Barony

Barony is a roguelike that, on paper, does not demand extreme hardware, yet the measured data for this pairing of an Intel Core i3-12100F and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 reveals a surprisingly wide range of performance outcomes across resolutions and presets. The combination ranks 1445th out of 1702 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower half of the database, which suggests that while playable, this system is far from optimized for maximum fidelity or refresh rates. The data shows a system caught between a capable modern CPU and an aging, though still relevant, GPU, with the bottleneck shifting depending on how the game is configured.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, boosting up to 4.30 GHz, and it features a 12 MB shared L3 cache. In the context of Barony, a game that is more likely to stress single-thread performance than scale perfectly across many cores, this CPU's specifications are pertinent. Benchmark data shows a single-thread score of 893 in 3dmark and 1681 in Cinebench R23, which are solid figures that indicate the processor can handle the game's core logic without being a primary constraint at lower resolutions. The multi-threaded scores, such as 11912 in Cinebench R23 and 14015 in Passmark multithread, are less critical for this title but show the CPU has headroom for background tasks.

The CPU's performance relative to its peers is noteworthy. The data places it at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13516. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scores 13534, a negligible deltaPct of -0.1%, meaning the i3-12100F is virtually tied with a high-end workstation chip in aggregate benchmarks, though the Threadripper's core count would dominate heavily threaded workloads. More relevant is the comparison to the Intel Core i7-7700K, which scores 13280, a deltaPct of 1.8% in favor of the i3. This suggests that despite having fewer cores, the newer architecture gives the i3 an edge in many tasks. For Barony, the implication is that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor; the measured FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are far more indicative of GPU load than CPU capability.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo's rank of 1445 out of 1702 tested combos in Barony is a clear signal that this hardware pairing is not designed for top-tier performance in this specific title. This ranking places it in the bottom 15% of all tested systems, which is surprising given the CPU's strong showing in synthetic benchmarks. The discrepancy suggests that the GPU is the dominant factor holding back the overall score. While the CPU can push high frame rates in isolation, the GTX 1070's performance ceiling becomes apparent when paired with it.

To contextualize, the GPU itself ranks at the 51st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12331. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro K4200 (score 12241, deltaPct 0.7%) and the GTX 1650 SUPER (score 12504, deltaPct -1.4%). This indicates the GTX 1070 is a mid-pack performer, and when combined with a CPU that is above average, the overall combo rank suffers because the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU's potential. The data implies that this pairing is a classic example of a system where the GPU is the bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions and settings, which is why the combo rank is so low despite the CPU's capabilities.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 233.5 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU more than enough frames. However, as resolution increases, the frame rate drops dramatically, demonstrating that the GPU is being pushed to its limits. Moving from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the average FPS falls to 149.9, a drop of approximately 36%. At 4K Low, it further drops to 78.4 FPS, a reduction of about 48% from 1440p. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the pixel throughput requirement outpaces the GTX 1070's capabilities.

The trend is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 106.6 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 32.8 FPS, a staggering 69% reduction. This steep decline is a definitive indicator that the limiting component is the GPU. The CPU's performance does not change with resolution, so the fact that FPS scales inversely with pixel count confirms that the GTX 1070, with its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus, is the primary constraint. The data suggests that to maintain a consistent experience, users must either lower settings or resolution to alleviate the GPU's load.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance. At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable: Low settings yield an average of 233.5 FPS, Medium 174 FPS, High 147.7 FPS, and Ultra 106.6 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system can handle even the most demanding presets with ease, providing a smooth experience for most monitors. The jump from Ultra to Low is a 119% increase in FPS, showing that settings have a significant impact at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show strain. Low settings average 149.9 FPS, Medium 109.7 FPS, High 95.8 FPS, and Ultra 70.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 113%, but the absolute numbers are lower, indicating that the GPU is working harder. At 3840x2160, the system becomes less fluid. Low settings average 78.4 FPS, Medium 58.8 FPS, High 49 FPS, and Ultra 32.8 FPS. These figures show that 4K gaming is only viable at Low or Medium settings for a playable experience, and even then, the frame rates are below what many would consider optimal for fast-paced action. The data clearly shows a system that excels at 1080p, is competent at 1440p, and struggles at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Barony with this hardware?

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. All settings presets exceed 100 FPS, with Low at 233.5 FPS and Ultra at 106.6 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K, only Low settings provide a playable average of 78.4 FPS. Medium and High settings drop to 58.8 and 49 FPS respectively, while Ultra falls to 32.8 FPS, which may be too low for many users.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, while the CPU's synthetic benchmark scores are relatively high, suggesting it is not the limiting factor.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 12331, which is 0.7% higher than the Quadro K4200 (12241) and 1.4% lower than the GTX 1650 SUPER (12504). This shows it is a mid-range performer.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings average 149.9 FPS, while Ultra averages 70.4 FPS. This represents a 113% performance increase from Ultra to Low, showing that settings have a major impact.

Q: Given the CPU's rank, is it a good match for the GTX 1070?

A: The CPU ranks in the 72nd percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 51st. The combo's low rank of 1445 out of 1702 suggests the GPU is holding back the system's overall performance in Barony.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the optimal balance between visual quality and performance is achieved at 1920x1080 with High settings, yielding an average of 147.7 FPS. This provides a high frame rate that is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay while maintaining good visual fidelity. If a higher resolution is desired, 2560x1440 with Medium settings is a viable option, averaging 109.7 FPS, which is still very playable. At 4K, the data suggests that Medium settings (58.8 FPS) are the highest preset that remains playable, though users seeking a stable 60 FPS may need to use Low settings (78.4 FPS). For competitive play where frame rate is paramount, 1080p Low at 233.5 FPS offers the absolute highest performance, but this comes at the cost of visual detail. The data indicates that the system's "sweet spot" is 1080p High, as it offers a significant boost over Ultra (147.7 vs 106.6 FPS) without a major visual compromise.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is based on the Pascal architecture, built on a 16 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1506 MHz and a boost clock of 1683 MHz, with 1920 shading units and 64 ROPs. These specifications are critical in understanding its performance in Barony. The 8 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for a roguelike, which typically does not require massive texture memory, but the GPU's raw compute power, measured at 6.463 TFLOPS FP32, is what limits performance at higher resolutions and settings.

The GTX 1070's benchmark scores reflect its mid-range status. It scores 13498 in Passmark G3D, which places it at the 51st percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the GTX 1650 SUPER (score 12504, deltaPct -1.4%) and the Quadro K4200 (score 12241, deltaPct 0.7%), show that it is competitive with newer mid-range parts but lacks the headroom of higher-tier cards. The data shows that in Barony, the GPU's performance is the primary determinant of frame rate, especially at 1440p and 4K. The significant FPS drops at higher resolutions are directly attributable to the GTX 1070's pixel fillrate and memory bandwidth constraints. While the CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, the GPU cannot maintain them as the pixel count increases, making it the definitive limiting component in this system.