Barony

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong single-thread performance, scoring 893 in 3dmark single-thread and 1681 in Cinebench R23 single-core. Its multi-threaded capabilities are equally solid for a quad-core part, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11912 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 7413. The processor sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 13516.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i3-12100F is essentially neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, trailing by just 0.1% in average score. It edges out the Intel Core i7-1250U by 0.4%, the Intel Core i3-10105 by 0.6%, and leads the Intel Core i7-7700K by 1.8%. For a game like Barony, a roguelike that is not typically demanding on multi-core resources, this CPU's high single-thread performance is the key asset. The 4.30 GHz boost clock ensures that the game's primary simulation and logic threads have ample headroom, while the 8 threads handle background tasks without bottlenecking the GPU. The data indicates that at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU is capable of pushing frame rates to 219 FPS, suggesting it is not a limiting factor in lighter scenes.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU built on TSMC's 12 nm process, featuring 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1530 MHz with a boost clock of 1785 MHz, and it offers 1408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. The GPU's compute capability is rated at 5.027 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. In the database, this card holds the 55th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14286. Its performance is closely matched by the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11, which trails by only 0.2%, and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, also 0.2% behind. The AMD Radeon Vega 11 is 0.5% slower, while the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is 0.7% behind.

For Barony, the GTX 1660 SUPER's 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game's visual assets, which are not particularly memory-hungry. The 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and frame buffer operations are not bottlenecks. The GPU's role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 30.8 FPS, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed by the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical settings. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the card achieves 219 FPS, showing that it can easily handle the game's lighter workloads. The benchmark results suggest that the GTX 1660 SUPER provides a balanced experience for Barony, with the CPU maintaining adequate frame pacing across most settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 219 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 141.3 FPS, a reduction of approximately 35%. At 4K Low, the frame rate falls to 75.9 FPS, which is a 65% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting component as pixel count rises, even on lower settings. The CPU's performance headroom at 1080p Low, where frame rates exceed 200 FPS, confirms that it is not the primary constraint in this scenario.

With High settings, the scaling pattern shifts. At 1080p, the average is 138.4 FPS; at 1440p, it drops to 86.9 FPS (a 37% reduction); and at 4K, it falls to 44.8 FPS (a 68% reduction from 1080p). The percentage drops are similar across Low and High settings, suggesting that the GPU's workload scales consistently with resolution regardless of quality presets. This consistency points to the GPU as the dominant factor in frame rate degradation. At 1080p High, the frame rate of 138.4 FPS still indicates the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately, but the gap between 1080p and 4K performance widens as the GPU's fill-rate and shading limits are reached. The data strongly suggests that for this combo, the GTX 1660 SUPER is the limiting component at 1440p and above, while the i3-12100F provides sufficient performance at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

In Barony, this combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 1518 out of 1702 tested combos, placing it in the lower 11% of all configurations in the database. This ranking reflects the mid-range nature of both components; neither is a top-tier performer, but they are also not entry-level parts. The rank of 1518 suggests that while the combo can play the game, there are many faster configurations available. The CPU's 72nd percentile standing among all processors is respectable, but the GPU's 55th percentile is a more modest position, likely dragging down the overall combo ranking.

Given that Barony is a roguelike with relatively modest graphical demands, the combo's low rank might seem surprising. However, the ranking is relative to all tested combos, which include high-end CPUs and GPUs capable of significantly higher frame rates. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Ultra, this combo still achieves 103.8 FPS, which is playable, but the 4K Ultra result of 30.8 FPS demonstrates the limits of this pairing. The rank of 1518 out of 1702 indicates that users seeking higher frame rates at 4K or with maximum settings would need to look at more powerful components. For 1080p gaming, the combo performs adequately, but it is not competitive with higher-tier configurations in the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 219 FPS, providing a very smooth experience for fast-paced gameplay. Medium settings yield 163 FPS, while High settings produce 138.4 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average drops to 103.8 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. These results indicate that at 1080p, the i3-12100F and GTX 1660 SUPER combination can handle all settings with ease, with the CPU not becoming a bottleneck even at lower quality presets where frame rates exceed 200 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU's increasing load. Low settings average 141.3 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 106.1 FPS, and High settings drop to 86.9 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average is 63.4 FPS, which is still playable but noticeably lower. The data shows that at 1440p, the GPU begins to assert its influence, with frame rates at High and Ultra settings falling closer to the 60 FPS mark.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings average 75.9 FPS, which is playable, but Medium settings drop to 55.3 FPS. High settings average 44.8 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 30.8 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for many users. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings shows a drop from 103.8 FPS to 30.8 FPS, a reduction of over 70%. This indicates that the GTX 1660 SUPER's 6 GB VRAM and compute resources are insufficient for 4K Ultra in Barony, and users seeking that experience would require a more powerful GPU. The measured data confirms that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being viable only at lower settings.