Barony

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. 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 the context of Barony, a roguelike title, the CPU’s role is significant, though the game’s performance profile suggests that the workload is not heavily multi-threaded. The processor’s single-thread performance is its strongest asset here, as evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681. These figures indicate that the chip can handle the game's logical and AI computations efficiently, which is typical for a genre that often relies on procedural generation and state tracking rather than massive parallel rendering tasks.

The multi-threaded capabilities of the i3-12100F are more modest, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11912 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 7413. However, in Barony, the data shows that the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. The processor’s percentile ranking against all CPUs is 72, placing it in the upper third of tested desktop processors. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i3-12100F is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (deltaPct of -0.1) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U (deltaPct of 0.4) and Intel Core i3-10105 (deltaPct of 0.6). It also edges out the Intel Core i7-7700K by a 1.8% delta. This suggests that while the i3-12100F is not a top-tier CPU by any means, its performance in this game is adequate to feed the GPU effectively, particularly when the resolution is scaled down.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the graphics workhorse in this combination. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1365 MHz, with a boost clock of 1680 MHz. Its Turing architecture includes 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 30 RT cores and 240 Tensor cores. For a game like Barony, which is not visually demanding by modern standards, the RTX 2060 offers ample raw rasterization power. The GPU’s percentile ranking against all GPUs is 58, meaning it sits slightly above the median. Its average benchmark score of 16074 places it in close competition with the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (deltaPct of 0.5), while it trails the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700 (both with a deltaPct of -1.7) and leads the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 by a 1.8% delta.

In Barony, the RTX 2060’s performance is clearly the dominant factor in determining frame rates, as the data shows a strong correlation between resolution scaling and FPS changes. The GPU’s 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s textures and assets, even at 4K Ultra settings, though the frame rate at that preset drops to 39.2 FPS, indicating that the GPU is being pushed to its limits. The card’s 12 nm process node and 160 W TDP are modest by modern standards, but they are more than enough for this title’s requirements.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling across resolutions. At 1080p High settings, the average FPS is 164.6, which climbs to 265 at Low settings and drops to 118.1 at Ultra. This wide spread indicates that at 1080p, the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output, and the frame rate is mostly limited by the graphics card’s fill rate and shading capabilities. Moving to 1440p, the average FPS at High settings falls to 105.5, a 36% drop from the 1080p High figure. At 1440p Low, the FPS is 166, and at Ultra, it is 76.3. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly linear, suggesting that the GPU is still the limiting factor rather than the CPU.

At 4K (3840x2160), the performance drops become more pronounced. The High preset yields 53.2 FPS, while Low settings produce 85 FPS, Medium gives 66.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 39.2 FPS. The jump from 1080p High (164.6 FPS) to 4K High (53.2 FPS) represents a 68% reduction in frame rate. This steep decline is characteristic of a system where the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are saturated. The CPU’s role diminishes as resolution increases, since the rendering workload shifts almost entirely to the GPU. The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, users would need to select Medium settings (66.9 FPS) or lower, while 1440p High (105.5 FPS) offers a comfortable margin for high-refresh monitors.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p High settings for this combo?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 164.6, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F is essentially tied with the Threadripper PRO 3975WX, showing a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the i3 scores 0.1% lower on average.

Q: Is the RTX 2060 capable of running Barony at 4K Ultra?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 39.2, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, as it falls below 60 FPS.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks in the 58th percentile, indicating it performs better than 58% of all GPUs in the benchmark database.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at 1080p Low settings?

A: At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 265, which is extremely high. This suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck, as the frame rate is primarily limited by the GPU’s rendering speed.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations in Barony?

A: The combo ranks 1391 out of 1702 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of benchmarked combinations for Barony, this pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1391 out of 1702 combos. This places it in the bottom 18% of all tested systems, which might seem surprising given the game’s relatively low graphical demands. However, this ranking is a reflection of the entire system’s performance across multiple benchmarks, not just FPS in this specific title. The CPU’s 4-core/8-thread configuration, while competent for everyday tasks, is outclassed by many modern processors with higher core counts. Similarly, the RTX 2060, despite being a capable 1080p and 1440p card, is now two generations old and falls behind newer GPUs in raw compute and VRAM capacity.

The ranking is further contextualized by the GPU’s 58th percentile standing and the CPU’s 72nd percentile, which together suggest a mid-range system that excels in single-threaded tasks but struggles to compete with high-end rigs in multi-threaded or high-resolution workloads. In Barony specifically, the FPS data shows that the combo is more than playable at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra preset (39.2 FPS) exposes the GPU’s limitations. Compared to the nearest rival combos, the RTX 2060’s performance is virtually identical to the RX 7600S (deltaPct of 0.5), meaning users would see nearly the same frame rates with either card. The i3-12100F’s performance, meanwhile, is on par with much more expensive processors like the Threadripper PRO 3975WX in this game’s context, highlighting that Barony does not heavily utilize multi-core CPUs. Ultimately, this combo ranks low among all tested systems because it represents a balanced but aging mid-range build, which is adequate for the game but not exceptional by modern standards.