Barony

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers exceptional performance in Barony, a roguelike that is clearly not demanding by modern standards. The measured data shows frame rates that far exceed display refresh rates at every resolution and setting tested, indicating that this pairing is vastly overqualified for the game’s graphical workload. While the CPU’s 3D V-Cache and high core count are largely irrelevant here, the GPU’s raw throughput ensures that even the highest settings remain fluid. This analysis explores the specific benchmark results, the role each component plays, and what the numbers reveal about the system’s capabilities in this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average frame rate is 90 FPS at 4K Ultra, with no minimum or maximum values recorded. This is the lowest average across all tested configurations, yet it remains comfortably above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the combo rank against other tested systems in this game?

A: This specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 231st out of 2935 tested combinations in Barony. This places it in the top 8% of all systems, which is a strong showing but not the absolute top due to the game’s low requirements.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4080 SUPER and its direct rival?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% lower than the standard RTX 4080’s score of 54247. The data indicates the SUPER variant is essentially performance-equivalent to its predecessor in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the maximum recorded FPS at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the maximum FPS recorded is 510, with an average of 444 FPS. This demonstrates that the system is heavily CPU-limited at lower resolutions, as the frame rates are extraordinarily high.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly compared to 1080p, with the average at High settings falling from 381 FPS to 126 FPS. This indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, shifting the bottleneck away from the CPU.

Q: What are the core specifications of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D?

A: The CPU features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It has 128 MB of L3 cache, which is a defining feature of the X3D series, and is built on TSMC’s 4 nm process.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which are high frequencies for a chip with such a large cache. The 128 MB of L3 cache is the standout feature, designed to reduce memory latency in gaming workloads. In Barony, however, this massive cache is unlikely to be fully utilized, as the game is a roguelike with relatively simple geometry and logic compared to complex simulators or open-world titles.

The CPU’s performance metrics are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739. Its Passmark multithread score is 56154, and it ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier processor for productivity. However, in Barony, the data suggests the CPU is not a primary constraint at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 597, which is so high that the CPU’s single-thread performance is clearly sufficient to feed the GPU.

The nearest rivals for this CPU, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which is 0.6% faster, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, which is 1.3% slower. The deltaPct values are minuscule, showing that the 9900X3D is in a performance class with these chips. In Barony, the difference between these CPUs would be imperceptible, as the game’s frame rates are likely capped by the GPU or the engine’s rendering pipeline rather than by core count or clock speed. The data shows that the CPU’s 24 threads are largely irrelevant for this title, as roguelikes rarely scale beyond a few cores.

The launch MSRP for the 9900X3D is $599, which positions it as a premium desktop part. Its 120 W TDP and dual-chiplet design with a 4 nm process from TSMC are notable for power efficiency, but again, these factors do not translate to a meaningful advantage in Barony specifically. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU’s role here is to provide a high floor for frame rates, ensuring that the GPU is never starved for data. The 3DMark scores, such as 12490 in the 16-thread test and 1269 in single-thread, reinforce the idea that this is a powerful processor, but the game’s performance is more dependent on the GPU’s capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features the AD103 chip. It has 10240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output processors, along with 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz, with memory running at an effective speed of 23 Gbps. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s, which is substantial for high-resolution textures and effects.

In Barony, the GPU’s role becomes evident as resolution increases. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 273 at Ultra to 597 at Low, indicating that the GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution; the CPU or engine is. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 90 FPS, which is a clear sign that the GPU is now the primary constraint. The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, as even at 4K, the memory usage is unlikely to approach the capacity, given the game’s 2015 release date and simple art style.

The RTX 4080 SUPER’s synthetic benchmarks show a Passmark G3D score of 34245 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 260075. Its percentile rank among all GPUs is 86, and its average benchmark score is 54209. The nearest rivals include the standard RTX 4080, which is 0.1% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, which is 1.1% faster. These small deltas suggest that the SUPER variant offers no meaningful advantage over the non-SUPER model in most scenarios, and Barony is no exception. The data shows that the GPU is capable of producing frame rates well above 60 FPS at all tested settings, even at 4K Ultra.

The GPU’s FP32 performance of 52.22 TFLOPS and texture rate of 816.0 GTexel/s are high, but Barony does not demand such extreme throughput. The pixel rate of 285.6 GPixel/s is more relevant, as it directly influences fill-rate-bound scenarios, but the game’s low resolution and simple shaders mean that even a mid-range GPU could handle it. The RTX 4080 SUPER is overkill for this title, and the benchmark results reflect that, with the system achieving frame rates that are likely beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The launch MSRP is 999 USD, which is a premium price for a GPU that excels in modern AAA titles but is wasted on a roguelike like Barony.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across three resolutions and four quality settings. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are exceptionally high, starting with 597 FPS at Low, 444 FPS at Medium, 381 FPS at High, and 273 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset also recorded a minimum of 377 FPS and a maximum of 510 FPS, showing that even the lowest frame rates are far above what any display can show. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is not GPU-bound, and the performance is likely limited by the CPU’s single-thread speed or the game’s engine draw call overhead.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS decreases but remains extremely high: 377 FPS at Low, 280 FPS at Medium, 240 FPS at High, and 172 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution shows a minimum of 238 FPS and a maximum of 322 FPS, which is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most gaming monitors. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 37% at Low settings, but the absolute numbers are so high that the experience is still perfectly smooth. This suggests that the GPU is starting to become more involved, but the CPU still has headroom.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates finally reach levels where the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The average FPS at 4K is 197 at Low, 146 at Medium, 126 at High, and 90 at Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 168 FPS. While 90 FPS at Ultra is not as high as the lower resolutions, it is still a very playable frame rate for a game like Barony, which does not require twitch reflexes. The data shows a clear progression: as resolution increases, the GPU’s workload grows, and the frame rates drop accordingly, but the system never falls below 90 FPS at the highest settings.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a significant shift in the bottleneck. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 381, while at 4K High, it is 126. This represents a 67% drop in performance, which is consistent with the GPU being the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the average is 597 FPS, and at 4K Low, it is 197, a 67% drop as well. The scaling is similar across all settings, indicating that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are the main constraints at 4K.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is the bottleneck, as the frame rates are so high that the GPU is not fully utilized. The 9900X3D’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1269, is sufficient to drive frame rates beyond 500 FPS, but the game’s rendering pipeline likely limits the draw calls. At 4K, the GPU’s workload increases by a factor of four, and the RTX 4080 SUPER’s 736.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 52.22 TFLOPS of compute power become the deciding factors. The 90 FPS at 4K Ultra shows that the GPU is handling the load well, but it is not as overkill as at 1080p.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is also notable. At 1440p High, the average is 240 FPS, and at 4K High, it is 126 FPS, a 47.5% drop. This is less than the 67% drop from 1080p to 4K, which suggests that the GPU is becoming more efficient at higher resolutions, or that the CPU is still contributing at 1440p. The data indicates that for this game, the sweet spot is 1440p, where the system delivers over 170 FPS even at Ultra, providing a perfect experience for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience for this combo depends on the resolution. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but the Ultra preset at 273 FPS is the optimal choice, as it provides the highest visual quality without any risk of dropping below 240 FPS, which is the refresh rate of many high-end monitors. The Low preset at 597 FPS is unnecessary, as the frame rate exceeds the display capabilities and the visual quality suffers. The Medium preset at 444 FPS is also viable, but Ultra offers the best balance of quality and performance.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset at 172 FPS is the recommended setting, as it remains above the 144 Hz threshold for most gaming displays. The High preset at 240 FPS is also excellent, but Ultra provides additional visual fidelity that the GPU can handle without issue. The Low preset at 377 FPS is overkill, and the Medium preset at 280 FPS is a middle ground, but neither is needed given the GPU’s headroom. The data shows that the system can handle the highest settings at 1440p with ease.

At 4K, the situation changes slightly. The Ultra preset at 90 FPS is playable, but it may not be ideal for gamers with 120 Hz or 144 Hz displays. The High preset at 126 FPS is the better recommendation, as it provides a significant frame rate boost (40% higher than Ultra) with a likely minimal visual difference in a game like Barony. The Medium preset at 146 FPS is also a strong choice for those who prioritize frame rate over quality. The Low preset at 197 FPS is not recommended, as the visual downgrade is too severe for a game that already has simple graphics. For the best experience at 4K, the data suggests using High settings to maximize the refresh rate potential.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this specific pairing in Barony is 231 out of 2935 tested combinations. This places it in the top 7.9% of all systems, which is a strong result, but not the absolute top. The rank is likely influenced by the fact that many other configurations, possibly with faster GPUs or more optimized CPUs, can achieve even higher frame rates in this undemanding game. The 9900X3D’s 12 cores and 24 threads are not a differentiator here, as the game does not scale well beyond a few threads, and the RTX 4080 SUPER, while powerful, is not the fastest GPU available.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 91 and the GPU’s percentile rank of 86 are both high, but when combined, they do not necessarily result in a top-tier ranking for Barony. This is because the game’s low requirements mean that even a mid-range system can achieve high frame rates, and the gap between the 231st and 1st place is likely small in terms of actual FPS. The data shows that the combo is more than capable of delivering a flawless experience, but it is not the absolute best due to the presence of more powerful components like the RTX 4090 or newer GPUs.

The nearest rivals for the GPU, such as the RTX 4080, are within 1% of the SUPER’s performance, so the combo rank would be nearly identical with that GPU. Similarly, the CPU’s rivals, like the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, are within 1% in synthetic benchmarks, meaning that swapping the CPU would have a negligible impact on Barony’s frame rates. The rank of 231 indicates that this is a high-performance combo, but for a game this light, the ranking is more of a formality than a meaningful indicator of user experience. The measured FPS data is the more relevant metric, and it shows that this system is overkill for Barony, delivering frame rates that far exceed the requirements of any monitor on the market.