 to 165 FPS (a 96 FPS reduction) and the Ultra preset dropping from 120 to 76 FPS (a 44 FPS reduction). The Medium preset's minimum of 104 FPS at 1440p is still above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating playable performance.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 86 FPS, Medium at 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS and maximum of 74 FPS, High at 55 FPS, and Ultra at 39 FPS. The 4K results show a dramatic performance cliff, with only the Low preset maintaining an average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 55 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting occasional stutters in intense scenes. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay. The data shows that 4K resolution demands significant GPU sacrifices in Barony, and this combo is not well-suited for maximum quality at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2308th out of 2935 tested combos in Barony, placing it in the bottom 21% of tested systems. This ranking reflects the GPU's age and performance relative to modern parts, as the CPU is a high-end processor that ranks in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. The GPU's 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs is more modest, and its average benchmark score of 15290 is closely matched by several rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (15283, deltaPct 0.0), AMD Radeon 680M (15270, deltaPct 0.1), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, deltaPct 0.6), and AMD Radeon RX 7600 (15171, deltaPct 0.8).

The CPU's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (55093, deltaPct -0.6), Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (54053, deltaPct 1.3), Intel Xeon 6505P (53701, deltaPct 2.0), and Intel Core i7-14700F (53620, deltaPct 2.1). These small deltas indicate that the 9900X3D is competitively positioned among current processors, but its performance advantage does not translate into a high in-game ranking due to the GPU bottleneck. The 2308th rank out of 2935 combos suggests that most other tested systems use more powerful GPUs, even if their CPUs are weaker. In Barony, where the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions, this combo's ranking is more indicative of GPU performance than CPU capability.